American Express Membership Rewards - My free Centurion night at The London NYC

Just got back from our free night at The London NYC courtesy of AMEX Centurion. The Rihga Royal used to be our favorite hotel in NY. All rooms are suites and it was a Marriott so except for my first visit there, each visit for us was free! We stayed there for five days each year, for four years, between Christmas and New Years.

Alas, Marriott sold it and our free trips ended. This was our first time back - although we did have dinner at the expensive new restaurant there, Gordon Ramsay at the London.

We were given an upgraded suite (Vista Suite) on the 40th floor. It was breathtaking. The rooms are gorgeous but on the down side, more attention seemed to be paid to design than to comfort. When we got back to the room after the theater, there was a note from the manager along with some food for us - scones, clotted cream, jam and water. "We value our AMEX Centurion clients and look forward to you returning often."

We had a great time and left just paying for parking. It was a great deal and a wonderful perk. And with the continual loss of major items, you have to take advantage of everything they offer you!

I have areservation for the Labor Day weekend at The London also with Vista View. Good to hear you had a pleasant experience with them. From my past Centurion "benefits", sometimes I am sceptical about these so called promotions because they end up charging you more than what you expect.

Is "Vista View" the standard room choice? I was booked into the standard room, albeit at $699.

I called Amex CTS to reserve the room and they said that the "free" night offer is valid for ALL room types. I'm not sure if the guy was pulling my leg or not. You can try to book a two bedroom suite and see what they say... I did get the Vista Room reserved for the "free" night promotion.

The rooms have some different layouts but basically Vista means it's on a higher floor with a better view. Ours was spectacular.

In my experience with the old Rihga Royal, the end rooms (like the ones that end "01") have a better layout and that's where we stayed for the last few years. This time I didn't even ask!

How was the dinner? Gordon Ramsey's is on my list of places to go on my next visit.

We actually had dinner at Gordon Ramsey's a few months ago - maybe 3 weeks after it opened.

It was very elegant and a bit over the top - and very expensive. Funny thing - the menu goes on without end about the ingredients and the maitre d' went on even further. Then the main dish shows up with shrimp on top that no one chose to mention. We can't eat that. When the maitre d' started to explain, the waitress basically shoved her aside, apologized and promised the food would be recooked and out as soon as possible. She delivered.

I asked the sommelier to recommend a good wine for us and he said he would prefer to give us a tasting of different wines for each course. It ended up costing no more that the bottle would have and was wonderful.

When he brought out a desert wine, we protested that we had had too much already. He said, "it's a gift from Gordon!" Right - Gordon was probably in London but a nice gesture. Even nicer, to make up for the mistake, they gave us a tour of the kitchen and introduced us to the Executive Chef. That was a kick.

Definitely worth a try. We'd go back for next time we have something big to celebrate.

I called Amex CTS to reserve the room and they said that the "free" night offer is valid for ALL room types. I'm not sure if the guy was pulling my leg or not. You can try to book a two bedroom suite and see what they say... I did get the Vista Room reserved for the "free" night promotion.

I am a €/$ Centurion Card Holder which is run from the UK. I have never been told of this free night offer. Could you give me further details. Is it for just the NYC property and do you have to book one night for the second free? I have used the Mandarin Oriental offer several times which is not a bad deal at all. Thanks in advance.

This was an offer (no minimum night stay required) that expired before Christmas of last year.

Yup. And somehow we completely missed it. :(


Hoping for Free Night the Sequel. (2008)

We actually had dinner at Gordon Ramsey's a few months ago - maybe 3 weeks after it opened.

It was very elegant and a bit over the top - and very expensive. Funny thing - the menu goes on without end about the ingredients and the maitre d' went on even further. Then the main dish shows up with shrimp on top that no one chose to mention. We can't eat that. When the maitre d' started to explain, the waitress basically shoved her aside, apologized and promised the food would be recooked and out as soon as possible. She delivered.

I asked the sommelier to recommend a good wine for us and he said he would prefer to give us a tasting of different wines for each course. It ended up costing no more that the bottle would have and was wonderful.

When he brought out a desert wine, we protested that we had had too much already. He said, "it's a gift from Gordon!" Right - Gordon was probably in London but a nice gesture. Even nicer, to make up for the mistake, they gave us a tour of the kitchen and introduced us to the Executive Chef. That was a kick.

Definitely worth a try. We'd go back for next time we have something big to celebrate.


Hey Steve-

missed this post last year. We had to cancel our trip to London this month :(

but will be trying Gordon's Prague restaurant in the fall.


One restaurant I can highly recommend in London is Pied à Terre (on Charlotte Street) The chef, Shane Osborn was a Ramsey protege (though Ramsey typically disparages Aussies)


We've had several great meals there.

Next trip- the Fat Duck !

And we're spending one night in London on the way home from Rome (via BA). Now I won't have to worry about where to have dinner, tho at the exchange rate, we were thinking of MacDonalds!

Yup. And somehow we completely missed it. :(


Hoping for Free Night the Sequel. (2008)

I don't think this has been renewed. :( Benefits keep dropping. :td:

I don't think this has been renewed. :(

Might be way too early to tell. If I remember correctly, that offer arrived some time after/at the end of summer.