Some points I understand. But I don't understand why you expect an upgrade to Club Access?
Club Access is granted for guests with a Clubroom booking, for Royal Ambassadors and One Reward Members with the Club Lounge milestone (to be achieved with 40 nights, which is generous)

because prior datapoints were wondering big boi so I chimed in. I dont have high expectations for IHG🤣

IC Warsaw

We stayed twice in the last two weeks as a Diamond Ambassador with lounge pass for 4 days each stay on points. Total points were 131,000 for the first stay and 111,000 for the second. Each stay included the 4th night free credit card thing. These would be our 4th and 5th stays in the last 18 months. This is one of our favorite IC’s in the world.

Another thread has been discussing points inflation. We are finding that here. While still excellent “value for points”, the points rates have indeed gone up.

We went up to Gdansk in between these stays and had a great time at the Holiday Inn. The train station being only a block from the IC made that easy.

These visits, like all others, resulted in real and good upgrades to large corner rooms facing the Culture and Industry building. The room numbers seem to end in 08 and 11. We are always happy with these rooms and so I did not attempt to use a Suite Upgrade certificate.

The lounge continues to be excellent. The desserts at tea time are fancy and delicious. Happy hour food continues to be elegant but real and substantial. There are plenty of staff and they are incredibly friendly and pleasant.

They have a new reservation system to use the pool, but my wife did not use it this trip, so no review of that.

We had a good time eating at Aruba, a rib place about 4 blocks south on the same road beyond the train station. Also, The walk to the big Holy Cross church is not too bad.

What else can I say, this is just a great hotel.

IC Warsaw

Here, yet again. I see by the post above that we were last here in September. We are here now for 4 nights after a transatlantic cruise from Florida to Southampton. Jumped on a BA flight for about 8k Avios from LHR. Again using a great points rate here of only 87k total with the usual 4th night free credit card thing. As usual, upgraded to a corner room on the 39th floor as Diamond Ambassador with lounge milestone. Again given 55pln f&b voucher and a voucher for 2 drinks in the bar.

What can I say that my prior 5+ reviews have not said? This is just a really great IC.

As usual, the room and housekeeping are great.

The lounge continues to be among the best in Europe. Still serving tiered assortments of wonderful things. Lots of happy and helpful lounge staff. Great drinks and beer. Happy hour is 6-8.

Ate at the bar for an early dinner. Could have been better. Was able to use some of my f&b milestone awards against the bill using the app.

Quick Uber from the airport. It is apparent that Warsaw is much more of a Bolt city. So, downloaded that app and more cars were available/ nearer.

Just back from yet another excellent steak at Beef n Pepper which is about 2 blocks south and one east. The beef rib was amazing. Also they have great “winter tea” when it is cold. Big cup of tea with a plate of fruits and spices.

I see on the app that we are scheduled to come back in August. Can’t wait.

What is your IHG One Rewards status?

Diamond Royal Ambassador Inner Circle

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes, very much, as always.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?

Booked cheapest rate and received a King One Bedroom Suite Lounge Access

How are the rooms?

60sqm large.

Very elegant interior design (renovation of the rooms has been brilliantly executed, with savvy selection of furniture and colour palette).

One room with sofa and desk. Wireless phone charger. Nespresso coffee machine and kettle.

Separate guests toilets.

Bedroom with very comfortable bed. Meridian chair.

Nice bathroom with bathtub and separate walk-inshower.
Byredo Bal d�Afrique toiletries.

2 flat screen television sets with good selection of international channels.
Chromecast

Very quiet

Nice view over the city and Świętokrzyski Park/Palace of Culture and Science.
No free PressReader.
Unfilled minibar.

How is the exec. lounge?

The lounge has been partially renovated.

Nice view over the city.
Very attentive staff.

Very good breakfast, afternoon tea and canap�s.
Food offer has been much improved.

Great enhancement of evening offer with excellent self of hot and cold canap�s, in addition with cheese, salad and desserts.


What was good and what was bad?

GOOD
- Very impressed by quality of service and improvement of the food offer at the club lounge.
- Elegant d�cor.
- Convenient location (15 minutes walk to Ogr�d Saski, 5 minutes walk to Central station). Shared bike station closed to the hotel. The new contemporary art museum is just 10 minutes walk from the hotel.
- Very good breakfast at restaurant (large choice of quality products, terrace over the garden)
- Nice indoor pool and spa with a view.
- Points and drink voucher were offered.

BAD
- Nothing

Value for $ or IHG One Rewards Points? Would you return?

Yes, definitely.

We spent last weekend here on Ambassador Complimentary Night rate. Was upgraded to a corner room on 39th floor, great views of the Palace of Culture and Science. I had booked the room with Club Lounge access, and I am really glad I did. The breakfast spread was pretty wide and everything was of great quality. (I have been in the hotel once before, and then I had breakfast in the downstairs restaurant. Selection is wider, but it was also SUPER busy. Club Lounge was an oasis of tranquility in comparison.) Also, evening snacks and drinks were quite substantial, and I think the wines were of at least decent, if not better. The Club Lounge staff were excellent, ready to make all kinds of drinks etc. Service was pretty nice throughout the hotel and our stay.

Views from the 43rd floor pool were, of course, really nice. Actual swimming was occasionally a bit difficult, as so many patrons wanted to take selfies. Yes, it is Instragrammable, but please, how many pics do you need? Length of the pool is... 16 meters? Long enough to be able to swim.

just go next to them in borat Speedos and the swimming might become easier tested theory

I stayed here recently again. The property is currently working on a lobby bar and most of the first floor is boarded up. This significantly diminishes the check-in / lobby area and at times feels very crowded just to access the lifts to the rooms. I was told there's drilling etc until 5 pm, but I somehow managed to personally avoid any unpleasant sounds. I was told the renovation will still take anything from 1-3 months depending on who I asked.
As a result of the lobby area renovation the caf� is closed and the bar caters from 8 am instead of the normal afternoon - for both coffee/tea and other drinks.

Question. I'm considering this property using cash or points. Do you, or anyone else know how it compares with the Novotel Warszawa Centrum? The InterContinental rates higher on Trip Advisor + the room is much bigger.

I may book a room with breakfast included. Is it just cold + breads + fruit. I haven't read anything about hot items ie egg, pancakes etc.
This is our first visit to the city.

FYI, my only status is the credit card.

Dan

dhammer-- I have never stayed at the Novotel, so I cannot compare them for you. As you can see from my many reviews above, it is really one of my favorite IC's in the world. So, I would not bother with a different hotel unless the rates are really high. Breakfast is very good and very high quality both in the lounge and downstairs. See if the 'club' room rate is not much more than the 'breakfast' rate, then you would have breakfast in the lounge plus the evening offerings.

I just booked them "yet again" for 4 nights in October.

And whenever I've stayed there with club access they've always let me take breakfast in the main restaurant also, which is definitely worth doing.

I forgot to add previously that the restaurant called Downtown is currently only open Sunday-Monday outside breakfast hours. This probably has to do with the fact that it's right above the renovation area.

Thanks. I'll book the IC. I appreciate the assist.

dh

They have egg dishes of course, there's a nice egg station in the restaurant and also an a la carte option in the lounge.