LUMO to NEWCASTLE Lumo saves the day, travel hacking & Travel chaos with LNER and Hampton by Hilton

What should have been a simple night away in Newcastle to explain travel hacking, ended up being a day of disappointment and travel chaos. Hampton by Hilton let me down, LNER was his by a lack of drivers, but Lumo saved the day. #LNER #HiltonHonors #Accor #HamptonByHilton #Lumo #NUFC
Filmed January 2024 | Newcastle, UK.
*** AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD: Sorry, but the referral offer is now closed.
*** PLEASE BUY ME A COFFEE TO KEEP ME UP TO CRUISING ALTITUDE: ko-fi.com/planestrainseverything
*** MY BOOK:
End-To-End, the world's longest train journey from Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
www.amazon.co.uk/End-End-Worlds-Longest-Journey/dp/B09VHSFJMF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HRR9AJHF4U13&keywords=end-to-end+train+travel&qid=1663148641&sprefix=end-to-end+train+travel%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-1
This journey was also captured on video. To see all 16 parts, please visit kzbin.info/aero/PLWXCO-zfrKrXRLozbI0vSb9Hfhpli5f7u
*** FOLLOW ME AT:
Web: www.planestrainseverything.com
Twitter: planestrainsev1
Facebook: planestrainseverything/
Instagram: planestrainseverything
*** DAILY DROP:
Be the first to learn about new and revised points/miles hacking news. I'm continually using Avios/Nectar points and other deals that come my way. This keeps me up to speed with what's out there. newsletter.dailydrop.com/subscribe?ref=lUQJqQpTl0
*** MUSIC:
Music courtesy of epidemicsound.com. If you are a KZbinr and you are considering using Epidemic Sound, please use this link... share.epidemicsound.com/togmw4
It costs you nothing more, but will help me level up to be an Epidemic Sound ambassador.
*** TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:45 Travel Hacking intro
00:06:07 Lumo to Newcastle
00:07:05 Arrive Newcastle
00:12:43 Discover Newcastle
00:14:53 Hampton by Hilton
00:26:15 Travel chaos
00:28:40 LNER travel fail
00:30:28 Discover Newcastle
00:34:17 Lumo to Edinburgh
00:34:56 Conclusion

[@RussWWFC]

Fun drinking game: Down a shot everytime Scott says 'Avios' 😂

[@terranceparsons5185]

I made it 20 before he had his first coffee!

[@davidjewood]

We’d all be upside in a skip come the end of the video 🤣🤣

[@robertofraser101]

😊😊

[@peteking8063]

Always surprises me that travel vloggers are surprised that railway stations have a lot of announcements.

[@ominous7271]

Don't think he's surprised, just annoyed - which I guess is fair enough when you're recording a video.

[@ianjames9166]

Avios far too complicated for me, Scott! I struggle with the intricacies of a Costa card 😂 Sorry things didn't go as planned but I really enjoyed the adventure in my much missed homeland. Cheers.

[@shivyyz]

Great tips! The Scottish youtubers always have great advice to save a few bucks.

[@justgrand3429]

I so admire thrifty Scotsman.

[@shivyyz]

@@justgrand3429 that is pretty much the lot of them!

[@CricketEngland]

So you know the BA American Express credit card charges you 31.0% APR which is rather high so make sure you pay it off every month in full. If you can’t don’t get one

[@rebeccahaddow7913]

My nephew and his teammates raised funds to go to a Newcastle home game. They even got a training session with the Newcastle coaches. They are dunfermline athletic fans and they also play in black and white strips

[@raiskis1]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@garrygreen3210]

Outstanding Scott lad. Loved the video, and thanks for the effort involved!

[@ShaunL]

Great video and good to see you in my home city! Glad you got to see some of the historic areas of Newcastle too. Should have gone to the Centurion in the station for breakfast - they do full Scottish or English (both really good) and the original interior design is amazing.

[@jcp6303]

So glad your doing longer vlogs 😊

[@seanC3i]

If you're ever in Newcastle and you want to see something really crazy: go to the city central library and you'll find an entrance to a small network of elevated walkways that goes as far as Manors. Back in the 1960s, city planners there wanted to rebuild the city, dedicate all the ground to cars, parking and buses, and move the pedestrians up one storey to a system of elevated walkways where pedestrians would skywalk from one building to another and there were to be shops on the skywalk level as part of each building. Most of what was planned didn't get built but there are still some buildings and shops that have entrances onto the small-ish sections of skywalk that were built. There's even one section that runs between a disused hotel and its car park building, and it was enclosed, and you go there now it looks like a really creepy alley, but it's actually 3 storeys above the ground. It's really wild, you have to see it to believe it. And even then you have to wonder what on Earth the planners were thinking.

[@poppyland74]

Google London Pedways - a very similar sounding scheme with some parts built and survive today. Fascinating how they imagined these streets in the sky.

[@daviddobson6108]

Hello from USA. Very helpful ways to stretch your purchases and enjoy more travel. Good commentary and photography. Thank you.

[@dldubz19]

Good to see they're doing work to improve it even more

[@christinehodge3608]

Very helpful and interesting, thanks for sharing,

[@Martincars56]

Great video very informative.

[@domc8247]

Hope you enjoyed Newcastle I seen you in Newcastle outside the staion great video as always

[@tonywozere909]

I hate Trainline. Once bought an advance e-ticket only to get to station and trains all cancelled for the day. Trainline wanted to charge me £9.50 admin fee for a refund. That was nearly half my fare. Now on I use only the ticket office and buy my railcard there too. Fortunately the ticket offices have been saved from closure. Go Mick! Thanks for your channel. Impressive time travelling. (went thru Bulgaria on a bus circa 1980 as an UK citizen, border guards spat on my passport lol)

[@ScottishT]

This was a fantastic video, good length too. Some great hacks there as well

[@janetmackinnon3411]

Useful information. Thank you.

[@CricketEngland]

So you know the BA American Express credit card charges you 31.0% APR which is rather high so make sure you pay it off every month in full. If you can’t don’t get one

[@Fent1386]

Great advice about the Avios cheers. About 8 years ago now I went to Japan and thanks to claiming Avios it only cost me £359 return when a normal return from London to Tokyo on BA at the time would cost between £700 - £900

[@jerrytwolanes4659]

Another great video! I absolutely love the new music!

[@tinsoldier1983]

Not the usual Sunday upload - a nice surprise!

[@andysm1964]

Remember travelling with my partner (Oct 2023) Peterborough to York ,what a nightmare,like travel now in Britain is these days, trains cancelled even folk sitting by door ways, bike rack storage area , and even the wc. Over priced and treated like s++t ..excuse ,heavy winds ,and no drivers is becoming quite a `popular ` excuse. As a by,yesterday, just got back from Germany, though standards are not what they used to be,still damn better than here in uk. oh Heathrow EXPRESS to Paddington,one way ticket,£24 and poor wifi. Welcome to rip off Britain. Sorry mate,rant over, and nice to see old Newcastle after all these years.

[@kevinmcanulty2593]

Great video. Would not want to sit an exam on AVIOS!!!!!!

[@andyfreer8463]

Great video Scott looking forward to Budapest videor

[@carolmasters1305]

Great video

[@andyttfn]

Another informative video Scott, cheers!

[@CricketEngland]

So you know the BA American Express credit card charges you 31.0% APR which is rather high so make sure you pay it off every month in full. If you can’t don’t get one

[@channelwright9137]

Looks like a lovely room. Newcastle is such a great city. Visit in the springtime. A great vlog would be travelling on the bus from Morpeth to Newcastle and travel by foot from the university/civic centre to the quayside 👍

[@smogontheline]

Great video, Scott. Always looking for hacks and tips when travelling. Took advantage of the £1 deal with Northern recently and I've been to Manchester, Liverpool, and Durham so far, with a couple trips up to Scotland coming soon. Can't go wrong with a return trip to Edinburgh that only costs £2 in total. Look forward to seeing future videos from you. Andy.

[@valuetraveler2026]

some great tips here!

[@tomkenyon3721]

Useful information Scott so thank you.

[@CricketEngland]

So you know the BA American Express credit card charges you 31.0% APR which is rather high so make sure you pay it off every month in full. If you can’t don’t get one

[@danielwalker7798]

£59 that's a bargain!! Great price for what actually does look like a great hotel despite the work they're doing at the moment

[@JoolsBurke]

Top coffee tip if you have time at Newcastle Central Station: Pink Lane Coffee, just opposite the main entrance then to the left. Excellent independent coffee shop

[@waramatt1]

As a Novocastrian (NSW version) I loved seeing the sights of our sister city. Our son is a travel hacker just like you. I frustrate him because I’m not!! But you have inspired me to give it a go.

[@steve-marsh]

Cracking effort putting this together, especially with all the trials and tribulations! The very least you deserved was a Hampton by Hilton cooked breakfast, oh well...

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

One of the more disappointing breakfasts on my life!

[@glennzo211]

You can also save up and convert your nectar points into avios, so if you shop at sainsburys or Argos etc that also works :)

[@dldubz19]

This hotel looks really nice!! What a view

[@KeithApp]

Shame about the breakfast though.

[@danielwalker7798]

​@@KeithAppguess everywhere has essential maintenance works sooner or later that's unavoidable

[@user-wq9sq7rx1j]

Another really informative upload Scott. Would really like you to do more " Travel Savvy" vlogs as you disclose tips and hacks we ordinary folk are unaware exist!

[@CricketEngland]

So you know the BA American Express credit card charges you 31.0% APR which is rather high so make sure you pay it off every month in full. If you can’t don’t get one

[@PaulGodfrey]

You can collect Avios from Uber trips as well. It's also possible to swap Nectar points for Avios as well. Good video as always and I agree with you on Lumo.

[@ciaramc29]

A Hilton Double Tree gave us breakfast as the pool was closed due to maintenance. Sadly the avio hack won't work in Ireland AFAIK. 😢

[@janfuller6817]

No doubt Scott is a wonderful source of knowledge of the travel business and the best cups of coffee in Europe but apart from that, just in these last six months or so, he has made some terrific videos, some in difficult conditions and under physical duress! so it is a big thumbs up from me, well done!🚝🚂🚶☕🚄🚇

[@brentford2]

I love this channel

[@googleboughtmee]

Very interesting! Now I have to go and find out what the heck an Avio is

[@Irby.]

You probably already know this, but next time you are taking a train, you can go to Google maps, check you train in here you have booked . And see if the train are packed with people or not, it's not always accurate. But it give a good indication on the state of the train you have booked. Keep up the good work. And congratulations on the 50.000 subscribers 🎉 next time you are going here to Denmark, maybe check out the tram/train museum in Odense. I think it's up you alley. Let me know if you have any questions regards that.

[@smithy5271]

More or less a full length movie tonight Scott, I appreciate your efforts, it's clearly not a easy job . I'm coming up by super cheap £37 discounted train fare early April, kent to Edinburgh, bargain. Edinburgh to Glasgow to isle of Arran, with some wild camping in the later , then back for a legendry coach back to London

[@kazzicup]

You need a scarf, Scott. 🧣 Cold windy February day. ❄❄❄❄❄❄❄

[@dougprice4211]

good video

[@andrewwilliamson4356]

That hotel used to be a office block before conversion to a hotel, the hotel across the road has rooms around £45 during the week..

[@marcuslittlefair5086]

Hey Scott! Hilton have a price match policy where if you send them the booking, they will match the price and knock a further 25% off the rate! As long as the rate is along similar lines

[@user-db5mb5dl9g]

I noticed on the departure board there was a 9.53 to Dunbar, Scott and it was running. You might have saved a few hours and got a bus or a local train back from Dunbar. Easy for me to say, sitting here watching 😊

[@colin.d]

The constant station announcements would give anyone a sore head.

[@gftyhify]

I stayed in that very hotel in May last year. It was very nice and didn’t encounter any of the same issues you did, Scott. It was my first time in Newcastle too

[@dldubz19]

Me too, I found the same

[@aedanjmcghie]

Class 37 loco. My favourite. I thought I’d seen one in the background earlier. More class 37s please. There was one sitting at Crianlarich for a while.

[@maryreichle7623]

A walking tour would be good.

[@CricketEngland]

So you know the BA American Express credit card charges you 31.0% APR which is rather high so make sure you pay it off every month in full. If you can’t don’t get one You also have to have a permanent uk address be over 18 and earn 20k a year to get one

[@paulhoughton5266]

Hi Scott, i use a lot of those hacks but going via the BA portal is one i will investigate more, cheers 😂 If you have not been to Budapest for your trip yet, walk from your hotel, around the ring road, to Liszt Ferenc Ter, just off Andrassy Utca, about 15 minute walk and treat yourself to a meal at the restaurant called Menza.

[@herschell64]

I'd always seen Newcastle Castle from the train and wondered about it then last year I managed to go, highly recommend it Scott

[@liamkennedy8864]

I had a problem getting my digital key for Hilton too. They did sort it for me at the desk as well as giving me a physical key so I was able to use both in the end. Maybe the first time you use it you need to verify yourself to prevent any abuse of the system?

[@simonacott7583]

Lumo Saves The Day? You were already booked on this on time service!?! Enjoyed the video especially the travel hacks

[@zarniwoopb6078]

@5:!0 Great Scott!

[@ohheyitskevinc]

For US based viewers, the Chase BA visa is an option for Avios. I use mine for AA domestic flights booked through BA at pretty decent rates. We don’t get access to any shops to spend or earn Avios unfortunately. Can book hotels and cars with Avios via BA though. I’m coming home to the UK next week and used Trainline for LHR-Crewe and back. Only $50 somehow.

[@terranceparsons5185]

May have already said this, i cannot wait for your Aussie trip. I dont have the money, but if did i would do Adelaide to Darwin via the Ghan, stopping off at Alice Springs.

[@Greggs30806]

Hay planes, trains, everything. I got an idea for a future KZbin video for you and it's called the South Whisky Island Hopping challenge. It evolveds getting a ferry from Troon/Ardrossan to Brodick and once your there you need to find a bottle of Whiskey made on Arran, after that you get the No.324 bus to lochranza and then get the ferry to Claonaig. Once your there you got a choice of walking to Kennacraig ferry terminal or getting the No.448 bus to Kennacraig. Then you will board the ferry to either Port Ellen or Port Asking and once off the boat you're have to locate and buy a bottle of Whiskey made on the Island of Islay. After that your find somewhere to stay the night and that's where you do a taste test and review the two whiskeys. The next day you can catch the ferry back to Kennacraig but you can't leave from the same port as you arrived, remember there's two main ports on Islay where you could get a ferry back to the mainland where you could end the video. You can spice up the video idea however you want but keep the main goals of the challenge. Hope you're find this interesting.

[@danielsweeney6742]

Funny - I was was listening to you about Avios. I thought it was the accent and you were saying air miles.

[@martinbridgwater8702]

Really interesting about various money savings hacks

[@lazerjetjordanscottcrawfor2008]

it's the same with a roundabout ticket i used it to get to stirling

[@twentyrothmans7308]

*Thank you* for the tip about the Accor top up - I dropped a ton of points a few years ago 😞 While I should be staying there this year, it's not guaranteed.

[@CricketEngland]

So you know the BA American Express credit card charges you 31.0% APR which is rather high so make sure you pay it off every month in full. If you can’t don’t get one

[@twentyrothmans7308]

@@CricketEngland Are you sure that this was directed at me? You're quite right - I've had Amex since it was a charge card - i.e. - you *had* to pay everything immediately.

[@CricketEngland]

Just pointing it out for people reading the comments

[@twentyrothmans7308]

@@CricketEngland In the 90s, it was 10AUD if you missed a payment, and 22.5% interest, backdated to the first transaction of that month. This was at a time when my mortgage was 11%.. An Amex Gold cost 90AUD p.a., Green was AUD35 p.a. As you say, 31% is heavy - this isn't an option for credit in anyone's terms.

[@CricketEngland]

@@twentyrothmans7308you also need a permanent uk address and earn 20k a year to get one

[@peterdnreynolds777]

Very very interesting. For some reason cannot transfer ba points to aer club Did you get any honours points as a goodwill for the dismay with breakfast, cleanliness and everything in the room breaking and do they send you a survey which you then received honours points as well?? Hope all is well, take care

[@steevobarker581]

We all have our favourites, but I find Travel Republic the cheapest and best for hotels.

[@opagodaswirling9383]

Good effort ! Am I right in saying that Lumo prices are not as fantastic as when the company was launched ? If starving , may I remind you that Wetherspoons probably offer better value than McDonalds -- not sure about avios availability though .

[@jamest6313]

Haha no way I was also on that exact train in Newcastle that got cancelled. I was on a train up from York that morning and the manager told us that it'd simply be a case of transferring to that train. Of course, it was never going to be so simple! I ended up getting on a VERY FULL LNER about an hour and a half after, but did book that Lumo just in case. Too bad I missed ya!

[@paulgibsonphotography]

Love Your Videos Scott

[@andrewclark8630]

I have to say the Royal Station hotel next to the station was magnificent, even the economy room was nicer room than yours, and when I went it was cheaper than the Hilton. I thought everyone said "blowing a hooley" by the way.

[@gordonprentice7090]

I mostly use trainine as they give you automatic split ticketing.

[@amcluesent]

I don't travel often enough to be excited by collecting Avios.

[@richardstreet7518]

I don't get excited about the collection of avios either but sitting in the club lounge with a drink, not scrabbling on the flight for locker space, blocked middle seats and reasonable catering...

[@CricketEngland]

So you know the BA American Express credit card charges you 31.0% APR which is rather high so make sure you pay it off every month in full. If you can’t don’t get one

[@richardstreet7518]

@@CricketEngland it's why I haven't got one..

[@erik_griswold]

At the end…Do stations in Scotland have a different automated announcer voice?

[@ronmac9522]

I just wonder where the pup was in the movie Get carter when Michael Caine got off the train at Newcastle. Can’t be that far from where you are.

[@erik_griswold]

Scott, do ask HHonors for those points. I’ve stayed at hotels which were under renovation and they will give a bonus noted when booking, so it is a policy used for at least some of their brands.

[@dreamrider2126]

I’ve never heard of the BA portal, is that part of the Amex card benefits?

[@garethsmith2250]

Plus airtime rewards on card's non American Express

[@jimmywilson6388]

Hi Scott, Your next mission ( if you choose to accept it) must surely be to report on the "Polar Express " train to Fort William. Pack your thermals and thermometer......

[@stephenskorupa8983]

I tried the Avios points scheme once,Dont you still have the taxes and charges to pay. when I used them I found it cheaper to book a ryanair flight than use the Avios and pay the taxes?

[@Grumpy_Englishman]

I worked for Hilton one of the worst experiences I had it was a Conrad.

[@kennethbell54]

You always had the easy option of train to Carlisle then 2 rail routes to choose from to Glasgow not to mention bus.

[@AlvinTravels]

@5:14. Is it just me that notices the sign on the wall on the right hand side?

[@Yag159]

😂😂😂..the drawers handles. Amazing❗...not to mention the " breakfast".Thank you Scott.

[@JaapFilius]

Thanks for this wonderful video. I always have a good time when I am in Britain (I have been more than once in London) but that breakfast they offered you in Newcastle? That's not breakfast by any means in my opinion. Well, I am living on the Continent and what is presented as "Continental Breakfast" in British hotels is usually very, very disappointing. And a proper British breakfast is usually not included. Which I think is a pity because British breakfast is part of the culture....

[@joannharrington2279]

I stay at Hampton Inn alot and that one is an embarrassment. Report them to corporate for their poor maintence and condition of your room.

[@ricardomayflower]

That’s a lot of talk about Avios without saying what Avios is. I'm probably in a small minority but for anyone else who didn't know, Wikipedia tells me that Avios is a frequent-flyer programme. Avios points are the frequent flyer currency of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL and Qatar Airways, and can also be used for travel within the Oneworld alliance. You are all very welcome.

[@DarrenJCalvert]

I was thinking exactly the same what on earth, is he talking about?

[@craighobbs3708]

American Express issue a British airways credit card. You collect points and convert them to free flights. I do it: it’s actually very good, as long as you pay your balance off. He is talking about ways to boost the points to get free flights

[@CricketEngland]

The BA American Express credit card charges you 31.0% APR So make sure you pay it off in full monthly

[@bonobobob]

thanks...i had no idea what you would do with these Avios...

[@QFIhawkman]

USB plugs bedside are the bane of my life, plug in an empty phone at midnight, wake at 0700 to a 60% charged phone. Sod that, give me a plug socket I can plug a full speed charger in to.

[@garymcgregor7048]

Fantastic me being from Newcastle used to come up to Edinburgh quite often to watch the 47/7 push pull sets running from Edinburgh to Glasgow and return. Then we'd go to haymarket depot to see the locos. But as your at St james park. You realise. And if you close your eyes and imagine 50,000 people in that stadium 🏟. That's how many subscribers you have. Come on guys. Give this bonny lad some love. HAWAY THE MAGS 😂😂😂

[@stephendew]

Hey Scott, love the videos. However just a warning for any viewers watching this: Lumo train tickets are all classed as Advance tickets (hence the low price) and are specific to that train only - not at any other times. As Newcastle is a Penalty Fare station, you need to purchase a new ticket before you board any other train unless you fancy a Penalty Fare or a day in court. LNER would been quite in their rights to issue this, and there is no option to buy on board.

[@PatrickBurford1]

Not true. If your train is cancelled or significantly delayed the ticket is valid on the same operators 1st train before or after that service. Also Train companies often arrange ticket acceptance on other operators and there own trains at any times during significant disruption

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Indeed. But note that Lumo emulates the business plan of LCCs (low-cost airlines) and that is why the rail regulator gave the green light for Lumo to compete with the incumbent. Lumo's product differs from the other TOCs (train operators). It has certainly found favour with the travelling public judging by its load factor.

[@stephendew]

@@PatrickBurford1 "The one before or the one after" rule would only be for the same operator. I think Scott was planning on getting an LNER service much earlier on in the day.

[@stephendew]

@@alexmcwhirter6611 Lumo is owned by FirstGroup - the UK's largest operator of rail franchises and NRCs. It's hardly a small start up.

[@smogmonster1876]

@@PatrickBurford1I think Scott boarded the LNER well before his actual Lumo train was due. There was no indication that his Lumo train was cancelled (as we know in the end Scott did board that train) so Scott may well have got a penalty fare had he stayed on the LNER.

[@PlatformONE]

Shouldn't a hotel customer get a discount, if they can't offer what's included in the price, such as an advertised breakfast?

[@curtisj2165]

No sticky buns at Greggs??? Sacre bleu😅😂

[@jamespir]

You can get avios points by transferring your necta points

[@RollerbazAndCoasterDad]

The railway Martin Lewis!

[@tycelight]

Collingwood [washes mouth with soap] also have b&w vertical stripes. It ain't all Ol' Blighty.

[@hanshartfiel6394]

Two years ago my son and I visited several German cities and stayed, for the first time, in Youth Hostels. The price was then 42 Euros per person per night and that included breakfast, of course continental breakfast. We had some great tasting coffee, tea was also available, bread rolls, sliced cheeses, cooked meats and boiled eggs. The breakfast you had was,m as far as I am concerned, absolutely disgusting. Great video and I noticed your number of subscribers is creeping up.

[@kenstevens5065]

That breakfast was poor but I've had worse! Do you ever wonder what the marks are on the walls that you pick up with your light?

[@grahamstewart615]

Scott, do you not an Over 50s railcard?

[@scotbotvideos]

That hotel bog was bogging.

[@stuartdouce]

15 mentions of Avios in first 3.5 minutes!