siliconflyer

Voucher

Great Suite and upgrade, I've tried it once 2 years ago (room 288).

I hope this is a fresh enhancement to their upgrade policy.

nicolas75

Well, not exactly
The first room I received was an executive room (which was not ready at time of check-in).

When I came back at 7pm, the room was not ready yet. I was lucky then to be handled by the great French Guests Relations Manager, who was very sorry about the situation.

He said: "Would you mind to wait 10 more minutes, and I will make sure that a very nice suite would be ready for you". He even asked me if I would like to have club access. But I declined as I prefer having breakfast at restautant at Park Lane (and not a big fan of club lounge at this property).

turner32

See! Great upgrades for the French, yet again!

nicolas75

Chinatrvl

IC Berlin

What is your IHG Rewards Club status?
Spire Royal Ambassador

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

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest advance rate and received a Junior Suite (West Wing).

How are the rooms?
Spacious junior suite in immaculate condition.

Generous welcome gift (fruits, nuts, pralines, wine and snack)

How is the exec. lounge?
No access. Upsell was denied as it had already been fully booked

What was good and what was bad?

GOOD
- Very nice, flawless suite
- Very good location
- Excellent service and friendly staff
- Capacity control on club is a good thing
- Tasty, reasonably priced food at Marlene Restaurant

BAD
- Nothing

Value for $ or IHG Rewards Club Points? Would you return?
Excellent hotel, would return anytime. Haven't stayed there for a long time and it appears that the hotel has improved in all areas since then.

johhenrik

IC Park Lane, London Oct 3-5

What is your IHG Rewards Club status?
Spire Royal Ambassador

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

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest and got an Executive room on the 7th floor

How are the rooms?
They're ok. Spacious enough I think.

How is the exec. lounge?
No access

What was good and what was bad?

GOOD
- The staff is always great here I think.
- Location is nice
- The minibar is always well-stocked and they never charge you for peanuts or other items you take.

BAD
- Nothing really

Value for $ or IHG Rewards Club Points? Would you return?

Yes, although pricey, but hey, it's London...

Chinatrvl

IC Hong Kong Grand Stanford

What is your IHG Rewards Club status?
Spire Royal Ambassador

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

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest advance rate and received a Harbor View Junior Suite + upsell to club.

How are the rooms?
Spacious junior suite with walk-in closet, seperate living room and large bathroom. Nice views of HK harbor.
First time for me in a renovated one - very nice.

How is the exec. lounge?
- Friendly, attentive service
- Limited breakfast (only "standard" egg dishes to order), but large selection of fruit
- Champagne for happy hour, and varying food options. However, hot food was mostly deep fried
- Plently of bizarre guests while I was staying

Overall, a standard lounge for China, yet with flawless service.


What was good and what was bad?
GOOD
- Very nice suite
- Excellent service and friendly staff
- Price
- Location is pretty good for TST and HK Island access
- Room ready at 10 am

BAD
- It simply is a 35 year old hotel with drawbacks, like low ceilings, narrow windows etc.

Value for HKD or IHG Rewards Club Points? Would you return?
Would return when they have a good rate. HK is a city where other hotels usually have a better value than IHG's.

nicolas75

And dated design of the lobby.

(I like the design of the renovated suites. Not such a big fan of the new club lounge design, rather kitsch like Tokyo Bay).

nicolas75

- What is your IHG Rewards Club status?
Spire Royal Ambassador

- Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes, as always

- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest advance rate and was upgraded to a Club Junior suite with balcony (I specifically asked for a room with balcony and sun, which means the room at the end of the corridor, avenue side).

I also booked a room for friends with points: they received a club room with terrace and garden view

- How are the rooms?
Around 45 sqm
Classic and elegant design.
Seating area with desk
Flat screen television set, with large selection of international channels
Bedroom with very comfortable bed
Marble bathroom with separate walk in shower. Agraria amenities
Very quiet.
Large terrace balcony.
View over the city
Fast wifi
No iPhone dock
No plugs close to the bed

- How is the exec. lounge?

• Warm classic design
• Very friendly staff
• Very good breakfast with hot and cold option
• 2 free PC with Internet and printer
• Evening food was pretty poor
• Nice selection of sweet and salted canapés during the day

- What was good and what was bad?

GOOD

• The staff is really nice at IC Madrid
• Luxurious atmosphere in public places
• Nice courtyard garden
• Location is very convenient from airport (metro station 80 meters from the hotel) and shopping: the Salamenca district is one of the most elegant for luxury boutiques and concept stores (Isolée, Gallery Madrid, ...) and "secret" museums (Fundación Juan March, Residencia des estudiantes, Museo Cerralbo, etc.)
• Pretty nice fitness centre

BAD
Nothing

- Value for $ or IHG Rewards Club Points? Would you return?
Yes

Pictures of the city

Pictures of the hotel

johhenrik

IC O2, London Oct 5-7

What is your IHG Rewards Club status?
Spire Royal Ambassador

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

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest and got a Riverview Club InterContinental Suite on the 11th floor.

How are the rooms?
It's a one bedroom suite. I have problems with the lighting though. The lamp on the desk lives it's own life. Turns off and on when it feels like it.

How is the exec. lounge?
Not bad. I usually never have time for the lounge, but this stay I actually managed to visit it both days. The lounge is big and there were not many people frequenting it. On the first day, it seemed to be only 3 rooms with lounge access, judging by the list where she crossed me off. The staff was good and very polite and the selection of drinks was normal. Nothing special. The canapés they served was really good I thought.

What was good and what was bad?

GOOD
- It's brand new
- Nice upgrade to a club suite.

BAD
- The lighting in the room. I am typing this in the room at the moment and the light on the desk just turned off again...

Value for $ or IHG Rewards Club Points? Would you return?
Yes, if I need to be in the area again, sure. And truth be told, getting in to for example Monument/Bank on Jubilee is a quick trip, so it's not so bad.

Chinatrvl

IC Hong Kong

What is your IHG Rewards Club status?
Spire Royal Ambassador

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

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest BOGO and received a Deluxe Harbor View Junior Suite + club.

How are the rooms?
- Spacious, real junior suite
- Large windows to enjoy the view of Hong Kong
- Large marble bathroom
- Opulent elegance, displaying Hong Kong in its "golden age". I hope they don't change too much during the upcoming renovation

How is the exec. lounge?
- Fantastic, sophisticated place
- Friendly and very attentive service
- Good champagne and very good hors d'oeuvres for happy hour (which I preferred over deep fried junk)
- Very nice design

What was good and what was bad?
GOOD
- Flawless service and hotel in general
- Excellent RA treatment
- Very nice design of rooms and public spaces
- Good minibar with quality drinks
- Harbor views
- Pool with immaculate service

BAD
- Nothing

Value for HKD or IHG Rewards Club Points? Would you return?
With BOGO excellent value. Even without, I think the hotel is very good value. Last time, I was accomodated at the hideously expensive Ritz. The IC is leaps better, yet less expensive.

nicolas75

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay ?
Yes, as usual.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked best flexible rate , and received an Executive room with terrace and harbour view.

How are the rooms?
Around 45sqm
Seating area with desk and sofa. Expresso machine

Bedroom with very comfortable bed.
Pleasant terrace with superb view over the Vieux Port (old harbour)

Great bathroom with Boffi sink, large bathtub, separate rainforest shower /toilets. Agraria amenities (I miss Clarins Eau Dynamisante).

Flatscreen television with large selection of French and international channels.
No Bose minichain this time

Elegant contemporary design

How is the exec. lounge?
N/A

What was good and what was bad?

Good
- Perfect location
- Very nice historical building
- Great staff
- Very good breakfast
- Lunch at the terrace restaurant was very good (but not exacttly cheap)
- Pleasant indoor pool and spa, with now a sunbath terrace
- Fast wifi (if you select Guest rather than basicinternet option)
- Superb weather

Bad
- I did not received coupon for free drinks at the bar this time


Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
Yes, definitely.


Pictures of the city

Pictures of the hotel

cazane

Intercontinental Seoul COEX

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes, I have enjoyed my stay.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest room ( King Bed Standard) got upgraded to King Bed Elite River View room with club at the 18th floor. It's the first time at COEX I did receive only a one level upgrade, before I got mostly a two room corner suite with club access upgrade.
Royal Ambassador letter reads "Prepared to next Room category ..... Club access ", so this may be a general policy change.
Since I travelled alone, I was totally satisfied with the room. A higher upgrade won't make it much better.

How are the rooms?
Spacious bath room with bath tub and shower separated.
Room is spacious, but has only one armchair. Perfect room if you are travelling alone as I did.

How is the exec. lounge?
Breakfast has a wide selection including 4-6 warm dishes, and egg dishes you can order. Also, which is important for me, there were salad and vegetables available.
For Dinner they had four warm dishes, including always Korean pancakes, some salad and other side dishes. It's fine, but not high quality (as the restsaurant at the ground floor)! and not comparable to 4-5 years ago. Since I am usually out for dinner in Korea, I do not care much about this.
Staff at the lounge is really great!

Did you receive a welcome gift?
Fruits, three bottles of sparkling water, and chocolate.
(The sparkling water, because they know about my preference)
No mouse pads and/or note pads from national museum, no whine as at former stays.

How was the minibar?
Minibar was filled with a lot of Diet Coke (as I have requested about three years ago), around 5 beer, Softdrinks and some hard stuff in mini bottles.
I was happy they still remember I am not into sugar water.

What was good and what was bad?

-Good

• They have filled the minibar with more Diet Coke than I can drink. (Have asked for that years ago)
• Great staff at the club.
• Turn-down service fills up instant coffee.
• Lounge has prepared take-out coffee cups near the coffee machine, you do not need to ask for it.

-Bad

• The tomato juice at the lounge is too sweet (as everywhere in Korea)

Value for $ or Priority Club Points?
Great value.
Would you return?
Yes I will.

Unterwegs

InterContinental Lisbon

What is your IHG Rewards Club status?
Spire Royal Ambassador

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay ?
Not completely

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest, received a Club room on high floor and club access.

How are the rooms?
Normal IC size, good size bed, small sofa, small work desk
Bathroom with tub/shower combi
Castelbel amenities (nicer than the usual Agragria but almost anything is)
Nice view
A few problems like:
- Light-bulbs in the reading lights on both sides of the bed missing. Nightstand light too dim for reading.
- No power outlet next to bed

Fruits/Water/Gift
Gift was a small model of a streetcar.
Some water (replenished daily) and fruits (small basket) replenished daily

Minibar
1/2 bottle of Taittinger, but only 1 bottle of beer. Prices are insane (more than 7 Euro for a 0.2l mini bottle of diet coke - you can easily drink more than your room rate with these prices - makes you feel good as an RA). Refilled daily.


How is the exec. lounge?
A bit strange: behind the lobby in a windowless area. Breakfast was good (better than in the main restaurant), no high tea (just some cookies), happy hour had good drink selection (including Taittinger), but the food selections were mediocre at best (not much selection, some inedible)
Service on the last day was excellent, the first two days unfriendly to borderline rude.

What was good and what was bad?

Good
- Very cheap room rate for an IC
- Insane minibar prices shows you the advantage beeing an RA
- Internet was fast
- Service at reception, bell, concierge was very good.

Bad
- Elevator system. Occasionally the elevator was stopping almost every floor with no reason, long waits for elevator
- Even with the renovated areas the hotel shows the age
- Some of the club lounge attendants
- Food selection in club lounge for happy hour, no high tea
- Location: good for car/taxi but a longer walk to the attractions and restaurant areas
- One day needed to call for cleaning, one night turn down did not show up before 9 pm (did not bather to call).


Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
It was very cheap, but I would rather spend more money of a nicer place. We just went from there to the IC Estoril. What a difference. A bit more expensive but much, much nicer. Report will follow.