IC Asiana Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City Master Thread
Feb 24, 2018, 9:13 pm
#226
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Singapore
Posts: 175
Does this hotel have discrete club rooms, or does “club” just mean having the same room type with the addition of the club benefits? I ask because I may opt for club for teh first half of my stay only. I do not want to be asked to switch rooms, or necessarily pay upsell to retain the same room. I have Gold Ambassador status, if that matters.
Jun 5, 2018, 8:49 am
#227
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 216
The IC hotel and residences are about the same price, and the same number of points. Any reason not to stay in the Residences? We are platinum but won't be buying up to Club level, so access to the lounge wouldn't be an option. And with 3 of us, a bit more room and the possibility of a washing machine are a big plus. Can we use either pool if we stay in the Residences, or just that one?
Jun 5, 2018, 9:55 am
#228
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
The IC hotel and residences are about the same price, and the same number of points. Any reason not to stay in the Residences? We are platinum but won't be buying up to Club level, so access to the lounge wouldn't be an option. And with 3 of us, a bit more room and the possibility of a washing machine are a big plus. Can we use either pool if we stay in the Residences, or just that one?
Aug 2, 2018, 7:04 pm
#229
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 216
We opted for the IC Residences and are happy with the choice. The rooms are huge, the furnishings are updated and modern, and the washer/dryer has been well used. Our room is very quiet with a balcony that overlooks the city. The hotel is in a great location, easy walking distance from “everything” (i.e. tourist sites). It only took 15 minutes and 130k VND from the airport with Vinasun. Beware the official looking guys managing the taxi queue, they are scammers trying to send you off in their car for a fixed price (430k at that time).
Dec 24, 2018, 10:15 am
#230
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
What can a Spire Ambassador expect as an upgrade if booking a standard room?
If I were Royal Ambassador, what would the expected upgrade and additional benefits be?
Is club access upsell usually available for a discount, relative to the price of booking a club room to begin with?
If I were Royal Ambassador, what would the expected upgrade and additional benefits be?
Is club access upsell usually available for a discount, relative to the price of booking a club room to begin with?
Jan 1, 2019, 4:00 am
#231
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: LEJ
Programs: BA GGL IHG PlatAMB HH Dia
Posts: 344
I stay currently some days with a points booking as PlatAMB here. You get what is called „by the book“. Breakfast at a reduced 18 USD rate (from 25 USD) but I declined. Deluxe Corner Room is nice and this is what I‘ve booked.
Jan 1, 2019, 5:27 am
#232
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
Even in the better days pre Sep2016 changes for RA, upgrades for RA were
o PAID (base room) -> 2-Room suite + Lounge
o POINTS (base room) -> No Upgrade, Lounge Given (fixed price existed usd50(ish) for RA upgrade to usual suites)
Post Sep2016
o Paid (base) - Dlx - Club (basically Dlx with lounge) so since lounge is foc, in effect a 1cat upgrade
o Points (base) - Not done this as poor value v my paid rate
Jan 1, 2019, 11:02 am
#233
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
Not suprised, even RA historically gets zero room upgrade on points here
Even in the better days pre Sep2016 changes for RA, upgrades for RA were
o PAID (base room) -> 2-Room suite + Lounge
o POINTS (base room) -> No Upgrade, Lounge Given (fixed price existed usd50(ish) for RA upgrade to usual suites)
Post Sep2016
o Paid (base) - Dlx - Club (basically Dlx with lounge) so since lounge is foc, in effect a 1cat upgrade
o Points (base) - Not done this as poor value v my paid rate
Even in the better days pre Sep2016 changes for RA, upgrades for RA were
o PAID (base room) -> 2-Room suite + Lounge
o POINTS (base room) -> No Upgrade, Lounge Given (fixed price existed usd50(ish) for RA upgrade to usual suites)
Post Sep2016
o Paid (base) - Dlx - Club (basically Dlx with lounge) so since lounge is foc, in effect a 1cat upgrade
o Points (base) - Not done this as poor value v my paid rate
Jan 1, 2019, 10:41 pm
#234
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: LEJ
Programs: BA GGL IHG PlatAMB HH Dia
Posts: 344
Jan 1, 2019, 11:03 pm
#235
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
Jan 2, 2019, 5:55 am
#236
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
Did you email the hotel and asked? They are pretty good in responding in my experience.
Jan 2, 2019, 8:37 am
#237
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
Thank you. I will ask. I may also contact management of another property I stay at regularly that is under the same ownership as IC Saigon, to make sure I am well looked after in any case.
Jan 2, 2019, 8:27 pm
#238
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
breakfast selections are great. Definitely a notch above Renaissance which also has pretty good breakfast.
Given this was a family stay I didn’t mind no club (I prefer breakfast in the restaurant). They honored the 4pm checkout for one room and gave me 2pm for the other. I would definitely stay again.
They are very responsive to email. Though they don’t necessarily tell you what you want to hear.
Jan 6, 2019, 10:27 am
#239
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Singapore
Posts: 175
I stayed in the residencies section last month with my parents. I booked four nights using points (35k/night with 4th night free via IHG Premier credit card) which I thought was a good value although it seems the hotel is now 40k points and the residencies are now 45k points. A rollaway bed is 45 USD++ and quite comfy. I had previously stayed in the hotel part 3 times (twice in regular rooms and once in a deluxe corner suite). I thought the hard product of the one bedroom suite in the residencies was much nicer than the basic rooms in the hotel which don't have sofas and close to the deluxe corner suite. Overall, I like the hard product, service and location of the hotel/residencies but would consider the Marriott properties if there is a significant price difference.
Jan 7, 2019, 8:52 pm
#240
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: AC,CX,KE,EK / IHG Spire, 1865 Gateway
Posts: 184
I can't tell think of any reason NOT to stay in the residence when you can especially it's cheaper than the hotel. It's an apartment and twice I've stayed there, twice they've upgraded my room to a 2bedroom apartment. It's HUGE. And I loved it.