Spire Ambassador
Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked Superior Suite, got Deluxe Intercontinental Suite (using BOGO certificate), which works out to at least a double upgrade.
How are the rooms?
This one was spectacular--panoramic harbor and city views, comfy everything, bathroom bigger than most apartments and more gadgets and doodads than you can shake a stick at.
How is the exec. lounge?
Didn't have time to check, unfortunately.
What was good and what was bad?
Good:
- Best view from room I've ever had; hard to imagine a better one existing anywhere in the world
- Spacious
- Service polite but never obsequious
- Extras absolutely PILED on--welcome letter at check-in, another in the room, literally ten different kinds of fruit AND a box of chocolates AND a little sake cup AND a bottle of Champagne waiting on ice when I got there AND complimentary drink in the bar AND a food credit
Bad:
- Didn't get to stay longer
- A bit tough to get a cab from the forecourt due to the long driveway, if there aren't any right there waiting when you walk up, but that's a championship-grade nitpick if ever there was one
- Well-maintained but due for (and getting) a renovation soon--doesn't need much but the decor could do with a touch of modernizing. It's tasteful but not quite 2017-tasteful, if that makes sense.
Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
It was not cheap by any stretch, but I ended up paying about US$1,000 for two nights in a room that routinely costs US$2,000 per night and would be thought fairly priced at that. If you can wrangle a harbor-view room for any price you'd consider reasonable--or, heaven willing, points--do it and you will not be disappointed.