[UPDATE: this has sold out and the rate is now $129 but in a classic room with no breakfast or late checkout] There are a few decent hotel offers on Travelzoo for stays all the way into December 2021. I’ll highlight one in Montreal that looks particularly interesting. Even if you’re not contemplating a trip to Montreal, it’s good to be aware of various deal websites you can monitor in case something comes along that suits your travel plans. [Read more…]
My Holiday Inn History (Still Open, Rebranded or Imploded)
The other day I watched a video of a Holiday Inn in Virginia being imploded and realized I actually stayed there on three separate occasions. It made me wonder what’s happened to some of the other Holiday Inns I’ve stayed at in the past. If you’re interested in reading my rambling recollections, feel free to read on. [Read more…]
Booking Speculative Travel In The Age Of COVID-19
A current dilemma among avid travellers is whether to go ahead a book a trip in light of the enormous uncertainty around COVID-19’s continuing impact on the world. Hence, I thought I’d take a look at some of the considerations involved in making tentative plans for travel in 2021. [Read more…]
IHG Rewards Double Points (Oct. 1 – Dec. 15, 2020) and Atlantic Canada Resident Rate Reminder
IHG Rewards Club just announced its latest global promotion. Although it’s not very exciting, it’s at least straightforward. Members will receive double points on every qualifying stay. It’s certainly worth registering for if you’re going to be staying at an IHG hotel. And if you’re considering options for a getaway here in the bubble, remember to check for Atlantic Canada resident discounts. [Read more…]
Searching For New Hotels In Various Loyalty Programs
A recent post on this blog was about a new hotel in Venice with potential for a high value redemption of Choice Privileges points. Consequently, I thought it might be useful to go over a few resources for finding new properties in various hotel chain loyalty programs. Whether it’s a recent construction or a rebranding of an existing hotel, it’s nice to discover new options for redeeming your points. [Read more…]
Tip For Finding Semi-Hidden Rates At IHG Hotels
Sometimes finding the lowest rate at a hotel is not as straightforward as one would hope. If the hotel you’re eyeing is a chain property, you might assume that you can go on the chain’s website and the full gamut of rates will be on display: non-refundable, refundable, members’ rates, package rates, CAA, senior etc. The reality, however, is that discovering the actual lowest rate may require a little more digging. [Read more…]
Summer 2020 Hotel Promo Registration Links
I thought it might be useful to compile a list of hotel promotions available for summer 2020 travel. Some of these I’ve posted about previously on the blog, but not all. If you have plans to travel within the Atlantic Bubble, check these out to see if any of them will help you save a bit of cash or earn a few extra loyalty points. [Read more…]
IHG Rewards Variable Point Rates – Good News?
Similar to changes made by other hotel loyalty programs, IHG Rewards recently introduced dynamic pricing for reward stays. When you get word of a big adjustment in a loyalty program, it’s assumed to be negative. At least that’s my usual reaction. But this change might not be too bad. Actually, so far it looks fairly promising. After a bit of searching, it kind of makes me want to make a speculative booking or three. [Read more…]
PointBreak Heartbreak – Plan B For Stretching Hotel Points
The IHG PointBreaks list was not updated as expected on Monday. Points and miles bloggers have since speculated about its termination. In light of this unfortunate development, I thought I’d explore some of the remaining ways to get as many stays as possible out of points in the various hotel loyalty programs. [Read more…]
No Co-Branded Credit Card In Canada – Should You Collect IHG Rewards Points?
There was a time in the somewhat recent past when you could earn IHG points via a credit card. Currently, the only hotel credit cards in Canada are the Marriott Amex and Best Western MasterCard. I know many keen points and miles collectors like using credit cards as their primary accumulation method, so the loss of the card was disappointing. For me, the credit card was never in the picture. [Read more…]