15 Best Radisson redemptions in UK & Europe
Radisson Rewards doesn’t get much attention nowadays, after they ceased all the ludicrous promotions and made a total mess when having to split the program into two and eventually sold the Americas one.
However, Radisson does have some decent redemption opportunities in the UK and Europe, which we will talk about today. If you have the UK Amex Platinum or Gold card, you can transfer your membership rewards points to Radisson Rewards at an impressive 1:3 ratio.
You could view Radisson’s hotel directory here, although it’s not very easy to navigate.
1. Radisson Collection Royal Mile – 60,000 points
Edinburgh can be very expensive in the summer (especially August due to the Military Tattoo), and 60,000 points is a bargain for a five star hotel. However, I stayed here once when it was still a Quorvus (what a weird name), and frankly I wasn’t impressed at all.
2. Radisson Blue Hotel Cardiff – 30,000 points (Review here)
The Park Inn used be a better option, but both properties cost 30,000 points now under the new pricing system and Radisson Blu is obviously a fancier hotel. Their room is very basic, but the price is great for a busy night in central Cardiff.
Honourable Mention: Radisson Blu Liverpool is also at 30,000 points.
3. Park Inn by Radisson York – 30,000 points
York is a small town but extremely popular with tourists. Its town centre has acquired a few more hotels in recent years such as the Hampton and Hotel Indigo, yet a Saturday-night stay is usually still eyewatering expensive, when 30,000 points is really a steal.
4. Blackpool FC Stadium Hotel – 15,000 points
It’s a Radisson Individuals hotel, a newly adopted concept copied from the likes of Autograph Collection and Curio. The hotel is built within the football stadium which means some of their rooms feature pitch view, a fun experience similar to the Marriott hotel at Twickenham.
5. River Ness Hotel – 45,000 points
There are few choices when you want to stay at Inverness, and this newly-flagged Radisson Individuals gives you an option to spend your points. From online reviews I don’t think it’s a qualified four star as the service is very limited, but at least it’s a clean and cosy hotel.
6. Radisson Blu Waterfront Jersey – 45,000 points
Hotel chains are almost non-existent on the Jersey Island, and 45,000 points for a short weekend away in the summer is pretty decent.
7. Radisson Blu and Spa Sligo – 30,000 points
A good property in Ireland for a spa break it seems.
8. Park Inn by Radisson Dresden – 15,000 points
Radisson’s presence is very strong in Germany, but good redemptions are very rare in general (partly due to lower hotel rates in the country). Dresden’s Park Inn is one that I can find with some value.
9. Radisson Blu Resort Swinoujscie – 30,000 points
Apparently Swinoujscie is beach city near the Poland-Germany border. The hotel’s swimming pool looks very nice and its night rate easily passes the €200 mark in summer.
10. Park Inn by Radisson Budapest – 15,000 points
I stayed here for one night on a late-night arrival. The hotel is fairly remote and very basic, however for a one-night transition it’s acceptable when rates are high.
11. Park Inn Hotel and Spa Zalakaros – 30,000 points
It’s a family spa resort in Hungary which used to cost only 9,000 points at the beginning, but at 30,000 points it still seems to be a great deal.
Honourable Mention: Park Inn Sarvar Resort & Spa is a similar hotel in Hungary.
12. Radisson Blu Hotel Larnaca – 45,000 points
Cyprus almost seems be to a Virgin island when its comes to international hotel chains. 45,000 points is a good deal compared to the cash rate, and breakfast is included.
13. Metropolitan Hotel Sofia – 15,000 points
Both InterContinental Sofia and Hotel Sofia Balkan are very solid luxury hotels in the city. But if you are on a lower budget, the four-star Metropolitan Hotel could be on your list.
14. Royan Hotel Hagia Sophia Istanbul – 15,000 points
When in comes to great hotels, Istanbul offers you countless options but most of them are in the northern part of the city. If you are looking for something in the old town, this Radisson Individuals right by Hagia Sophia might be the right (and cheap) choice.
15. Radisson Blu Hotel, Kayseri – 15,000 points
Kayseri may not sound familiar to you, but tourists going for the hot air balloon experience usually have a stopover here first when in Turkey. This Radisson Blu is a five-star and ranked #1 on TripAdvisor. Breakfast is included for redemptions.
My review of Radisson Blu Cardiff
The voco St David’s hotel in Cardiff has been on my checklist for a while, and I’ve decided to tick the box on this bank holiday. It’s quite far from Cardiff’s centre though, so I was looking for a central hotel to complete my trip.
Saturday night is quite expensive everywhere even when paying points. The Radisson Blu hotel at 30,000 points (or 10,000 Amex points) has turned out to be the best choice. The Park Inn hotel, which is literally one minute away, used to be a better deal at 28,000 points (Radisson Blu was 38,000 points at that time). However they both cost 30,000 points now and it’s a no brainer which one to choose.
Sunday night is cheaper on which I redeemed my Hotels.com free night reward. I’ve made a note for the hotel to link my reservations.
I didn’t realised it’s Pride weekend at Cardiff until I saw all the rainbow flags when getting off the train 🙂 The hotel is only 5 minutes’ walk from Cardiff Central, and from what I can tell is probably one of the tallest building in the city.
The lobby looks fine.
The room on the other hand is, well, very basic…
It feels like all the furniture were from the 1990s and they were never changed. It’s probably one of the saddest room that I’ve every stayed at.
The bathroom floor is very thin for some reason. I’m very careful with my steps 😛
My room on the 10th floor faces a residential block.
This is what you see on the top floor (21st).
At check-in I inquired about the Gold welcome amenity. They couldn’t deliver it on that day so comped my breakfast as an apology. I’m quite happy about the resolution!
Breakfast on the 1st floor is a standard buffet.
The hotel is only 3 minutes from the Ivy, which I recommend if you want to spend the £150 dining credit from the Amex Platinum card.
For this particular occasion, the Radisson Blu was good value for 30,000 points. However it’s not a good property otherwise, and the Hilton wins hands down with its better interior, executive lounge and spa.
Afternoon tea at the Ting restaurant, Shangri-La the Shard
I accrued a lot of cheap Shangri-La points when The Economist had a great deal, but sadly didn’t have much chance to burn them. I spent some of them on a buffet in Beijing a few years back, but am still left with a stash of 2,500 points. Before the devaluation kicked in, I converted all into vouchers for Shangri-La the Shard, London.
A friend is visiting, which reminds me of redeeming those vouchers. Being in the Shard, the Shangri-La possesses an advantage that no other five-star hotels in London can ever compete.
It has four restaurants: Bar 31 and Sky Lounge are more like bars, whereas Ting and Gong are proper restaurants. I’ve got a few friends who’ve had an afternoon tea at the Ting, and I will follow them for the experience although I don’t like afternoon teas that much.
Coming out of the London Bridge station you can’t possibly miss the Shard.
The building has three entrances and the middle one is for the hotel.
The receptionist checks our reservation and then show us the lift, which leads straight to the 35th floor.
The hotel reception.
Our reservation is checked again when entering the Ting restaurant.
The restaurant is not as busy as I thought on a Sunday, as there are still a few window seats available.
There’s a theme for the Queen’s Jubilee.
Live music from a band:
Pick your tea from an iPad, otherwise the set is the same for everyone.
Savouries are served first. I don’t quite remember what they are except for the duck cake, but they are all pretty good.
Followed by the scones and cakes. I don’t have sweet teeth so won’t comment 😛
This Shard-like chocolate dessert is obviously their signature dish, and was created for the sake of Instagram. The chocolate exterior is fine, but the raspberry filling is way too sour for my taste. It’s probably more an art work than food.
Great view from the table.
And from the bathroom too.
The afternoon tea is priced at £65 pp, or £75 with a glass of Prosecco, and service charge is 12.5% on top. The Shangri-La voucher is in USD and they converted it at the rate of 0.8, which isn’t terrible.
Remember to book your table with OpenTable or SquareMeal to earn some IHG / Virgin points or cashback. I got 100 Virgin points from the reservation.
My friends had a very bad experience when they visited before in terms of service, but it’s quite a positive one for us. It’s a very expensive afternoon tea, but spending your Shangri-La points here isn’t a bad idea considering how limited their footprint is outside Asia.
My review of Crowne Plaza Liverpool City Centre
It’s been years since I visited Liverpool, and I reckon it’s about time I come back. I was leaning towards the Doubletree hotel at the beginning, but then it turned out that although the hotel has a great pool and spa, all guests have to pay £25 per person per visit which is too steep.
Therefore I’ve chosen the Crowne Plaza instead, which has a riverbank location, a club lounge and a swimming pool. According to recent reports, Diamond members are being granted club lounge access and free breakfast, which also weighed in my decision process.
The hotel sits on the Princes Dock, which is about 15-20 minutes walk from the Lime Street station. It’s ideal for a stroll by the river, or visit to the museums (for example the Tate).
The lobby features a glass ceiling, which presents it like a greenhouse when it’s sunny.
Check-in is quick. I’m asked to choose a welcome amenity between points, drinks voucher or breakfast. Besides that there’s no greeting, no breakfast hours, no introduction to the hotel facility and no smile. It appears to me that the staff aren’t happy working here and not friendly to the guests.
Contrary to what I read online, although Diamond members can choose breakfast as a welcome amenity, club lounge access is not offered unless you have the annual lounge pass. The manager explains that they were all confused by the new rules at the beginning and offered club lounge access to Diamond members by mistake. Oh well, this is the first time I’m refused lounge access at a Crowne Plaza hotel, so the new IHG policy is not all good.
I’m upgraded to a King Premium Club room with River View, but since I’ve no lounge access the main difference it has over a standard room is just the river view.
The room is okay, just about an average four-star hotel you anticipate in this country.
River Mersey from the window.
Somehow the bathrobe is missing from my room – I thought it’s not provided (which is common in the UK) but then see other guests wear them. After request it’s brought to my room.
The wellness centre is located on the ground floor. I was worried that it may only have a swimming pool, but gladly the jacuzzi, sauna and steam room are not missing.
I’m not sure how amazing the Doubletree’s spa is, but I’m quite happy with what I have here already. Like many hotels the pool becomes quite busy in the evening, so it’s best to come here during the day.
There’s a gym with river view on the first floor.
Breakfast is served in the restaurant in the form of a buffet.
The quality is decent. I quite enjoy the salami, hash brown and pork sausage.
Club lounge is right by the lobby. Surprisingly, I’ve gone past it numerous times during my three-night stay, and I’ve never seen a single person in the lounge at any time.
The stay posted as non-qualifying. It’s not the first time it happened to me but previously it was all because I booked a special rate (partner discount or Ambassador BOGOF), whereas this time I booked a normal Advance rate. I only need to submit a claim to get it rectified, but it’s very annoying and I’m not sure if the hotel is trying to save money by not posting the points or what.
I think it’s a solid Crowne Plaza given its location and facilities, but the service still leave much to be desired.
£10 off your “first” Amazon App purchase
Amazon has re-launched the offer to promote use of its app. You get a £10 voucher for making a purchase through the Amazon App.
You could check your eligibility here, and in theory you should only qualify if you have never signed into the app before. However their IT is a bit mystery though – I’ve had the app for ages although I don’t log in very often, and I’m still eligible.
If you are eligible, download the Amazon app and sign in to make a purchase of £25 or more, and per usual it has to be items sold by Amazon. Use promo code APP10UK when you checkout.
The promotion ends on September 5 and is limited to the first 5,000 redemptions only.
Other Amazon offers:
- £10 off your first Amazon App purchase
- £20 off your first Amazon Fresh and Morrisons order
- Get £10 Amazon voucher for using its Photos app
- £4 off your next Amazon pickup order
- £5 Amazon bonus when topping up £60
- £5 Free Voucher for Streaming Amazon Music
- £5 Free Voucher for Streaming Amazon Podcast
- Earn £5 voucher for using Amazon Pay
- Free £5 Amazon voucher to claim
- £5 voucher for watching Amazon Prime Video
- £5 reward for creating an Amazon wish list
- £15 free money to spend at Amazon Fresh stores
- Amazon Warehouse £5 free voucher
My review of St Ermin’s Hotel, London
I doubt I can make Marriott Titanium this year, but I’m just a couple of nights short of Platinum. Having already stayed at numerous Marriott properties in London I want to add one more to my collection, and St Ermins stands out after I’ve checked some reviews.
The hotel is just one block away from the St James Park tube station, and thus fairly close to the Conrad London hotel. On the one hand it’s a really quiet neighbourhood, on the other hand it’s only a few minutes from the London Eye and Buckingham Palace. I’m visiting Tate Britain in the afternoon, which is also nearby.
The hotel entrance is lightened by a small but beautiful courtyard garden.
The lobby doesn’t look bad either. The front desk is very friendly, keeps checking if I have any request. My room isn’t ready yet at 12pm so I left my bags with the concierge.
Reports say that their standard rooms are tiny. My Suite Night Upgrade cleared a couple of days before my stay for the best suite of the hotel. It’s good, but nothing spectacular I’m afraid.
Door to the small balcony is locked, but I guess you can ask the staff to open it.
The bedroom is cosy.
Bathroom looks nice although a bit tired as well.
The rain shower is controlled by a digital panel.
Breakfast is complimentary to Titanium members, and you can choose 1,000 points or $10 credit on top.
It’s mainly buffet but I think there are some egg dishes you can order as well. The selection and quality are mediocre.
Gym:
Given what I read online and that I used a SNU award, I had high expectations and I can’t stay the hotel stands up to it. It’s a bit disappointing especially considering what SNU got me at the Marriott County Hall hotel. If you would like to stay in this area, I think the Conrad is a better choice.
New great Radisson hotel redemptions in Blackpool and Inverness
Radisson’s hands have been pretty tied by all the administration stuff. First the program split between the Americas and the rest of the world, then full-on chaos involving both programs, and now the Americas program is being sold to Choice.
Given what’s going on, I thought the program had stopped expanding. Well I’m obviously wrong, as Radisson is now running a promotion for new hotels and there are a few of them.
You can register for the offer here. Stay two nights or more at participating new hotels in the first six months of its opening to earn 2,000 bonus points.
More importantly, I’ve noticed some new UK hotels which could be good to redeem points on.
- Blackpool FC Stadium Hotel 15,000 points
- River Ness Hotel 45,000 points
- Radisson RED London Greenwich The O2 60,000 points
Remember that if you have the Amex Gold or Platinum card, you could transfer Membership Rewards points to Radisson Rewards at the ratio of 1:3.
The Radisson Red O2 hotel isn’t cheap at 60K, although it might make sense if you are attending an evening event in the arena.
The other two properties are more interesting: neither Blackpool or Inverness are sufficiently represented by international hotel chains, and Radisson may be a game changer here. Both reward night prices are very reasonable.
See also:
My review of Great Northern Hotel, London
Marriott has a “Spend £200 get £75 back” offer with Amex, and I thought it would be a shame not to use it. I decided to spend one night at the Great Northern Hotel in the end.
It is part of the Tribute Portfolio, which was brought to Marriott by the SPG merger. I doubt Marriott has given the brand any thought since, as its footprint is barely growing at all. The only other hotel that I’ve stayed at is the Abbey Hotel at Bath. In my opinion Tribute should probably just be absorbed into the Autograph Collection.
The hotel is very well located as an annex to the Kings Cross station. Although not super central, Kings Cross has arguably the best transport links within London. You may consider staying here before taking the Eurostar.
The hotel doesn’t look so Great when compared to the Renaissance across the street.
Walking through the tiny entrance, turn left for the guest rooms and right for the reception.
The lobby is pretty micro too.
Jokes aside, the hotel does look very new and fresh, which gives a totally different (and maybe better) vibe than the Renaissance. The lift looks like an infinite mirror room.
I’ve received a double upgrade to an Edwardian King Room, High Floor. As far as remember there isn’t much difference between their room types though.
The room feels simple but cosy.
Being on the top floor isn’t necessarily a good thing, since the pitched roof confines the space even further. You can see the St Pancras station through the window.
Actually the hotel isn’t particularly small, but somehow they don’t even have a gym, let alone a swimming pool. I guess it’s due to it being a railway hotel.
Titanium members can choose breakfast as a welcome amenity. It’s fully a la carte and the food is quite good.
There is a Club Lounge on each floor – well that’s how I call them 😉, they are actually just pantry rooms with a coffee machine, some fruits and cookies.
In a word, the hotel is decent, but also inevitably dwarfed by the Renaissance St Pancras Hotel next door. If you want to stay at a Marriott hotel in the area, I’d definitely recommend the latter just for the experience.