abcx

Thanks a lot. Just added all of these. Do I have to check in to get points though?

EDIT: Heck, if all of these promos work, all 3 of us will make Elite.

9,000 in new member bonuses
5,000 for 3 night stay in Vegas
5,000 for 3 night stay in Phoenix
2,000 for stay at Candlewood (though we were not planning on using that reservation)
2,000 for stay at IC Montelucia (only one person)

So either 21k or 23k. Not to mention that we were planning on staying at the Clement too. Now if only they would extend that free night offer after Aug. 15.

EDIT2: Seems there are other new member bonuses too. Unfortunately, it also seems that you can't get the Stay 3, get 5k twice. Sorry for cluttering this thread. If a mod can move this to the promo thread, that might be better.

gregorygrady

Just wanted to update all you RAs out there that might be traveling to IC Montelucia. They have modified their minibar offerings slightly (from the list above, which you can see minibar pictures of in my post about 20 posts up). They have a new list, which I will post right below this, but basically the differences is that the 2 mini bottles of Plymouth English Dry Gin were replaced with 2 mini bottles of Grand Marnier. Also, 2 cans of Corona were added into 2 slots that used to rarely (about 20% of the time IME) the Bloody Mary mix. I liked the Bloody Mary mix, but I like the Coronas more probably. And there are now new brands of 2 Cranberry Juices and 2 Orange juices where before there was sometimes Minute Maid OJ but oftentimes not. Some of the prices changed a bit too. Here's the revised minibar list:



Now that the important stuff is finished, I guess I'll move on to my stay. This was a 2-night $95 Travelzoo rate on the Fri/Sat (July 31st & Aug 1st). I had made this reservation way back when the cancellable $95 Travelzoo rate originally surfaced. I had meant to cancel this reservation, but forgot to until it was too late. I also had a BOGO that was expiring at the end of July so I decided to try to use it here.

After reading how at least a couple FTers were denied the use of BOGO's on the $95 Travelzoo rate, plus the fact that the BOGO's last day of validity was the day I checked in, I was actually somewhat expecting/hoping they would deny me and then I would have just told them to cancel my reservation and gone home. However to my surprise, they were very nice at checkin (maybe cuz I hadn't been here in 6 weeks when before that I had 21 nights at this hotel?) and accepted my BOGO no problem, and upgraded me (I'm RA) to a nice Oasis Suite. They did try to charge me the $24 Resort Fee (which was waived under my rate plan) for the Free Night, but I questioned her on it and she said since I was a regular there they would waive it for me. Cool!!! She gave me the $95 Travelzoo welcome letter:



I was unaware that the rate came with 2 free poolside cocktails PER DAY, I assumed it was once per stay. I asked if I would this twice (one for each night) and she said yes. Long story short, I didn't actually stay there either night as I live close by and the wife hates to stay in hotels in the city we live in. But I went back the next day to at least get my money's worth by having at the minibar with my buddy and lounging by the pool . I went before Noon thinking that if I charged 2 poolside cocktails before noon, and then the other 2 after Noon, then that would satisfy the requirement for the daily cocktails. Oh yeah, when I got there that morning, there was a nice RA welcome gift waiting for me (from the night before) of 2 bottles of Corona and limes, as well as a big thing of chips and tasty salsa. ^ My favorite RA welcome gift yet!!!

Anyways, I left that night so I didn't get the bill, but when it was visible online I see they only gave me a single $24 credit for the poolside cocktails instead of $48 for 2 days. So either:
a) You can't actually get 2 sets of drinks on 1 day
or
b) They don't give the free drinks on the BOGO day, contrary to what I was told at checkin.

Not worth complaining about, but I'm curious about "a)". If they won't let you get 2 sets of drinks on one day, then how does it work on a multiday stay? Could I actually get 3 sets of drinks for a 2-night stay if it's a daily credit? Fri night/Sat/Sun morning? Or I hafta get Sat, and then I can choose between Fri night or Sunday morning for the other set of cocktails? Who knows.......................

Anyways, I just wanted to share my experience that I was indeed able to use a BOGO here on a Travelzoo rate for anybody in the future that wants to try. If you look through confirmations, it clearly says the rate is available to EVERYBODY, and IIRC, the reason they previously gave for rejecting BOGOs here was that the Travelzoo rate isn't available to everybody.

Anyways, I just wanna report that I was happy with yet another IC Montelucia stay. Love those cheap rates here in AZ in the dead of the summer. ^ With the $95 rate, the 4k RA pts, the double pts promo for an extra 2k, and the free RA minibar and 2 daily poolside cocktails, you just can't go wrong here, even if you're just lounging by the pool and not spending the night here!!! And I don't know if they will or not since the deal ended at the end of July, but if the Triple points (4k) for West Coast IC bonus pts show up, then that's just gravy. ^^^^

kaiflyer

does anyone know how they treat RA's on a reward stay?

they appear to have a reduced points rate if you sign up to the specific offer, so considering staying here on points, but would like to know what the chances are of getting some of the RA benefits (upgrade & minibar).

magiciansampras

Wow, what a great thread!

Quick question. For an RA on a cheap Travelzoo rate, what is the highest room category I can reasonably expect to receive? Some of those larger 1 bedroom king corner suites with camelback views look great. Should I try to request one of those?


Thanks!

gregorygrady

All the 1-bedroom Suites at this hotel are the same size & layout with the exception of the Corjito 1-bedroom Suite, which is 10 Sq Ft smaller. You will almost certainly get a 1-bedroom Suite here, even on a cheapie TZ rate IME. The only way you won't is if the hotel is sold out. In about 10 stays, this happened to me only once, and they then pre-blocked me into a standard Corjito King room, which I guess is a step up from any of the other rooms.
I wouldn't waste your time contacting them to request a Suite since you'll most likely get one anyways. Unless you are looking for the Camelback view, then you might want to contact them and request that. I've personally never gotton a Camelback view, but I don't care about the Camelback view, I'd rather have a pool view in fact.

magiciansampras

I wanted to repost my stay at the IC Montelucia here at the request of a moderator because I was told I was given an "executive room" and it doesn't seem like that is true. Beware!

Room was 121.

abcx

Just completed a 3 day stay at the IC Montelucia in Scottsdale courtesy the Expedia/IHG $200 off deal. On the whole, very positive experience. I had booked a Camelback Mtn. View 2 queen beds (assigned to fountain village originally). I was upgraded to a Camelback mtn. view suite in Kasbah village on check-in (235). I had the resort fee waived by emailing them the page about the Ambassdor Free Internet offer which said that Montelucia will waive its resort fee.

Pluses:

Staff was very nice and helpful
Free mineral water (Dasani) at front desk
Loved the pool/game room by the Oasis village
Concierge suggested that instead of using the biz center, she can print out stuff for us to save money (without us asking)

Minuses:

Crickets in room after first night
Strong smell of tobacco coming from the AC vents - staff came immediately and offered to change rooms immediately (we declined)
Did not open fold-out bed after first night. After we suggested that they leave it out to save them and us time, they still folded it up.
Room looked over a parking lot (and we couldn't even park there even though it was always empty!)
AC in bathroom was dripping water
No umbrella or stationery in room
No bathroom slippers available at all (apparently they've been out for a couple of weeks)

I'm not really complaining though. It was a beautiful property and the staff was extremeley polite. I paid about $50/night all in - a great deal in my book. At check out, the folio showed that Expedia paid about $80/night. My only regret is that I stayed only 3 days. I should really have booked 6 days on the Expedia rate.

Received Amb fruit amenity. Did not use free in-room movie.

jpdx

Thanks for posting! They don't sell executive rooms, and it's pretty ridiculous that they would provide RA "upgrades" to what essentially amounts to a standard room in a slightly nicer building. You should call Amb services to complain (it's insignificant that you were on a cheap rate).

spkg

I've heard some very negative things about the property on this thread, but the vast majority of them seem to be coming from people who booked on travelzoo or otherwise very reduced rates, I'm thinking of staying there right after Christmas, no reduced rates that i know of Has anyone stayed at the resort since the start of high season, and do they treat their guests (Ambs and RA) a little better, or should i expect to be nickeled and dimed.

Also, dose anyone know what a montelucia signature room is? is that just any room they can find? Can i expect a good upgrade if i booed this room or should i go with one that's specified.

Jaimito Cartero

I stayed here on a free night a couple of weeks ago. I got a corner room with a view of the pool. No amb amenity (I seem to have to remind many IC's about this lately) delivered.

They also charged their resort fee, although it was never mentioned when using the free night. When I brought up the missing amenity they took it off. I hadn't read this thread much before going.

They do seem to play games with the upgrades.

spkg

I assume you're booked into a "signature" room for your free night, do you know which "village" you ended up staying in.

gregorygrady

Actually just a couple days ago when I looked the Advance Purchase rate for the dates right around Xmas was only $99!!!! Pretty dang cheap for high season. Of course Murphey's Law being what it is I held off on booking at $99 and now it's up to $129.

90%+ chance if you book a Montelucia Signature room you'll get upgraded to a 1-bedroom Suite as an RA. Only if all their suites are sold out will they put you in a "Corjito" room, which they seem to consider their "Executive Room". To be fair to the hotel, the Corjito room is now actually listed and has quite a bit higher price than the other rooms.

For the most part, this hotel treats their RAs quite well IMHO and I would not hesitate to stay here if I were you (and I'd book the cheapest rate).

FWIW, this hotel is in foreclosure and is supposedly going up for auction next week (although the auction has been pushed back multiple times I guess). None of this should affect hotel operations in the short term though.

gregorygrady

He was either in the "Kasbah" or the "Oasis" village as he had a pool view, and those are the only two villages centered around pools.

gregorygrady

They better have taken the Resort Fee off. According to the IHG Free Night bookings, all fees are included in the Free Nights. This was one thing I looked carefully into when deciding whether or not to redeem my Free IHG Nights at Montelucia. ^ I would suggest anybody who is going to burn a free night there in the next 2 weeks print off a copy of their Confirmation that states all fees are included.

spkg

That doesn't sound good at all, a new owner might screw things over pretty badly, or might even exit the intercontinental brand.