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Bits: get £50 off at ebookers, HfP feedback

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News in brief:

Get a £50 ebookers discount

Ebookers is running a new promotion worth £50 off a ‘flight and hotel’ package costing more than £600.

The ebookers discount code to enter at check-out is the easy-to-remember AFFPKG0417.

You need to book by 7th May for travel before the end of the year.

Terms and conditions are here and you can book here.

PS.  If you have your own travel blog, ebookers is offering free holidays in Barcelona as long as you agree to write about it afterwards.  Details are here.

Hilton / OneRepublic gig feedback

On Saturday night we were at the famous Abbey Road Studios in North London for the Hilton Honors / OneRepublic concert which was an excellent evening.

It was great to meet so many HfP readers.  As you can probably imagine, sometimes you feel like the words you write go into a black hole.  You never quite know happens afterwards.

Back in August 2015, I wrote that Small Luxury Hotels of the World was looking for hotel inspectors.  One couple I met on Saturday had read that article, applied, and got the job.  This year they will visit 11 luxury hotels entirely free of charge.  Apparently they can spend as much as they want during their stay and it is all reimbursed by SLH later.  The downside is that they have to make certain demands of the hotel during their trip. At no point does the hotel realise that the couple is undercover.

I also covered – with, I admit, some scepticism – the auction on eBay for tickets on the ‘preview flight’ to New Orleans by British Airways over Mardi Gras this year.  I spoke to another couple who had bought this package after reading about it on HfP.  It was, apparently, an amazing experience with BA delivering far more than promised, with excellent private seats for the Mardi Gras parade and a host of additional events running pretty much 24/7 over the weekend.

Thanks to everyone who came to say Hi, I appreciate it.  FYI, the person who stood up at the start and introduced himself as ‘Mark from Hilton’ was actually the global head of Hilton Honors who had flown over especially …..

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How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards

How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards (April 2025)

There are various ways of earning Hilton Honors points from UK credit and debit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

There are two dedicated Hilton Honors debit cards. These are especially attractive when spending abroad due to the 0% or 0.5% FX fee, depending on card.

You also receive FREE Hilton Honors status for as long as you hold the debit cards – Gold status with the Plus card and Silver status with the basic card. This is a great reason to apply even if you rarely use it.

We reviewed the Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card here and the Hilton Honors Debit Card here.

You can apply for either card here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 30th April 2025, the annual fee on the basic Hilton Honors debit card is halved from £60 to £30. The sign-up bonus is also easier to earn – you need to spend £1,000 either in the UK or abroad within three months. The usual bonus rule requires you to spend the full £1,000 outside the UK.

NEW: Hilton Honors Plus Debit

10,000 bonus points, Hilton Gold status and NO FX fees Read our full review

NEW: Hilton Honors Debit

2,500 bonus points, Hilton Silver status and 0.5% FX fees Read our full review

There is another way of getting Hilton Honors status, and earning Hilton Honors points, from a payment card.

Holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as they hold the card.  It also comes with Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Hilton Honors points indirectly with:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

and for small business owners:

The conversion rate from American Express to Hilton Honors points is 1:2.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Hilton Honors points.

Category

British Airways and Avios, Hilton Honors, Tesco Clubcard, Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club

Comments (116)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Stevie G says:
    26 Apr26 April 16:15

    I cannot use BA flight booking on any platform. Others have the same problem. No answer on the phone. Twitter BA advises to delete internet files

  • mart says:
    26 Apr26 April 16:38

    OT
    Anyone used real transfers recently made a booking saturday ,no confirmation email.
    Sent a follow up email ,no response?

    Anyone recommend any reasonably prices transfers from central London to heathrow.

    • Steve says:
      26 Apr26 April 18:13

      Quick question on the Amex Platinum. Have just upgraded from gold this now with latest offer.
      Do I need to book/pay with card for flights and hotels to cover for travel insurance.
      Do others also have there own separate travel insurance.
      It’s just that I have a few trips coming up.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        26 Apr26 April 22:47

        Car and Medical insurance no you are covered as long as you hold an AMEX and can pay with any card. Believe if they take AMEX for the car then you should use it but if it didn’t have it when booking / pre paying you’d be OK.

        Understanding on the other travel cover is it needs to be paid with an AMEX issued AMEX of any kind.

  • Roger says:
    26 Apr26 April 19:23

    ATM Withdrawal

    One completely random question, what is the maximum amount one can withdraw from an ATM/Debit card. Assume no limit imposed by the card issued

    • John says:
      26 Apr26 April 20:04

      You need to be more specific.

      It varies by bank, ATM provider and country. In the UK it’s usually £300 or £500, possible to raise the limit with your bank, but ATM may not accept.

      Highest I have seen is someone withdrawing 10000 AED several times in a row in Dubai, which is currently over £2000 (though it wasn’t at the time)

    • Roger says:
      26 Apr26 April 20:24

      It is for a UK Issued card, to be used in UK.
      Just trying to see if some bank has higher limit then other banks?
      Or is there also some location based limit i.e. in City or central London ATM to have higher withdrawal limit compared to say a small town/village ATM

      • Genghis says:
        27 Apr27 April 00:53

        Depends on bank account type too. I have I think £300 with Halifax normal current account but £1k with Barclays premier

    • Paul says:
      26 Apr26 April 20:37

      I know you can have £1500 with Natwest

    • Gareth says:
      26 Apr26 April 20:41

      most uk cash machines allow 560 as max withdrawal then you have to put through as a second transaction. from there its card issuer depdenent. most bank cash machines high street will carry 40-80k so you will run out before they do 😉

  • Hostime says:
    26 Apr26 April 19:27

    RE: Hotel Inspectors. Starwood does this twice a month for their entire portfolio of hotels. They use an agency, and, in addition to reimbursing full travel (at least within Europe), pay a fee to their evaluators. I don’t want to share details publicly, so not for publication, but feel free to write to me offline if you want information on the agency (it is the same company which evaluates the Eurostar and a prominent Gulf airline).

  • Andy S says:
    26 Apr26 April 20:41

    OT: Supercard.
    I suggested a friend get one as he is going abroad soon, but the website says there’s currently problems processing orders. Anyone know more? Is this a temporary glitch or have they stopped doing them? Wouldn’t be surprised at the latter, can’t see how they make any money!

    • Graham Walsh says:
      26 Apr26 April 21:25

      And it only works 1/2 the time for me in US, Europe and China. Really annoying. When I log a ticket they blame Creation (my IHG card it is linked to). Good when it works.

      Also I got the new IHG Premium card and tried to add that via the iOS app, fails with flying colours. They told me to call and get it resolved. Seems like they have IT issues.

      • Andy S says:
        26 Apr26 April 21:49

        I have made 44 successful transactions in Europe and USA, and can only think of 3 on top that failed.

    • TGLoyalty says:
      26 Apr26 April 22:42

      Get Curve. 1% fee but it’s a very reliable card.

      Assuming it’s too late to get a Lloyds Avios or Halifax Clarity which are both 0%

    • BigDave says:
      27 Apr27 April 07:44

      +1 get a curve instead – processing is better than ever and customer support and the app is getting better all the time – plus you get £5 free credit if you use Robs code or mine (AmcEn)

      • Graham Walsh says:
        27 Apr27 April 09:44

        Interesting, I had Curve when it was first released but got it refunded when Amex stopped. I have Santander Zero as backup too but that even fails at times too. Virgin Amex just works (plus high charges).

        • Genghis says:
          27 Apr27 April 09:50

          Curve has been very reliable on current travels. More reliable than Clarity at ATMs

          • Rob says:
            27 Apr27 April 10:51

            Agreed. I used Curve a lot in Asia (wasn’t planned, failed to notice my Post Office 0% card had expired …..) and it was never rejected. Even a £1,500 hotel bill went through first time.

  • John says:
    26 Apr26 April 20:51

    £2,000 daily with Barclays
    £500 daily with Lloyds

  • John says:
    26 Apr26 April 20:52

    IIRC, the HSBC branch just off Park Lane has a cashpoint which dispenses £50 notes.

  • Alan says:
    26 Apr26 April 23:35

    My folks applied but sadly didn’t hear back – my Mum is pretty diligent with her TA reviews so I think they missed a trick not taking them on!

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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