I had a trip in a Chinook sim some years ago - thanks JJ and John - and had a bit of a play.
Spot turns with no cyclic input turned about the centre of the aircraft. Spot turns with right or left cyclic turned about the rear or front of the aircraft - but I can't for the life of me remember which cyclic went with which end.
But as a low time pilot (then 70 hours and a PPL on R22s) it didn't take too long to get comfortable enough to sling loads and fly formation . . . but the AFCS is really good !