Our Whine Wednesday topic this week once again comes back to the issue of prepaid hotel vouchers that various hotels sell, in this case the Renaissance Koh Samui where I purchased one voucher with 50% bonus.
Vouchers always come with fine print that are the basis for the sale yet sometimes hotels like to change the rules retroactively and this is one such case I’d like to highlight.
A LoyaltyLobby reader sent us a question regarding lounge access on an American Airlines issued business class award on Qatar Airways that we covered back in March. Now we have an update about the issue.
Remember to send us your questions and comments by email, and Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We’ll try to cover them here several times a week.
When I had an overnight stay in Puerto Vallarta last week, I decided to stay (again) at the Holiday Inn Puerto Vallarta Marina & Golf-hotel that is within walking distance from the airport (carry-on only).
I don’t often pay much attention to the notices placed around the hotels, but I was surprised to see the one below due to the type of rooms and suites the hotel has.
Today’s Airfare of the Day goes to Qatar Airways and their midweek business class restricted round trip fares between Stockholm (ARN), Sweden and Hong Kong SAR (HKG).
Remember to email or message us via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with your airfare-related questions or discoveries!
Accor hotels in Vietnam offer 30% off rates for stays through June 13, 2021.
Accor Live Limitless members are eligible for the discount, while Accor Plus members get an additional 10% off. You must book by April 30.
Just two days into the new AUS/NZ travel bubble an Auckland, New Zealand airport worker who was responsible for cleaning incoming aircraft has tested positive for the Coronavirus.
The man has previously received both vaccine doses as per New Zealand authorities and is currently being treated according to health protocols.
Radisson has made its website (read more here) and soon Rewards Programs (read more here) more confusing by splitting them both into two due to the ownership of the company (Chinese Government).
Radisson Rewards is massively devaluing its awards program in the Americas by removing the 9,000 points hotels and increasing them to 15,000 points. That is 67% raise!. Overall, 60% of the hotels will require more points, and 40% less.
Southwest Airlines has launched a yearly subscription that allows Rapid Rewards members to buy miles throughout the year at a predetermined price with a bonus.
Buying Rapid Rewards points has never made any sense. Even less now when they were further devalued last week because the awards are priced dynamically, and you always end up paying significantly more for points than what they are worth.
Hyatt and Playa announced on Monday that they would open a “new” Ziva hotel in Riviera Maya, about 30 minutes south of Cancun airport, by the end of 2021.
It turns out that this “new” hotel is the former Secrets Silversands that has been closed for few years due to a dispute among its owners and striking employees, and Playa has reached an agreement to take it over and flag it under Ziva after some touch-up.
Southwest Airlines has launched a bonus Rapid Rewards points campaign for flights to and from Bush/Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH).
The double Rapid Rewards points are valid for tickets both purchased and flown between April 19 – July 18, 2021. You also need to register for this offer.
IHG Hotels in the Middle East, India, Africa, and the Maldives have launched a Flash Sale for stays through September 30, 2021.
IHG Rewards members are guaranteed a 46% discount, while non-member one is capped at 40%. You must book by May 1.
Greece is welcoming tourists from today that either need to provide a negative Covid-19 PCR-RT test performed not more than 72-hours of arrival or be fully vaccinated with whatever vaccine, including the not so effective Sinopharm.
I am not sure what this pilot entails because there is a nationwide 24-hour curfew, and travel between regions is banned. You are allowed to leave your place once or twice a day by sending an SMS first to a designated purpose (to buy food or medication).
A LoyaltyLobby reader sent us a note about a stay at Renaissance Palm Springs that, for me, looks more like a homeless shelter than a hotel affiliated with Marriott.
Remember to send us your questions, comments, hints, and tips by email, and Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We’ll try to cover them here several times a week.
Hilton announced their latest Honors promotion called “More Nights, More Points” for stays between May 3 – September 6, 2021.
Honors members earn double points for stays of one or two nights and triple points for three nights or longer.
