Originally Posted by
sbm12
Every time I've booked a FHR room I've specifially asked about what the upgrade "path" is for the rooms to make sure that the upgrade would justify the FHR rate. At the Bellagio, for instance, it is only from non-lake to lakeview. If you just book the lakeview there is no upgrade. There is still the breakfast benefit which adds some "real" value. Still, you have to do your due dilligence to make sure you're getting a decent deal. Heck, the $1500 suite upgrade from the $650 room isn't that great a deal if there is a $400 that you can sleep comfortably in and that's what you'd buy without the FHR deal.
That sucks about the bellagio, I didn't know that.
I still think FHR is a great deal overall, though. When using them, I will generally compare the FHR rate to the hotel's cheapest available rate on the website. Believe it or not, a lot of the time it's the same and in most cases it has actually been cheaper.
The couple of times it wasn't, it was still close enough that I was saving money anyway when you calculate the value of the 2 free breakfasts every day plus the other amenity you get. This is especially true when they just give you the flat $75 or $100 account credit instead of spa services or something.
The breakfast thing is more useful than it appears, too, since 95% of the time you can use it to get a free lunch instead. Most hotels' breakfasts go until 11 or 1130, and for awhile you can usually order off either the breakfast or lunch menus for a period of time if you ask for it. The restaraunt will generally let you apply the cost of the breakfast coupon (generally $18-$24) to whatever else you decide to order. Worst-case, if you don't want the continental, they will credit it towards other breakfast items. It has worked every single time I've asked.
FHR is a phenomenal deal if you shop it right, but you can't be so intent on picking one specific property. When know I am going somewhere, I check the amex website to see who the different FHR partners are and what the amenities are. I try and stick with ones that are running a free-night promo, or offering flat "resort credits" or F&B credits, instead of spa treatments or golf merchandise or silly stuff like that. I also figure out what room I need to book to get a "real" upgrade. Then, I call in and get the rates for the ones I've zeroed in on, and usually go with the one that is the best deal. If you do it this way, you will find yourself saving several hundred dollars per stay in real money, and I don't even include the cost of the more expensive room I get upgraded to...I figure that's just gravy.
In my experience, the FHR partner properties have been very very nice too, so it's not like you ever have to worry about staying in a dump. There are usually multiples in each city....LA has dozens, Las Vegas has 6 or 8, Boston has 5 or 6, south Florida has dozens, NYC has 16, etc. Even medium-sized cities have at least one or two. This gives you enough options to shop around, and you will find some extremely good deals.