The game's afoot, Watson!
#61
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
Programs: UA 2MM, DL 500k, AA 500k, Hyatt GP 1M, HH Gold, Rad. Gold, CP Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 9,950
I had the same problem with a hotel in Rome. Plenty of Best Rate availability, but not one CP nite. Called and gently asked what was happening in Rome and whether they were sold out. Response was 'ooops, we forgot to load the CP nights in the system'. The receptionist did it immediately and at once plenty of 8000 points per night availability opened up.
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
If this can be made to happen as a matter of course, it could be a big help, especially for those who want to redeem and read FT.
For the folks who have the points but are 'civilians', well, that's that much less comperition for us.
Of course, just loading award rooms doesn't make the points price go down, but still ...
#64
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,745
I'm in the midst of a four-night stay at the Clarion IFSC Dublin, and I am impressed. Sixth-floor suite overlooking the River Liffey with a balcony overlooking the city. Very comfortable bed. Separate shower and bath. Two TVs in the suite. Terry cloth robes in the closet. A very attractive hotel with a decent restaurant/bar. The staff interactions have all been very pleasant and helpful.
It's not in the middle of everything in Dublin although the Luas light rail system runs a block behind the hotel, there's plenty of bus service, the AirLink service from Dublin airport has a stop very near here, and there are some decent dining/pub options nearby--we tried the Ely wine bar and the Harbour Master pub that are no more than several blocks away. Temple Bar for nightlife and Grafton Street for shopping are more distant, but the Docklands area on both sides of the river is closer to the hotel although the area south of the river has fewer pub options, and the shopping areas along Henry and Talbot Streets provide a lot of shopping options much closer than Grafton Street.
I'll do a more in-depth review in the reviews thread, but this is a fantastic 8K redemption if your travel plans include Dublin. And if you have no Choice points at all, the 40K offer gets you five nights here.
It's not in the middle of everything in Dublin although the Luas light rail system runs a block behind the hotel, there's plenty of bus service, the AirLink service from Dublin airport has a stop very near here, and there are some decent dining/pub options nearby--we tried the Ely wine bar and the Harbour Master pub that are no more than several blocks away. Temple Bar for nightlife and Grafton Street for shopping are more distant, but the Docklands area on both sides of the river is closer to the hotel although the area south of the river has fewer pub options, and the shopping areas along Henry and Talbot Streets provide a lot of shopping options much closer than Grafton Street.
I'll do a more in-depth review in the reviews thread, but this is a fantastic 8K redemption if your travel plans include Dublin. And if you have no Choice points at all, the 40K offer gets you five nights here.
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
I'm in the midst of a four-night stay at the Clarion IFSC Dublin, and I am impressed. Sixth-floor suite overlooking the River Liffey with a balcony overlooking the city. Very comfortable bed. Separate shower and bath. Two TVs in the suite. Terry cloth robes in the closet. A very attractive hotel with a decent restaurant/bar. The staff interactions have all been very pleasant and helpful.
We spent a total of 6 or 7 nights there a couple of years ago. Those suites are terriffic! Not only the balcony overlooking the street, but the party deck winding around the corner.
Also, when the regular bar closes, they'll discreetly herd you off to the "guest" bar, where, well, I don't know what closing time is .. we never made it that late.
A couple of favors:
1. Check out the pool. We didn't get to it, but wonder how it is?
2. Is there a lounge of some sort with breakfast? I had heard there was but we never went for it. Breakfast at the little places right next door (in the "alley") were fine. I understand the place is right convenient to a university, so lots of options with those sort of places.
Is the bus from the airport still free? It used to stop right at the front door.
Though some of us walked, we often grabbed a cab from there to St. Stephen's Green. Fast and about 10 quid.
We're going back for a couple of days next Fall, but we'll be staying at the Westin, so ... neener, neener, neener.
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
We went by using the the AA 40K r/t off-peak rates and spent the Choice points (it was 10K/night at the time, but still ...) for the hotel. AA has direct flights ORD-DUB. Got to be the cheapest Eurovacation we've ever taken.
And well worth it.
#67
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,745
In case others missed it, the 8K/night rate is good until April 15.
We went by using the the AA 40K r/t off-peak rates and spent the Choice points (it was 10K/night at the time, but still ...) for the hotel. AA has direct flights ORD-DUB. Got to be the cheapest Eurovacation we've ever taken.
And well worth it.
We went by using the the AA 40K r/t off-peak rates and spent the Choice points (it was 10K/night at the time, but still ...) for the hotel. AA has direct flights ORD-DUB. Got to be the cheapest Eurovacation we've ever taken.
And well worth it.
Not to turn this into an AA thread, but I agree. And the truly valuable part of that AA redemption is that it's not limited to several weeks in January and February, like US's offpeak rates, but instead runs from mid-October to mid-May. And availability seems generally good so long as you aren't expecting Christmas and Easter break availability to be as good as mid-January to mid-March is.
I'll also be interested in your thoughts about the Westin. I wouldn't normally compare a Choice property to an SPG property, but the Clarion's rooms are pretty nice. A big fancy lobby, a hip vibe--yeah, those the Clarion doesn't have. And the Westin's location is certainly closer to the center of things, but given Dublin's reputation for late-night partying, I'm a little leery of trying to sleep in the center of things.
#68
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
Programs: UA 2MM, DL 500k, AA 500k, Hyatt GP 1M, HH Gold, Rad. Gold, CP Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 9,950
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
Off-peak (US to Europe) is defined as Oct 15 to May 15. 40K r/t in Y. I suspect J and F are also reduced during that period. Regular rate is 60K for Y. I'm not sure, but other areas of the world may also have off-peak periods.
With their current difficulties, I doubt if AA will take any steps to reduce their attractiveness to people, so I'm assuming this rate will continue indefinitely.
#70
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
Programs: UA 2MM, DL 500k, AA 500k, Hyatt GP 1M, HH Gold, Rad. Gold, CP Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 9,950
Nope. It's every year for everybody.
Off-peak (US to Europe) is defined as Oct 15 to May 15. 40K r/t in Y. I suspect J and F are also reduced during that period. Regular rate is 60K for Y. I'm not sure, but other areas of the world may also have off-peak periods.
With their current difficulties, I doubt if AA will take any steps to reduce their attractiveness to people, so I'm assuming this rate will continue indefinitely.
Off-peak (US to Europe) is defined as Oct 15 to May 15. 40K r/t in Y. I suspect J and F are also reduced during that period. Regular rate is 60K for Y. I'm not sure, but other areas of the world may also have off-peak periods.
With their current difficulties, I doubt if AA will take any steps to reduce their attractiveness to people, so I'm assuming this rate will continue indefinitely.
^ and thank you.
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,927
Off-peak (US to Europe) is defined as Oct 15 to May 15. 40K r/t in Y. I suspect J and F are also reduced during that period. Regular rate is 60K for Y. I'm not sure, but other areas of the world may also have off-peak periods.
With their current difficulties, I doubt if AA will take any steps to reduce their attractiveness to people, so I'm assuming this rate will continue indefinitely.
With their current difficulties, I doubt if AA will take any steps to reduce their attractiveness to people, so I'm assuming this rate will continue indefinitely.
But why have suspicions at all? Just look at the chart, it's not that hard to find (went to aa.com, dropped down the AAdvantage menu, chose Redeem, and this link was in the first paragraph):
https://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/...ward-chart.jsp
(The redemption chart is based on one-way, since AA supports one-way awards. Double whatever you see there for the round-trip miles requirement, of course.)
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
#73
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,745
I did a very quick visual check of the pool at the Dublin Clarion IFSC, and my earlier suspicions were correct. The pool as well as an attached fitness center, sauna, and spa are all part of an independent operation in the basement of the hotel building. You ride the elevator to the basement, and your room key is your complimentary pass into the spa/health club; there's also a separate street entrance for locals. As with the rooms, the spa/pool/health club are above the standard you'd expect of a domestic Clarion.
Breakfast is not included with an award redemption. There's a good Irish breakfast buffet that costs 12 euro and has all of the elements of the "full Irish": eggs, bacon, sausage, broiled tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, fried potatoes, fresh fruit, several types of cereal, toast, pastries, juices, coffee, and tea. The buffet area turns into the Kudos restaurant at night, which we did not try, and adjoins the Kudos bar, where we stopped late on Friday evening. The bar was nice--and it is a bar, no faux Irish pub here. Relatively busy for a hotel bar, but there may have been business types unwinding after meetings at the hotel all day.
Again, I am very impressed by this hotel. Highly recommended if you're ever in Dublin.
Breakfast is not included with an award redemption. There's a good Irish breakfast buffet that costs 12 euro and has all of the elements of the "full Irish": eggs, bacon, sausage, broiled tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, fried potatoes, fresh fruit, several types of cereal, toast, pastries, juices, coffee, and tea. The buffet area turns into the Kudos restaurant at night, which we did not try, and adjoins the Kudos bar, where we stopped late on Friday evening. The bar was nice--and it is a bar, no faux Irish pub here. Relatively busy for a hotel bar, but there may have been business types unwinding after meetings at the hotel all day.
Again, I am very impressed by this hotel. Highly recommended if you're ever in Dublin.
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
Stick with me, kid, and you'll be wearin' mink coats and smokin' dollar cigars.
But seriously ... is there any way to combine your fine review into the Choice Property Review thread? I'm sure others would be most interested in what you have to say about the place.
#75
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,745
All that's a way of saying that I should be able to put up a more complete review in the CP Review Thread later today or tomorrow with some additional information and a couple more pub recommendations, including a great place to watch football--the US kind.