Kobetraveller

- Name of the hotel: Mercure Selangor Selayang (Malaysia, 30 minutes from centre of KL if no heavy traffic, opened about 10 months ago)

- What is your Le Club status? Platinum

- Were you (or for multi-stayers were you generally) happy with the hotel/stay? Yes, keeping in mind the very cheap rates charged by this hotel. My first Stay here. Two nights.

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? Booked Superior Room with Double Bed and upgraded to a corner room on their top hotel floor. Perfectly quiet for two nights. Note that this hotel only has 8 Floors with a Club Lounge, Pool, Gym and Kids' Club on the 25th Floor. All other floors are for Residential units. There is also a cafe/bar on the 25th Floor but not yet in operation.

- How are the rooms? Still new. Quite ok. Comfortable for solo traveller. 60 Mbps wifi very stable and very fast.

- What was good and what was bad?

Good: Still new condition. Connected to a shopping mall. Although the mall is still largely empty, there are a few useful cafes and one very useful Grocer. Has a Club Lounge for a quiet breakfast. Attendants told me that this hotel only gets around ten Platinum guests per month. Small but comfortable Lounge. Breakfast from 7 am. Buffet restaurant also available from 6:30 am but can be quite crowded with groups visiting the Batu Caves and Genting Highlands (with Casinos). Two meeting rooms attached to CL. A la Carte all day dining menu quite adequate and reasonably priced. Early check in available with phone call to hotel and late check out offered. Very friendly and accommodating FO and CL staff.

Bad: No online check in yet but apparently coming in the next month or so. No alcohol license so no alcohol at Cocktail time. That is also apparently being processed. Very small Cocktail food selection: three different items only. Understandable though given that there are so few Platinum guests and much food would be wasted. No DND/Housekeeping buttons for room door, using old cards hanging on door knobs. No signage in lifts stating facilities on each floor.

- Did you get club lounge access? How was the lounge? Yes. Quite ok providing few guests are there. Provided a peaceful setting for breakfast, relaxing place for coffee etc during the day. Only Cocktails a bit lacking as described above. Probably only capacity for around 20 pax and then the two meeting rooms.

- What about welcome drinks, welcome amenities or any other special perks? Welcome drinks ok but too sugary for me: two cans of carbonated drinks and two small bottles of chilled juice in mini bar in place of vouchers. Early check in and late check out readily offered.

- Value for $ or Vouchers? Would you return? Certainly value for money given the low rates but a little far out of town for me. Must deal with traffic. But a quiet place for anyone who wants to be near to the Batu Caves. I would certainly go back from time to time for quiet Stays provided they keep developing the hotel, and the CL does not become over crowded.

Pistenlord

- Name of the hotel:

hotel balthazar M gallery by Sofitel rennes


- What is your Le Club status?

Goldy

- Were you (or for multi-stayers were you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?

for 3 hours of sleep it was excellent (1 AM to 5 AM Stay)

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?

Standard room, no upgrade, free room service at 1 though value of 25€

- How are the rooms?

Pretty small for the standard room

- What was good and what was bad?

Good:

the bed was as usual with the Sofitel my beds awesome


Bad:

Really small room

- Did you get club lounge access? How was the lounge?

No lounge

- What about welcome drinks, welcome amenities or any other special perks?

free room service at 1 am, i wasnt expecting much for a 4h stay

- Value for $ or Vouchers? Would you return?

great value (120 for the night instead of usually 250 so no complaints)

nrouxel

- Name of the hotel: Novotel Hamburg city Alster

- What is your Le Club status? Platinum

- Were you (or for multi-stayers were you generally) happy with the hotel/stay? Yes. First time in this hotel. Two nights.

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? Booked superior room and got a nice junior suite (we were 2 adults and 2 childrens). .

- How are the rooms? room was in excellent condition. Very comfortable and big enough for 4. Full and free mini bar.

- What was good and what was bad?

Good: Just in front of U and S-Bahn (two stations from HauptBanhoff). Early check-in offered when we arrived at 1pm ( the customer in front of us at the reception was asked to come back at 3PM). Mini bar was full and refilled twice a day. Breakfast buffet more than adequate.

Bad: Nothing

- Did you get club lounge access? How was the lounge? N/A

- What about welcome drinks, welcome amenities or any other special perks? Welcome Drink Vouchers for all of us (one for 3 adults and one for a child : we didn't have time to go to the bar so I don't know what was the differences bettween thoses vouchers). Bottles of water and beer (this is Germany), fruits and differents kinds of nuts and snacks in room. Welcome Note waiting in room.
Definitively the best welcome I received in a novotel in europe


- Value for $ or Vouchers? Would you return? Hamburg is quite expensive even in summer but I paid a part with points.

remymartin

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Kobetraveller

- Name of the hotel: Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar

- What is your Le Club status? Platinum

- Were you (or for multi-stayers were you generally) happy with the hotel/stay? Yes. First time in this hotel. Two nights. 15 minutes by car from KL city centre if not heavy traffic.

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? Booked cheapest Deluxe Category and received one or two Category upgrade to high floor corner Executive room, just one Category under a Suite. Very quiet.

- How are the rooms? Excellent room condition. Very good for solo traveller. Bathroom scales. Nespresso machine. Generic Pullman toiletries rather than the more upscale Bigelow brand toiletries at the more expensive Pullman KLCC.

- What was good and what was bad?

Good: Received Welcome email day before check in asking about special requests which were granted. Early check in offered. Online check in available. About 8 minutes walk to a LRT Station. Easy walk but not covered all the way so difficult in heavy rain. Attractive Lobby and extensive breakfast buffet from 6 am which I looked at but did not use due to availability of Club Lounge. Convenience Store on floor beneath Lobby. Did not use pool, Spa or gym.

Bad: Nothing bad. Wifi stable at at least 6 Mbps. Forgot to ask if Premium internet available for Platinum guests. Not much of real interest in walking distance.

- Did you get club lounge access? How was the lounge? Yes. Spacious Club Lounge. Very friendly and helpful staff. More than adequate breakfast and Cocktails. Breakfast opens at 6 am. Cocktails from 6 pm to 8 pm. Adequate variety of drinks at Cocktails but not outstanding. Comfortable seating with attractive decor and artwork. Day time snacks consisted of only 4 types of cookies . . . big and delicious. Usual tea, coffee and water. Chilled juices and carbonated drinks also.

- What about welcome drinks, welcome amenities or any other special perks? Very brief Welcome note from GM. Received one Welcome drink voucher for use in Lobby Lounge. Limited to Welcome Drink Menu with no alcohol. I chose their Signature Mocktail which was very good. Four soft drinks also available in mini bar. No fruit platter or chocolate.

- Value for $ or Vouchers? Would you return? Will definitely return. Cheaper nightly rate often available compared to KL city centre hotels.

cwl

j- Name of the hotel: Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses

- What is your Le Club status? Platinum

- Were you (or for multi-stayers were you generally) happy with the hotel/stay? Yes for stay. The reservation process was awful with hotel very slow to rectify and no apology. However speaking to the Duty Manager during stay it became apparent the upgrade given was in light of the reservation problems but no acknowledgement of hotel failings given even then (would have been simpler for them to say sorry and correct issue at the time though).

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? Booked 2 x Luxury Rooms, received Royal Suite

- How are the rooms? Room was huge 300 m sq, entrance via large hallway, full kitchen, large living room with dining table one end, very large sofa and big leather desk far end. 2 bedrooms with king-size beds both with a large walk in wardrobe , master bedroom with additional walk in wardrobe, both bathrooms with double sinks, rainfall showers and bath in second bedroom huge jacuzzi bath in master bathroom (so big it was pointless as filling it took such a long time). Unlike most rooms in hotel Royal Suite doesn't have a balcony. Building dates from mid 1960's when it was a Hilton, reopened about 2008 after apparently undergoing a 35 million USD refurbishment. Despite this rooms and part of hotel still still reflect the age of the original construction.

- What was good and what was bad?
Good:
Upgrade
Pool area and gardens are very good.
Food quality good.
Service in lounge
Bad:
Lounge is rather bizarre with no fixed times for food and very limited drinks.
At weekends hotel has a lot of day visitors for the pool and restaurants which get very crowded.

- Did you get club lounge access? How was the lounge? Yes. Lounge isn't like any Sofitel lounge I've encountered before. Other than breakfast no times specified for food or drinks and no menus at any point. Breakfast small selection of cereals, fruit, yogurt, bread and pastries laid out. Drinks provided to order along with eggs, pancakes etc. Sometimes eggs came with sautéed potatoes or another side, sometimes not. You ask for something and they either say yes or no or sometimes they try to get it. During rest of day no buffet presentation but at various times food items appear in the fridge or in a single metal heater cabinet. Usually sandwiches around lunchtime, sliders mid afternoon and vegetable soup and two plates of canapés in the evening. No timings given, seemed to arrive when kitchen had them ready and once the plates were cleared that was it, if you arrived after a large family the food display would be empty, other times food would stay available until closing time. A single fridge containing Coke, Sprite, water (still and fizzy) and Heineken. Moroccan red and white wine was available from an undefined point in the afternoon until 9pm when the lounge closed. No sprits served. Tea and coffee to order. Overall a very limited lounge although staff were eager to please and quickly knew what you liked and brought it without asking even if you didn't want it

- What about welcome drinks, welcome amenities or any other special perks? Welcome drink voucher provided at checkin. Informed only for the cardholder although voucher said it was for 2. Queried and then told it must be ok for 2. Useable in the main bar for house wine, beers, cocktails and soft drinks. Plate of fruit in room on arrival with two small bottles of water. No welcome letter.

- Value for $ or Vouchers? Would you return? Hotel is far from perfect but overall good stay, would stay again despite the reservation problems.

patrickw

- Name of the hotel: Mercure Paris 9 Pigalle Sacre-Coeur hotel

- What is your Le Club status? Platinum

- Were you (or for multi-stayers were you generally) happy with the hotel/stay? Yes in general

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? Booked standard single and got standard/superior double I'm not sure which one

- How are the rooms? the room condition is good and is quite modern, not very big but good enough for solo traveler (It's Paris after all). My room is facing the back street so it's quite quiet at night.

- What was good and what was bad?

Good: The location is pretty good if you are not going with your children. It's close to metro and some nice restaurants/cafe nearby but adult shops on both side of the hotel entrance. Staff are quite friendly

Bad: Nothing in particular in my mind

- Did you get club lounge access? How was the lounge? N/A

- What about welcome drinks, welcome amenities or any other special perks? Early check in granted easily and received one Welcome drink voucher.

- Value for $ or Vouchers? Would you return? Below 80EUR/night for August in Paris is a good value for sure, but with so many choices in Paris hard to say I'll definitely return

patrickw

- Name of the hotel: Novotel Paris La Défense

- What is your Le Club status? Platinum

- Were you (or for multi-stayers were you generally) happy with the hotel/stay? So-so

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? Booked classic double and got a room on top floor with view of Paris including Eiffel Tower (Executive Room with views of Paris?)

- How are the rooms? the room condition is ok with standard Novotel decor and the room size is quite large

- What was good and what was bad?

Good: The views of Paris is quite nice. The rate difference with breakfast is minimal and the breakfast choice is adequate. There is priority desk for le club members which seems to be always staffed so in this aspect it's better than many others.

Bad: No welcome amenities and not even free bottle of water in the room. you need to take some stairs if you go by metro

- Did you get club lounge access? How was the lounge? N/A

- What about welcome drinks, welcome amenities or any other special perks? One Welcome drink voucher, late check out till 2pm was granted when I checked in but I think the front desk did not mark it in the system as there were 3 different staff came between 12 and 2pm.

- Value for $ or Vouchers? Would you return? Not too bad but there are other options in Paris/ La Défense

patrickw

- Name of the hotel: Pullman Paris La Défense

- What is your Le Club status? Platinum

- Were you (or for multi-stayers were you generally) happy with the hotel/stay? Yes

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? Booked classic and got a deluxe room

- How are the rooms? the room is in excellent condition and look quite modern and the room size is large

- What was good and what was bad?

Good: Staff are quite friendly and it is quite close to the 2 shopping center in la défense and metro so there are more shops and restaurants nearby than the novotel which is near to the front end of la défense

Bad: Again you might need to take some stairs to the entrance if it's out of the working hours of the escalator

- Did you get club lounge access? How was the lounge? N/A

- What about welcome drinks, welcome amenities or any other special perks? One Welcome drink voucher, did not require early check in/ late check out for this stay

- Value for $ or Vouchers? Would you return? If I need to be in la Défense

patrickw

- Name of the hotel: Sofitel Luxembourg Europe

- What is your Le Club status? Platinum

- Were you (or for multi-stayers were you generally) happy with the hotel/stay? Yes

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? Booked superior and I was offered to upgrade to a suite if I wait until normal check in hours at 14.00 since it isn't ready yet, but I declined and want to get the room immediately

- How are the rooms? the room is recent renovated so it's excellent condition

- What was good and what was bad?

Good: Staff are friendly. Renovation is still going on but I didn't hear any noise while at the hotel

Bad: The wifi is poor in my room, it can barely get connected

- Did you get club lounge access? How was the lounge? N/A

- What about welcome drinks, welcome amenities or any other special perks? One Welcome drink voucher which include champagne, early check in mentioned above and some chocolate and a welcome not from the GM

- Value for $ or Vouchers? Would you return? Yes

Kobetraveller

- Name of the hotel: Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside (45 minutes by car from Kuala Lumpur depending on traffic)

- What is your Le Club status? Platinum

- Were you (or for multi-stayers were you generally) happy with the hotel/stay? Yes. First time in this hotel. Two nights.

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? Booked cheapest Superior King Category and received one Category upgrade to Spa Concept Room with jacuzzi in the room with water jets (jacuzzi looked like a bathtub, not the usual round shape, next to the window), and very near to the Hotel Spa. Very quiet. Only other possible non-Suite upgrade was to a Lake View room. My room had no view but it was just fine for me.

- How are the rooms? Everything worked. Very comfortable. Bigelow toiletries. Bathrobe.

- What was good and what was bad?

Good: Fast internet. Early check in offered by email the day before check in with exact time. Beautiful Spa but extremely understaffed to the extent that not always possible to make bookings. Attractive Lobby, useful Lobby Bar and small Deli with a good range of reasonably priced snacks including healthy sandwich rolls, cakes etc. Four vouchers in room for various 20-30% discounts within hotel. Beautiful location on large Lake. Good, long walking path around lake. Hotel covered very large area and shaped like Balinese or Langkawi resort. Four wings with maximum of four floors. Very good breakfast buffet open from 6 am. Small FIT/Platinum room used when restaurant crowded with groups. Open everyday for lunch and dinner buffet also.

Bad: No online check in. Housekeeping seemed inexperienced and understaffed.

- Did you get club lounge access? How was the lounge? Club Lounge not very good. No Club Lounge breakfast or check in. No staff assigned to Lounge except for Cocktail time. Very small Lounge with seating for around ten people. Mini bar with water and soft drinks locked throughout the day. Anyone wanting drinks must go to Reception and someone will unlock it and then lock it again. Explanation is that nobody monitors the Lounge and the drinks can be taken by anybody. No cakes etc during the day, only apples. Coffee machine but not sure if it was operational. One Front Office guy came over to help during Cocktails from 6-8 pm. Five plates of finger food. No drinks brought over to Lounge but open bar thirty seconds walk away. The single FO staff member often occupied but easy just to walk over to the bar for a new drink once the bar staff recognized us as Platinum. Not allowed to take bottle to Lounge.

- What about welcome drinks, welcome amenities or any other special perks? No Welcome Note. Received one Welcome drink voucher for use in Lobby Lounge. Platinum guests seemed to have full access to menu, including alcohol. Less access for Gold members. Attractive fruit platter waiting in room with a few pralines and one very large, homemade cookie. Two small Pullman branded packets of dried fruit and nuts.

- Value for $ or Vouchers? Would you return? Would return although I did not enjoy the Club Lounge experience. Certainly cheaper nightly rate compared to KL city centre hotels. And reasonably priced snacks at Deli as well as very complete lunch and dinner buffets meant that food was not a problem. Very good internet and attractive setting with two pools.

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cwl

- Name of the hotel: Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech

- What is your Le Club status? Platinum

- Were you (or for multi-stayers were you generally) happy with the hotel/stay? Yes, happy with stay, room for improvement with Le club benefits.

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? Booked Family Suite, received Family Suite. No upgrade proactively offered. Queried upgrade, informed they would need to check, told upgrade not available (hotel wasn't full) but would instead give a daily room credit of 800MAD per day (approx 80 Euro) being the price difference if booked the suite one category down. Happy with end result as paid for Suite already very nice.

- How are the rooms? All rooms large, modern and well appointed. Basic rooms start at 70sq m , suites from 125 sq m+

- What was good and what was bad?
Good:
Modern hotel
Good service for Moroccan hotel although not Far East standards
Excellent freeform pool, sports centre with 6 tennis courts, squash, exercise pool, separate cardio suite, weights room and boxing room.

Bad:
Hotel required prompting for each Le Club benefit.
Housekeeping generally good but with silly mistakes, ie occasional forgetting water at turndown, forgetting to refill complmentary minibar etc.
Wifi patchy - hotel is aware of problem and in processes of upgrading WIFI to improve coverage and reliability.
Hotel is 15km (30 minute drive) from central Marrakech (free shuttle service to the Mdina)

- Did you get club lounge access? How was the lounge? There is none.

- What about welcome drinks, welcome amenities or any other special perks? Welcome drink provided only after having to ask, then provided for 3 (4 guests) queried, informed it should only be for card holder only, the other 2 were a bonus. Eventually a fourth voucher issued. Voucher good for anything on the bar drinks menu. No welcome letter. Amenity of plate of fruit, bottle of red wine and plate of cakes which I believe is offered to all guests not just elites. Fruit and cake plate replenished daily. Eventually requested 5pm late check out provided but only after a bit of haggling.

- Value for $ or Vouchers? Would you return? A good hotel, lot moderner than Sofitel Marrakech plus better service. Downside is remote location if want to go offsite. Le club benefits limited, GM acknowledged room for improvement. F & B prices are high, 20 to 25% higher than local Sofitel (25 Euro for a Club Sandwich or House Burger, 6 Euro for a coffee, 40 Euro for breakfast if not in rate). Will write a full review soon.

Goldorak