First timer in a Ritz Carlton
May 20, 2019, 12:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 45
First timer in a Ritz Carlton
Later in June I am taking my Wife to the Palm Springs RC Rancho Mirage for a weekend "babymoon" prior to our second child being born. She nor I have ever stayed at an RC and we are both super excited. For us, we're cool with a regular level Marriott, so this is a serious treat for us.
I know that RC does not accept Suite Night Awards, BUT does upgrade elites based on availability. I am currently a Platinum Elite just shy of Titanium or whatever element they call it (this stay will put me at 8 to go!). LOL. For those who are more familiar, have you seen success in the RC upgrades, and, if so, what have they been? I couldn't imagine a regular room and being placed in a suite in the off chance my luck comes to be.
I have seen conflicting info on Platinum status amenities at an RC:
Do I get club access? Or at least breakfast included?
Is the wifi included at my tier level?
They charge $32/day for Valet. Any chance to get that comp'd? self park is not an option forcing this payment
Separately, How has ones experience been in an RC? do you walk in and feel like royalty?
I would like to communicate with the hotel staff prior to the stay to work some magic to surprise my wife with a couple goodies. Does that sort of communication help with an upgrade?
Thanks so much!! I'll make sure to report back.
I know that RC does not accept Suite Night Awards, BUT does upgrade elites based on availability. I am currently a Platinum Elite just shy of Titanium or whatever element they call it (this stay will put me at 8 to go!). LOL. For those who are more familiar, have you seen success in the RC upgrades, and, if so, what have they been? I couldn't imagine a regular room and being placed in a suite in the off chance my luck comes to be.
I have seen conflicting info on Platinum status amenities at an RC:
Do I get club access? Or at least breakfast included?
Is the wifi included at my tier level?
They charge $32/day for Valet. Any chance to get that comp'd? self park is not an option forcing this payment
Separately, How has ones experience been in an RC? do you walk in and feel like royalty?
I would like to communicate with the hotel staff prior to the stay to work some magic to surprise my wife with a couple goodies. Does that sort of communication help with an upgrade?
Thanks so much!! I'll make sure to report back.
May 20, 2019, 12:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
Later in June I am taking my Wife to the Palm Springs RC Rancho Mirage for a weekend "babymoon" prior to our second child being born. She nor I have ever stayed at an RC and we are both super excited. For us, we're cool with a regular level Marriott, so this is a serious treat for us.
I know that RC does not accept Suite Night Awards, BUT does upgrade elites based on availability. I am currently a Platinum Elite just shy of Titanium or whatever element they call it (this stay will put me at 8 to go!). LOL. For those who are more familiar, have you seen success in the RC upgrades, and, if so, what have they been? I couldn't imagine a regular room and being placed in a suite in the off chance my luck comes to be.
I have seen conflicting info on Platinum status amenities at an RC:
Do I get club access? Or at least breakfast included?
Is the wifi included at my tier level?
They charge $32/day for Valet. Any chance to get that comp'd? self park is not an option forcing this payment
Separately, How has ones experience been in an RC? do you walk in and feel like royalty?
I would like to communicate with the hotel staff prior to the stay to work some magic to surprise my wife with a couple goodies. Does that sort of communication help with an upgrade?
Thanks so much!! I'll make sure to report back.
I know that RC does not accept Suite Night Awards, BUT does upgrade elites based on availability. I am currently a Platinum Elite just shy of Titanium or whatever element they call it (this stay will put me at 8 to go!). LOL. For those who are more familiar, have you seen success in the RC upgrades, and, if so, what have they been? I couldn't imagine a regular room and being placed in a suite in the off chance my luck comes to be.
I have seen conflicting info on Platinum status amenities at an RC:
Do I get club access? Or at least breakfast included?
Is the wifi included at my tier level?
They charge $32/day for Valet. Any chance to get that comp'd? self park is not an option forcing this payment
Separately, How has ones experience been in an RC? do you walk in and feel like royalty?
I would like to communicate with the hotel staff prior to the stay to work some magic to surprise my wife with a couple goodies. Does that sort of communication help with an upgrade?
Thanks so much!! I'll make sure to report back.
no breakfast included
no comp parking
reach out to the property to say what you are celebrating but I wouldn’t flat out ask for things you are not willing to pay for or entitled to. Ymmv.
May 20, 2019, 12:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Italy
Programs: Accor Gold, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond , Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,484
I’ve had my first ever stay at RC last months (Abu dhabi), as Platinum Member
no upgrade (and surely not one of the best level room)
no early (just 1 hour requested) check in (got room with 30 minutes delay
I’ve payed for lounge access
had to fight to have champagne at lounge
not any special Platinum recognition
it has been a great stay overall, but I feel myself better welcomed at any Mercure 😂
no upgrade (and surely not one of the best level room)
no early (just 1 hour requested) check in (got room with 30 minutes delay
I’ve payed for lounge access
had to fight to have champagne at lounge
not any special Platinum recognition
it has been a great stay overall, but I feel myself better welcomed at any Mercure 😂
May 20, 2019, 1:08 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
Keep the expectation low ..... and as platinums, only normal upgrade ... not suite.
But mentioning your special occassion to the hotel should increase the chance hotel do extra to you (but again dont expect too much else you get disappointment)
I did stay at 2 different RC and didnt get upgraded on both stays. But then at that time, the room I booked is already a suite.
And it comes with club access on one of the stays.
from t&c :
At The Ritz-Carlton, suites are only included for Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite Members and rooms with direct Club access are excluded.
But mentioning your special occassion to the hotel should increase the chance hotel do extra to you (but again dont expect too much else you get disappointment)
I did stay at 2 different RC and didnt get upgraded on both stays. But then at that time, the room I booked is already a suite.
And it comes with club access on one of the stays.
from t&c :
At The Ritz-Carlton, suites are only included for Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite Members and rooms with direct Club access are excluded.
May 21, 2019, 9:45 am
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
At some RCs, there's a dress code in certain places at certain times, so plan ahead if, for instance, you plan to have dinner in the hotel or use the hotel bar in the evening.
May 21, 2019, 9:46 am
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
I’ve had my first ever stay at RC last months (Abu dhabi), as Platinum Member
no upgrade (and surely not one of the best level room)
no early (just 1 hour requested) check in (got room with 30 minutes delay
I’ve payed for lounge access
had to fight to have champagne at lounge
not any special Platinum recognition
it has been a great stay overall, but I feel myself better welcomed at any Mercure 😂
no upgrade (and surely not one of the best level room)
no early (just 1 hour requested) check in (got room with 30 minutes delay
I’ve payed for lounge access
had to fight to have champagne at lounge
not any special Platinum recognition
it has been a great stay overall, but I feel myself better welcomed at any Mercure 😂
Were you trying to get champagne during Ramadan?
May 21, 2019, 9:54 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
May 21, 2019, 10:15 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: 32.7758° N, 96.7967° W
Programs: AA EXP,SPG 75
Posts: 318
Only if you felt like royalty BEFORE you walked in.
I'd normally have my man (servant) call the hotel, but if you do not have a man then ring them up and make sure you let them know who you are and what status you have. Once you arrive you might need to repeat the same message in person and if need be use your OUTSIDE voice, so there is no confusion.
Also please be aware of how "liberal" PS is. I know it was a bit shocking to us and I was a bit put off my man did not mention this to us beforehand.
Also please be aware of how "liberal" PS is. I know it was a bit shocking to us and I was a bit put off my man did not mention this to us beforehand.
May 21, 2019, 10:34 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,546
We stayed at the RC Rancho Mirage last year and we had a good stay despite a few problem (all small but they soon add up), it is a lovely setting and a nice property. We upgraded to a Club room by emailing the hotel in advance and for $150 per day we thought this was a good deal considering how much breakfast would cost (and then you have the free flowing booze).
We we did have a few service issue with noise (there was a private event one evening) and the lack of some simple amenities (the coffee machine in the lounge kept breaking down and no alternative offered). These were however addressed following our stay (we tried to sort them out while we were there and they didn’t want to know, only when the GM got involved did they remedy the issues).
We we will be back at for a stay at Christmas so we are hoping for a better stay, but I would recommend you keep your expectations fairly low and pay for an upgrade to the Club level if you really want to enhance your stay.
We we did have a few service issue with noise (there was a private event one evening) and the lack of some simple amenities (the coffee machine in the lounge kept breaking down and no alternative offered). These were however addressed following our stay (we tried to sort them out while we were there and they didn’t want to know, only when the GM got involved did they remedy the issues).
We we will be back at for a stay at Christmas so we are hoping for a better stay, but I would recommend you keep your expectations fairly low and pay for an upgrade to the Club level if you really want to enhance your stay.
May 21, 2019, 11:36 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Italy
Programs: Accor Gold, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond , Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,484
no. It was during Easter week end April. Plenty of alcoholic at Club lounge...except champagne, but at the end they have opened 1 bottle every evening just for us.
Prosecco (cheap one) was given to other guests.
No cocktails also, and for me it’s little bit strange, considering we are habit to get quite at any Accor (Sofitel) club lounge.
Prosecco (cheap one) was given to other guests.
No cocktails also, and for me it’s little bit strange, considering we are habit to get quite at any Accor (Sofitel) club lounge.
May 21, 2019, 11:44 am
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
Did you notice any good cognac? I remember noticing XO in addition to VS/VSOP, with the latter being given unless one asked very explicitly for the good stuff.