NEWS & OFFERS: Radisson ‘Multi Stay’ Promotion, Gulf Air to Launch Flights from Gatwick & ETIAS Transition Period Announced

Earn Up to 7,000 Bonus Points with the Radisson ‘Multi Stay’ Promotion

Radisson Rewards has just launched a ‘Multi Stay’ bonus promotion where you can earn up to 7,000 bonus points for stays until 24th April 2025.

You can earn:

• 500 bonus points on your first stay
• 3,000 bonus points on your second stay
• 3,500 bonus points on your third stay

To earn bonus points on your stays, you must register for the offer and be a member of the Radisson Rewards programme. If you’re not already a member, you can sign up for Radisson Rewards here.

Signing up for the promotion is easy. You just need to enter your email or Radisson Rewards number:

Things to Note

• Back-to-back stays at the same hotel don’t count. You’ll need to stay at different Radisson properties to qualify.
• Only direct bookings through Radisson (website or app) are eligible.
• Bonus points will be credited within 60 days after your stay and the promotion’s end date.
• Points can be earned in conjunction with other promotions.

There is no minimum stay requirement, so the offer is definitely worth signing up for, especially if you already have some Radisson stays planned. 7,000 Radisson Points are worth around £10.50. This bonus won’t get you far, but it’s one of the easiest bonuses to earn.

Register for the promotion here >>>

Gulf Air to Launch Flights from London Gatwick – More UK Flights to Bahrain

Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, has announced a new flight route from London Gatwick to Bahrain.

From 30th March onwards, there will be 3 flights per week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which holds 282 passengers (26 in Business Class). 

The flight times will be as follows:

• GF9: Departs Bahrain at 01:46, arriving at Gatwick at 06:55
• GF10: Departs Gatwick at 11:25, arriving in Bahrain at 20:00

Economy fares start at £568.88 but expect to pay more if you want seat selection, extra baggage, or flexibility.

The cheapest Falcon Gold (Business Class) fares this year start at £3,499.38.

Obviously, this is very expensive and there will be much cheaper ways of flying to the region. Gulf Air are known for pretty good sales, so when we find fares worth mentioning, we’ll let you know. 

Gulf Air already runs two daily flights from Heathrow and five weekly flights from Manchester, which will still operate. This means Gulf Air will be running 22 flights per week from the UK to Bahrain. There is hope that the new Gatwick service will boost trade and tourism between the two countries.

Gulf Air is not part of any airline alliance, but you can still earn miles through Gulf Air’s loyalty programme. These miles can also be credited to Air Canada or Etihad.

We have a flight review of Gulf Air from Jason that will be published very soon.

You can visit the Gulf Air site here >>>

6 Month Transition Period for ETIAS Announced

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is coming, but the EU has just confirmed that there will be a transition period of at least 6 months before it becomes mandatory.

ETIAS will allow residents of over 60 visa-exempt countries, including the UK, to visit 30 European countries with an electronic authorisation instead of a full visa. It is due to be introduced after the launch of the new European Entry and Exit System.

What Does This Mean?

The ETIAS rollout will be phased, with both transitional and grace periods to ease into the new system:

• For the first six months after ETIAS launches, you can still enter the EU without one, as long as you meet standard entry requirements.
• An additional grace period will follow, allowing those entering one of the 30 countries for the first time after the transition period to enter without ETIAS.

During the grace period, applying for an ETIAS will be encouraged but not required, giving plenty of time to adjust to the new system and avoid thousands of people being caught out without one.

What You Need to Know

ETIAS will cost approximately £6 per person and last for 3 years or until the passport expires. To get an ETIAS, you will need to complete an online form via the official website or app and upload a passport photo. Most applications will be processed in minutes, but if further checks are needed, your application could take up to 30 days. 

I recommend applying as soon as ETIAS becomes available, even if you don’t need it immediately. It’s better to avoid last-minute stress than to be caught out at the border!