Programs: SQ, LH SEN, BD*G, BA Gold, EK Gold, DL GM, IC Free Minibar, HH/MR/SPG Gold, Avis CHM, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,712
Quote:
Originally Posted by maclover
I think this free minibar thing wiil soon to be removed from RA benefits... guess why
maclover
I wonder how much they actually cost IC. I had a look at the 60ml bottles at the IC in BOM - I think Indian law requires them to print the Maximum Retail Prices on the bottle labels. They were Rs. 37 (about $0.80) each and the price printed in the minibar receipt was Rs 350 (about $8) each.
I suppose you could assume that the cost of the minibar contents would be around 10% of the prices that IC would normally get from minibar consumption. Less if it was wholesale...
Back on topic: Anyone with RA experiences at Frankfurt, Chicago, Seoul (both ICs), Tokyo Bay, Sydney and French Polynesia?
Programs: AA CK/EXP/3MM, BA Gold, PC Ambassador, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,432
I haven't stayed there since being knighted ( ) but the minibar at the Amstel is quite impressive. 6-7 500 ml bottles of top shelf booze- gotta figure its at least a 50 euro setup at wholesale.
Last edited by pauleeepaul; Feb 20, 05 at 7:35 pm.
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH nobody, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Royal Ambassador, hungry BA Gold in CE
Posts: 7,371
IC Frankfurt (4 night stay completed last Saturday)
- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
I had booked a standard room (called a Superior Room) at the standard flexible rate and was upgraded to a nice 2 room corner suite, with a very nice river view, on the 17th floor, which is a non-club floor. Last year, I was upgraded to the same room on the 15th floor (It is called a Panorama Suite)
- How are the rooms?
Very good two-room suites, except for the bathrooms which are quite standard.
- How is the exec. lounge?
I was not given a room on the Club floor
- What was good and what was bad?
No amenity nor fruit plate, but I did not complain and will only mention it in my comment card. I was also slightly disappointed that they have discontinued their policy of offering all the wines on their (extensive) wine list by the glass, at 1/4 of the price of the bottle. I remember last year having two glasses of Cristal and one glass of Vieux Chateau Certan, and they opened both bottles in front of me . Room service on the first night was quite slow. The IC is well located, close to the central railway station, which makes it difficult for you to get a taxi if you travel by train and have a lot of luggage : most taxis refuse to take you from the IC to the railway station or back.
- Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
Good value, more expensive than in most German cities, but that is not surprising. I will definitely come back.
- Buffet breakfast is excellent. The Signature/Veranda and Leon (Italian) restaurants are adequate.
IC Frankfurt used to give a gift pack comprising a 500 ml bottle of sparkling apple whatever and a logo'd glass as their welcome gift. Along with bottled water and fruit. Remember being there during the World Cup and they had a great deal in the bar/lounge of a pint of beer and brawtworst on a bun/chips for E5.
Programs: LH SEN, BD*G, KF, IC RA/PC Plat, Hyatt Diam, HH Gold
Posts: 1,797
Quote:
Originally Posted by Savage25
Back on topic: Anyone with RA experiences at Frankfurt, Chicago, Seoul (both ICs), Tokyo Bay, Sydney and French Polynesia?
Well that sounds like quite a trip you are planning. Hopefully most of the routing will be on SQ for PPS qualification (don't tell me it's gonna be Y again) Kidding. Okay back to the topic. I stayed at the IC Chicago last July which is quite decent in my opinion. Location is great right in the city center. I got an upgrade to a suite (type ?) on the 37th floor (think there are 42 or 43 floors in total) which was nice though not huge. It had a connecting door to another room which I think has a sofa bed in it and both can be combined for larger parties traveling together. No club access, but I had bkfst included in my rate anyway. Drinks from the minibar were free for RA, but no snacks though I didn't test the snacking part. The pool is Jr. Olympic size and nice for a morning work out. After all this whole place used to be a big gym in the past IIRC. Enjoy ... However, you might want to bring your Piper - this is not the IC SIN after all.
Cheers ...
__________________
"Customers who complain are the company's best friends." (Nirmalya Kumar - Prof. of Marketing, LBS)
Programs: SQ, LH SEN, BD*G, BA Gold, EK Gold, DL GM, IC Free Minibar, HH/MR/SPG Gold, Avis CHM, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,712
Quote:
Originally Posted by demue
Well that sounds like quite a trip you are planning. Hopefully most of the routing will be on SQ for PPS qualification (don't tell me it's gonna be Y again)
I figure I might as well try some ICs on the RTW - should include Zurich, Frankfurt, Toronto, Chicago, Mark Hopkins SFO and Grand Stanford HKG. It will get me PPS on SQ, btw. I decided to pass on IC Sydney and use my FFNs at the Park Hyatt instead.
Seoul and Tokyo should be on my trip using my DL miles from buying Ambassador...KE and NW in business, not a bad return on $150
French Polynesia is just for future planning if I ever get hitched
Back on topic: IC BKK
- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked the lowest category room (Deluxe) for one on a $66 corporate rate. Online reservation upgraded to Club room. I have a future booking for two occupants for the same room type and rate - online reservation is upgraded to a Corner Suite (I suspect with no club access).
I'd stayed here before as an Ambassador (where the normal upgrade is to a Business room), but on checkin, I was told that as the hotel was fully booked and I was an Ambassador, they had upgraded me to a Club room. So it didn't feel all that "speshul" as an RA.
- How are the rooms?
Quite alright...45 sq m with a 2-seater couch, although I think even the Deluxe rooms are the same size. Toiletries by Audley's of London. The bed is a bit firm and not the most comfortable (I'm spoiled by the one at the IC SIN) - I'd brought this to their notice when I filled in the comments form on my last stay, and they have introduced a "Pillow Menu" for all guest rooms, which offers a variety of pillow types, as well as softer under liners for the bed.
- How is the exec. lounge?
Great view from the lounge on the 32nd floor. Cocktails from 5.30pm to 7.30pm with a full range of drinks. No Champagne though, just a sparkling wine which is a bit too sweet. The food spread is amazing - during cocktails there was a variety of canapes, cheeses, hot ham and chees pies and hot spring rolls. The coffee in the room was terrible, so I went down to the lounge at around 2.30pm to get some coffee and they had all the cold snacks and sandwiches out even then.
- What was good and what was bad?
Good: Welcome amenity was a bunch of chocolates, fresh fruit, a bottle of Jacob's Creek 2002 Shiraz and a gift-wrapped pack of IC-branded lemongrass bath salts.
Bad: Broadband charged at 600 baht per day - when I stayed here as an Ambassador, it was free in the Club room. Also, when I was here as an Ambassador, I noticed that the minibar had 200ml bottles of my good friends Johnnie Black, Johnnie Red, Jack, Pierre, Gordon and Hennessy placed outside the fridge. Apparently, for RA's, these are removed from the room and only the drinks in the fridge are complimentary - 2 each of Singha, Heineken and Asahi beers, Bacardi Breezers, and the usual soft drinks. When I expressed my disappointment to ladies at the lounge, they were kind enough to send up Johnnie Black without asking. Wait - this last part should go in the "Good" section.
- Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
Hmmm...toughie. If it wasn't for the low corporate rate, I'd say the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit is better value for money if you are an SPG Plat. I'd take it over the Grand Hyatt Erawan or the JW Marriott though.
I used my Ambassador this week in Clearwater FL I book a room on the net. A standard one. Got to the hotel and as about an ambassador up grade got an ocean view and lots of drinks and meals comped. No complains here
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH nobody, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Royal Ambassador, hungry BA Gold in CE
Posts: 7,371
This is not directly related to RA benefits in a specific location, but I thought I would mention it as it is related to RA benefits in general.
During CEBIT, I will be staying at the IC in Hamburg and commuting every day to Hannover. I was able to book a room for every night except one and was preparing myself for a night either in Berlin or Frankfurt, which is an additional hour away from Hannover, when I remembered that one of the RA benefits was a guaranteed room 24 hours before arrival.
So I called up central reservations, gave the dates and location, specified that I am a RA, and it was done in a minute. The rate was not as good as the other days, but it was acceptable. Overall, a seamless and hassle free experience which solved an irritating situation for me.
Programs: AA CK/EXP/3MM, BA Gold, PC Ambassador, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,432
Quote:
Originally Posted by JOUY31
This is not directly related to RA benefits in a specific location, but I thought I would mention it as it is related to RA benefits in general.
During CEBIT, I will be staying at the IC in Hamburg and commuting every day to Hannover. I was able to book a room for every night except one and was preparing myself for a night either in Berlin or Frankfurt, which is an additional hour away from Hannover, when I remembered that one of the RA benefits was a guaranteed room 24 hours before arrival.
So I called up central reservations, gave the dates and location, specified that I am a RA, and it was done in a minute. The rate was not as good as the other days, but it was acceptable. Overall, a seamless and hassle free experience which solved an irritating situation for me.
And, perhaps as a side benefit, points for 3 discrete stays instead of one. I had 4 consecutive nights recently in an IC where for rate and time of reservation reasons I had 3 separate reservations and they all posted up separately.
I used my Ambassador this week in Clearwater FL I book a room on the net. A standard one. Got to the hotel and as about an ambassador up grade got an ocean view and lots of drinks and meals comped. No complains here
That's most odd. There is no IC in Clearwater. AMBASSADOR benefits are only provided at IC branded properties, not HIs and CPs, etc. Perhaps you could provide us with a bit more detail of your stay. None of us have ever gotten drinks and meals comp'd as you describe. Perhaps you are confusing PC Plat benefits with AMBASSADOR benefits?
Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Great hotel and fantastic service. The club is not to be beat!
- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked the Virtuoso deal - superior harborview with a guaranteed upgrade to a junior harborview suite. That's exactly what I got a check-in -- nothing more.
- How are the rooms?
The suite was large and had phenominal views. The room itself (xx16) was very unimpressive - it was worn down and the appointments were cheap. It needed a lot of work. The bathroom was great.
- How is the exec. lounge?
Fantastic. Great view of the harbor and the activity in the lobby lounge (great for people watching). The food was great (though limited for vegetarians) and the service was excellent in the lounge and everywhere else.
- What was good and what was bad?
The room had obviously been neglected. I'd never stay here again for the room itself, but the views and service made up for it.
Only drinks were free in the minibar - not snacks - and there was no notice provided. Also, as there was availability, I would have appreciated a further upgrade based on my RA status beyond what the Virtuoso rate had guaranteed.
- Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
Good value for the Virtuoso rate. I'd stay again.
Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Great hotel and fantastic service. The club is not to be beat!
- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked the Virtuoso deal - superior harborview with a guaranteed upgrade to a junior harborview suite. That's exactly what I got a check-in -- nothing more.
- How are the rooms?
The suite was large and had phenominal views. The room itself (xx16) was very unimpressive - it was worn down and the appointments were cheap. It needed a lot of work. The bathroom was great.
- How is the exec. lounge?
Fantastic. Great view of the harbor and the activity in the lobby lounge (great for people watching). The food was great (though limited for vegetarians) and the service was excellent in the lounge and everywhere else.
- What was good and what was bad?
The room had obviously been neglected. I'd never stay here again for the room itself, but the views and service made up for it.
Only drinks were free in the minibar - not snacks - and there was no notice provided. Also, as there was availability, I would have appreciated a further upgrade based on my RA status beyond what the Virtuoso rate had guaranteed.
- Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
Good value for the Virtuoso rate. I'd stay again.
Okay, I give up. Which IC was this? I would guess Hong Kong, but can't honestly tell other than all the Harbour references.
. Room service on the first night was quite slow. The IC is well located, close to the central railway station, which makes it difficult for you to get a taxi if you travel by train and have a lot of luggage : most taxis refuse to take you from the IC to the railway station or back.
Kidding. Okay back to the topic. I stayed at the IC Chicago last July which is quite decent in my opinion. Location is great right in the city center. I got an upgrade to a suite (type ?) on the 37th floor (think there are 42 or 43 floors in total) which was nice though not huge. It had a connecting door to another room which I think has a sofa bed in it and both can be combined for larger parties traveling together. No club access, but I had bkfst included in my rate anyway. Drinks from the minibar were free for RA, but no snacks though I didn't test the snacking part. The pool is Jr. Olympic size and nice for a morning work out. After all this whole place used to be a big gym in the past IIRC. Enjoy ... However, you might want to bring your Piper - this is not the IC SIN after all. 
(Nirmalya Kumar - Prof. of Marketing, LBS)
