London

IHG

May 31, 2026

•

3 min read

IHG Free Night Certificate Mistake

A rebooking error changed the redemption decision months later

Expat Vista

Hotel Reviews

London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale, Revisited

May 24, 2026

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2 min read

London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale, Revisited

We needed to be in northwest London anyway. The question became whether a nearby apartment, dinner, drinks, breakfast, and revision space could beat the normal weekend spend.

Expat Vista

IHG

Hotel Indigo London Kensington Review: A Surprisingly Solid Earl’s Court Redemption

May 14, 2026

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3 min read

Hotel Indigo London Kensington Review: A Surprisingly Solid Earl’s Court Redemption

A short-notice IHG redemption that turned out better than expected

Expat Vista

Portfolio Management

How the Maida Vale Pub-Substitution Trade Played Out

May 11, 2026

•

4 min read

How the Maida Vale Pub-Substitution Trade Played Out

The math worked on paper. A week later, where we stand on all the rebates, points, and the stay experience itself.

Expat Vista

Hotel Reviews

May 9, 2026

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3 min read

London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale Review

An upgraded Executive Apartment with far more usable space than expected

Expat Vista

Loyalty Programs

Turning a £70 Thursday Pub Habit Into Two Marriott Elite Night Credits

May 1, 2026

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2 min read

Turning a £70 Thursday Pub Habit Into Two Marriott Elite Night Credits

How a £249 cash rate (no points, no certificates) became a net-positive stay after stacking Amex offers, Marriott promos, and our existing routine.

Expat Vista

Amex Platinum

Mar 30, 2026

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3 min read

Hilton Credits in London: What Triggers

Testing how payments are processed across hotel bars and restaurants

Expat Vista

Expat Logistics

You Can Use Amex Abroad. We Didn’t Even Need to Try.

Mar 19, 2026

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2 min read

You Can Use Amex Abroad. We Didn’t Even Need to Try.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant dining credit in London, tracked over 41 months

Expat Vista

The Lab

Marriott Gift Cards at Hotels: A London Field Test

Mar 7, 2026

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3 min read

Marriott Gift Cards at Hotels: A London Field Test

Trying to trigger a £75 Amex rebate without booking a stay

Expat Vista

IHG

Kimpton Fitzroy London Review: When Pricing Logic Meets Taste

Jan 31, 2026

•

3 min read

Kimpton Fitzroy London Review: When Pricing Logic Meets Taste

A field report on pricing quirks, restraint, and why some hotels feel different

Expat Vista

London

IHG Free Night Certificate Mistake

London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale, Revisited

Hotel Indigo London Kensington Review: A Surprisingly Solid Earl’s Court Redemption

How the Maida Vale Pub-Substitution Trade Played Out

London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale Review

Turning a £70 Thursday Pub Habit Into Two Marriott Elite Night Credits

Hilton Credits in London: What Triggers

You Can Use Amex Abroad. We Didn’t Even Need to Try.

Marriott Gift Cards at Hotels: A London Field Test

Kimpton Fitzroy London Review: When Pricing Logic Meets Taste

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