Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah {ARE}
Oct 26, 2015, 3:02 pm
#91
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Manchester, UK
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, HH Diamond
Posts: 945
can you buy club lounge access here if your room does not come with it?
ive also just booked 2 nights on free room certs for next March.
I wont have any status by next March unfortunately, unless I do a gold fast track thing in the new year
ive also just booked 2 nights on free room certs for next March.
I wont have any status by next March unfortunately, unless I do a gold fast track thing in the new year
Oct 27, 2015, 11:01 pm
#92
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TYO
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,744
i assume you got the free certs from the citi reserve card? if so you should have gold status from that. otherwise, amex platinum also offers free hilton gold status now.
Oct 28, 2015, 4:02 am
#93
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,327
OP is based in the UK, and Plat doesn't get Hilton Gold here.
Nov 1, 2015, 5:17 pm
#94
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: BA Gold, EY Gold, HH Diamond, Accor Plat, IHG Spire Amb, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 39
The lounge in this place brings the tone down enormously. Think packs of shrieking wolves descending like vultures.
We stayed in Sept having previously stayed at WA Ras al Khaimah (no lounge) which we found infinitely more pleasurable.
Add to that dreadful construction work next door. I'd avoid this place for 6-8 months
We stayed in Sept having previously stayed at WA Ras al Khaimah (no lounge) which we found infinitely more pleasurable.
Add to that dreadful construction work next door. I'd avoid this place for 6-8 months
Nov 20, 2015, 6:34 am
#95
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: HAJ, Germany
Programs: Honors Diamond, IHG Platinum Ambassador, Club Carlson Gold, LH SEN, TB Emerald
Posts: 312
Don't be dissapointed when you arrive there, just got a mail from CS, no lounge access for diamonds anymore 
As to your below email; Kindly be advised that a new policy will take effect (as of the 1st December 2015) due to the high demand of our Waldorf Astoria Lounge.
The lounge access is only applicable when making a reservation that includes the Lounge access such as:
Premier Rooms, Premier Suite, Waldorf Astoria Suite, Presidential Suite and Royal Suite.
The lounge access is only applicable when making a reservation that includes the Lounge access such as:
Premier Rooms, Premier Suite, Waldorf Astoria Suite, Presidential Suite and Royal Suite.
Nov 20, 2015, 6:58 am
#96
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
However it seems like there might be a bit of semantics and interpretation at play here. It mentions "premier rooms" as conferring lounge access. Looking at the property website, these seem to just be rooms that are physically normal but have been deemed "special" - aka what is normally called an executive room - and they come with access to the lounge. So I guess the questions that remain now are:
1) When the email says that "lounge access is only applicable when making a reservation that includes the Lounge access" do they mean that the booked room type must be one of those, or that the given room type would be one of those; and
2) How good is this property at upgrades?
I guess what I am saying is that if this is the same as just saying that only EL occupants get access but the property always puts Diamond on the EL, maybe it is not that big a deal.
Nov 20, 2015, 8:25 am
#98
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Essex
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Diamond; IHG Spire Ambassador,
Posts: 93
Just to add to all this I contacted the hotel when I made my booking Sep and they confirmed the following to me:
Thank you very much for your loyalty and as our valued Hilton HHonors Diamond member, you are entitled with the benefits below:
·Prioritize the upgrade to the next category upon availability at the time of check in
·Complimentary High speed internet during the stay
·Late check-out upon requested and subject to availability
· 1,000 points per stay
· 10% discount at the Mezzerie restaurant or Complimentary DVD player set up upon request and availability
· Complimentary Waldorf Astoria Lounge access upon to 1 additional guest, Lounge located on the 5th floor and available daily from 0700 to 2300hrs
Breakfast - 0700-1100hrs
Afternoon Tea - 1500-1700hrs
Cocktails - 1700-2000hrs
I will now be double checking to ensure I keep all of this as promised on the email confirmation.
Thank you very much for your loyalty and as our valued Hilton HHonors Diamond member, you are entitled with the benefits below:
·Prioritize the upgrade to the next category upon availability at the time of check in
·Complimentary High speed internet during the stay
·Late check-out upon requested and subject to availability
· 1,000 points per stay
· 10% discount at the Mezzerie restaurant or Complimentary DVD player set up upon request and availability
· Complimentary Waldorf Astoria Lounge access upon to 1 additional guest, Lounge located on the 5th floor and available daily from 0700 to 2300hrs
Breakfast - 0700-1100hrs
Afternoon Tea - 1500-1700hrs
Cocktails - 1700-2000hrs
I will now be double checking to ensure I keep all of this as promised on the email confirmation.
Nov 20, 2015, 8:49 am
#99
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Please be sure to let them know why, so they connect the dots.
Doubt I personally will cancel because I would like to see this property and am staying at the PH and Conrad as well during the upcoming trip (so as to compare properties), but they should realize that it does not bode well for them to jerk customers around. They can change policies all they want going forward, but to reply things retroactively to existing reservations is just poor business and lacks decency.
While I know that some people have certain strong feelings about what I'm about to suggest, in this particular instance I do not believe that an email to the GM would be out of line.
Nov 21, 2015, 4:36 am
#100
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Update
So, I received this reply from the property:
Pure tripe of course, and requiring quite a bit of nerve given that this email was in a chain placed directly above the email where the same exact member of the property's staff had told me happily that they would be "granting Club Lounge access to all our valuable Diamond HHonors Members".
At least they are extending an olive branch (literally) in the form of the breakfast. It doesn't condone their odd behavior, but it's something I suppose. Of course, my instinct tells me that, once on property, the odds of anyone actually knowing what I'm referred to, and thus this benefit being honored, are low.
Please be informed that as of 1st December 2015 we will be adhering to the Hilton HHonor Benefits for the Waldorf Astoria Brand which entitles our valued Diamond Hilton HHonor members to the following:
-Prioritized upgrade to the next category to the original room type booked, based upon availability at the time of check in, excluding Waldorf Astoria Suite, Presidential Suite & Royal Suite
-Complimentary high speed internet during the stay
-Late check-out upon request and subject to availability
-1,000 points per stay
-10% discount at the Mezzerie restaurant
Kindly be informed that complimentary Club Lounge access does not form part of the official benefits through Hilton Honours for the Waldorf Astoria brand.
The reason for this is that most of the Waldorf Astoria Hotels do not have Club Lounge facilities for the guests to utilise during their stay.
This is a Diamond member benefit for our other Hilton brands, however not for the Waldorf Astoria Brand.
As an alternative the following will be offered:
-Complimentary breakfast buffet at Mezzerie or a selection of breakfast items in Palm Avenue which includes one fresh juice, one hot beverage, one main dish as well as one side dish
-Prioritized upgrade to the next category to the original room type booked, based upon availability at the time of check in, excluding Waldorf Astoria Suite, Presidential Suite & Royal Suite
-Complimentary high speed internet during the stay
-Late check-out upon request and subject to availability
-1,000 points per stay
-10% discount at the Mezzerie restaurant
Kindly be informed that complimentary Club Lounge access does not form part of the official benefits through Hilton Honours for the Waldorf Astoria brand.
The reason for this is that most of the Waldorf Astoria Hotels do not have Club Lounge facilities for the guests to utilise during their stay.
This is a Diamond member benefit for our other Hilton brands, however not for the Waldorf Astoria Brand.
As an alternative the following will be offered:
-Complimentary breakfast buffet at Mezzerie or a selection of breakfast items in Palm Avenue which includes one fresh juice, one hot beverage, one main dish as well as one side dish
At least they are extending an olive branch (literally) in the form of the breakfast. It doesn't condone their odd behavior, but it's something I suppose. Of course, my instinct tells me that, once on property, the odds of anyone actually knowing what I'm referred to, and thus this benefit being honored, are low.
Nov 22, 2015, 3:59 pm
#101
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: BAEC Gold, Falcon Flyer Gold, Hilton Diamon, Accor Platinum, IHG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 26
This is very disappointing news. Had a wonderful stay here last month, upgraded from C&P booking to WA suite. Actually restored a little faith in the program but I guess it was just an anomaly. Maybe Hilton HQ told them they were being far too generous.
Nov 27, 2015, 5:27 am
#103
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
If you have any documentation of that (where you read about lounge access) I do not think that an email to management expressing your disappointment would be out of line. This is a supposed high end property (in a market full of high end properties) and they seem to think it is OK to play games with their customers. Well, it is not OK, and they should hear about it.
Dec 2, 2015, 11:13 am
#104
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TYO
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,744
Just finished a stay here as a Gold. No breakfast, lounge access is about $200 per day per person, and the resort is in the middle of nowhere (I knew that when I booked, so not too upset but still annoying). A corona beer bottle will run you about $14. I realize it's UAE and alcohol is expensive, but still there are better options. No hot water in the spa facilities when I went down there, jacuzzi was ice cold. The only ATM on site is out of order, I was told to catch a cab to the Atlantis to use an ATM. Not sure how they expected me to do that when cabs only take cash.
Unless you are using free night certs, I would most certainly stay at the Conrad instead where you can at least get free breakfast and lounge access. This place is hardly worth the money. I suspect they generate the majority of their revenue from upscale wedding parties.
Unless you are using free night certs, I would most certainly stay at the Conrad instead where you can at least get free breakfast and lounge access. This place is hardly worth the money. I suspect they generate the majority of their revenue from upscale wedding parties.
Last edited by invalyd; Dec 2, 2015 at 11:19 am
Dec 2, 2015, 12:07 pm
#105
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
And just to pile on...note that they have added a warning on their web page that stays over New Year's Eve will be assessed a mandatory ~$500/person fee for their festivities...I knew that was common in SE Asia but didn't realize it was a "thing" in the UAE as well.
I'll be there for a single night later this month - on a free night cert - before moving to the Conrad.
I'll be there for a single night later this month - on a free night cert - before moving to the Conrad.