[gordog01]

gordog01 wrote:

harrysjones21 wrote:

Hi All,

We have a trip upcoming in May 2025 going to USA. Our first trip there exploring!

We are flying from LHR with BA Club World A380 (we have chosen upper deck seats, one window and one aisle) and will be staying in Miami, Florida first at the Hotel Eden Roc for one week (we booked this suing FHR to obtain the benefits).

We will then be hiring a SUV and driving up to Orlando, Florida and will be staying there for just over another week (17 days in total in Florida) before returning the hire car and leaving Florida at MIA.

For Orlando we have a few things planned notably the Universal Parks, we will be staying at the Hilton DoubleTree across the road mainly for the convenience and the hotel itself has the car hire return station next door (convenient, I know!).

As far as Miami goes we do not at the moment have any concrete plans but are hiring the car for a day there, so we are looking for some suggestions of places to go in Miami.

We are open to all suggestions but we need help for places to eat as well as tourist sites etc.

Thank you in advance!

Driving between Miami and Orlando is easy but boring going up the Turnpike. Get yourself a sunpass transponder as the Tolls are everywhere. Probably cost you about $20 in tolls but its not much more than $20 in fuel one way. It takes around 3 1/2 hrs driving from Miami to Orlando. I have done the journey loads of times and going from Orlando to Miami is not so easy when you hit the outskirts of Miami, that’s the nightmare part as its always congested. I did it a few weeks ago, our flight was at 10pm and we left Orlando at 3pm on a Sunday. We made it no bother for the lounge but i would have given myself another hour to be comfortable. The car rental depot is not at the airport so you have to get the tram that connects with the airport.

Make sure you ram the car full of fuel at the service stop around 50 miles from the airport and then your safe to just drop it off without refuelling again. The fuel price outside the car rental drop off is crazy prices and its not easy to access it when dropping the car off.

[gordog01]

harrysjones21 wrote:

Hi All,

We have a trip upcoming in May 2025 going to USA. Our first trip there exploring!

We are flying from LHR with BA Club World A380 (we have chosen upper deck seats, one window and one aisle) and will be staying in Miami, Florida first at the Hotel Eden Roc for one week (we booked this suing FHR to obtain the benefits).

We will then be hiring a SUV and driving up to Orlando, Florida and will be staying there for just over another week (17 days in total in Florida) before returning the hire car and leaving Florida at MIA.

For Orlando we have a few things planned notably the Universal Parks, we will be staying at the Hilton DoubleTree across the road mainly for the convenience and the hotel itself has the car hire return station next door (convenient, I know!).

As far as Miami goes we do not at the moment have any concrete plans but are hiring the car for a day there, so we are looking for some suggestions of places to go in Miami.

We are open to all suggestions but we need help for places to eat as well as tourist sites etc.

Thank you in advance!

Driving between Miami and Orlando is easy but boring going up the Turnpike. Get yourself a sunpass transponder as the Tolls are everywhere. Probably cost you about $20 in tolls but its not much more than $20 in fuel one way. It takes around 3 1/2 hrs driving from Miami to Orlando. I have done the journey loads of times and going from Orlando to Miami is not so easy when you hit the outskirts of Miami, that’s the nightmare part as its always congested. I did it a few weeks ago, our flight was at 10pm and we left Orlando at 3pm on a Sunday. We made it no bother for the lounge but i would have given myself another hour to be comfortable. The car rental depot is not at the airport so you have to get the tram that connects with the airport.

[gordog01]

I don’t seem to able to search on Virgin for KLM flights? Searching ABZ – AMS and it says ‘sorry something went wrong try later’.
Is there a way to search KLM flights on Virgin or do you need to call?

[gordog01]

Hi, I am going to London next week and was planning on visiting an Ivy restaurant to use my dining credit but I plan on cancelling the card soon. How long does the credit take to appear? Is it just food no alcohol?

[gordog01]

I recently took out the Platinum card via a 60k welcome bonus link, before I applied for the card out I called Amex to make sure I was entitled to the bonus and I was told that I was entitled to the bonus after spending 6k. When I spent the £6k the 60k points bonus never arrived so I contacted Amex via the chat to be told I wasn’t eligible for the bonus as I had not been 2 years without a MR card. I have challenged the decision and asked them to go and listen to the call as I made a note of the date and time of the call.
I am so angry about this as I made sure I was entitled to the bonus before applying.
What are my chances of getting the bonus? 100% I was told on that phone call that I was entitled to the bonus!

[gordog01]

@ executiveclubber
Where do you get these lock-in deals?

[gordog01]

Surely you can’t beat around £1250pp inc flights from LHR to ATH, overnight 4star stay Athens, 7 night cruise , return flight BCN? Is this deal to good to be true with cruise.co.uk?

[gordog01]

duke wrote:

Another excellent cruise, was surprised by the two violent incidents onboard but security dealt with them swiftly and sailor services dished out a free cheap bottle of wine after the first one in the on the rocks bar for those that experienced it. They called it a “brawl” – i thought it was more entertaining than that terrible sip lounge singer, wailing away like a cat in a fight. 2nd one wasn’t as bad – the guys where well into their 60s lol Ole beardy is attracting exactly what he advertising for……

I was on that cruise as well and heard some random announcement around midnight but never heard what it was about.
It was a brilliant cruise again and I hope more come about next year. Food was amazing

[gordog01]

16th July Greek island glow if anyone wants to share.
https://virg.in/UqMK

[gordog01]

Just to clarify folks.
I just redeemed my Barclays upgrade voucher on INV – LHR – MIA and was only charged the 50k avios (peak date) and nothing extra for the domestic leg. Not an issue with 2 agents over the phone as when I was about to pay with the first agent I got cut off on the phone and when I phoned back the 2nd agent gave me exactly the same price and avios.
Anyone who has had to pay extra avios for the domestic leg has been charged wrongly as I suspected when I first wrote my comments a few weeks ago.

@Northernlass you were wrong to accept them taking extra avios for your domestic leg.
Hopefully this will clarify to others that this voucher is useful for folk outside London.
I am calling back to add in my return legs when they become available as agreed with agent.

[gordog01]

Thanks so much for posting this @tim_t.
Just what i thought should happen and according to terms and conditions is actually correct. @northernlass this just shows the correct procedure!! Never mind this RFS saver. No 18k Avios and £1 required just stand your ground for what your actually meant to pay. Well done Tim 👍

[gordog01]

Can anyone confirm that you get a domestic connection with the voucher if going long haul? On today’s chat thread @Northernlass says that you don’t get a domestic connection which I hope is not correct!!

[gordog01]

Two vouchers in my Virgin Atlantic account in the same card year, not the same date of entry, one week apart.

[gordog01]

Two 241 vouchers have landed in my virgin account instead of one. Both with different dates about a week apart. What’s the chances of them both staying there?

[gordog01]

Wow I can’t believe the value of this redemption of Virgin points! It’s just class and only 60% full on valiant lady right now.

[gordog01]

stevenhp1987 wrote:

There was no queueing back in July. Might be slightly different now there are more sailors on board.

Just walk off the cruise by tapping your wristband.

On our cruise all aboard was 30 minutes before departure. I can’t imagine them leaving without you if you are in the queue at at that time.

There is some airline style security on boarding. Some ports also have their own airline style security on top. You don’t need to take liquids out etc (unless it’s alcohol of course or if they ask to check it). It’s very quick though.I am on Virgin Valliant right now and no queues to really worry about.

[gordog01]

jamesv92 wrote:

gordog01 wrote:

Hi Folks, Deck 10 102A is that any good or worth changing?

It’s a good location on the ship but something you may want to bear in mind is it’s next to the curvature where the central sea terraces are. This means who ever is in 10 106 has an easy look on to your terrace if that bothers you as theirs juts out.

I have just called and it’s not possible to move as the ship is 90% full. Going to be busy

[gordog01]

Hi Folks, Deck 10 102A is that any good or worth changing?

[gordog01]

JohnO wrote:

gordog01 wrote:

JohnO wrote:

Anyone know if you can retrospectively sign up for the loot?

Hi John O how do I sign up for the sailor loot as I am on same cruise?

If you’ve not yet booked you could use my link https://virg.in/o8xC

If already booked, it can be done via chat.
If you want to email me I’ll share details and we can try it John.scl.Owens AT gmail.com

JohnO wrote:

gordog01 wrote:

JohnO wrote:

Anyone know if you can retrospectively sign up for the loot?

Hi John O how do I sign up for the sailor loot as I am on same cruise?

If you’ve not yet booked you could use my link https://virg.in/o8xC

If already booked, it can be done via chat.
If you want to email me I’ll share details and we can try it John.scl.Owens AT gmail.com

I have tried emailing you but email address not valid?

[gordog01]

JohnO wrote:

Anyone know if you can retrospectively sign up for the loot?

Hi John O how do I sign up for the sailor loot as I am on same cruise?

[gordog01]

nectar collector wrote:

Same mail for Spanish Obsession 25 September – leave Gibraltar and Ibiza 2 hours earlier….

I am on this cruise as well. Have you got the sailor loot?

[gordog01]

Thanks for your reply

[gordog01]

Rob, I have received the 25k bonus but not the extra 5k. When should this post? I applied via the enhanced bonus link on HFP.