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I have always got my upgrades and points but I have only stayed at the IC Sydney.

A couple of times I have had to remind them of the upgrade at checkin but it was resolved quickly.

thanks markis10.

Before I buy membership could anyone tell me what the rates at the melbourne IC in the first week of August are? What room types are available?

This program seems similar to the marriott gold card which usually had rooms available but not all room categories could be booked.

"PP Member Flex" rate i.e. 10% off
August 1, 6
$297.00 AUD 1 QUEEN RIALTO / 1 QUEEN WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
$315.00 AUD 1 KING DELUXE / 2 DOUBLE DELUXE / DELUXE ROOM
$387.00 AUD 1 KING PREMIUM
$432.00 AUD 1 KING CLUB / 2 DOUBLE CLUB / CLUB ROOM
$477.00 AUD 1 KING PREMIUM CLUB
$567.00 AUD 1 KING EXECUTIVE SUITE
$657.00 AUD 1 KING COURTYARD SUITE
$747.00 AUD 1 KING TURRET SUITE
$1,197.00 AUD 1 KING PREMIUM SUITE
$1,467.00 AUD 1 KING ICONIC SUITE

August 2, 3, 4, 5
$315.00 AUD 1 QUEEN RIALTO / 1 QUEEN WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
$333.00 AUD 1 KING DELUXE / 2 DOUBLE DELUXE / DELUXE ROOM
$405.00 AUD 1 KING PREMIUM
$450 AUD 1 KING CLUB / 2 DOUBLE CLUB / CLUB ROOM (n/a Aug 2)
$495 AUD 1 KING PREMIUM CLUB (n/a Aug 2)
$585.00 AUD 1 KING EXECUTIVE SUITE
$675.00 AUD 1 KING COURTYARD SUITE
$765.00 AUD 1 KING TURRET SUITE
$1,215.00 AUD 1 KING PREMIUM SUITE
$1,485.00 AUD 1 KING ICONIC SUITE

August 7
$342.00 AUD 1 QUEEN RIALTO / 1 QUEEN WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
$360.00 AUD 1 KING DELUXE / 2 DOUBLE DELUXE / DELUXE ROOM
$432.00 AUD 1 KING PREMIUM
$477.00 AUD 1 KING CLUB / 2 DOUBLE CLUB / CLUB ROOM
$522.00 AUD 1 KING PREMIUM CLUB
$612.00 AUD 1 KING EXECUTIVE SUITE
$702.00 AUD 1 KING COURTYARD SUITE
$792.00 AUD 1 KING TURRET SUITE
$1,242.00 AUD 1 KING PREMIUM SUITE
$1,512.00 AUD 1 KING ICONIC SUITE

"Advance purchase" rates are cheaper again.

No nights in that first week appear to allow use of a BOGO.

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Thanks kiwibigdave. I'll have to think about whether it is worth it to join. We have one ambassador membership each so we get 2 BOGOs each year anyway. The BOGOs would be the best feature of joining for me, particularly the ability to get 4 nights for the price of 2 in one stay.

I was going to go to melbourne for the film festival which is on that week so that might be why they're limiting redemptions then.

Pretty big difference between a BOGO from PP and AMB, dont forget the PP Bogo is not weekend restricted and is valid for suites at all the ICHG hotels as well as normal rooms, and dont forget the monthly specials where many hotels give you a BOGO without the need to surrender your cert, I think I have had 14 free nights in 8 months and still have all my certs.

The dining discount is a big bonus on top of the accom savings.

cdp88 the best offers are often in the newsletter but only come out at start of month - you could try booking a BOGO or 25% off while you wait..

I get results for the BOGO. e.g Aug 3 - Aug 7

It looks similar to the marriott program but appears to have better benefits.

One of the reasons why I won't be renewing the Marriott gold card, apart from the poor standard of the hotels in australia, is that when I used the gold card I always felt I was treated like a second class citizen.

With this PP card do they treat you worse because you use vouchers?

I only had one issue using a cert, and that was at the IC Mel just after it opened, the staff thought RA benefits did not apply in terms of an upgrade, it was sorted pretty quickly and since then have stay again with great treatment.

Did this come via email from PP? My membership expires at the end of April, so I assume I should wait for a renewal email rather than pro-actively renew now? I just want to make sure my renewal kit arrives in advance of my possible next trip to Australia in later May.

With the AUD:NZD exchange rate right now, signing up for NZ$289 instead of A$289 probably still gives the best discount?

OK. When I tried last night I got a relatively generic "no rates available for this promo code" kind of message.

I blame El Nino.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think I will sign up now. I can use my ambassador BOGOs when I travel overseas and just use these PP vouchers for australian trips.

cough cough http://www.priorityprivilege.com/PP_...tml?promo=4823

Dont forget you can use the membership in Asia and South Pacific.