ABG

if you are shopping on Agoda i think FHR will be a let down for you... especially after you pay the annual fee

mia

Discussion here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html

jakemalloy

Thanks. Until I started planning my honeymoon I never heard of it. But their rates on high end properties, like the PEN in BKK is pretty outrageous.

5mSvGlow

Recent experience with Amex FHR booking:

4 nights at Wynn:
$206/night resort room + tax. 4th night free.
Booked Resort King Room. Upgraded to panoramic room on 58th floor, golf course view (choice offered)
$80/day for breakfast. I was a solo traveller and could use all of this credit. This included using the VIP weekend brunch package which includes a line pass for $15 more than the standard buffet price, and I also added an additional $15 for the unlimited champagne, which was also covered by the breakfast credit.
Interestingly a room service ordered at 3am was also covered by the breakfast credit. Nothing else was, and the credit was not used to cover other incidentals.
4pm check-out given.
$100 spa credit covered 2 x day passes for myself to the Wynn and Encore spas.

1 night Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas:
$216/night + tax.
Booked cityscape room. Given Strip view.
Continental breakfast in Mozen bistro, by way of a $24 credit. This was $48 for a solo traveller effectively. An additional spend was chargeable.
4pm check-out given.
$100 spa credit good for 2 x day passes for myself to the MO spa, which is fantastic.

lookcle

Thanks for the info everyone, specially 5mSvGlow .

I am heading tomorrow to the Encore. Hopefully I can get an upgrade.

I will post my experience when I am back

scott1212

How did you get the 4th night free promotion? Is this still being offered somewhere? When I check the FHR site for late April arrivals I don't see any promotions currently in Las Vegas. Want to make sure I'm not missing anything! :-)

JackDaniels

Ya I am not seeing anything either. Anyone know when Q2 FHR properties are normally available? Looking for 4 nights in Vegas 11th-14th.

5mSvGlow

I think it finished on 14th March from memory, I can't see the offer anymore either. Hopefully something will come up for you.

globalmogul

Just left the Mandarin in LV.
Four night stay, $305 first night, $285 second & third night, fourth night free.
One category upgrade to premier room.
$200 food & beverage credit, $100 spa credit(didn't use).
$24x2 breakfast credit @MOzen restaurant, each day.
Great, peaceful place to stay. LV is too crazy for me. I would not stay at a resort that housed a casino, every one that we walked through stunk like smoke & stale beer.

rich0215

Are you Centurion?

globalmogul

Yes, for about eight years.

Toule911

I found the 100$ food credit special at The Palazzo.

hytail

Had a recent divided stay to get the dinner benefit. The following is a comparison of notable features.

Both, a supposed upgrade on check in. Booked lowest room available.

At Bellagio, the check in lines were not long and I tried to use the VIP lines. But a young clerk working the lines insisted I move to a regular line - when I indicated I was fine waiting he then insisted the vip lines were closing, so I moved to the regular lines. By the time I reached the check in desk there were 2 clerks working the vip line, and the regular clerk was truly unpleasant and argumentative regarding the upgrade, but stated the room provided was an upgrade to a king fountain view - these rooms are nothing special in my opinion (issue was the room was second from the end of the hall which created a good hike and it was located right across the hall from where the cleaning staff were located - called down several times during the 2 nights to get the folks to stop letting the doors slam and the clanging of their carts banging the doors - didn't help). Just came away from the check in experience that they did not want me coming back - and I won't.

At Palazzo, the vip check in was quick, but incompetent. Original room booked was next to the elevators, so they changed that out. But getting all the way to the room after negotiating the casino (etc), the keys did not work, so back to check in. New keys, truck back. Kind of cranky this time, got some new keys and gave me a drink coupon... hmmm. Third times a charm, nice room but not sure it was an upgrade. No issues with the room.

Breakfast

Bellagio - 2 vouchers, I used one morning at the outlet across from the gelato place leading to the conf rooms - pretty good. 2nd morning when to Cafe Bellagio - disappointing as food was marginal service was so slow that two different table left before they got there food. I finally spoke to the manager, appologized but still a long delay. Place wasn't half full.

Palazzo - Did the Grand Lux continental "breakfast" on morning (skipped it the next day). Meager to say the least. I recognized the bartender/server lady (ate at the bar) she seemed to be having a bad day and was generally unpleasant. Although it was billed to the room as the amex fhr bene, the charge appeared on the bill.

Fitness centers. Both about the same. Bellagio a little more variety and roomy. Both had a number of machines not working correctly. Otherwise adequate for my cardio needs.

Lunch/Dinner =

Bellagio - did Olives for lunch by myself. Hard to eat $85 worth of food. Pretty good.

Palazzo - somewhat confusing what restaurants participate in the $100 food credit. Must use it at one sitting, but good for both food and drink. Ate at the place right next to check in. Pretty good plus. Good wine choices and very attentive staff. Steak was just average.

Check out - Both had added their resort fee.

Bellagio - charges correct. No concern about the room issue expressed by clerk even though I repeated my calls to the front desk.

Palazzo - very confusing receipt. Getting the fhr Grand Lux charge taken off was some work as the clerk was acting like he was doing me a favor - I finally pointed out it should have not been there in the first place.

All in all, I felt like I did get some benefits using the fhr program. But definitely did not feel like they truly wanted to go any extra distance simply because it was related to American Express - affirms other similar reports on FT and elsewhere.

hytail

SFO 1K

Regarding this point, a fountain view room IS an upgrade from the lowest room available.

jandersinc

The Bellagio is very stingy on their upgrades. A fountain view is the upgrade. I've stopped staying there due to their rude check in employees and the significant downgrade in breakfast benefits. I usually stay at THE Hotel or Palazzo. I found the $100 dinner credit at Palazzo a good value and easy to use.