New Years Eve 2014 @ HI Old Sydney

[MiLK_MaN]

Spoke to the front desk at HI Old Sydney this week, they claimed 90% of their guests at New Years stayed on points and they were capping it this year. I imagine the logic behind this is the revenue loss, its in an absolute prime position and they are already looking to charge around $1K a night.

I found a way to modify the query parameters in the URL to get it to book Dec 30 - Jan 2 already, just do the following:

https://www.ihg.com/hotels/gb/en/re..._SORT&qRpp=10&qRRSrt=rt&qLat=0&qLng=0&srb_u=1

For those interested, it is these variables that matter:

qCiD=30&qCiMy=112014&qCoD=02&qCoMy=002015

qCID = check in day number
qCiMy = Month (Jan = 0, Dec = 11) and Year

qCoD and qCoMy are the same but for check out.

This may allow you to have a slight advantage when wanting to book out a bit early because right now if you try and choose Jan 1 or later, it resets back to Dec 31 due to the way they've programmed their site.

Chose the 25K points + $70 option given the price per night

 

[markis10]

No revenue loss for them by taking points bookings, once hotel occupancy hits a high mark, IHG pays them the equivalent of best flex for that night, which is why some had $700 nightly charges on their bills, which was being charged back to IHG.

PS Hope you booked using a rebates site, very profitable.

 

[MiLK_MaN]

Extremely good point about rebates, and very appreciative of you bringing that up. Cancelled the booking and rebooked with Mr Rebates.

$1125 a night I think if you wanted to pay upfront.

 

[anat0l]

Nice pick up MiLK_MaN. Really tempted to put a stay aside, though points balance with IHG is slowly evaporating.

 

[anat0l]

Don't suppose they could be zealous and start cancelling people who booked on rewards nights, or cancelling and offering them "discounted" rates.

Do rebates pay at the time of the transaction (booking) or after the stay is completed?

 

[ksthommo]

Thanks MiLK_MaN were booked in. lucky enough got an email this morning with a
bonus points offer https://buy.points.com/PointsPartnerFrames/partners/ihg/container.html?language=en&product=buy
[TABLE="width: 70%"]
[TR]
[TD]Buy or Gift 20-39K points
[/TD]
[TD]Get 25% more points
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Buy or Gift 40-59K points
[/TD]
[TD]Get 50% more points
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Buy or Gift 60K points
[/TD]
[TD]Get 75% more points
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 70%"]
[/TABLE]
Not sure if the bonus will work for everyone, they reckon it's targeted.

 

[markis10]

Thanks MiLK_MaN were booked in. lucky enough got an email this morning with a
bonus points offer https://buy.points.com/PointsPartnerFrames/partners/ihg/container.html?language=en&product=buy
[TABLE="width: 70%"]
[TR]
[TD]Buy or Gift 20-39K points[/TD]
[TD]Get 25% more points[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Buy or Gift 40-59K points[/TD]
[TD]Get 50% more points[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Buy or Gift 60K points[/TD]
[TD]Get 75% more points[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Not sure if the bonus will work for everyone, they reckon it's targeted.

Cheaper to do the book points plus cash then cancel trick.

 

[Rick93]

Hey, what about Sydney IC !!

50,000 points PLUS $1,000. a night to upgrade to Club Lounge access ... AND a min. 3 x nights booking required = 150,000 points + $3,000. !!!!

 

[Rick93]

Just got my booking done on points ...

As of a few minutes ago, need to book min. 3 x nights ( same as last year - 29/12 to 1/1 )

No Queen beds left ( already ?? ) ... just 2 x doubles.

Current price = $863. a night !!

 

[MiLK_MaN]

[h=3]IHG® Rewards Club Reward Nights[/h]
Reward Nights rooms are sold out for one or more of the dates you selected at this hotel.

All gone it seems!

 

[Rick93]

Today's price for a basic room is $1,125. a night - min. 3 x nights.

 

[Rick93]

Looks like the 'same deal' for this year as well ( well over a grand a night - min. 3 night stay )

I've got the same booking again - a three night stay ( basic two-bed room ) from 29/12 - 01/01.

Can't really decide if I actually want to stay or not. Anybody want to 'help me make up my mind' can PM me.

 

[Rick93]

No longer available.

 

[james1]

I managed as well to snag 3 nights for the New Year period. Feel a bit the same about whether I can be bothered to stay again. We enjoyed last years stay and it was well organised, but thinking I am going to offload to someone at work. Bit of déjà vu having been there and done that!

 

[TKK]

Wonder if the rooftop is open for all guests or just those having the overpriced buffet? I missed the boat last year but managed to snag one this year.

 

[Austman]

Wonder if the rooftop is open for all guests or just those having the overpriced buffet? I missed the boat last year but managed to snag one this year.

All hotel guests last year (I was one) and in previous years.

 

[ksthommo]

Whats the go with refreshments on the rooftop?
Assume BYO is frowned upon.

 

[Austman]

Whats the go with refreshments on the rooftop?
Assume BYO is frowned upon.

Last year they had a temporary roof top bar. With reasonable prices. No BYO.

 

[ksthommo]

First off, thanks once again MiLK_MaN for the early points booking opportunity.
Booked the 2 double bed room, bit cosy for myself, wife, brother and his wife.
Good enough sleeping option and had a few down George St towards the harbour.



Received a bag containing cheap sparkling, water and chocolates in the room.



Fireworks were great of course. Harbour Bridges was obscured by fireworks smoke a lot of the time.
Opera House photos turned out good.



Some people were hogging the good viewing spots of course.
One bloke on the pool deck replied I have been here since 4pm when
I asked for a bit of real estate. Funny really, he had about 3-4 foot of space
in front of the glass pane for himself, wife and sleeping kid. His extended arms
would have been tired by the end of it.

Holiday Inn brought around oysters around midnight, strictly one per person.
Sausages were being sold for $5, alcohol available at $9 upwards.

Went down to street level after midnight to watch the procession of people
heading out of the rocks area. Enjoyed the 3 nights, would do it again.
Didn't eat at the hotel. Worst meal was the Orient Hotel, best at the Lord Nelson and
some nice beers.