[Johnie]

There goes the Caffè Nero Nectar redemption – last date to create vouchers 18th August 2025 (valid for 12 months).

[Johnie]

Four additional lounge “suites” in Dublin ahead of summer crush.

http://archive.today/JqgsR

[Johnie]

And if it’s operated by Emerald (EI Commuter bods) it’ll likely arrive/depart late. As for luggage…

[Johnie]

Trailfinders is a great, time and often cost saving option, and in my experience most hotel and all airline points credit. If in doubt, ask them when booking!

[Johnie]

Always had positive experiences with Dragonpass (via Barclays) myself, but regardless you’re probably better off avoiding T5 Plaza, at least until they get their housekeeping/catering act together. Plane Food sounds like a better option.

[Johnie]

Honestly, it hasn’t been worth trying to get into for at least the last year (furnishing, food well below par).

[Johnie]

Personally like the lively (Accor) Mama Shelter but check reviews to see if the nightlife fits your lifestyle.

Very centrally located in Selma, including for the not as bad as you’d expect public transport.

Sadly, lot of homeless encampments – as elsewhere in the city/county/state – but have always felt safe walking in the area.

Otherwise, I’d ignore hotel loyalty schemes and head to booking.com etc and choose an area like Westwood/UCLA then take your pick.

There’s always Santa Monica of course, and if you’re lucky you’ll bump into Rishi Sunak arriving at LAX on Saturday just as you’re leaving. Enjoy!

[Johnie]

As well as Citylink/Translink scheduled services from Edinburgh/Glasgow, https://hannoncoach.com/ operate daily.

From Belfast to Dublin and reverse, as well as Translink/BusEireann there’s aircoach.ie and Dublin (National) Express.

Consider also trains: non-privatised translink.co.uk has decent web only fares as well as pay at station.

Also Stena Line has reasonable combined rail and sail tickets.

Although Aer Lingus Regional is supposedly operating normally, mainline customer service will be heavily impacted by strike.

Worse comes to the worst: there may be late Avios Reward Saver fares availability EDI etc to LHR to Dublin. Might be worth it for Taylor. Good luck and enjoy the show!

[Johnie]

Can’t miss TAS! If worst happens, there are multiple rail/coach services from Scotland to Belfast, then to Dublin. ID requirements generally less onerous, and could be quite an adventure for the wee one.

Dublin tent encampments-related Garda ID checks increasingly frequent on border, but you shouldn’t experience any trouble accessing Common Travel Area.

Do note possible Aer Lingus strike.

Enjoy the gig when you get there – nonstop coaches run into the night and hotel availability will be a lot better in Belfast than Dublin, if that’s an issue.

http://www.seat61.com
http://www.translink.co.uk

[Johnie]

To coincide with the RevPoints launch, they’ve enhanced the Premium account by completely removing travel insurance. A year’s free upgrade to Metal (which retains travel insurance) being offered as recompense.

Really the correct comparison isn’t with Amex or any other credit card, but with the dearly departed BA Avios Mastercard.

[Johnie]

Helsinki is a great place to take a child, lots of indoor activities.

Also, they’ve just decided to stop dumping snow in the sea, and instead truck mountains of it to urban car parks to thaw out (very gradually).

https://yle.fi/a/74-20054464

You can use Avios on Finnair (also try Ryanair, Air Baltic etc).

[Johnie]

Try buying something <£50 or so from https://www.freemans.com/ or similar (there’ll be a decent discount for first credit order if approved).

Make payments on time, and after a few months you’ll be seen as a better credit card etc risk.

Also, Zilch, Klarna and Laybuy all now report to UK credit reference agencies (Clearpay still doesn’t).

[Johnie]

Brilliant – but you really need to do a podcast (there’s a sudden vacancy at Spotify, apparently).

[Johnie]

Small print suggests only base Nectar points are doubled not the (essential to make the scheme worthwhile) bonus points.

[Johnie]

Depends a lot on where exactly you want to be in Hollywood. Personally really like Mama Shelter (Accor) on Selma – not 5 star but great nightlife! Paid parking nearby, also homeless encampments now sadly endemic in LA (but felt safe enough).

[Johnie]

Had DragonPass for five years via Barclays Travel Pack. Some lounges haven’t returned post-Covid – brilliantly located Air France/Korea at LAX notably – but the new app is a real improvement on its predecessor.

There are also now more alternative offers than before – eg no lounge (obviously) at LCY but spa session (manicures etc) available as a substitute, and (fairly typical) restaurant discounts at, for example, LHR to augment Plaza Premium etc access.

Frequently offered ability to pre-book via app which Rob refers to is really positive.

Overall think DP is better than PP (although haven’t had one of those for years). Probably worth checking out any discount offers for DP rather than paying full whack (vaguely recall some mentioned on past forum postings).

[Johnie]

Isn’t Travel Republic just Emirates – indeed the UAE ruling families – under a different name?

[Johnie]

Personally with Dragonpass via Barclays travel pack. Got an an email weeks ago saying new app should be downloaded from either Google or Apple, and old app deleted.

Followed instructions, and like the other commenter on the other thread, found new version much improved (including with the booking facility). Assumed the upgrade applied to all Dragonpass deals/partners but maybe not.

Range of lounges has altered. Unfortunately the very nice LAX offering has gone, but I notice some Virgin Clubhouses have popped up (not LHR) and some Lufthansa as well.

[Johnie]

Original question was posted as a different topic, and answered as follows:

Download the latest version of the app – now rebadged as Dragonpass Premier+ – then search under LHR.

If pre-booking is available, the button to press is shown above the description for each lounge. You’re also told if there’s no pre-booking (Plaza 5 is fine, generally).

And on the subject of Dragonpass, because there’s no lounge at London City, you can claim a free 15 minute massage or manicure session in the spa. Personally, I’d prefer to cough up for Caffé Nero but each to their own.

Somebody else added that the new, definitely much improved app can also cope with credits from previous Dragonpass promotions.

The ability to book/see when you can’t book is the big plus though.

[Johnie]

And on the subject of Dragonpass, because there’s no lounge at London City, you can claim a free 15 minute massage or manicure session in the spa. Personally, I’d prefer to cough up for Caffé Nero but each to their own.

[Johnie]

Download the latest version of the app – now rebadged as Dragonpass Premier+ – then search under LHR.

If pre-booking is available, the button to press is shown above the description for each lounge. You’re also told if there’s no pre-booking (Plaza 5 is fine, generally).

[Johnie]

They’re all expensive for what you get, in a ludicrously expensive city.

Really comes down to where you want to be. Conrad is on one corner of Stephen’s Green. Hilton Dublin a bit further up, past the (underwhelming) nightclub strip and overlooking a canal.

Morrison and Garden Inn on north bank of Liffey, former by bridge to Temple Bar booze-culture ghetto. Latter near Fin Services.

Personally I’d go for Kilmainham, bit further out, but with reasonable public transport to city centre, and some good walk/history options nearby.

[Johnie]

Agree with Rob about Platz bring safe, good hotels. But with senior citizen/kids OP might find other side of Tiergarten better option.

Great selection of hotels around Zoo station/Ku’damm.

Haven’t used it myself but more than one German colleague has raved about the brilliantly located Premier Inn Berlin City Centre for work as well as play. And at around £40 a room…