Fairmont President's Club - Is there value in Fairmont Gold?

Apologies in advance if this is a stupid question or answered elsewhere (I did search!).

I am looking at making a reservation at the Fairmont in Chicago and the Gold package is consistently $100 (plus 15.4% taxes, of course) more than the same room without it. Even with 2 of us in a room I am finding it hard to believe that I will get $100 value out of a club lounge breakfast and a few snacks and drinks. (It doesn't help that SO is teetotal. :()

Generally I enjoy using club/concierge lounges and am willing to pay for them within reason but I am finding it difficult to justify the cost in this case. Am I overlooking something?

Only 100 dollars more?? You would be crazy NOT to! The Gold level in Fairmont is incredible. The breakfast is usually amazing, the evening drinks and food equally as amazing, the service is impeccable, rooms usually nicer. But if you want the best service, Gold is well worth it. Not to mention the food and drinks.

For only 100 bucks, you would be crazy not to. I think everyone will agree with me.

Keep in mind the booze is not included. For me, $100 is definitely worth it.

Isn't the happy hour from 16:00-20:00 free booze included?

Isn't the happy hour from 16:00-20:00 free booze included?

booze is only included on Gold Floors in the Middle East and Asia. Otherwise it is an honor bar.

I think the UG worth it but much depends on length of stay as I'd definately splurge for a night or two but not, say, 10 nights. The quality of the room, the view, the extras all add up to make it worth it for me but that's just MHO.

Why am I still not convinced? :)

The Fairmont Chicago is newly renovated so all the rooms are in good nick. From the web site virtual tours the Gold rooms are identical to regular ones. The only difference would be a high floor.

As for service: I expect decent service from any hotel I stay in. I am not demanding and seldom have any request that can't be attended to by the concierge on the turn. (The idea that I have to pay extra for good service makes me want to avoid the hotel altogether!)

I am also not someone who lives in a club lounge - I find it useful for grabbing a coffee or a light snack on those days when it complements my schedule.

booze is only included on Gold Floors in the Middle East and Asia. Otherwise it is an honor bar.And there goes one good reason I might consider it. :(

So to recap: For $100 I get

a room on a high floor
breakfast
canapes, coffee, tea and soft drinks
great service
The breakfast is worth maybe $45 for 2 (that's what it would cost in the restaurant); the canapes and beverages maybe $25 on those days we avail of them. The sums still do not add up for me. I would expect them to throw in something like free internet (yeah I know I can get that with PC membership) or a late check-out - that would add to the value proposition.

Thanks for the responses. ^ Maybe it's a case of "if you have to ask it's proof that you just don't get it". :)

As an aside, it just so happens that for $100 extra I could get a suite and that seems to me money better spent - although the rooms look so nice and at 420 sq. ft. are quite spacious.

Yes, an extra $100 for a suite also seems to be a good deal. We have two small ones and always do better in a suite. At the Queen Elizabeth in Montreal this summer, we had a two room suite with TWO bathrooms! We were very excited, as were the kids!

During the evening you can usually make a really good dinner out of the offerings. I'm working right now in Whistler and last night I had about 6 Lamb chops, couscous, a few mini burgers and about 3 types of salad. That doesn't include the shrimp cocktail to start :)

(The idea that I have to pay extra for good service makes me want to avoid the hotel altogether!)

Fairmont didn't create this concept as upgraded floors or service levels have been around in hotels for as long as I can remember in my travelling adult life. Some are called gold others concierge or executive but whatever the name the idea is still th same; a premium product for a premium price. People who want that little bit more in terms of service, location or room locations/features/amenities can chose to pay the additional amount, or not.

FWIW I stayed last year for 2 nights at this hotel at Fairmont room and was given a higher floor deluxe room with superb Millennium Park views and very much enjoyed my stay. Whatever level of room you inhabit while there enjoy the stay!

Fairmont didn't create this concept as upgraded floors or service levels have been around in hotels for as long as I can remember in my travelling adult life. Some are called gold others concierge or executive but whatever the name the idea is still th same; a premium product for a premium price. People who want that little bit more in terms of service, location or room locations/features/amenities can chose to pay the additional amount, or not. I am very well acquainted with the concept and, as I mentioned, often use such facilities. With Marriott/Renasissance I get it for free as an Elite member - and like most free things the offerings are modest ;) (with some exceptions). At other hotels I have paid for the benefit and been very happy to do so. Good examples are the Mandarin Oriental in Singapore or the InterContinental ANA in Tokyo. So it's not the concept that puzzles me - it's the price.

FWIW I stayed last year for 2 nights at this hotel at Fairmont room and was given a higher floor deluxe room with superb Millennium Park views and very much enjoyed my stay. Whatever level of room you inhabit while there enjoy the stay!It certainly looks very nice on the web site and very much to my taste! Though I wonder if the location is a little removed from everything?

During the evening you can usually make a really good dinner out of the offerings. I'm working right now in Whistler and last night I had about 6 Lamb chops, couscous, a few mini burgers and about 3 types of salad. That doesn't include the shrimp cocktail to start :)Now you're getting me excited! :) Sounds rather like the rushed "meal" I had at the InterContinental in San Francisco after I arrived late at SFO and had about 15 minutes to eat something before I had to leave for a show. It's at times like that that a lounge is a godsend.

I expect Fairmont prices as though every Gold guest will make maximum use of the facilities. But I don't expect to eat there every night and can't predict when I will. (I am talking about Chicago after all - it would be almost criminal not to eat out!) So the pricing doesn't really add up for me.

I guess if I were a business traveler who was pretty certain that at the end of the day I would make maximum use of the loung facilities I might see the value. (Especially if my employer/client was paying!)

So it's not the concept that puzzles me - it's the price.

Sorry it was just the way that passage I quoted struck me. The only way to really know is to try it and judge for yourself. You've heard from some of the converts to Fairmont Gold myself included, though I don't always opt to upgrade every single stay and use it more as an occasional splurge and am more likely to do it on shorter rather than longer stays.

It certainly looks very nice on the web site and very much to my taste! Though I wonder if the location is a little removed from everything?

Not to me, though I'm a walker and don't mind a hotel being a few blocks from the business district, for example, as this one is. I still walked through Millennium Park, past the incredible Buckingham Fountain all the way to Soldier Field and the Shedd Aquarium before finding my own way to the Sears (Willis) Tower Skydeck for a panoramic view of the city. I skipped the airport limo and rode the transit system right from ORD to the nearest stop to the Fairmont, which IIRC is Washington on the Blue Line though this map (http://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/brochures/Downtown_Sightseeing_Guide.pdf) will help you plan your transportation a bit better. I found central Chicago quite walkable but enjoyed the views along Grant Park the best, though want to return and explore more of the city.

The only way to really know is to try it and judge for yourself. You're absolutely right. And if I can get it on the F&F rate there is no excuse not to. (Right now F&F is not available throughout my 4 day stay.) Part of my (happy) dilemma is that I can find such good rates elsewhere at the moment that I am spoiled for choice.

though this map (http://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/brochures/Downtown_Sightseeing_Guide.pdf) will help you plan your transportation a bit better. ^ Thanks for the tip - I have discovered that map already and it is a great resource! And I have come to realise that my 4 days just won't be enough - I want many more visits to what sounds like a fascinating city.

I would also caution you that Whistler as a resort has one of the better Gold floor experiences and this is not necc going to be replicated in Chicago. Its kind of like a Regency Club at a Hyatt in San Fran vs. in Kauai - no comparison :) It really just depends on you - sometimes I do upgrades and sometimes not.

I am very well acquainted with the concept and, as I mentioned, often use such facilities. With Marriott/Renasissance I get it for free as an Elite member - and like most free things the offerings are modest ;) (with some exceptions).

I think it's important to note here that Fairmont Gold (club/lounge) is not a complimentary upgrade/benefit for any elite President's Club level. It's not listed on the FPB published benefits: http://www.fairmont.com/EN_FA/FPC/MembershipBenefits/MembershipBenefits.htm

So it's rarely, if ever, free and definitely not modest. At least not in my few experiences (Empress, Chateau Frontenac) and in contrast to the typical lounge offerings of the major chains in the continental US (notice I excluded Hawaii for familiar Hyatt guests;)). IMO, Fairmont Gold would be more akin to Ritz Carlton's Club Level than a Marriott/Renaissance club.

You're absolutely right. And if I can get it on the F&F rate there is no excuse not to. (Right now F&F is not available throughout my 4 day stay.) Part of my (happy) dilemma is that I can find such good rates elsewhere at the moment that I am spoiled for choice.

FWIW i'm pretty cheap when it comes to hotels so I'd vote against paying the $100. That said I also stayed in the fairmont chicago this year on the friends and family rate and I can't see what more you could get for $100

We got a nice room (search for "luxury hotels")
http://rockohorse.blogspot.com/2009/06/chicago-home-of-deep-dish-pizza-and.html
the bathroom isn't shown but it was what you'd expect - granite/marble, separate, shower, tub etc
there was also a desk, a nice coffee maker(pod system) and a TV

this is the view we got:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UcGpJOszDo0/SiccLzr8oLI/AAAAAAAABGw/AC2HhBvTyA4/s1600-h/P1040330.JPG

Not sure if that helps.

Thanks for the information and pics, RockoHorse. ^ very helpful.

I think you may have hit on the nub of the issue in this particular case: the Chicago Fairmont is just such a nice hotel in general one wonders what else $100 would buy you. Maybe in a property with more variability in rooms it woudl start to sway me. Breakfast in the restaurant and their ENO bar for wine and cheeses sounds like a more fun way to spend $100.

Despite all of that I will try out Gold - if I can get the F&F rate. ;) I'll never know for sure until I've tried!

BTW their standard rates are pretty steep. Certainly in the same league as Park Hyatt, Trump, and Ritz Carlton.

If you arrvive at the hotel booked into a regular room and ask to purchase a Gold floor upgrade, will you receive a better deal than by booking Gold ahead of time?

Does anyone have experience with the costs of purchasing an upgrade on the spot, e.g. the extra cost per night?

If you arrvive at the hotel booked into a regular room and ask to purchase a Gold floor upgrade, will you receive a better deal than by booking Gold ahead of time?

Does anyone have experience with the costs of purchasing an upgrade on the spot, e.g. the extra cost per night?

I asked to upgrade to Gold in Montreal upon check-in. They quoted the rate of the day...way more than what I could have booked using the NFAF rate. The difference was about $200 more/night verses the $100 extra/night with NFAF.

Although it is always worth a try:D

If you arrvive at the hotel booked into a regular room and ask to purchase a Gold floor upgrade, will you receive a better deal than by booking Gold ahead of time?

Does anyone have experience with the costs of purchasing an upgrade on the spot, e.g. the extra cost per night?

I occasionally ask for better upgrades and when Golf comes into the equation there fee is usually $100-$125 upon check-in for same room type for a platinum. It's been above this and once I ended up with it for only $75.

Apparently I posted in the wrong place! I was contemplating this question for Scottsdale -- the NFAF rate for a king is $149, for $199 I can get a junior suite with gold access. That seems worthwhile... but if you compare it to the available expedia rate ($99), it's not quite as clear to me that it's a good deal -- although after reading this thread, I am reconsidering. Any thoughts on the lounge in Scottsdale?

The Fairmont in Chicago is a GREAT property. I stayed there for 2 nights on business this fall (without lounge access) when I had a conference across the street at the Hyatt and was very happy with it. I am not sure if I would want to stay here if I were not going for business, as much as I had a great stay.