IC Köln (Cologne, Germany) 15,20 Euro for fitness or sauna
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4
IC Köln (Cologne, Germany) 15,20 Euro for fitness or sauna
IC Köln (Cologne, Germany)
I was 12min in the sauna and lost Euro 15,20. because the "holmes place" is not a IC-Company.
All right it's a third company, but in the same building with a special elevator from hotel to gym.
I never paid before in a 5 star hotel for sauna or using a little fitness area! Do you? (Yes "holmes place" is really big and nice, but 15,20 Euro only for a few minutes...)
next month i 'm again in Cologne, but in a other five star hotel... Please give me some ideas.
Thanks Q.KL
I was 12min in the sauna and lost Euro 15,20. because the "holmes place" is not a IC-Company.
All right it's a third company, but in the same building with a special elevator from hotel to gym.
I never paid before in a 5 star hotel for sauna or using a little fitness area! Do you? (Yes "holmes place" is really big and nice, but 15,20 Euro only for a few minutes...)
next month i 'm again in Cologne, but in a other five star hotel... Please give me some ideas.
Thanks Q.KL
#2
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 6,359
They tell you beforehand that there is a charge when you sign the waiver when you enter. It was certainly nicer than any other hotel gym I've been in so I can understand why they would charge for access. Although I think 15 Euro is a bit expensive and I certainly wouldn't pay that to go in the gym. You'd think they could give you a discount where maybe IC subsidizes half and you pay half so it's only 7 Euro or something like that. I used the gym for about 15 mins and while nice, I would not have paid 15 Euro for it had I not gotton free access as an RA.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,163
So what? It is better to have it that way than to have the 15 Euro added to every room. Somebody has to pay for it and the market will find the right price.
#5
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,173
This is a pretty big change from 2 years ago when Any rate booked on an I/C website meant free access. Day passes to German gyms are outrageous in general so 15 Euros for a Holmes place is actually pretty good.
However if the I/C is not going to provide a basic gym then need to subsidize the Holmes Place entrance more.
rich
ps. While it is a nicely equipped gym it goes for more of the "spa" and cardio crowd. You will not find many heavy weights here.
However if the I/C is not going to provide a basic gym then need to subsidize the Holmes Place entrance more.
rich
ps. While it is a nicely equipped gym it goes for more of the "spa" and cardio crowd. You will not find many heavy weights here.
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Shanghai and Bavaria
Programs: Spire RA, 1865 Voyager, Bonvoy Titanium, FB LP, LH SEN.
Posts: 3,104
IC Dus and Cologne both have a Holmes Place. At the beginning, the Holmes Place in Cologne was free for hotel guests, at Dus, not. When I stayed there first, years ago ('06), I was informed that also IC Dus is negotiating with Holmes Place to waive the fee for hotel guests.
This never happened.
When I stayed at the IC Cologne last time, access to Holmes was not free (but free for RA) anymore. I asked the gm (who is a friend) he said the contract with Holmes expired and Holmes was not willing to negotiate a new one. Both ICs, Dus and Cologne, are not happy with the situation but currently unable to find a solution.
This never happened.
When I stayed at the IC Cologne last time, access to Holmes was not free (but free for RA) anymore. I asked the gm (who is a friend) he said the contract with Holmes expired and Holmes was not willing to negotiate a new one. Both ICs, Dus and Cologne, are not happy with the situation but currently unable to find a solution.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: PARIS (France)
Programs: AF/KLM Club 2000 | InterContinental Diamond RA |AMEX Plat | Visa Infinite |Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 10,943
The fitness centre and the pool at IC Cologne are very nice (even if a bit over crowed)
But defintely would not pay EUR 15 to go there if I would not be RA
But defintely would not pay EUR 15 to go there if I would not be RA
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4
They tell you beforehand that there is a charge when you sign the waiver when you enter. It was certainly nicer than any other hotel gym I've been in so I can understand why they would charge for access. Although I think 15 Euro is a bit expensive and I certainly wouldn't pay that to go in the gym. You'd think they could give you a discount where maybe IC subsidizes half and you pay half so it's only 7 Euro or something like that. I used the gym for about 15 mins and while nice, I would not have paid 15 Euro for it had I not gotton free access as an RA.
So i was very surprised.
And sorry, the 15,20 Euro price can i have with nearly every other hotel in Cologne, because this is the price for all hotels if the guest like to go to the holmes places. It's not a special price for IC (in the same house).
And in the end, a 5star without a little "free" fitness (and sauna) is not really 5star in my opinion.
For what i pay next? Restaurant, bar, housekeeping, air-condition.... (yes i know one hotel where the rooms with air-condition are 20 Euro higher)
#10
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Czech Republic
Programs: IC RA, LHW LC
Posts: 129
Well I stayed at both properties as RA - at the IC CGN the Holmes fee
was always removed from my bill (after complaining and referring to the
RA benefits which CLEARLY state that Health Club shall be complimentary).
At the IC DUS they, however, were reluctant to remove the charge.
I had to email twice Ambassador Desk - after this I got an email from
the Resident Manager of the IC DUS who 'exceptionally' promised to
refund the charge to my CC (did not happen yet).
I definitelly disagree that ANY fivestar hotel should make it's guest
(especialy elite-tier guests) pay for facilities as Health Club - IMO a wide range of facilities available for guests actually is that what makes a true fivestar hotel - not just the room. A fivestar hotel has an according price for it's room and I see any such charges as nickel-and-diming.
was always removed from my bill (after complaining and referring to the
RA benefits which CLEARLY state that Health Club shall be complimentary).
At the IC DUS they, however, were reluctant to remove the charge.
I had to email twice Ambassador Desk - after this I got an email from
the Resident Manager of the IC DUS who 'exceptionally' promised to
refund the charge to my CC (did not happen yet).
I definitelly disagree that ANY fivestar hotel should make it's guest
(especialy elite-tier guests) pay for facilities as Health Club - IMO a wide range of facilities available for guests actually is that what makes a true fivestar hotel - not just the room. A fivestar hotel has an according price for it's room and I see any such charges as nickel-and-diming.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SAV
Programs: IHG RA, DL Dia, Hertz 5Star
Posts: 112
[QUOTE=Czech28;10494765]Well I stayed at both properties as RA - at the IC CGN the Holmes fee
was always removed from my bill (after complaining and referring to the
RA benefits which CLEARLY state that Health Club shall be complimentary).
At the IC DUS they, however, were reluctant to remove the charge.
I had to email twice Ambassador Desk - after this I got an email from
the Resident Manager of the IC DUS who 'exceptionally' promised to
refund the charge to my CC (did not happen yet).QUOTE]
We get so spoiled with RA benefits to the point we take them for granted. I sometimes forget that thanks to FT we are walking authorities on T&C. If only some of the IC properties would take a little time to learn them.
was always removed from my bill (after complaining and referring to the
RA benefits which CLEARLY state that Health Club shall be complimentary).
At the IC DUS they, however, were reluctant to remove the charge.
I had to email twice Ambassador Desk - after this I got an email from
the Resident Manager of the IC DUS who 'exceptionally' promised to
refund the charge to my CC (did not happen yet).QUOTE]
We get so spoiled with RA benefits to the point we take them for granted. I sometimes forget that thanks to FT we are walking authorities on T&C. If only some of the IC properties would take a little time to learn them.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4
@Czech28: "IMO a wide range of facilities available for guests actually is that what makes a true fivestar hotel - not just the room"^
Thanks, i think the same
Q.KL
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: PARIS (France)
Programs: AF/KLM Club 2000 | InterContinental Diamond RA |AMEX Plat | Visa Infinite |Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 10,943
Use of health club facilities (where available) shall be complimentary for Royal Ambassadors.