XFer2

Does anyone know if the hotel charges boat transfer for children? I've emailed the hotel over a week ago but they have not responded.

JBauer

spellbound2

Any help with how to do this? We've been told no, no and definitely NO. We'd love to use points for an OW bungalow, but we've never been able to succeed since the change. Thanks if you have any helpful insight.

JBauer

Flying for Fun

I understand everyone values their miles/points differently. Personally, I will pay ~$1,500 for a 2 night stay and save the 120,000 MR Points. Converted to 50,000 AS miles, I can travel from Canada to SE Asia in business saving $4,996.53. That is more valuable for me.

I am spending 2 nights sleeping in the beautiful St. Regis Bora Bora after an 8-day Tahitian Cruise. CX F&J awards will get us from Canada to Australia. We are doing a Mileage Run from Sydney 4 Y hops across the Pacific SYD-AKL-PPT-IPC-SCL, then 5 J segments to Japan SCL-MAD-LHR-SEZ-DXB-NRT with stops along the way. JL F awards will get us home. It isn't a matter of doing one or the other.

I enjoy flying and would be happy flying everyday while 2 days laying on a beach in an isolated location is more than enough for me. I probably value the FF miles differently than most. I know that I can extract a lot more than 1.5 CPM value in FF form and my 2-night paid stay will generate enough points for a free night stay in a NC4. Great for those overnight stays between flights.

Consider also that the room rate for a 2-night stay will be less than 1/2 the total cost of going there. Food and beverages for a 5-night stay is going to cost how much? $2K+, about what I paid for my 9 segment Mileage Run of which 5 are in business.

We are not adverse to flying economy; however, AS FF miles are very easy to accumulate so we choose F or J flights. We could fly twice as often in PE, even more in Y, but I like to earn and burn to avoid devaluation. I will have flown about 140,000 miles this year, 67,000 in August and September alone gaining 140.3K miles in my Mileage Plan account.

I will check out your link.

Thanks

James.

XFer2

Thanks for the info! (The hotel still hasn't gotten back to me )
Hmm, I didn't think it was possible to book overwater bungalows at 60k points/night. I was told multiple times by different agents that 60K is only for the standard room (reefside villa). There are very few of them so it's difficult to find one that is available for all 5 nights. The system would only allow you to book if the same room type is available for all 5 nights. Anything other than the reefside villa requires additional upgrade points, which bumps the next-level-up roomtype (beachside villa) to 134K points/night. I believe the agent quoted me somewhere around 190K points/night? for the overwater bungalow.

I also sent their social media assistant a screenshot of the mobile app showing the hotel bookable at 60K point, but they were no help at all and provided false info. I was told that it was 85K points a night and there were issues booking Cat. 7 hotels. I also was advised to make a cash reservation and convert it to points later if/when it's available to book with points.

I now have THREE reservations for my 5-night stay: 1 for reefside villa at 60K/night, and 2 for the beachside villa for 134K points/night. It's been weeks and nothing other than overwater bungalows is available, and only available for cash rate online. I give up.

sfsouthbay

Any Plats (now Plat Elite post-merger) who have been to the hotel recently? I'd like to understand what you would get as a Plat at the resort, when booking directly with SPG/Marriott.

We're going in November and booked two rooms. I am not hoping for an upgrade for both rooms (we'd rather have rooms next to each other than have one upgraded), as we're staying only a single night. That said, I believe we get breakfast, water in the rooms, and anything else? I don't think we'll have access to markets to buy water and snacks...

Lastly, we even thought about bringing pool floats... any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

tessy143

beagleflyer1977

But can only book by calling in? Can't book online or in app?

drewdawg199

Pretty sure you can book by app, but that is your main concern? Not the fact that you would need last minute airfare to get all the way there just to snag one or two free nights at this resort?

Woodsmit

Bring a pool float (i used https://www.swimways.com/spring-floa...roduct/6038971 which packs well and is structured) and if you have a lightweight rope, you can strap yourself to your dock and float in peace on the ocean. Do it every year (with interruption when the winds don't cooperate and blow you under your villa). Not for the pool though. That is not cool.

IAlwaysCall

Does anyone know if drones are allowed at the hotel? I've seen videos but haven't heard much about it. I know about not flying near helicopters, etc and all the other rules (500 ft, LoS, etc.)

escape4

I am not sure about St.Regis Bora Bora, but earlier this month at St.Regis Maldives drones were not allowed.

gnomey

i believe drone is technically not allowed.

this is a letter a guest at IC Thalasso received
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29785737-post3343.html

epost1980

I have a 6-night stay (7/28 - 8/3) that I am planning on cancelling. Not too sure whether these nights will go back into the inventory, but would like to provide someone an opportunity to book them. Please let me know if anyone is interested in timing this release.