[qc]

@davefl can I ask did you see any evidence of refugees there? Are there charities to which one could donate clothing etc? When the first exodus of Syrians arrived in Turkey there were a lot of people we saw on the streets. We knew there would be so we brought 3 suitcases of warm clothes and shoes which we donated to Caritas who would then distribute them to those in need.

[qc]

@Rob – I applied using the link but my email doesn’t have the ‘£40 affiliate partner payment’ and I got the 10,000 Avios. Mr @qc applied using your link – his email is exactly the same as mine but he hasn’t had the 10,000 Avios. He has contacted JP Morgan who told him he didn’t apply for your offer. He has gone back saying that both our welcome emails are exactly the same.

[qc]

masaccio wrote:

Any of the COCO-MAT hotels. Very modern with a superb sleep comfort (they sell beds) and a good breakfast.

Yes the Coco Mat beds are great.

[qc]

I wonder at what stage we investigate the fact they didn’t track. I think Rob said that he would follow up any that don’t.

[qc]

Scriv09 wrote:

Sooooo having spent quite a bit of time on that thread it would seem being signed into the website but also on the phone to the US might be the best option…

Or to Australia!

[qc]

It’s bringing the U.K. into line with other countries who require their citizens to use the passport of the country when entering and leaving such as the US.

[qc]

People from NI are born on the island of Ireland can enter with an Irish passport under the freedom of movement.

[qc]

@jintycat – you can enter on an Irish passport. Nephew is entitled to Irish (mother born on the island of Ireland) , Portuguese (father born in Portugal) British (mother born in NI) French as he was born in France but who travels on an Australian passport as he has lived there since he was 10 has opted for an Irish passport.

[qc]

Has everyone had their 10,000 Avios? I’ve had mine but my husband is still waiting.

[qc]

occasionalranter wrote:

Also, have got the chance to go to Malaga for about 10 days early March, thinking of doing a little roadtrip loop, can anyone recommend hotels in the £150-300/night range in Malaga, Seville, Ronda area, maybe Gibraltar, Cadiz ? Thanks 🙂

In Seville I can recommend Las Casas de la Juderia And in Ronda Casa Palacio VillaZambra.

[qc]

travelmonkey wrote:

Reminds me of my first Airmiles redemption flight in 2008… on Swiss! Can’t do that with Avios.

Unfortunately I can’t dig out how much it cost me.

Was it via BMI? I flew LX in F to Dar es Salaam back in the day when we had great flying opportunities via BMI and its credit card!

[qc]

Do the JP Morgan friends referral and 5000 Avios offer work together? Might suit anyone who missed out on the 10,000 Avios offer.

[qc]

The other benefit of Lux and Lifestyle is that they often offers of 3 nights for 2.

[qc]

We use Alan Boswell but they no longer offer Avios unfortunately.

[qc]

With regard to the size of the bassinets don’t BA have a cradle style seat that can be attached to the bassinet fittings?

With regard to the right age it really depends on the baby – with our oldest we wouldn’t have entertained flying with him as he was colicky and was difficult to settle but he was very good in the car so we drove all the way to Sweden from Calais. However by the time he was 15 months we got very itchy feet so took him on a RTW in Y for 3 months. He was small for his age so did fit in the bassinet and slept enough of the flights so that we could relax.

When my granddaughter was coming up to 2 we redeemed Avios and 2 2-4-1s for a trip to the US. On the way out there was enough space for her to share with a parent and on the way and on the return she had a seat of her own as 2 year olds have to have their own seat. All for the ptice of an infant fare.

[qc]

Jill Kinkell wrote:

@Reeferman Q’town Park hotel not available for our dates. I’ll check out VRBO as mentioned by @Whatsthepoint

@qc. Oh! Hmn maybe change of plan!

Don’t worry – it is good. We’ve only stayed once and it was about 10 years ago. Since then our favourites have been the IC Middle Rd ( sadly taken over) and The Fullerton.

[qc]

The MO in Singapore is good but not in the same league as the Mandarin in HK or the Oriental in Bangkok.

[qc]

Thanks for a great review – how long was the actual trip?

We’ve only been to the South Island once a long time ago and didn’t make the Milford Sound either. We were driving around and were watching the weather. We may have made it in but the weather was turning and as we had only had a few days to travel back up to Christchurch for our flight back to SYD and work.

[qc]

davefl wrote:

Can’t remember who mentioned using “imshi” rather than “la shukran” but used it this morning with a particularly persistent individual and they went away laughing rather than taking offense.

So thank you.

Don’t know if it was me or not but I was part of the conversation. First learnt it in the early 70s when the camel guy was trying to get the camel to move and have heard it since on coaches etc.

[qc]

Got my 10,000 avios too – only opened the account on the 12th Jan.

[qc]

Man of Kent wrote:

+1 for a honeymoon in Kenya in the early 1990’s first ever Safari including a dawn balloon ride over the Masai Mara followed by a few days relaxing on a beach.

I still have some of those soapstone carvings.

It wasn’t our honeymoon but backpacking back from Sydney in 1980 but we also did a safari in Masai Mara. We booked it in Nairobi when we arrived and our mode of transport both getting there and doing the safari was a minibus with one other couple who had a baby! In Masai Mara we stayed in what was a luxurious hotel compared to some of our previous accommodations! There was a buffet lunch when we arrived and the highlight of that was all the desserts😂

[qc]

BBbetter wrote:

Candor wrote:

Morning from the Radisson Blu in Malappuram, the hotel is a little dated , but otherwise has been a very comfortable stay for the past 2 days , as we booked through a travel agent no benefits applied from being a Premium member

Onto Puducherry today for a night visit

Interested to know how Puducherry is and the hotel! A few old colonial villas have been renovated as hotels.

We had a few days in Pondy in 2023 – really enjoyed it especially the local and French coronial influence. We stayed in the Grand Hotel d’Europe one of those converted colonial villas.

[qc]

JaneDoe wrote:

I’d be interested to know what others usually do in this situation. Our return flight from Delhi to London departs at 3am. We’re staying at Le Meridien, with the room available until 1pm, and we then have an afternoon tour that finishes around 6pm.

I’m assuming we’ll be able to use the hotel facilities afterwards and have an early dinner. In situations like this, do you usually book and pay for an extra night so you can keep the room until departure? In our case, the additional night would cost £300.

I wouldn’t pay for the extra night. Most big chain hotels like Le Meridien will store your luggage and have a guest room you can use to shower before going to the airport. Just ask.

[qc]

Jill Kinkell wrote:

Well, I was able to do the midnight phone call and bagged 241 in J to Sydney. It arrives at 7 am! Return was double avios from Singapore and a phone call to return half. Rather chuffed to have got it all. I’m not awash with avios so more than happy to go with BA on a 241.

I agree with using the 2-4-1 on flights to SYD – we did the same booking the outbound straight through then building a stopover in SIN on the way back. The early morning arrival into SYD suited us as we had booked a separate flight to MEL on QF mid morning.

[qc]

The only advantage is that you’re next door to Tangs and Lucky Plaza!