More new member questions! CDC, seats and hotels (oh my!)

Hi, apologies - a couple of other questions (as you are all so helpful and infinitely more experienced than I am)

Firstly - thinking of booking the CDC with my miles from Brighton to LHR. Does anyone know if its possible to book the CDC to take you to the Airport the evening before your flight? I wouldn't expect any extra drop-off complications - I'd be happy to be dropped off at the Terminal and to make our own way to one of the Hotels, if thats all they would be able to do. But has anyone got any experience of whether that is generally OK when using the CDC service for pick up the day before you fly?

Secondly - seats. Our flight is LHR-MIA Upper in 747-400 Config 4. I'm liking the idea of the seats in the very front 12A and 12K as they look pretty cosy and quiet if you're travelling with your other half. Any thoughts on whether these seats are OK, or are they horribly claustrophobic? Any other suggestions? What about 15/16A (or K) still near the front(ish) but not too near the Galley or Bar and look like they should be pretty quiet with minimal traffic going by... thoughts or experiences?

Lastly (I know, I'm annoying - right!?) anybody have any experiences or recommendations with Hotels in the Miami Beach area? Always like to look at places to stay based on recommendations (I trust you all). Anyone that stayed there have any particular faves (budget not an issue - within reason )

Phew - thats it for now! Thanks
Pete

[Neil]

Sorry, but just had to change the n00b thing in your title, we do try and avoid text/slang speak on the forums, and it was quite annoying (plus I am eternally grumpy and little things like that annoy me B) )

Anyway, back to your questions.

I assume you are booked on a G reward UC seat as that is the only way you pay for a CDC using miles. If so, then I suggest you give VS a call and ask, but I personally don't see it being an issue.

Regarding the seat choice, then we personally love 12A&K on the LHR 747's. Like you said, they are perfect for travelling with a partner, you can talk much more easily and there is a little shelf to the front which is handy for storing things during the flight. The downsides, there is no overhead locker for those seats, but usually there is plenty in the cabin still, plus in turbulence you do feel it a bit more as you are right in the nose.

As another option, anywhere in the A Zone would still be an excellent choice, but more roomy and spacious than either the B zone or upstairs.

Can't help on the Miami hotel front - but sure someone will be able to.

Thanks,
Neil

Personally I don't think the CDC is worth the number of miles it costs, but seeing as you would be nearly using all 70 miles it might be worth it for you. I would look at the price of a taxi so you roughly know how much your miles are being redeemed for. Tristar is who Virgin use.

Any where in the A-Zone (the nose) as Neil said, great seats, loads of space in the cabin.

In Miami, I would recommend The Tides, amazing place, good location, staff, view etc.

Thanks Neil,

Apologies, never my intention to irritate a mod (and so quickly after joining a forum! Thats a record for me y) )

Appreciate your response and will do as you suggest and check direct the the HL as to whether they can do this with the CDC.

Good to hear that 12A/K are considered good seats, so thanks for that!

12A&K personally feel a little cramped to me and I wouldn't want to sit there if I was travelling alone. I was in 18K on Friday and this felt much more spacious as there was oodles of space in front of me compared to row 12. I'm in 12K on the 46 next week so it will be my first time in that seat for a red-eye so we will see how cozy it feels in bed mode!

Hi Hamster,

I think a taxi or private car from Brighton to Heathrow can be up to about £120 or so - so burning 17,500 wouldn't be too bad.

Plus Miami isn't a cheap place to visit overall it seems, so any use of miles to reduce the cost of the holiday (and still have it feel like a luxury trip) is welcomed!

Looks like 12A/K it is then!

I was looking at the Tides actually (just because its No1 out of 202 Hotels in Miami Beach according to Tripadvisor) so currently seeing if I can get an Amex staff travel deal on this... fingers crossed!

Is it really? Glad I'm not the only person who thinks The Tides is amazing.

Loews ?

We stayed at the Tides in December 2009 - it is an amazing hotel, in a good location with bars and restaurants near by.

In regards to your seating question we were in 15/16K coming back from San Francisco last year and we were very happy with the location of these seats.

Sharon

Sounding like the Tides then.

I'll tell you what annoyed me when I looked at the Tides though... [brace yourself, its a really pathetic reason]...for a hotel that costs upwards of $400 a night to charge you another $10 a day for internet/wi-fi rubs me up the wrong way, somehow. I don't mind spending $000's, but I do like to feel I'm getting good value for my money.

Still, if it really is that good, I'm sure I'll be able to get over this.

Frenchy - not a pathetic reason at all. I have considered hotels in the past to be 'good value' then found that they charged and the charges no longer made them such good value. I have seen charges of up to $20 per day !

Does the Tides have a loyalty programme?

Some hotel chains offer free wifi to their members no matter how recently they joined. Have a look at the 'members benefits'

Also depending on how long your stay is and how often to the US then some people on here have bought (in the US) Virgin Mobile 'mi-fi'. Do a search and I'm sure you'll find the thread.

sadly no loyalty program evident... (thats usually the first thing I check! y) )

As I say, I obviously wouldn't be booking the Tides because its cheap (as clearly its not) so I can probably get over it.

There's also something I like about this place
http://www.edgewatersouthbeach.com/ - the rooms look funky, comfortable and modern to me.

We'll see, gonna think on it for a while I reckon.