European Council this past week agreed on the European Commission proposal for Digital Green Certificates (read covid passports) that each member state would be required to issue for its citizens and residents.
European Parliament will cast its vote on April 28, 2021. The plan is to have these interoperable Digital Green Passports issued by each member state + Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, ready by mid-June.
Australia has required its citizens and permanent residents to apply for a permit to leave, but this is now possible via New Zealand through the travel bubble without going through the permission route.
The Trans-Tasman travel bubble is now officially open, allowing those that have been in New Zealand or Australia for a minimum of 14 days to travel between these two countries freely.
IHG Rewards launched a much-awaited top-tier Spire Elite status back in 2015 (read more here) with a promise of new benefits that would soon be introduced but which never materialized (still waiting six years later) outside of the Greater China (read more here).
It seems to have come as a surprise to many when I mentioned on the recent InterContinental Ambassador renewal piece that buying or renewing the paid membership also renews your Spire Elite status. I thought that this was widely known.
Sonesta launched back in March an offer for stays at newly affiliated hotels, likely those rebranded from Marriott and IHG. The offer has now been extended through May 31, 2021.
Sonesta Travel Pass members earn 2,500 bonus points for each stay at these select hotels between April 16 – May 31, 2021.
Today’s Airfare of the Day goes to Etihad and their business class promotional round trip fares between London (LGW/LHR), United Kingdom and Bangkok (BKK), Thailand.
Remember to email or message us via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with your airfare-related questions or discoveries!
As many of our readers are aware of based on the recent coverage, I have been in and around Mexico since early January.
Most of my stays have been good to excellent, while there have been three Compensation Clinic cases.
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al Baker – known for his controversial opinions – is back in the headlines after he gave The Times an interview where he gave British Airways a rating of 2/10, comparing it to a low cost carrier.
In the past Mr. Al Baker was a vocal critic when it comes to the competition, especially the U.S. and European carriers that were constantly lobbying against the ME3 in their home markets.
This week’s Compensation Clinic case comes from my recent stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Tuxtla Gutierrez with some housekeeping issues. Guest Assistance decided to award me some points after I inquired about HGI’s Promise policy.
Remember that you can always email us, send a message via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and include photos. We’ll try to cover a Compensation Clinic case here regularly.
IHG Hotels with ANA have made a deal to convert three existing Appi Kougen area hotels from Iwate under three brands.
Appi Kogen will soon have ANA Crowne Plaza, ANA Holiday Inn Resort, and ANA InterContinental resort hotels.
Welcome to our weekly video review on hotel suites and rooms around the world! This week’s edition features the Fantastic Suite, a 84 sq.m./904 sq.ft. 1-bedroom suite at the W Bangkok.
Remember that besides following us on Facebook or twitter, you can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for up-to-date content on hotel video reviews!
Today’s Airfare of the Day goes to Qatar Airways and their midweek business class restricted round trip fares between Amsterdam (AMS); Netherlands and Cape Town (CPT), South Africa.
Remember to email or message us via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with your airfare-related questions or discoveries!
Last month panel of government officials has approved a plan that was supposed to pave the way to open Phuket island to foreign visitors without quarantine as long as they have received a vaccine.
This plan has now once again hit a roadblock as the the strong resurgence of Covid-19 requires the government to divert the few vaccine doses they have available to the mainland instead of the islands.
Choice Privileges has quietly launched an offer for a maximum of 8,000 or a minimum of 5,000 bonus points for two stays through May 2, 2021.
The number of bonus points depends on the base points you earn (you get a minimum of 8,000 points total after two stays).
Spain is trying to save the 2021 Summer Season after disastrous 2020 that saw the lowest number of incoming tourists in 50 years.
Citizens and residents of the EU can arrive without quarantine or Covid-19 tests if they have a “digital green certificate” or vaccine passport. Spain also plans to allow certain third-country nationals in, who are on the EU’s not welcomed list if EU/Schengen cannot come up with a solution to open the outer border.
