TRAVELSIG

I have read from several posts about the harper collection- my question is, are any of you Q club members, and if so, is it worth the money? Does it provide different or better benefits than the AMEX Fine Hotels and Resorts program? I was looking for some feedback before I subscribe.
Thanks!
Travelsig

Bruiser

I am an original Q Club member so have been in the program for some time. In a lot of cases, Singita in Africa, San Pietro in Italy for instance, there is a large savings. Sometimes you can save the cost of your annual membership with one trip. On others, it is just what you might get in a corporate rate or other program. However, I do think there is quite a bit of prestige with the participating hotels if you are a member as there is a particular type of clientele who subscribe. You can also use their travel agents but I have found they have a large turnover and some aren't particularly swift, so often make the reservations myself and mention my Q Club number to get the rate.

Even hotels that don't do "programs", like the Aman chain, have special perks, packages, upgrades for Q Club members instead of offering special rates. This is also true of some Four Seasons, like the one in Chicago. Hope this helps.

TRAVELSIG

Thanks Bruiser for the explanation. I am going to give it a try- it looks like the value can justify the expense- will post the results once I have had a couple of stays.

Bruiser

Right - try it for a year or two and see if you can justify the cost. We have found it to be pretty helpful and also informative.

TRAVELSIG

Thanks for the tip- already paid for itself with a buy four nights get the fifth night free deal in Sydney at the Observatory and a good deal in Singapore. The staff are wayyyy above the level of the PTS agents- they actually respond to emails and answer questions. Impressive---could be the excuse I have been looking for to cancel my overpriced AMEX card.

Fliar

Sorry to ask what must be a dumb question. I usually book the cheapest rate I can find (if I don't do Priceline) or, since recently book through Virtuoso. What is the advantage of joining another programme?

I travel a lot in SE Asia - would this be a good programme to consider?

TRAVELSIG

Not a dumb question at all. As mentioned by Bruiser, this program has some Amans and other hotels that don't participate in other programs. I don't do Priceline personally as I want to choose exactly where I stay and often require a lot of flexibility in changing dates. I looked into this as the rates looked pretty good- decided to try it for a couple of years and then decide. The Sydney deal to me made it work- same price as the AMEX FHR program including the upgrade- AND one night free. They don't have a lot of hotels in Asia- Virtuouso has more I believe- but they do have most of the big hitters like the RC Singapore, the PH Tokyo, the PEN BKK, IC HK, etc.....let me try it for a while and I will let you know more detail.

Bruiser

The thing about the Harper Q Club is that they don't usually recommend any accommodations below Deluxe, so if you want less expensive rates they may not be for you. However, sometimes their Deluxe rates can be close to what a regular lower room rate would be. I think it depends on what you want. Since I joined years ago I rely on them for good rates and recommendations at first class hotels.
They are also doing a lot more SE Asia than previously - the only other thing I might mention is that they are quite cautious about places they recommend so sometimes don't cover as much as other programs.

Fliar

Thanks Bruiser and TRAVELSIG for your replies. I often stay at the RC in SIN and would be interested to hear what sort of rates you are getting for a club room. Similarly for the Pen in BKK.

As others have said, with one or two stays the annual fee could be recovered.

speedbird001

The RC in SIN is SD 320 for a deluxe room and SD 428 for Premier. The Penn in BKK is USD 368 for a Deluxe Suite, USD 240 for a Balcony Room.

luxury

Sorry, how many USD for the Deluxe Suite?

speedbird001

See edited message.

Fliar

Thanks for the replies.

Mmhhh...those rates are certainly higher than what I pay...*sigh* sometimes it's great to have so many different programmes/options, and sometimes it just complicates things...

Bruiser

So you are saying you get the same accommodations with better rates from Virtuoso or Priceline than the Q Club?

ABG

Many hotels offer rate parity between Virtuoso and Q Club. Pen BKK does, and they loss in breakfast, one way transfer etc etc to Virtuoso bookings. The aforementioned stay 5 pay 4 at the Observatory is also available via Virtuoso.