FFN as a Diamond VS. Paid Nights with Suite Upgrade
I was wondering, based on other's experiences, which would be a better overall stay experience. A stay using a few FFN (with the hope of a diamond upgrade) versus a paid stay (cheapest rate such as AAA) with a confirmed suite upgrade using a Diamond certificate.
The FFN would not cost anything, which is awesome but paying perhaps less than $400 per night for a base room with a suite upgrade (which might add a value of another several hundreds a night) might be worth it.
With a suite upgrade, what is the typical type suite that you get bumped up to?
What are the odds of a confirmed upgrade as a Diamond on a FFN stay??
I was wondering, based on other's experiences, which would be a better overall stay experience. A stay using a few FFN (with the hope of a diamond upgrade) versus a paid stay (cheapest rate such as AAA) with a confirmed suite upgrade using a Diamond certificate.
The FFN would not cost anything, which is awesome but paying perhaps less than $400 per night for a base room with a suite upgrade (which might add a value of another several hundreds a night) might be worth it.
With a suite upgrade, what is the typical type suite that you get bumped up to?
What are the odds of a confirmed upgrade as a Diamond on a FFN stay??
Thx.
When I won a Big Welcome night, my first thought was to use it at the GH Kauai, combined with some nights using points. Ultimately, we decided to do a paid stay (Limited Time Offer) with confirmed suite upgrade. Doing so, we not only got a $1,600+/night suite for only $300/night, but also used the DEL5K promo to get $150 dining credit in addition to a few other bonus point offers (MC, G2, targetted 5,000 BP) adding up to over 20,000 GP pts!
The confirmed suite upgrades require a paid stay, so it is unlikely you would get a diamond upgrade to a suite with an award stay. The suite upgrade was to an ocean suite, which is about the size of 2 regular rooms, one furnished as a living/dining/wetbar and the other is a good sized bedroom with King bed and HUGE bathroom with jacuzzi tub, separate shower, large double sink and small TV and orchids scattered everywhere. The lanai was the whole length of both rooms with an unobstructed ocean view. The investment in the paid stay was definitely worth it!
I spent the last hour reading through this excellent thread (thanks, everybody for tons of valuable information), but I haven't found specific suite recommendations. So here's my question: Which suite is your favorite? (Our main concerns are having a great view and privacy, and there are only two of us traveling).
It also sounds like there are some inferior suites (e.g., lower level generally has a poorer view, #2010 referenced earlier as very dark with limited view), so: Which suites would you avoid?
What is the difference between the deluxe and the standard suites? Can we request a deluxe suite with the diamond upgrade (is that even worthwhile)?
Finally, how does the hotel treat specific room number requests? If we send them an email with three or four rooms we'd like to stay in, are they likely to accommodate us?
Thank you, Mary2e! We'll try to get into the xx24 suite on a high floor. What is the difference between the Ocean suite, standard suite, and deluxe suite?
Just to let you know, the xx24 suites are really hard to get, mostly because of their outstanding location.
The differences is the layout of the suite. The views are essentially the same.
Mary,
Any idea who we can contact about requesting a certain suite? We have a suite reserved on points, and would like to make sure we get one of the suites you've recommended.
I always put it on my reservation in the comments area. Generally, I say request floors 3-6 and any suite except the xx08.
Still, I've been in the xx08 twice, and the xx24 (type) twice. But we go when it's super slow, and even then, the xx24 is occupied almost all the time.
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Mary Life is too short to spend it being angry
bdstone-
It's not the end of the world if you get a xx08 suite. We were in 6008 and really enjoyed it, other than the hike it took to get there. (Actually, we needed the exercise to offset all those Mai Tais and Lava Flows!) If you use the stairs that take you straight down to the Grand Club, that saves the distance of going all the way to the elevator. It I were paying rack rate, I might think differently about it, but I wouldn't complain about any free suite upgrade at GH Kauai!
I'll disagree here with Deal Detective... if you're hauling a couple of kids to the pool, plus all their assorted stuff, it's a hike. Free or not, I wouldn't want to do it.
I timed it - from the pool to the GC to pick up some cookies - and return, without stopping to chat, it's about a 10-15 minute walk.
The only thing the rooms in that section are close to is the parking lot.
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Mary Life is too short to spend it being angry
Life is too short to spend it being angry 
