A slew of exciting new hotels have been popping up in Honolulu — and now a new lifestyle hotel in the heart of one the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods is open for business.
The only adults-only hotel in the area, this Romer House outpost is a love letter to Waikiki with modern touches and midcentury design.
ROMER HOUSE WAIKIKI
Across the 179 rooms, guests are supposed to feel like they’re stepping into their own Hawaiian apartment-inspired space, with lots of textures, wooden accents, local photography on the walls and in-room amenities like coffee, a kettle and a minifridge.
In some rooms, you can even have your own private lanai to step outside and breathe in the salty ocean air.
ROMER HOUSE WAIKIKI
The rooms aren’t the only place you’ll find great art; throughout the hotel is an entire collection of local art dedicated to the beauty of Hawaii and its islands, people and culture. Be on the lookout for pieces from surf photographer Arto Saari, murals by Matías Solario and Cory Kamehanaokala, and more throughout the hotel.
ROMER HOUSE WAIKIKI
For fun, head to The Backyard pool and bar to lounge in a chair to work on your tan, enjoy a swim in the heated wading pool or snack on Japanese-Hawaiian food and cocktails (think: katsu sandwiches or bento boxes with canned sake). Come for the food, but stay for wellness classes on the pool deck.
You can also grab food and drinks at Izakaya 855-Aloha from chef Shotaro “Sho” Kamio. A spot designed to stay open late, Romer’s izakaya will also combine flavors and cooking techniques of Japan and Hawaii and feature shareable dishes like Tokyo hot chicken, takoyaki, tempura and a strong selection of Japanese whiskys and sakes.
ROMER HOUSE WAIKIKI
And then there’s House Bar & Cafe, an all-day eatery with — you guessed it — Japanese-Hawaiian breakfast and lunch, including options that are perfect to take away. At night, the space transforms into a laid-back bar scene where you can have a midnight snack and a nightcap.
Every stay at Romer House Waikiki includes a dedicated “Aloha Line” phone number that guests can text or call to help navigate nearby activities or score exclusive perks at neighborhood businesses (hint: your keycard can help you score discounts!). To get out, the hotel offers free bike rentals, and there’s even a boutique on the property with artisanal goods just in case you don’t find the right souvenir while exploring out and about.
Best of all, Romer House Waikiki has plenty of ways to help support the local community and the beautiful island through contributions to the Genki Ala Wai Project and the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative.
While Romer House Waikiki isn’t part of a loyalty program, it does offer a great deal on cash rates. Through the summer, rates can be found as low as $163 per night, which is a very appealing price for one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world. And if you book before June 30, the hotel is offering a special package to celebrate the grand opening that includes 20% off the nightly rate, a limited-edition goodie bag with two custom towels, a $100 food and beverage credit, and a welcome drink on arrival.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Just like the ride vehicles on Dumbo the Flying Elephant, prices at Disney parks keep going up, up, up. Disney recently shared that, depending on the length and dates of your visit, you could see ticket prices increase anywhere from $5 to $50 next year.
As the price of Disney vacations continue to climb, a new study reveals that nearly one-quarter of consumers have gone into debt to pay for a trip to a Disney park.
In a survey of more than 2,000 individuals, LendingTree reported that 24% went into debt for a trip. This number represents a 33% increase over LendingTree’s 2022 survey, in which only 18% of individuals reported going into debt for a Disney vacation.
Among the costs that sent their vacation budget spiraling, 65% of surveyed Americans said that higher-than-expected food and beverage costs inside the park were to blame; 48% answered transportation costs; and 47% reported that accommodations ultimately put them in the red.
For parents with children under 18, the number of people surveyed that went into debt for a Disney vacation debt climbed to 45%. That’s a 50% increase from the same category in a similar 2022 survey, in which over 30% of Disney visitors with young children reported going into debt for Disney. Parents with kids under 18 took an average of $1,983 in debt for their Disney vacations.
Although 59% of parents with young children say they don’t regret going into debt for their Disney excursion, there are several ways to save money at Disney and avoid overtaxing your budget.
No, I don’t have a magic wand (sadly). But I do have the next best thing: a list of tips and tricks to help minimize the effects of Disney’s rising prices so you can do Disney without busting your vacation budget.
How to save money on Disney tickets
UNDERCOVER TOURIST
Disney ticket prices increase nearly every year, usually with little warning. If you plan a trip and don’t buy your tickets before the prices increase, you’ll be stuck paying the higher price.
That may not sound like much on its own, but it can all add up quickly if you factor in the number of people in your party as well as the date and length of your visit.
There is a workaround that allows you to purchase tickets at the old prices, but you only have a short window of time to take advantage of it. Reputable Disney ticket resellers like CityPass, Undercover Tourist and Get Away Today usually have an allotment of tickets they sell at the old price until they run out. Savings can run as high as $90 per ticket if you act fast after a price increase. That’s potentially hundreds of dollars in your pocket that you can you use on other things like hotels, dining, souvenirs and other Disney expenses.
Even when you aren’t facing a price increase, ticket resellers like Undercover Tourist price their tickets slightly less than what you would pay directly with Disney — sometimes there’s as much as an $85 savings per ticket.
Choose the right credit card
THE POINTS GUY
There are several ways that using the right credit card to pay for your Disney vacation can help you save money — as long as you pay off your monthly balance in full.
Earn a welcome offer
If you open a new credit card with an elevated welcome offer, you could earn a points bonus worth more than $1,000 by putting your vacation purchases like theme park tickets, flights and a hotel stay on your new card. While working toward a welcome bonus doesn’t directly help you save on your current trip, it can help you save on future ones. You can also use TPG’s CardMatch tool to determine if you are prequalified for an even higher offer than publicly available.
Earn bonus points
You don’t have to apply for a new card to save money. Some credit cards earn bonus rewards points or cash back on purchases in select categories like travel and entertainment. For example, you can earn 3 points per dollar on purchases that code as travel when you pay with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (nonbonus category purchases only earn 1 point per dollar). If you purchase your tickets through one of the resellers mentioned above or as part of a Disney vacation package, your purchase should code as travel, and you’ll earn additional points.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve also comes with an annual $300 travel credit that you can use to offset the cost of your trip, but you only use it toward purchases that code as travel. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also offers a $300 annual travel credit, but you need to book any vacation expenses through the Capital One travel portal to use this perk. Luckily, several Disney World hotels are bookable via Captial One. Renting Disney Vacation Club points to book your Disney World hotel should also code as a travel purchase, making you eligible for bonus points if you use the right credit card.
Finally, it should come as no surprise that the Disney® Visa® Card and the Disney® Premier Visa® Card can also help you save. Both offer a welcome bonus as a statement credit after spending a certain amount on purchases in the first three months. In addition, you can earn a percentage back in the form of Disney Reward Dollars on all card purchases, which you can use as a form of payment at Disney.
The Disney Visa cards also offer discounts on select Disney merchandise and dining purchases, which can help you save money on meals and souvenirs while on vacation.
Use points and miles to cover a portion of the cost
There aren’t many ways to directly use points and miles to cover Disney costs, but we do have a few tricks to share.
With Bilt Rewards and the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees), you can earn points that can be redeemed for Disney tickets directly in the activities section of the Bilt travel portal. You can also redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for Disney tickets, hotel stays and vacation packages booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal, though availability is sporadic and limited based on our searches.
Of course, if you have a stash of airline miles or hotel points, you can use those to offset your flight or accommodations. There are several points hotels near Disney World, and there are even a few on the property. While not technically “Disney hotels.” The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin Resort and Swan Reserve hotels are located on Disney property between Epcot and Hollywood Studios and participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program.
Save with discounted Disney gift cards
THE POINTS GUY
You’ve probably seen Disney gift cards near the checkout counter at Target, but you might have yet to realize their potential beyond Christmas or birthday gifts.
Target Circle™ Mastercard cardholders receive a 5% discount when using that card to pay for most items in-store and on Target.com, including gift cards. That means a $100 Disney gift card will only cost you $95. That saving may sound insignificant, but it adds up if you purchase gift cards periodically throughout the year to cover the cost of your vacation.
The information for the Target Circle™ Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Pack your own snacks and drinks
KARL TAPALES/THE POINTS GUY
You can lessen the sticker shock of in-park food and beverage purchases by packing along some of your own. Disney doesn’t allow you to bring in a full-size food cooler, but you can bring snacks and drinks in your bag or backpack. I always bring a reusable water ball to refill throughout the day, but you can also pack soda or Gatorade.
I usually place a grocery order for cereal, yogurt and fruit to eat in the room before I head to the parks, and I take granola bars, crackers and other small bites for myself and my kids to snack on throughout the day. By doing this, we can get away with purchasing only one or two meals each day.
How to get into the parks without paying for MagicBands
I could have played Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters at Galaxy’s Edge all day. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
I’d be lying if I said Disney’s MagicBand+ isn’t fun to play with at the parks. Like the old MagicBand, you can use MagicBand+ to get into the parks, open your hotel room door, access skip-the-line Lightning Lanes, link PhotoPass photos and charge items to your hotel room bill. You can also use it to play interactive games in the parks.
However, those perks cost between $34.99 and $54.99. A prearrival discount can save you up to $10, and Disney Vacation Club members or annual passholders can save 20%. Those prices sting all the more because, until recently, MagicBands were provided free of charge to Disney hotel guests, and were always free since they were first introduced in 2013.
You can use your phone, a plastic ticket or a MagicBand to tap into a Disney park. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
The good news is that you can still use any old MagicBands you have lying around from past vacations as long as the battery still works. I have MagicBands that are two or three years old that still work just fine.
In even better news, you don’t need a MagicBand at all. At Disney World, you can ask for a “Key to the World” card at guest services or from the hotel front desk if you are staying at a Disney hotel. Key to the World cards look like hotel key cards (but cuter) and perform the same functions as the original MagicBands.
The Disney app has everything you need for a day in the parks. WALT DISNEY WORLD
At Disneyland and Walt Disney World, you can use each park’s respective mobile phone app to do everything a MagicBand does, including charging select food and merchandise purchases to your hotel folio. For any other purchases, you could use the virtual wallet on your phone without pulling out your physical wallet.
Look for hotel and ticket discounts
Fuentes del Morro pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Disney regularly releases discounts that can help you save hundreds on your hotel stay, such as on Disney dining plan and theme park tickets. We have a list of Disney World discounts to help you stay up-to-date on current offers. You can also apply most of these offers retroactively.
Even if you’ve already booked your vacation, you can usually still apply any discounts you are eligible for. This rule is one of the reasons we recommend booking your vacation through an authorized Disney vacation planner; they will keep an eye out for any applicable discounts up until the beginning of your trip.
Know the cheapest times to visit Disney
Disney ticket prices. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Disney ticket prices can vary wildly based on when you visit. If you go during peak demand times (like over a holiday season), a one-day Magic Kingdom ticket can run as much as $189 per person. If you visit in August or September, you can pay as little as $109 for the same ticket.
You may have little control over when you visit, but check Disney’s pricing calendar to help you choose the cheapest, most convenient dates.
How to save money on transportation to Disney
Mears Connect. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Getting between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Walt Disney World used to be free to hotel guests via Disney’s Magical Express (may she rest in peace). In its place, a handful of alternatives have popped up, but they sadly all carry a fee.
Of those, I’ve seen the best pricing from Mears Connect. The cost is $16 one-way for adults and $13 one-way for kids (or $32 and $26, respectively, round-trip). You can pay an additional fee for express service that will take you directly to your resort with no stops. It also runs occasional promotions where kids ride for free with a paying adult.
Depending on the number of guests at your party, this service may be less expensive than taking an Uber or Lyft from the airport. During busy times, an Uber or Lyft can cost more than $70 for a one-way trip.
How to enjoy the parks without spending money on Disney Genie+
Disney Genie is a free service available to all guests. DISNEY GENIE
It still pains me to think about the days when skipping the line at Disney World was free using FastPass+. Yes, there was some anxiety around waking up at 6 a.m. 90 days before each trip to get the most coveted FastPasses and then refreshing the Disney app throughout my trip to snag a few more.
Unfortunately, FastPass+ has gone the way of the dodo and was replaced in late 2021 with a paid, skip-the-line service called Disney Genie+.
Lightning Lane entrances let you breeze to the front of the line. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
At Walt Disney World, the cost of Disney Genie+ varies by park and day. The service starts at $15 per person, per day, but it can go as high as $39, especially likely during holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas or spring break. You can purchase Genie+ for one of Disney World’s four theme parks or get a “multiple park” option, which is valid at all four parks when you buy it through the My Disney Experience app.
At Disneyland, you can snag the service in advance for $30 per person, per day. If you purchase Genie+ on the date of your visit, the starting price is $30, but it can fluctuate on busier days. The highest price on record is $35.
Most Disney rides still have a standby line, but be prepared to wait. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
While it certainly can save you time in line, you don’t have to purchase Genie+ to enjoy your Disney vacation.
Along with Genie+, Disney also rolled out a free service called Disney Genie that helps you plan your day by displaying rides with low wait times, creating a personalized itinerary based on your preferences and more. You may not get on Disney’s most in-demand rides unless you are willing to wait, but it does present an opportunity to check out rides with lower waits that you usually skip over. You may find a new favorite.
If you are going the free route, you also must utilize rope drop. “Rope dropping” means arriving at the park at least 30 minutes before it officially opens (or 30 minutes before the start of Early Theme Park Entry for Disney resort guests) and heading straight for your first attraction the moment the rope drops. By arriving early, you can usually knock out one or two popular attractions before the crowds descend on the parks at the busiest part of the day.
If you find the parks so crowded that you don’t want to wait in line, there are many things you can do at Disney outside the parks (even without a park ticket).
Bottom line
As with most things, there’s no getting around the fact that visits to Disneyland and Disney World are getting more expensive. Sometimes, you have to get creative to make your travels affordable, and these tips are a great place to start so you don’t go into debt for your magical vacation — you may even have a few bucks left over to treat yourself to a Dole Whip (or two).
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.
STARBUCKS.COM
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.
FRESHSPLASH/GETTY IMAGES
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.
PEOPLEIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
JAMIE PAGE/THE POINTS GUY
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.
