Luxury Escapes

[get me outta here]

Off to NYC in winter? This might be of interest at the Grand Hyatt Midtown for 7 or 9 days:

Experience Grand Hyatt Luxury in Midtown Manhattan

 

[Happy Dude]

Off to NYC in winter? This might be of interest at the Grand Hyatt Midtown for 7 or 9 days:

Experience Grand Hyatt Luxury in Midtown Manhattan

This is a joke, isn't it?

Check out the excluded and surcharged dates:

Valid for travel from 1 January 2019 until 8 March 2020 (bookings must be made before 1 December 2018).
Blackout Dates: Not valid for travel on
4 - 31 March 2019
1 - 30 April 2019
1 - 31 May 2019
1 - 30 June 2019
26 - 31 August 2019
1 - 30 September 2019
1 - 31 October 2019
1 - 23 November 2019
2 - 18, 27 - 31 December 2019
1 - 2 January 2020
Surcharge: A non-refundable surcharge per room, per night, applies and is payable at time of booking. Dates and prices are identified in the Booking Calendar.
1 July – 31 August 2019
1 November – 31 December 2019

 

[get me outta here]

I guess that leaves Jan and Feb, winter. The rest of it is not available.

.

This is a joke, isn't it?

Check out the excluded and surcharged dates:

Valid for travel from 1 January 2019 until 8 March 2020 (bookings must be made before 1 December 2018).
Blackout Dates: Not valid for travel on
4 - 31 March 2019
1 - 30 April 2019
1 - 31 May 2019
1 - 30 June 2019
26 - 31 August 2019
1 - 30 September 2019
1 - 31 October 2019
1 - 23 November 2019
2 - 18, 27 - 31 December 2019
1 - 2 January 2020
Surcharge: A non-refundable surcharge per room, per night, applies and is payable at time of booking. Dates and prices are identified in the Booking Calendar.
1 July – 31 August 2019
1 November – 31 December 2019

 

[Happy Dude]

Well yes, you're absolutely right in your description.

However, nothing in the ad, pictures or descriptions, indicates that it's a winter only offer, and even then large chunks of that are surcharged. that's pretty unusual, even for LE, and more than a little misleading in my book.

It would have been easier if they'd said what days are available. But hey, it is a good deal if the planets line up for someone.

 

[get me outta here]

I think it was available, but yes, at huge mark up for the best months. If I could get that rate for May I'd be very happy. I know from experience with LE best to go to the 'fine details' and 'book dates'. If you can get past those, it's worth going in further.

Well yes, you're absolutely right in your description.

However, nothing in the ad, pictures or descriptions, indicates that it's a winter only offer, and even then large chunks of that are surcharged. that's pretty unusual, even for LE, and more than a little misleading in my book.

It would have been easier if they'd said what days are available. But hey, it is a good deal if the planets line up for someone.

 

[Blinky]

I’m about to embark on my third Luxury Escape in the last year, with the first at Sofitel Nusa Dua and the second trekking in the Himalayas. Both were unbelievable value and were faultless. When I asked a consultant how they do it the response was “we act as the marketing arm for the holiday providers”. Makes sense that they can source the trips so cheaply.

I’m looking very closely at a trip to Egypt for 14 days (by memory) with flights by Etihad or Emirates for just over $3000. Unbelievable.

The only curious thing is the flights are all via Dublin. Why not Abu Dhabi straight to Cairo? Doesn’t make much sense. Can anyone think why? It’s hard to see how such a long detour can be cheaper.

 

[get me outta here]

Not sure where DUBlin came from, but it's prob supposed to be Dubai as in DXB! EY of course would be via Abu Dhabi.

I’m about to embark on my third Luxury Escape in the last year, with the first at Sofitel Nusa Dua and the second trekking in the Himalayas. Both were unbelievable value and were faultless. When I asked a consultant how they do it the response was “we act as the marketing arm for the holiday providers”. Makes sense that they can source the trips so cheaply.

I’m looking very closely at a trip to Egypt for 14 days (by memory) with flights by Etihad or Emirates for just over $3000. Unbelievable.

The only curious thing is the flights are all via Dublin. Why not Abu Dhabi straight to Cairo? Doesn’t make much sense. Can anyone think why? It’s hard to see how such a long detour can be cheaper.

 

[Blinky]

Not sure where DUBlin came from, but it's prob supposed to be Dubai as in DXB! EY of course would be via Abu Dhabi.

Neither do I. I had too many pages open, was in Perth and woke up at 3am that morning. And.........am possibly going senile.

Please ignore that post.

 

[moa999]

Of note - withdrew from ATAS recently
Australian Federation of Travel Agents :: Excluded/Restricted Suppliers

 

[VPS]

So does that mean if you book with LE and it goes pear shaped then you're on your own. I presume TI is still valid

 

[moa999]

Believe so.
Not sure if TI protects you against agent insolvency.

Charge back on CC may be an option.

 

[Cynicor]

Some TI Covers it but not all, so check the policy and always pay by CC.

 

[get me outta here]

Need a 3 day break in DXB?:

Five-Star VIP Club Access at the Grand Hyatt Dubai

I did not check availability or specific pricing. It's just if it happens to fit in with your plans.

Grand Hyatt Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates 3 nights $599 per room all meals in the Club lounge.

Five-Star VIP Club Access at the Grand Hyatt Dubai

Experience the exotic cuisine, futurist architecture, golden desert and traditional souks of Dubai with a three, five or seven-night stay at the five-star Grand Hyatt Dubai. Immerse yourself in the exciting city of Dubai and discover why everything is more extravagant on this side of the water as you embrace Arabian luxury by day and explore the largest city in the United Arab Emirates by night. Indulge in VIP Grand Club Lounge privileges like daily breakfast, all-day light refreshments, nightly light buffet dinners, nightly free-flow alcoholic drinks, welcome drinks on arrival and much more.

 

[Renato1]

Need a 3 day break in DXB?:

Five-Star VIP Club Access at the Grand Hyatt Dubai
.

Out of curiosity I just put in the basic Couples room from 4th November 2019 for three nights (the temperature is often pleasant or bearable at that time of year). Cost with surcharge is $1019.

The equivalent price at Booking.com - Club Room with Skyline view, non -refundable, breakfast included - Genius rate is $1239.

A saving of $220 going with Luxury Escapes.
Regards,
Renato

 

[get me outta here]

I just checked the non-surcharge dates available which are 01 May - 30 Sep. I suppose if you were pretty much planning to be indoors the whole time, it would be OK. Watch out for Ramadan though.

Out of curiosity I just put in the basic Couples room from 4th November 2019 for three nights (the temperature is often pleasant or bearable at that time of year). Cost with surcharge is $1019.

The equivalent price at Booking.com - Club Room with Skyline view, non -refundable, breakfast included - Genius rate is $1239.

A saving of $220 going with Luxury Escapes.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

I just checked the non-surcharge dates available which are 01 May - 30 Sep. I suppose if you were pretty much planning to be indoors the whole time, it would be OK. Watch out for Ramadan though.

Agree re Ramadan. I think next year is approx late May into June. Weather stifling. No food or water during day in public. Clubs will provide breakfast but eaten behind a screen and no alcohol at all until after maybe 7.30 pm. That was our IC experience a couple of years ago.

 

[Renato1]

I just checked the non-surcharge dates available which are 01 May - 30 Sep. I suppose if you were pretty much planning to be indoors the whole time, it would be OK. Watch out for Ramadan though.

I haven't been to Dubai when it's really, really hot (except when walking on the tarmac to a plane).
But I have to imagine that the swimming pools in the pictures of the Grand Hyatt would be absolute heaven, though I imagine a few litres of suntan lotion would be in order.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[get me outta here]

There seems to be an indoor pool at the Hyatt.
Ramadan is said to be stricter in AUH than in DXB. "Ramadan in 2019 will start on Monday, the 6th of May (6/5/2019) and will continue for 30 days until Tuesday, the 4th of June. Note that in the Muslim calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Sunday, the 5th of May".

I haven't been to Dubai when it's really, really hot (except when walking on the tarmac to a plane).
But I have to imagine that the swimming pools in the pictures of the Grand Hyatt would be absolute heaven, though I imagine a few litres of suntan lotion would be in order.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Happy Dude]

I posted to LE's facebook page a query about the implications of them withdrawing from AFTA/ATAS.

Question was deleted.

In the context of the Bestjet collapse, I will be considering future use of Luxury Escapes - an OTA - very very carefully.

 

[get me outta here]

I think we should ask the same question one after the other.