[Iona]

Just realised I never came back on this.

We looked at Parador 44 but the dates didn’t work. We did have an excellent breakfast at Asador 44 though.

We ended up spending one night at Llanerch Vineyard (it was available for a good price when booked room only, non-refundable a week or so out). We booked a Courtyard Room – comfy bed, nice shower and espresso machine (with fresh milk available). Neighbours believed in shutting their door firmly but no other issues. We didn’t have breakfast (M&S Cafe for the win!) but dinner was very good. Real mix of clientele – including some elderly couples who’d been to a funeral, a father and (18-21) son and several singles with business nearby.

We also spent a couple of nights at the Park Plaza. It was ok… I’d stay again (with a couple of caveats below) but wouldn’t pick it ahead of other places. They have two tiers of guests/rooms (even down to whether you get a folded piece of paper with your room key in or a little cardboard wallet). We booked a Superior Tree-Lined View which is advertised as having “air conditioning/heating control”. What they don’t mention is that the only people who can change the temperature of the room are reception… They also offered us the option to put a portable electric heater in the freezing bathroom in order to warm it up. We ended up being moved to an Executive Room which was tired but better. I wouldn’t book below that level in future. Thought the £10 charge for a robe was a bit cheeky given the fuss they make about the hotel having leisure/spa facilities. Finally, a very seasonal issue is that it’s across the road from Winter Wonderland so if you’re in one of the rooms facing it (which I assume is about 50% of them) there’s loud music until 9 or 10pm (depending on the day of the week).

We used Just Park to book parking at the Ibis Budget which worked well but was a bit of a trek from the hotel.

[Iona]

I made a booking (paid for with AmEx) in the iPhone app yesterday with no issues.

[Iona]

Thanks all – several to investigate there (and a couple to avoid). Will report back on where we picked and how it was!

[Iona]

One possibility is that P2 made a transaction at a merchant that’s been linked to a potential compromise (ie it’s the point of commonality for lots of people who’ve had since suffered from fraud) and they’re reissuing cards with different details to others who’ve shopped there just in case their existing card details have been obtained by fraudsters. If that’s the case I’d expect a few others to be in a similar position.

I’m sure others will also come up with some other scenarios (IT issue?).

You may just want to check with Amex that they don’t have a record of you ordering a new card though, just in case someone’s done so fraudulently with the intention of intercepting it.

[Iona]

BBbetter wrote:

Hyatt 100 off 250.
Interestingly, includes hotels outside Europe.

I was pleased to see this pop up as I need to book a stay at one of the hotels on the list regardless (and, unlike the Hilton offer which I also would have used I’ve actually got this one).

Trying to decide what rate to book – does anyone know if it triggers on advance purchase rates or if it needs to be checkout spend?

[Iona]

Jonathans wrote:

I think i have narrowed it down to the Sheraton Walt Disney World Dolphin, Marriott Orlando World Center and JW Marriott Grand Lakes. Any advice or feedback please?

If you’re planning a WDW parks heavy trip it’s worth noting that the Dolphin would give you the option to walk (or get the boat) to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

[Iona]

If I did one touristy thing in Munich I’d probably make it the Residenz. There’s a lot of rooms so the museum ticket on its own may be worthwhile rather than adding on the treasury and theatre.

Also in Munich, the one traditional food/drink thing I’d do is the Schneider Bräuhaus (Weisses Bräuhaus Im Tal). It’s a real mix of tourists and locals. The beer is excellent and the food hearty.

[Iona]

Thanks @TGLoyalty – that’s perfect.

[Iona]

Alex G wrote:

Special.

Definition.

“not ordinary or usual”

Yes, that describes the last CW special meal catering we had out of LGW. Ordered lacto-ovo vegetarian but the catering team decided that it was easier to do the same meal for everyone that ordered vegetarian (lacto-ovo or Asian) or vegan. That would have been fine, had someone actually thought through the menu. The starter was quinoa with a couple of leaves on the side, the main course was quinoa with a few stray bits of vegetable mixed through it and the light meal before landing was quinoa with a cauliflower floret…

And that’s why I miss the ability to pre-order! As long as I could pre-order a veggie main I was happy to take my chances on whatever else was available on the day knowing that even if there were courses I didn’t eat I’d still have enough.

[Iona]

Data point: In T5 Plaza at the moment. They’ve got the virtual queue QR code up outside but still had a little space so we were able to get straight in (it’s very busy though).

North security was busy, south quiet (although it did feature the entire Hertha Berlin U21 squad) and the airport itself doesn’t seem that busy so I suspect that in another week’s time the virtual queue will be in operation.

[Iona]

Thanks to those who had previously recommended Kahani near Sloane Square. We took advantage of the vegetarian bottomless brunch today – very good! Bit full now though…

[Iona]

Anyone found one that involves BOS on the way back? If so I’ll keep playing with combinations to see if I can find something that works for us next May.

[Iona]

And did you also have the cabin crew swear that it wasn’t loaded and the customer services email address claim that it was? (That’s a “no” by the way in terms of having had something successfully delivered).

[Iona]

Our current approach is to pre-order if we’re flying out of Heathrow and take a chance of being able to get something off the menu (even if it’s just a starter and a dessert) if we’re flying from Gatwick. The logic behind this is that the veggie catering (be it VLML or AVML) seems to be much better out of Heathrow. Gatwick seems to give you the vegan option whatever vegetarian option you select and I’ve no idea who puts the vegan “menu” together. One particularly memorable trip featured quinoa with a few bits in it for a starter, quinoa with a few bits in it for a main and quinoa with a few bits in it for the second meal (both meals being accompanied by some chopped up underripe fruit for “dessert”)…

[Iona]

nectar collector wrote:

AA operate 777-200s from Dallas Fort Worth to Hawaii with lie flat seats, and some 787-8 services from Chicago to Hawaii.

Not sure on the exact plane but I think AA offer flat beds from Phoenix too. Air Canada, Delta, Hawaiian and United also offer flat beds from various places that I didn’t mention too

[Iona]

Richie wrote:

Which flights from the US/CA to HNL have a wide F/J class seat and which have flat beds? TIA.

It depends who you want to fly with. In summary though, it’s typically flat bed unless you’re flying from Seattle, Vancouver or California.

From those areas it looks like:
– Hawaiian offer a flat bed from Seattle, LA, San Francisco & San Diego (but not San Jose, at least when I was looking).
– United have flat beds from LA and San Francisco (but not on all flights).
– Delta have some flat beds from LA (but most flights are recliners).
– That seems to be about it, others are all recliners for the “shorter” hops.

[Iona]

We used the FHR benefits at Portofino Bay last October and they were as you’ve described.

The room upgrade improved our view (king bed garden view upgraded to king bed bay view).

The dining credit was usable everywhere other than Bice.

I asked for clarity on the breakfast credit and was told (remembering that this was two people and last year’s prices) that: “For the Breakfast credit you have $68 that you can use each morning of you stay for Trattoria Del Porto, Starbucks, or In room dining in the morning“.

Early check in (12) was subject to availability – the hotel was busy when we were staying there so we had a room ready text at 1:21. Late check out didn’t need to be pre-arranged. I think we ended up leaving the room at 1:30 but could have stayed in it until 4.

We also could have had upgraded WiFi access but we didn’t need it.

[Iona]

strickers wrote:

Are we all heading to Hawaii next year? Cruise from Vancouver to Honolulu for us, looks like Alaskan is available to book using Avios are BA. No bags included but bag fees look reasonable. So one way flight from Honolulu to San Fran then road trip to San Diego for the flight home.

Yep, next autumn’s the plan. We were pondering a cruise down from Vancouver – who are you going with?

[Iona]

Reading the lack of love for Dallas, where would people recommend breaking up the journey for a few nights in each direction? How’s Seattle? Austin? Should we go for somewhere in California despite the lack of flatbed?

[Iona]

strickers wrote:

I think having looked I feel the same as you @Iona, we have booked a restaurant in Banff instead.

Could do with a like button! Glad it’s not just us that struggled to find something that looked good.

[Iona]

strickers wrote:

Went to Orelle in Birmingham last night, £175 for two mains, sparkling water, one bottle of wine and one desert. Great views of the post-industrial landscape with decent service although we felt we were being rushed somewhat. Mains arrived suspiciously quickly but were decent. As with a lot of places on the list I felt it was significantly overpriced. Would I go again, only if like this time I wasn’t spending my own money. Off to research Toronto and Boston now to see what my best options are to use the overseas portion. As an aside, the Harvey Nichols bar in the Mailbox in Birmingham was a good way to use that credit, some decent bin ends on at a reasonable price for HN and the tapas style dishes were perfect for a late lunch.

Would be interested to hear what you conclude about Boston. We’re uninspired by the choices and so will likely use it in Munich instead.

[Iona]

We’ve been members since 2007 and haven’t regretted buying in once. We’ve definitely got to the point now where the accommodation on our trips just costs us the price of the annual dues. However, these days you really do need to run the maths (considering how frequently you’d go and what accommodation you’d stay in if you didn’t buy into DVC) – when we bought in the points were cheaper and the pound was a lot stronger against the dollar. Happy to try and answer any specific questions you may have but as Rob says The DIBB is a great resource.

[Iona]

Not Barbados but when we could only do 8 nights in St Lucia (+ one on the plane back) we were surprised to discover that, whilst we could have happily stayed for longer (and would like to go back someday), it didn’t feel too short.

[Iona]

ringingup wrote:

They also mention an upcoming credit card in their email.

Oddly my email only mentions the 1% interest…

[Iona]

Thanks both.