In 2000, Starbucks and Marriott signed a long-term licensing agreement to open Starbucks locations in select hotels across the U.S. and Canada. Now, the two brands are launching a new partnership that will let travelers earn more Starbucks Stars and Marriott Bonvoy points.
To benefit from this partnership, you should enroll in Marriott Bonvoy and a U.S. Starbucks Rewards account. Then, link your accounts on the Starbucks website to start earning rewards through this partnership.
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Double Stars during Marriott stays
You’ll earn double Stars at Starbucks from midnight on the day you check in through 11:59 p.m. on the day you check out for eligible Marriott Bonvoy stays. Eligible stays include those booked at eligible rates — including redeeming Marriott points or free night awards — if you link your accounts at least 48 hours before your stay.
Double Stars will appear in your linked Starbucks Rewards account within two business days of your qualifying Starbucks transaction. However, you can only earn up to 1,000 Stars under the Double Stars offer during each June 18 to June 17 program year.
Marriott Bonvoy and Starbucks will occasionally announce weeks designed as Marriott Bonvoy Week. The first Marriott Bonvoy Week will begin on July 8 and run through July 14.
During each Marriott Bonvoy Week, members with linked accounts will earn 100 Marriott points if they complete at least three qualifying Starbucks transactions. Qualifying transactions are “any purchase at a Participating Starbucks Store by a Linked Account Member of food, beverage(s), and/or merchandise, excluding purchases of alcoholic beverages, Starbucks Card eGifts and physical Starbucks gift cards,” according to the terms and conditions on Starbucks’ website.
To qualify, your purchase must be at least $2, and you must pay:
Via mobile order through the Starbucks mobile app or Starbucks website using a linked payment method or preloaded Starbucks Card that is registered to your Starbucks Rewards account
By scanning the barcode in your Starbucks mobile app before checking out
Not all Starbucks locations participate. Participating Starbucks stores are defined as locations in the U.S. — including the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories — where you can earn Stars. The 100 points will appear in your Marriott Bonvoy account within two business days of the end of Marriott Bonvoy Week if you complete at least three qualifying Starbucks transactions.
Finally, Marriott Bonvoy is offering a sweepstakes to encourage U.S. members to link their accounts. You can enter the sweepstakes through July 7 for the chance to win various prizes, including:
A grand prize trip to visit each of the Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in Seattle, Milan and Tokyo, with hotels and round-trip flights included
A visit to one of the Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in Seattle, Milan or Tokyo with a hotel stay and round-trip flights included
500 chances to win hundreds of bonus Starbucks Stars
Even if you don’t win one of the sweepstakes prizes, members with linked accounts can order a limited-time Starbucks Reserve Siciliano for Marriott Bonvoy at Starbucks Reserve locations in Seattle, Chicago and New York. This cocktail blends cold brew with Italian spirits and is finished with orange bitters, sparkling water and an orange swath.
This is far from the first partnership for Marriott Bonvoy or Starbucks Rewards. Delta Air Lines and Starbucks already have a partnership, as do Marriott and United Airlines. If you have accounts with these programs, go ahead and link your accounts. Even if you don’t benefit regularly, you may earn some extra points or Stars for doing so.
In 2023, Delta Air Lines introduced an awesome new feature for many of its cobranded credit card holders: a 15% discount on all award flights, dubbed TakeOff 15.
If you hold one of the participating cards, your SkyMiles are at least 15% more valuable when used for Delta award tickets. All you have to do is pay the award’s taxes and fees with your eligible Delta credit card.
The discount applies to all Delta-operated flights regardless of when you travel, though partner flights are excluded (full terms are available on delta.com). For Delta loyalists, this can easily provide hundreds of dollars a year in value.
Let’s take a closer look at Delta’s TakeOff 15 feature and how to use it when booking award travel. Then, we’ll run through how it can potentially save you miles on flights you’ve already booked.
How to use TakeOff 15 to save on Delta award tickets
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Using the TakeOff 15 discount is simple. Just search for your desired Delta award flight and book it as usual; the discount will be automatically reflected on the results page.
There are only a few restrictions to keep in mind:
It’s only valid on Delta- and Delta Connection-operated flights.
It does not apply to Pay with Miles or Miles + Cash purchases, nor does it apply to upgrades purchased after ticketing or any other Delta services.
It does not discount taxes and fees.
You must pay the taxes and fees with your participating Delta cobranded credit card.
Make sure you’re logged in to your Delta account before you search. Then, enter your desired dates and destinations on the homepage and select the “Shop with Miles” option.
DELTA.COM
You’ll be presented with the Delta award calendar, with the TakeOff 15 discount reflected on all prices.
DELTA.COM
When you choose a date, you’ll see more flight options. The discounted price will appear for all Delta-operated flights, with the original price slashed out. The discount applies to all classes of service, including basic economy.
You’ll see the TakeOff 15 discount reflected on the checkout screen as well. Again, pay the taxes and fees with your eligible Delta cobranded American Express card to receive the discount.
DELTA.COM
Note that you might save slightly more than 15% on award tickets in some cases. Delta appears to be rounding prices down to the nearest 100 points, giving you a slightly larger discount on some flights.
It’s also worth noting that the TakeOff 15 terms mention the discount is “at least a fifteen percent (15%) discount off the mileage portion of an Award Ticket,” so we could see higher discounts in the future.
Already booked a Delta award ticket before you got your participating credit card? You still might be able to save on your flights.
Look through your existing Delta award bookings and see if they’ve dropped in price with the TakeOff 15 feature. Search for new award flights as normal and compare the pricing to what you’ve already booked.
If you see a lower price with TakeOff 15, you’ll need to cancel your existing reservation and rebook it. Delta should refund both your miles and fees immediately after you cancel the ticket. However, Delta’s basic economy award tickets are not refundable, so it’s probably not worth trying to rebook these.
We always recommend repricing your award tickets periodically. Now that Delta and other airlines have made their programs more flexible, you can use this to make dynamic pricing work to your advantage.
TakeOff 15 will provide value to holders of a Delta cobranded credit card, who can save hundreds of dollars in SkyMiles annually.
You must use your Delta cobranded credit card to pay the ticket’s taxes and fees, and it’s only valid on Delta-operated flights. However, there’s no limit to how many times you can use this benefit.
“Inside Out 2” is now in theaters — and Airbnb is bringing the second installation of the hit Disney and Pixar film to life in the form of a once-in-a-lifetime stay in the “headquarters” of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, plus some new teenage emotions like Anxiety, Ennui, Envy and Embarrassment.
The host of this over-the-top Airbnb is Joy, the emotion in “Inside Out” played by Amy Poehler — and joy is definitely the emotion this incredible stay is sure to evoke for the people lucky enough to get the chance to check in there.
Inside the Airbnb (or Team Riley Headquarters), there’s plenty for guests to do, including an emotional scavenger hunt that “might unlock some secrets,” munching on pizza with different toppings representing different emotions, playing air hockey (since hockey is Riley’s favorite sport), making your own memory orb and taking over Riley’s control center.
RYAN LOWRY
There are two bedrooms in the Airbnb, including a bright yellow room, which is obviously Joy’s, plus two bathrooms; it can accommodate four guests in total. There’s also a blue room for Sadness, core memories floating around the walls, a red room for Anger and a purple room for Ennui, the feeling of boredom or “blah.”
Part of Airbnb’s recently announced Icons category, the “Inside Out 2” Headquarters will be open for 15 one-night stays from July 1 through July 16 at the incredible price of $0 per night, otherwise known as free. Transportation to Las Vegas, where the Airbnb is located, is not included.
DAMIEN MALONEY
For the chance to experience a literal range of emotions at this sure-to-be iconic Airbnb, visit Joy’s official Airbnb listing between June 18 and June 22 to request a stay.
But even if you don’t get the chance to stay in this unique Airbnb, there are still thousands of others to book, including the most-liked properties on Instagram from 2023.
Travelers this summer might not be experiencing any major discounts when they go to book a hotel room in the U.S., but there is a softening in some segments of the market.
However, it’s a little premature to celebrate the idea of any oncoming bargains.
Hotel data firm STR this month revised its forecast for the remainder of this year to downgrade expected average daily rate gains in light of softer-than-expected hotel performance in the U.S. so far this year. But the weakening hotel rates aren’t being felt everywhere.
“We have seen a bifurcation in hotel performance over the first four months of the year, which we don’t believe will abate soon,” Amanda Hite, STR president, said in a statement. “The increased cost of living is affecting lower-to-middle income households and their ability to travel, thus lessening demand for hotels in the lower price tier. The Upscale through Luxury tier is seeing healthy demand, but pricing power has waned given changes in mix and travel patterns and to a lesser extent, economic conditions. Travel remains a priority for most Americans, but the volume has lessened as prices on goods and services continue to rise.”
Economy-priced hotels are showing some of the biggest rate drops in the industry, with nightly rates declining 2% within the market segment over the last 28 days. Comparatively, upscale hotels (brands like Aloft and DoubleTree) and upper upscale hotels (brands like Westin and Hyatt Regency) saw rates increase by 1.9% and 2.6%, respectively, in the same time frame.
The downward revision for potential hotel rates complements this week’s inflation data, showing U.S. hotel rates declined 1.7% from a year ago — a major reversal from the coronavirus pandemic recovery when hotel rate increases were a leading driver of overall inflation.
Keep in mind that while STR isn’t as bullish on hotel rate gains this year, the company is still projecting U.S. hotel rates to rise 2.1% for the year and another 2% in 2025 — roughly in line with what economists see as ideal inflationary figures for the U.S. economy.
Further, even some softening in the luxury hotel sector doesn’t necessarily mean the average leisure traveler is going to get a bargain when checking into a Four Seasons or St. Regis. But there is a glass-half-full view here: Part of the rate softening in luxury hotels is due to business travel finally recovering from the pandemic. This means the return of special corporate rates, which are negotiated and less than the average daily rate charged to most travelers.
Of course, that doesn’t necessarily help the average traveler looking to enjoy a high-end hotel stay without breaking the bank.
“The [average daily rate] for luxury hotels looks like it’s lower, but that does not mean that you or I pay less as leisure travelers,” said Jan Freitag, national director of hospitality analytics at STR’s parent company CoStar. “Our rates are going to continue to go up. It’s just that, the way the data gets reported to us, the mix is different because we have more corporate transient in there.”
Yay for business travel finally coming back following the pandemic. Not-so-yay for our wallets … unless you’re checking into a more budget-friendly brand.
Air France-KLM has just released a slew of discounted business-class seats to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). Tickets can be booked for only 100,000 miles round-trip plus $564 in taxes — potentially a great way to spend your Flying Blue miles.
This deal is available from late December 2024 through May 2025, so you have plenty of time to plan your trip to the City of Light. And if you want to explore France or Europe beyond Paris, you could book an open-jaw flight and select a departure airport other than CDG.
Even if you don’t have Flying Blue miles, Air France allows you to transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards to book your flights.
Travel dates: Availability from December 2024 through May 2025
Sample flights
The best availability in this deal from Newark Liberty International Airport to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport is slated for travel in December, January and February. We found a flight from Newark to Paris in late December for 100,000 Flying Blue miles and around $539 in taxes.
AIR FRANCE FLYING BLUE
Here’s one late January itinerary that costs 100,000 miles and $587 in taxes.
AIR FRANCE FLYING BLUE
Even though tickets are much harder to find after January and February, you can still find some bargains. This early March flight is available for 50,000 miles and $587 in taxes.
AIR FRANCE FLYING BLUE
If you want to begin your European vacation in Paris and go elsewhere, you can book a one-way ticket to Charles de Gaulle Airport from Newark Liberty International Airport on February 18 for 50,000 miles and $226 in taxes.
AIR FRANCE FLYING BLUE
While availability is more limited, we also found some 50,000-mile redemptions from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). I found a round-trip redemption for 121,000 Flying Blue miles and about $544 in taxes and fees.
FLYING BLUE
Maximize your purchase
When you book this deal or any flights, be sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:
American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through amextravel.com
The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
This is a great deal to get to Europe for as little as 50,000 miles one-way in business class.
Tip: While it appears to be down right now, we like using the calendar view on Air France’s website to check for flights. After you log in to your Flying Blue account, select “Book with Miles.” Enter the search criteria, but leave the departure date field empty for your best chance to find good deals.
We’re hopeful this feature comes back soon, in the meantime, happy hunting.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
People turn to cash-back cards for simple rewards that can maximize — and sometimes even offset — their everyday spending. Both American Express and Chase offer an impressive lineup of cash-back credit cards loaded with perks. However, they’re very different and provide unique benefits that make choosing “the best” challenging.
Today, we’ll take a deep dive into Amex and Chase cash cards and see how they stack up against each other.
American Express cash-back cards
American Express Cash Magnet® Card: Best for Amex beginners
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Best for flat-rate rewards
The information for the Amex Cash Magnet Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first three months
$350 cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, plus an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
$750 cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
Bonus categories
2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%
5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores, on internet, cable and phone services
2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
Which Amex or Chase cash back card is best for personal cards?
The best Amex or Chase card for personal use depends entirely on how you utilize the card’s bonus categories and benefits. You should also keep a close eye on welcome offers, as this is your best chance to rack up quite a bit of cash back from the start.
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Best welcome offer for personal cards
At a quick glance, the Chase Freedom Unlimited seems to have the best welcome offer thanks to its elevated bonus-earning of 1.5% extra on all categories. Although this welcome offer can net you up to $300 in cash back, it requires you to spend up to $20,000 while utilizing bonus categories as best as possible. This can be quite challenging for those who do not have high spending habits.
THE POINTS GUY
On the other hand, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months. The downside? The card has a $95 annual fee after the first year (see rates and fees), while the other cash back cards have none.
If you want the highest bonus possible for a personal card, go with Amex. Chase cash back cards might be a better fit if you want a no-annual-fee card with a lower spending requirement.
Most rewarding personal cash-back card for spending
Once you’ve earned the welcome bonus, there is only one thing keeping the card in your wallet: recurring earning potential. Both Amex and Chase cash back cards offer generous category bonuses. Choosing the “most rewarding card” is highly subjective, depending solely on your spending habits and preferences.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers the most comprehensive suite of category bonuses, with 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on dining (including eligible delivery services) and 3% at drugstores. While the card doesn’t offer bonus cash back at gas stations and grocery stores, the 1.5% regular earning rate makes up for it. Plus, these rewards can be converted to transferable Ultimate Rewards points if you have another credit card that earns these points.
KLAUS VEDFELT/GETTY IMAGES)
And while the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 6% cash back on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets per calendar year (1% after that) and select U.S. streaming subscriptions, it carries a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees).
You also could argue that the Chase Freedom Flex offers superior rewards, with 5% cash back on up to $1,500 of quarterly rotating categories when you activate. Plus, you’ll earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel and 3% on dining, restaurant and drugstore purchases.
Again, the best option comes down to your spending habits, but Chase cash back cards take the lead when it comes to category bonuses.
Which Amex or Chase cash back card is best for business cards?
When comparing the cash-back business card lineup, Chase offers two cards with higher welcome bonuses than American Express. As a business owner, your spending can vary based on the size of your business and where your business spends money. It’s best to choose a card where you’ll be earning bonus points on your most frequent spending categories.
The welcome offer from the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, on the other hand, is lower. With it, you’ll get a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first three months.
Most rewarding business cash-back card for spending
The American Express Blue Business Cash Card offers the simplest reward structure, while the Ink Business Cash Credit Card offers higher earnings in select categories. Blue Business cardholders earn a flat 2% cash back on the first $50,000 spent on eligible purchases each calendar year (then 1%). It’s ideal for those who don’t want multiple cards in their wallets and remember category bonuses for each one.
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For those looking to maximize common business spending categories, the Ink Business Cash is a better card overall. It earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent per account anniversary year at office supply stores and on cellphone, landline, internet and cable TV services (1% after that). You’ll also earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000 per account anniversary year, which is a nice bonus.
Amex and Chase cater to different customers with their respective cash-back cards. So, consider your spending habits and determine which option is best for you.
Best recurring card perks
Cash-back cards aren’t renowned for their travel perks — however, both Amex and Chase offer unique recurring benefits.
Statement credits
For starters, Amex cash-back cards give you access to Amex Offers, a changing list of deals from popular merchants offering statement credits and bonus points.
AMERICAN EXPRESS
Many other banks now offer sync deals but don’t quite measure up to Amex Offers. For example, Chase regularly offers 10% back at popular brands, but they usually come with a maximum of $20 or less. Amex’s higher-value offers make its cash-back card even more valuable.
Shopping
Chase compensates by offering a slew of other perks. Specifically, Chase Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex cardholders get three months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership, three months of complimentary Instacart+ membership (incl. $10 quarterly statement credits), and 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025.
Depending on your shopping habits, these Chase perks may far outweigh the shopping benefits you’ll get with an Amex card.
Refer-a-friend bonuses
Amex cash-back cards also have an advantage when it comes to refer-a-friend bonuses. Both Amex and Chase banks allow cash-back cardholders to earn bonus points for successful referrals.
The following are bonuses current Chase cardholders can receive if they refer a friend and the application is approved:
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Flex
Ink Business Cash Credit Card
Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
$50 cash back per approval, up to $500 per year
40,000 bonus points per approval, up to 200,000
When it comes to business cards, I utilize refer-a-friend links as an Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card cardholder. In the past 12 months, I’ve earned 80,000 bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards from successful approvals to various Chase Ink cards from friends and family.
Amex offers referral bonuses, but they’re inconsistent and often limited to certain cards. If you’re planning to earn more rewards by referring friends and family to your card, you’ll want to opt for a Chase card.
Flexibility
One significant advantage that Chase cash-back cards have over Amex is flexibility in redeeming rewards. Cash back doesn’t have to be just cash back if you have another Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points. You can convert your cash back to Ultimate Rewards points if you also have a card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. So those 5% rotating category bonuses from the Chase Freedom Flex can be equivalent to earning 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent.
THE POINTS GUY
This is significant because TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents each when redeemed for premium awards. So, by taking advantage of this option, you’re essentially doubling the value of your points.
Unfortunately, you can’t convert Amex cash-back rewards to Membership Rewards points, so your Amex cash redemption options are far more limited than what you’ll earn with a Chase cash-back card.
Bottom line
When comparing Amex versus Chase cash-back cards, it’s important to weigh all the different features based on what’s important to you. If you’re after more flexible rewards and referral bonuses, Chase is easily your winner. However, Amex will take the lead if you want more valuable merchant offers. But remember — you don’t have to choose just one. You might decide that a card from each issuer will make the perfect card pairing for your wallet.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred card, click here. For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Biz Cash card, click here.
Teranka in Formentera, Spain; Nobu Hotel Marbella in Marbella, Spain; and Flemings Mayfair in London are now available to book via Hilton channels. Because of the test phase, Hilton is only releasing “limited inventory” from these hotels for immediate booking and will add more throughout the test phase ahead of a broader Hilton-SLH rollout.
While Teranka and Nobu Hotel Marbella are luxe beach getaways, Flemings Mayfair offers a high-end city hotel escape for the burgeoning partnership. Near-term availability appears limited in the test phase, but available rates do appear for stays next year.
Nobu Hotel Marbella CHARLY SIMON/SMALL LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD
Nobu Marbella rates next January start at 343 euros ($369) or 78,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Next May appears to be the earliest availability for Hilton Honors members at Teranka, where rates start at 1,470 euros ($1,582) or 110,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Flemings Mayfair has availability in January, when rates start at 294 British pounds ($375) or 80,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Hilton Honors members can expect the following benefits during an SLH stay:
Member: Guaranteed member discount, complimentary standard Wi-Fi, complimentary late checkout, bottled water and no resort fees on award stays
Silver: 20% Elite Tier bonus, fifth standard reward night free and all “member” benefits
Gold: 80% Elite Tier bonus, complimentary breakfast (for two guests), space-available upgrades, fifth standard reward night free and all “member” benefits
Diamond: 100% Elite Tier bonus, complimentary breakfast (for two guests), space-available upgrades, fifth standard reward night free and all “member” benefits
Hilton hasn’t officially provided numbers, but there are reports that roughly 100 SLH properties will eventually partake in the partnership this year before later expanding. As you might recall, there’s an ongoing game of partnership musical chairs underway: SLH previously partnered with Hyatt up until earlier this year. Now, Hyatt is rolling out its new Mr & Mrs Smith tie-in since acquiring that booking platform last year.
The SLH partnership rollout comes amid Hilton’s broader push to double its lifestyle hotel count in four years with a mix of established brands like Canopy and newer offerings like Graduate and NoMad.
While the partnerships may have changed, respective Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt members have plenty of new options when it comes to earning and using points at smaller, bespoke luxury hotels around the world.
Editor’s note: Shangri-La The Shard, London provided TPG with a complimentary two-night stay so that we could get an inside look at the hotel and its amenities. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author and weren’t subject to review by the hotel or any external entity.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
Unbeatable views of London’s skyline
It’s on the doorstep of some prime London attractions and transit options
Service is full of forethought and care
It’s rare that you can get two tweens and their parents to gasp in unison, but that’s exactly what happened when the elevator doors opened onto the lobby of the Shangri-La The Shard in London.
Occupying 18 floors of the iconic, 1,016-foot-tall Shard tower in London, I expected the views from the 34th-floor lobby to be good, but the first glimpse of the city of London framed by tastefully ornate flower arrangements surpassed all expectations. Surpassing expectations became the theme of my family’s late-spring stay at the Shangri-La The Shard, London, though.
Aside from the views, which are jaw-dropping no matter what angle you’re looking from, the Shangri-La The Shard provides luxurious accommodations, delicious food to suit nearly any taste, incredible amenities and discreet, thoughtful service.
What is the Shangri-La The Shard?
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
Opened in 2014, the Shangri-La The Shard has 202 rooms and suites and has Asian influences throughout the decor and food offerings as well as plenty of Western touches.
The hotel offers five different types of rooms and six different categories of suites. The ambience is upscale without being too opulent or fussy. The interior design throughout the hotel pays homage to the brand’s Asian roots with Chinese screen motifs and other elements, but also plays up London’s sense of fun with whimsical photos of people, animals and London landmarks in the elevators and hallways.
Where is the Shangri-La The Shard?
The Shangri-La The Shard is literally around the corner from London’s Borough Market, and practically next door to the London Bridge Tube station. The Queen’s Walk and all of its sights, including the HMS Belfast and Tate Modern, are a two-minute stroll away. Tower Bridge is a five-minute walk, and you can walk to the Tower of London in less than 10 minutes.
How to book the Shangri-La The Shard
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
The hotel hosted my family in two rooms in late March of 2024. Had we paid cash, room rates would have run us $1,892 per room per night before taxes and fees. Altogether, our stay would have cost $7,566 with a nonrefundable prepurchased rate.
Members of the Shangri-La Circle loyalty program can take advantage of slightly lower rates on flexible bookings that allow for cancellations and changes. Circle members can also book packages that include breakfast. Children under 7 who are traveling with Shangri-La Circle members get free breakfast without a package.
The hotel is also part of Capital One’s Premier Collection, however. So if you have either the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Business, you can book your stay through Capital One Travel for value-added benefits like free daily breakfast for two, up to $100 in on-property experience credits and room upgrades (if available).
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
Finally, the Shangri-La The Shard is affiliated with Chase’s The Edit, which is a recent rebranding of its Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. If you have an eligible card and make your booking through Chase Travel, you can enjoy perks including daily breakfast for two, availability-based room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout based on availability, a $100 property credit to be used during your stay, and a welcome gift. Those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can redeem Ultimate Rewards points for stays booked at The Edit properties.
Other cards you can use for The Edit bookings include:
Since 2013, the Shard has been an iconic, sometimes controversial, part of the London skyline, evoking Sauron’s tower in Mordor or Darth Vader’s castle on Mustafar, depending on what flavor of nerdiness you prefer. With 72 public floors and the Shangri-La occupying floors 34 to 52, the views are a major reason to stay here.
Even on a dreary day, watching boats move up and down the Thames, or using the provided binoculars (with a pamphlet that points out key sights) to check crowds at the Tower of London was a treat. In a bustling city, having unfettered access to those views, instead of having to book the Sky Garden or London Eye, invites you to slow down and savor the feast before your eyes.
To be honest, they could probably put a Motel 6 in the same spot and the views would make staying there worth it. Luckily, there’s nothing Motel 6-esque at all about the Shangri-La.
Shangri-La The Shard is family-friendly
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
The Shangri-La The Shard is a very family-friendly hotel. I realize that when a two-day stay (during the Easter holiday) costs north of $7,000, saying a hotel is family-friendly may seem like a stretch, but hear me out.
Each staff member who interacted with my kids seemed genuinely happy to have them there. While there wasn’t a kids club, staff members made an effort to speak directly to the children and make their stay more pleasant.
Ting, the main restaurant, has kids menus for all meals and teas. The hotel asked for my children’s names and ages and left personal messages in wipeable markers welcoming them on the window of their room. Each of my children also had a stuffed fox waiting for them on their beds. Why a fox? During the Shard’s construction, a fox climbed the building’s frame and had to be rescued, becoming a mascot of sorts for the building. Amenities like the hotel’s pool are also enough to impress even the most jaded little traveler.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
The touches perhaps don’t go far enough to justify spending roughly half of a year’s college tuition at the University of Virginia on a two-night stay, but if you’ve got the scratch and are traveling with young ones, Shangri-La The Shard is very welcoming.
The service is impeccable
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
The welcoming atmosphere wasn’t just for the kids, however. Every staff member we interacted with during our stay provided friendly, thoughtful and unobtrusive service. They each went the extra mile without calling attention to the fact that they were doing so.
Once our rooms were ready, we got to them only to discover our keys didn’t work. Not only did the front desk clerk apologize, but he also went back to the rooms with us to make sure the new ones he programmed were functioning properly.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
The personalized service didn’t stop there, however. When the housekeeper working turndown service noticed my (apparently feral) kids had left their suitcases on the floor, luggage racks appeared magically while we were out of the room.
Another instance? When you enter the hotel from the ground level, you need to go through a security screening that involves having your bags checked. What could have been an annoying experience actually ended up being pleasant. Each time we returned, the security staff did their job unobtrusively and professionally, chatting with us as they checked our bags and wished us a pleasant stay.
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The best example of the service came one morning at breakfast, however. We were seated at an east-facing table and (somewhat surprisingly for London) the sun came out. I pulled out my sunglasses and was perfectly happy to pretend that I was an incognito celebrity for the morning when, not 30 seconds later, the motorized shades started to lower and stopped once they had blocked the sun from my face. No one had to be asked to do that, and no fuss was made. The staff was just paying attention, saw a way to make a guest more comfortable and took care of it. That’s the essence of hospitality.
Surprisingly, privacy may be an issue
When you’re sleeping 40-some floors above the ground, you might be surprised that privacy could be an issue. However, the building has missing corners — that is, where a corner room would be, there’s open space (this is veiled by glass, so it isn’t apparent from the outside). Because of the missing corner, rooms at the ends of each floor are in an L formation and you can quite easily see into the rooms you’re sharing that configuration with.
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This wasn’t a big deal for my family, since we were the only people on our L. However, the setup meant we could see into the rooms below us, and I assume the rooms above us could see into our rooms. We didn’t see anything more salacious than a Nintendo Switch left out on a desk, but it’s worth keeping in mind that your room may not be as private as you think. You can solve this by closing the motorized shades in your room, but take in the views in your birthday suit at your own risk.
Rooms at Shangri-La The Shard
Beyond the slight issue of privacy, our rooms were exceptional. We had a Deluxe City View room that adjoined a Premier Shard room. The rooms were connected not by a door in a wall, but through a small vestibule off the hall.
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That vestibule had a locking door (hence our keys not working initially) that made our stay feel more like we were in a suite than connecting rooms. We had plenty of space, but didn’t need to worry about the kids leaving their room door open to a public hallway.
The kids actually had a larger room than we did. Their Premier Shard room had two single beds as well as a small sitting area looking out the window. My husband and I had a king room that had a table and chairs, but they weren’t situated to take full advantage of the views.
Each room was outfitted with a Nespresso machine and pods, an electric kettle, and a minibar. Robes and slippers were provided in various sizes, including kids sizes. A full line of high-end vegan toiletries and amenities, from bath salts to dental kits by Jo Loves, were also provided.
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Sturdy umbrellas that stood up to some pretty terrible London weather were in each closet, as were a shoehorn, lint brush and laundry bag. The bedside table even had a leather catch-all for watches and jewelry.
The beds were exceedingly comfortable, which became a little problematic when we needed to get up for a packed day of sightseeing. The Frette linens were smooth, soft and spotless. Turndown service was provided nightly, and the rooms were also well insulated in terms of sound. I didn’t hear a single noise from other guests while in our rooms.
We were awakened one morning by a bird that had chosen to perch on the side of the building and sing its head off, but we were not awakened by the sun, even with floor-to-ceiling windows. Excellent electronic blackout shades kept light pollution out at night and the sun out in the morning. There were controls for the shades, both by the room’s door and by the bed.
The hotel’s age only became apparent in the lack of power outlets and USB ports, especially by the beds. There was only one outlet on my side of the bed, and none on my husband’s side. The desk had enough outlets for the few devices we brought with us (a phone and an iPad each), but if we had both needed to bring work along, charging would have been an issue.
You’ll be sending pictures of the bathrooms to the group chat
I mentioned our kids’ room being bigger than ours, but where they really beat us was in the bathroom department. I want to be very clear that our bathroom was better than fine — it had a heated towel rack, a toilet with a bidet and heated seat, a huge shower with a rainfall showerhead, and a large tub. It also had plenty of storage and counter space. It was on par with most bathrooms at luxury hotels, but it wasn’t a standout.
The bathroom in the kids’ room, however, blew every other hotel bathroom I have ever seen out of the water. They had all the things we had, but their toilet was in a separate water closet and they had a freestanding tub. In front of a floor-to-ceiling window. Overlooking the Tower Bridge.
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There were no arguments about bathing during our entire stay. In fact, my 10-year-old son, who is at an age where bathing isn’t exactly a top priority, ended up taking two baths a day during our stay.
I got to use their tub one night by pulling the “This is for work!” card. Relaxing in the warm water with a glass of Champagne, watching the lights of London fade in and out of the fog is something I will never forget. If you can get a Premier Shard room, you absolutely should.
Dining and drinking at Shangri-La The Shard
The Shard has one restaurant, Ting, and three lounges: Bar 31, Gong and the Sky Lounge. We experienced meals at Ting and drinks at Gong.
Ting
Ting is the main restaurant at the Shangri-La, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and an incredible afternoon tea.
Each morning of our stay we were greeted enthusiastically at the host stand and led to our table past a display with a dozen different newspapers to choose from. Other guests included families like ours, some who looked like couples on getaways, and a few business travelers — or at least people who like to put on a suit and read the Financial Times first thing in the morning. For breakfast, you can order a la carte or go through an extensive buffet. The buffet includes Asian, Middle Eastern, Continental and American dishes, so offerings run the gamut from wonton soup to pancakes and waffles.
Breakfast was included in our stay, and on our first morning I opted for eggs Benedict. I’ll be honest here: Eggs Benedict isn’t my favorite, but I tend to order it while traveling as a handy breakfast comparison tool. Ting’s eggs Benedict was so good, it changed my opinion of the dish. The English muffins were fluffy and toasted to perfection. The Canadian bacon was tender with just the right amount of salt. The hollandaise was rich without being heavy, and the eggs themselves boasted bright orange yolks that oozed appealingly across the entire dish. With a delicious cappuccino on the side, this ended up being my platonic ideal of a breakfast.
My family hit the buffet, with my son and husband carb-loading up on croissants, muffins and hash browns. My daughter had pancakes. The pastries were tantalizing, and the croissants balanced the crisp, flaky outer layers with a chewy inside. The pancakes were fluffy and very rich, and the hash browns were crisped to a golden brown.
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For our second breakfast, I took our server’s recommendation and had the wonton soup. It was both light and filling, with an umami-packed broth. The wonton wrappers were just the right consistency: firm without being overly chewy. The stuffing was a delightful mix of pork and green onions. It was a simple dish, but very well prepared; I can see why it’s a popular breakfast choice.
Breakfast was included as part of our stay; it usually costs 45 British pounds ($57) per person unless you book a room with a breakfast package.
Tea at Ting was an experience I will remember for quite a while. Done in partnership with Alex Monroe, a jewelry brand, the tea had a “Bees in Bloom” theme.
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The pastries at the top of the tea trays included a bee, an orange and a ladybug, while the showstopper was a chocolate model of the Shard with honeycomb. Our server placed it in the middle of the table and poured water into a lower section of the dish which had dry ice in it, enveloping the sweet little Shard in smoke, like a foggy London day. The servers paused at each table to allow diners time to get their phones ready.
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The tea menu included 35 options (an overwhelming number for this Yank) as well as Champagne. I opted for Earl Grey, while my daughter went for a light berry herbal tea. My son had hot chocolate and my husband stuck with the bubbly.
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In addition to being a feast for the eyes, this tea was a literal feast. The bottom of the tea tray was dotted with dainty sandwiches including egg and cress, coronation chicken, smoked salmon and roast beef sandwiches. The second tier featured pate as well as sandwiches with a carrot filling. The top layer of sweets included a white chocolate and orange blossom cake (shaped like an orange, naturally), a lemon and lavender cake shaped like a bee, and a chocolate and jasmine tea cake shaped like a ladybug. After we’d made a dent in the tea tray, our server brought our scones, jam and cream, as well as an almond pound cake. Everything was delicious, and I’m glad we didn’t have a dinner reservation that evening because we simply would have been too full.
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Tea costs 78 pounds ($99) per person, or anywhere from 88 pounds ($112) to 149 pounds ($190) if you want to add Champagne (which ranges from Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label at the low end to Dom Perignon Brut 2012 at the high end).
One detail I absolutely loved at Ting was the small stools at each table for diners’ handbags. This was an unexpected touch, and one that was thrilling for me because I collect bags and am quite superstitious (“bag on the floor, money out the door”). Having these stools is indicative of the thought and care that infused every part of our stay.
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Gong
Gong is a lounge on the 52nd floor of the Shangri-La. It serves an impressive list of cocktails and wine, but the true standout is, once again, the view. You should reserve a slot ahead of time, and on busy nights you are asked to limit your stay to an hour. My husband and I went on a Tuesday night, however, and the staff had no problem with us staying longer.
I ordered the Alter Ego, one of Gong’s signature cocktails, which was a heady mix of rum and plum flavors. My husband had an old-fashioned. Both were delicious. Service at Gong was attentive, with our dishes of little nibbles (mixed nuts, plus some olives) never getting empty, and our server jovially suggesting another round.
Gong is on the side of the building that overlooks the Tower Bridge. We were there on an evening that was perfectly London: a little damp, a little chilly, but overall quiet and calm. Watching the lights of Tower Bridge fade in and out through the fog was an excellent cocktail companion.
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The only misstep at Gong was the seating. Our two-person table had one chair and one small ottoman. It was nice not to have an extra chair back potentially blocking the view, but perching on an ottoman isn’t particularly comfortable and doesn’t encourage lingering. Not all tables had this setup, so you might want to request a different type of seat when making your reservation.
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Bucket-list amenities
One of the coolest things the Shangri-La The Shard offers is the highest hotel pool in Western Europe, sitting 52 stories above the ground. Making time for a dip is a worthy carveout for your trip, even if you’re only there a short while. The pool itself is not huge, and while you could swim laps, the best use is to simply float and enjoy the view of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
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One note on the pool: It is on the same floor as the Gong lounge, and the elevators to the 52nd floor open into the Gong waiting area. There’s a changing area near the pool, which I suggest you use instead of changing in your room. We changed in our rooms and stepped out of the elevators in robes and bathing suits into a group of well-dressed men waiting to be seated at Gong. If you want to avoid a moment like that, bring your suit up and change at the pool.
The pool area has many loungers, tables and chairs, as well as fresh fruit, water and tea available. There’s also a large sauna in the pool area as well as a shower. The only thing missing is a hot tub.
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You do need to book in advance for the pool, which ensures it’s not crowded. Kids can’t swim after 6 p.m.
My family had the pool to ourselves during our twilight swim and had an amazing time. I was able to relax in the sauna, which had views of the Thames stretching to Westminster and beyond. Reserving a time for the pool felt awkward and unnecessary at first, but being able to experience the pool privately was worth the preplanning.
Reasons the Shangri-La The Shard might not be for you
The Shangri-La The Shard delivers thoughtful luxury, but the price is as high as the hotel’s pool. If you don’t need the views, you should stay elsewhere.
The vibe of the hotel is Zen-like and quiet, even in the bars. This isn’t the place to stay if you want to party.
If you suffer from acrophobia, do not stay here. The building’s height is apparent almost everywhere you look.
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Accessibility
The Shangri-La The Shard London is generally accessible, but it does fall short in a few areas. Hallways are narrower than you might expect, given the building’s relatively recent construction. If you use a large mobility device, you may find the areas outside elevator banks tight, especially if you have bags or other people with you. We also didn’t see a lift in the pool, and a ladder was the only entry point. It’s possible there’s a mobile lift for the pool and the attendant can help guests who need it enter the water. Elevators are large and bright, however, with buttons at an accessible height.
There are accessible accommodations with features including bathrooms with roll-in showers and toilets with grab bars. However, to ensure your room has features you require, you should call the hotel directly to reserve.
Checking out
Shangri-La The Shard London is a top-flight hotel that gives guests a luxury experience that’s thoughtful and demure. Staff members quietly and proactively work to make guests as comfortable as possible. The views are the standout feature, but the understated interiors, incredible amenities and soothing quiet make looking inside well worth it.
Luxury lifestyle brand Virgin Hotels is on track to make its London debut later this year.
Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch is slated to open in August in the city’s trendy Shoreditch neighborhood. The 120-room hotel will be the eighth for the brand. Some might see the move as a long time coming: London is the birthplace of Sir Richard Branson’s broader Virgin Group, which includes subsidiaries like Virgin Hotels and Virgin Atlantic.
“We’re all absolutely delighted that Virgin Hotels Collection will be opening a Virgin hotel in London,” Branson said in a statement. “Since the inception of Virgin Hotels, we’ve had our sights set on London; a place that so many of our customers either call home, or name as one of their favourite destinations — and of course where Virgin’s story started.”
The upcoming hotel is actually a conversion of the existing Mondrian London Shoreditch that is part of Accor’s Ennismore lifestyle arm. The Mondrian’s Spanish restaurant, BiBo Shoreditch, will continue to operate in the new Virgin Hotels-affiliated property. Further, guests will have access to a rooftop bar, a pool, a private members club, a gym and treatment rooms. The company release notes the August rebrand will mark the start of a “gradual transformation” into a full Virgin Hotels ambience.
The London expansion also gives members of the Virgin Hotels’ The Know loyalty program as well as Virgin Red a hotel to earn and redeem points. Further details on the loyalty tie-in are expected later this year.
While the company may have found a coveted London location for Virgin Hotels, the brand already has a presence in the United Kingdom with a hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland. The brand also has a significant presence in the U.S. in cities like Chicago, New York City and New Orleans.
While it might be Virgin Hotels’ eighth location, Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch will be the 17th property in the wider Virgin Hotels Collection, which encompasses Virgin Hotels and Virgin Limited Edition — a collection of one-of-a-kind retreats like Necker Island in the Caribbean and Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco.
“This year will mark 10 years of Virgin Hotels and what a way to start the early celebrations as we announce our newest hotel in one of the world’s most famous cities,” James Bermingham, CEO of Virgin Hotels Collection, said in a statement.
The world’s largest hotel company plans to add 10 hotels and more than 1,000 rooms across France by the end of 2025. The planned expansion includes brands like 2023 TPG Award-winner Moxy, Residence Inn, Courtyard, Aloft and The Luxury Collection. The new hotels will boost Marriott’s existing French footprint of 69 hotels across 29 cities.
“We remain focused on strengthening our presence in primary and secondary markets in France in line with the strong demand we are seeing for leisure and resort experiences, as well as for business travel,” Alexandra Goguet, Marriott International’s vice president of development for France and the Benelux region, said in a statement.
It’s not a shock that Marriott wants to beef up its presence in France. It was one of the first countries in Europe to return to pre-pandemic visitor and visitor spending levels, and it’s also the most-visited country in the world, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
The move comes amid a broader push by companies like Hilton and Hyatt to beef up their presence across Europe, too. For Marriott, hotel performance in Europe was up nearly 22% last year, and rates increased by more than 7%, according to the company’s most recent annual filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Moxy has the largest presence in the ongoing expansion, with Moxy Annecy and Moxy Paris Clamart slated to open this year and Moxy Nice expected to open by the end of 2025. There are already nine other Moxy hotels operating in France. Residence Inn by Marriott Lille, Courtyard by Marriott Lyon East and Aloft Dijon are some other upcoming openings planned across France.
The marquee project for Marriott is Hotel du Couvent, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nice. This project entails a renovation of a convent that dates back to 1604; it will result in 88 luxury guest rooms and suites slated to open this summer. Additionally, Marriott plans to open a Tribute Portfolio hotel in Mougins, a hillside town 15 minutes north of Cannes.
“Conversion and adaptive reuse projects represent nearly half our properties expected to join the Marriott portfolio in France by the end of 2025,” Goguet said. “These projects allow us to add hotels in key locations in city centres and demonstrate our expertise and flexibility in finding innovative solutions to adapt existing buildings whilst creating fantastic guest experiences.”
