NEWS & OFFERS: Melia 40% off, Phuket 1 July opening details confirmed & Hilton ditch breakfast benefit in US

Melia 25% off

Melia have launched a “Wonder Week” promotion with up to 40% off. Malaga, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Milan, Punta Cana, Cuba are all included – even London if you don’t fancy travelling abroad. Their most luxurious hotel in the UK is the ME by Melia which has a fantastic roof top bar. 

From today until July 4, Wonder Week offers up to 40% discount and a 25% MeliáRewards guaranteed discount. And most importantly you can cancel your booking free of charge.

The offer is valid for travel up to December 23. 

You can find the offer page here.

Phuket 1 July launch details confirmed

Thailand is due to reopen on 1 July with a trial in Phuket. Many people did not believe it would happen, but it does appear to be going ahead. You are now able to apply online for the Phuket “sandbox” trial. This allows fully vaccinated Brits (last jab more than 14 days before travel) to go to Phuket without quarantine. You must fly direct to Phuket which may be the issue since most Asian countries require you to stay airside on a single ticket, if you can transit at all, and flying Qatar or Emirates is out as they are red list countries. 

You have to stay for 14 days in an approved hotel before you can leave Phuket for elsewhere in Thailand but you can split that into 2 different hotels if you want. Or you can stay for a shorter length if you stay solely in Phuket as long as you leave the country direct from Phuket. 

The idea is that if the trial works they will expand it to other tourist areas of Thailand by October 2021.

Here are the details:

There is more information and you can apply to visit Phuket on the Thai Embassay London page here,

Hilton ditch breakfast benefit in the US

One of the best benefits of Hilton Honors for elites (Gold and Diamond) is the free breakfast which in the US can save a lot of money. Sadly Hilton has now ditched this benefit in the US and will begin rolling out a Daily Food & Beverage (F&B) Credit in the United States from July, If you don’t eat breakfast then it’s actually a perk. Otherwise, you may be out of pocket on breakfast. 

The Daily F&B Credit, available until the end of 2021, replaces the complimentary Continental Breakfast benefit offered as a Hilton Honors MyWay benefit at Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Signia by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Motto by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn properties in the United States.

With the Hilton Honors Daily F&B Credit, Gold and Diamond members can now apply the credit to any eligible food or beverage purchases billed to their room up to the total daily credit value, any time of day. 

As usual, Hilton say that customer feedback is the source of the change (I’m sure nothing to do with saving money!). Given that breakfast in high-end properties can easily run up to $40 a person, it’s a definite blow to those that enjoy breakfast. My advice is to book through a luxury travel agent who offers Hilton Impression rates (such as our own partners Debonair) as they offer free breakfast at Hilton’s top-end brands. 

“Based on feedback from our most loyal customers, the Daily Food & Beverage Credit offers our elite members greater flexibility, choice and control around their on-property dining benefits as travel ramps back up,” said Jenn Chick, vice president and global head, Hilton Honors and Customer Engagement, Hilton. “We look forward to empowering our more than 115 million Hilton Honors members with benefits and experiences they value as many of them begin hitting the road again.”

Gold and Diamond members who choose the Hilton Honors Daily F&B Credit as their MyWay benefit, plus one additional guest registered to the same room (one room per stay), will receive a $10 to $25 credit depending on the brand and location.

The Daily F&B Credit will be available as a Hilton Honors MyWay benefit at more than 1,500 hotels across the United States with many delicious options for members to choose from including:

As part of Hilton Honors MyWay member benefits, Diamond members will receive both Hilton Honors Bonus Points and the Daily F&B Credit at Hilton’s luxury, lifestyle and full-service hotel brands, while Gold members have the option between Bonus Points and the Daily F&B Credit at these brands. At Hilton Garden Inn hotels, Diamond and Gold members have the option between the two MyWay benefit options. Members may select their MyWay benefit preferences in their Hilton Honors account online or through the Hilton Honors app.

For additional details on the new benefit, visit the Daily F&B Credit FAQs website. 

*Select markets include the cities of Boston, Chicago, District of Columbia, Key Largo, Key West, New York City and San Francisco, the County of Los Angeles and the state of Hawaii.