FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Please post your Royal Ambassador experiences (Archive Thread 2012)
Old Apr 22, 2012 | 5:53 pm
  #416  
Chinatrvl
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Shanghai and Bavaria
Programs: Spire RA, 1865 Voyager, Bonvoy Titanium, FB LP, LH SEN.
Posts: 3,104
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Originally Posted by mnredfox
Originally Posted by Chinatrvl
IC Qingdao

Were you happy with the hotel/stay?

Yes, but there's still potential

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Point breaks + 1 paid night, got a premier room. Club access was offered for 400+ CNY.

How are the rooms?
The premier room was ok. It's some kind of junior suite style room. A standard room with a small bed chamber attached to it. In the main room, the layout is identical to a standard room: Small walk in closet, a fairly small bathroom with seperate tub and shower which is far from luxuriously spacious, living room. I estimate the bedroom at around 9 sqm, with a small king size bed (1.8 m) and a lounge chair. Overall I prefer large open space rooms and would decline this room next time when on a paid stay.

How is the exec lounge?
It was very, very busy - one of the busiest lounges I have been to. Breakfast was close to being a mess on one day, with e.g. bread not being refilled 60-40 minutes before closing time. Happy hour snack selection was good and tasty today; yesterday it was just ok. Liquor selection isn't very good - few hard liquor, only one red and white wine each. Prosecco too sweet for my taste. However, cocktails to order, and they were excellent!
There is a lot of great space on the second floor of the lounge (roof-top, airy, loft-style library), that is now unfortunately not used to its full potential.
Staff was great.
There is no business center, no computer and no printer.

What was good and what was bad?

Good

- Great deal on point breaks
- Wildfire steakhouse excellent. Mrs. Chinatrvl said it was the best steak for a very long time. Cozy atmosphere
- Location is great
- Mysterious recognition: Staff knew us - at the lounge, bar etc. - despite there was no photo taken at check-in...

Bad
- Service, rooms, lounge are good, but could be excellent
- I haven't realized before, but the windows are all see-through from the outside; meaning that if you're into that stuff, you can have a great time just watching 200 hotel rooms from the street...

Value for $? Would you return?
Would certainly return!
Interesting, cause:

1. I have never seen a busy IC lonuge in China
2. I have never seen an IC charge RA's for access in China. if this becomes a trend.
1. Both foreigners and chinese in the lounge.
2. For reward nights, charging for club is absolutely fine with me. Free on the paid night, of course.
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