[DorsetFlyer]

@JDB – thanks so much for the quick response and for the advice. We’ll keep an eye on things and act quickly if the situation drags on such that we get cancelled in due course.
All the best to everyone disrupted, stuck or living somewhere affected.

[DorsetFlyer]

Currently away in Thailand. Flights back are in a few days time (not cancelled yet).
The booking is a BA Holiday (booked as flight and hotels together) but flights are BA codeshare on QR metal.
Presumably, if the flights are cancelled in due course, we would contact BA Holidays number? Does it being ABTA protected make any extra difference?
Our flight back is Phuket via Doha to LHR.
Thanks for any advice and hoping things settle down asap for the region, residents of countries affected and so that travel can restart.

[DorsetFlyer]

Thanks @Richie for checking my logic!

[DorsetFlyer]

Just double checking before booking. Going to book via BA.com. LHR to Ho Chi Minh City. All 4 flights (2 on BA metal and 2 on Qatar connecting via Doha) have a BA flight number.
Then booking 3 nights in Ho Chi Minh and 3 nights in Hanoi all during the trip (all on the same booking and booked at the same time as the flights).
This should earn 560 tier points and then doubled to 1120?
Am I correct in my thinking/planning?

[DorsetFlyer]

Thanks all – really helpful advice and experiences.

[DorsetFlyer]

Just to say thanks to everyone who gave advice on this thread.
We are now at the last stop on our 2 week and it has been fantastic. Highly recommend a visit.

Highlights for us:
– Medellin – amazing city. Brilliant restaurants and bars. We stayed at Marquee Hotel but plenty in El Poblado district which would be equally good. Very LGBT friendly in Pobldado as well.
– Coffee Triangle – stayed at BioHabitat hotel. Some rooms have plunge pools on the deck outside.
– Santa Marta – where we are at the moment. Staying at Senda Watapuy near the national park. Again has plunge pool on deck and views of the jungle. Heading for one night at Marriott Playa Dormida Santa Marta booked through Emyr before heading home.

Many thanks to all. Can’t wait to come back as only feel we have scraped the surface.

[DorsetFlyer]

We stayed at The London in June, and thought is was really lovely. Excellent service and rooms.
Lovely deck and pool on the roof.
Highly recommended although it obviously comes with a price tag.

[DorsetFlyer]

Just to add to this, also unable to refer at the moment. Have never self-referred.
Last referral 2 months ago was my father-in-law (different address, different surname and never referred him before).
Prior to that the last referral was my husband (same address but different surname) and that was at least 6 months ago.
So no idea why I have been prevented from referring again.
(Excellent credit rating and fully paid off every month).

[DorsetFlyer]

Incidentally we have also visited Cafayate in Northern Argentina for wine. (As well as Mendoza and Central Valley).
I agree with JDB that it is less commercialised. But we found the wine of lower quality.
Again you will probably find a wide range of views/opinions and advice!

[DorsetFlyer]

I would agree with the previous post. We have spent 7 weeks across both Chile and Argentina in 2 different trips.

The absolutely must see in Chile is Torres del Paine National park. If you have moderate to good fitness then Base of Towers trek is best hike I think I have ever done. Highly recommended.

I would skip Bariloche and Argentinian Lake District. It was our least favourite place we went. Others may disagree, but for us we felt it didn’t live up to expectations.
Much better was Argentinan Patagonia. We stayed in El Calafate and visited Perito Moreno glacier from there. Again I would say it’s not to be missed.

You can travel by bus from El Calafate in Argentina to Puerto Natales (for Torres del Paine) by bus in 3 or 4 hours. So you could head down one country, cross the border in Patagonia and head back up the other country. Makes a nice round trip.

Wine regions in both countries are excellent. We based ourselves in Santa Cruz in Chile’s central valley and Mendoza for our Argentina wine tours.

We did both trips across November and found it an excellent time to visit.

Please ask if you want more recommendations. We did complete self-guided with no issue, although you probably need a least a bit of Spanish in Argentina (less need in Chile).

[DorsetFlyer]

Thanks all again for the advice.
Flights now booked and firming up plan for our time in country.

We are going to drop Cartagena, and keep Santa Marta – sounds more authentic and has the mix of beach and hiking at Parque Tayrona too. Hopefully that gives us less moves and more time to experience the people and the culture in all our stops.

[DorsetFlyer]

Thanks to you both.
I’ve found the flights I want on BA.com. So will go with those

[DorsetFlyer]

Awesome input from loads of people. Thank you
Too many ideas for one trip now! Can’t extend this one, so will mean going back at least once.

[DorsetFlyer]

Thanks everyone.
Really useful info, tips and recommendations.

[DorsetFlyer]

Thanks for all the swift advice!

Flights – We were thinking Iberia via Madrid on avios. But will take a look at KLM if that means an easier route home.

Totally agree already that we can’t fit in everything in 2 weeks. Definitely assuming a trip back another time to cover more ground.

None of you are mentioning Coffee Triangle – Pereira, Armenia etc. Would that be worth dropping on this trip so facilitate the extra nights elsewhere?

[DorsetFlyer]

Hi Sam,

Re Bogotá – the flight arrival/departure times give us 2 full days essentially (1 full day on arrival and then most of the day we leave). Sounds like it might be too much even with that limited time.

Thanks for the advice about Cartagena. Would you skip this? As a UNESCO site I assumed the old city would be worth visiting?

Tom

[DorsetFlyer]

No carousel horse! But we do have a slightly odd shaped triangular room. You have to get slimmer as you walk through the room to get past the bed.
I have to say I am really enjoying the bespoke and individual vibe.
I suspect no room or suite is the same in shape or decoration.
As you said, Anna, service and staff are impeccable and super happy to help.
Porto itself is amazing – brilliant foody restaurants with small plates. Highly recommend a trip here and Se Catedral Hotel is in an excellent location for everything.

[DorsetFlyer]

Just staying here. So will report back and see if anything has changed since Anna’s stay earlier in the year.
So far there is no change on the in-room coffee policy. 2 pods per stay and then 1€ per extra pod after that!

[DorsetFlyer]

Same with me – signed up with code (triple checked it was in place)
No bonus.

Rob – anything you can do with Qatar about this?

[DorsetFlyer]

pbcold wrote:

Do we know when Amingiri will come onto the market?

Opening has been pushed back to 3rd quarter of 2022 according the hotel website. That only changed a few weeks ago, so I guess they can’t open bookings until they have a firmer date.

[DorsetFlyer]

Hi Will,

Thank you so much. That is amazing and must have taken ages to type.
Really appreciated – loads of awesome tips for stuff off the beaten track.
Tom

[DorsetFlyer]

Thanks for the tips everyone. Much appreciated.

Hoping to go in June – not sure if temperature means that Joshua Tree national part might be a bit hot at that time of year?