FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Please post your IHG Rewards Experiences 2025

Sep 20, 2025 | 6:45 am

#96

The-Aviator

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: Sydney

Programs: IHG Platinum Ambassador, Qantas Silver, Virgin Australia Platinum

Posts: 304

Crowne Plaza Canberra

Crowne Plaza Canberra

What is your IHG One Rewards status?
Platinum Ambassador

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
1 King Bed Standard City View, received 1 King Bed Standard Park View (one-category upgrade, visible in app about a week out plus received an email the day before arrival)

How are the rooms?
Upon entering my room, I was a bit concerned to find the lights not turning on after putting my card in the slot. I was close to returning to the front desk but after reinserting a couple of times it eventually clicked and was fine from there on. I can't fault the rooms for cleanliness and (apart from the lights issue!) pretty much everything is in good working condition but they are certainly looking old and in that regard the announced redevelopment can't come soon enough. King bed was comfy, TV with Chromecast was good and the air-conditioning worked well. The bathroom was well stocked amenities-wise but they have my dreaded shower/bath combo and bath towels are on the smaller side.

How is the exec. lounge?
N/A

What was good and what was bad?
The Good

Location is a big plus, just down the road from the Canberra Centre for shopping/dining and adjacent to the casino and the entertainment/convention centre.
As part of IHG Global Customer Appreciation Week guests were invited to spin a wheel. Prizes included a piece of chocolate, a drink voucher, 20% off dinner, 1 night free parking, 1 free breakfast or 1,000pts. I won the points.
Late check-out provided to 2pm.
Great housekeeping.
Well-equipped gym, important for the cold (by Australian standards!) Canberra winters.

The Bad

The receptionist forgot to offer a welcome amenity but when I asked I was offered points or a drink voucher, I took the drink voucher, which was a bit of a downgrade from the snack and drink voucher they previously offered. When redeeming the voucher I was offered a choice of beer or wine, when I asked about non-alcoholic options he first offered a mocktail before taking that offer back saying he wasn't sure if that was allowed and instead saying it could be a soft drink only. Not fussed by it but just found it pretty funny and perhaps something they should be better prepared for!
I had planned to do buffet breakfast on one of the two mornings, however this changed at check-in. The receptionist said I could prepay for $32, a 20% discount on the walk-up rate but when I asked if I could do just one morning I was told no, it had to be both or nothing. Knowing that I could have saved $8, on principle I decided they wouldn't be getting my $40 and I went down the road to Catbird Cafe instead! I was the winner because the brekkie burrito there was fantastic and the hotel's strange policy meant they missed out on my $32.

Value for $ or IHG One Rewards Points? Would you return?
AUD $200/night for two nights. There are definitely nicer hotel rooms in Canberra but this is always where I've stayed and given the price and status benefits, I guess I'll continue staying. Hopefully the redevelopment kicks off soon!

Photos in the spoilers below!

Spoiler