Virtuoso - Where to Start?

[diningdecadence]

Be interested to hear thoughts of booking virtuoso rather than thru citi CE (think its comes from here https://www.visasignaturehotels.com as well as 4th night free)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Be interested to hear thoughts of booking virtuoso rather than thru citi CE (think its comes from here https://www.visasignaturehotels.com as well as 4th night free)

Booking through Citi for 1 nt Sept 14 rate is S$408 with these benefits:



Virtuoso rate and benefits:



On this occasion I think the Virtuoso benefits outweigh Citi with guaranteed upgrade at time of booking + Lounge access.

 

[ninja-tim]

Hey CE,
I've got a few questions.

1. How was your experience with booking Virtuoso agent? Is everything done online/phone?

2. Did you email a few advisors initially to gauge rates and benefits offered? or just emailed the one out of a bunch?

TIA

 

[Cruiser Elite]

TBH honest fabulous - the 1st one I used was OK after a few false starts - RooFlyer has contact details for another good one - I subsequently was contacted by a former AMEX Plat agent whom I dealt with there - she is a star - more than happy to pm you contact details if you desire.

 

[RooFlyer]

Note that you can obtain Virtuoso benefits when booking through a Virtuoso accredited Travel Agent.

I believe the benefits offered for any one place are standard.

 

[tgh]

My Ta is registered and we use Virtuoso when it suits us.

I have had several upgrades from booking properties through Virtuoso
It is not really a "great deals" org, rather seeks to be a quality arranger of higher class travel arrangements.


For example , I recently stayed at Explora Patagonia .
I interrogated Explora directly about the deals , and then passed that to the ta to book.
The ta did much better than I was expecting , when push came to shove.
I received nothing up front , but upon arrival was upgraded to a Premium room and received a $ 100 us gift voucher to spend in the shop.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yep don't think Virtuoso = discount / rather = add ons - works a treat in certain situations.

 

[RooFlyer]

And if a Mod can change the word in the thread title to "Virtuoso" it will help future searches on thread titles

 

[ninja-tim]

TBH honest fabulous - the 1st one I used was OK after a few false starts - RooFlyer has contact details for another good one - I subsequently was contacted by a former AMEX Plat agent whom I dealt with there - she is a star - more than happy to pm you contact details if you desire.

Thanks CE.

Yeah, that'll be great if you could pass on her details.

Looking at booking a 4 night stay in Venice for this August. The hotel is part of SLH and Virtuoso, but SLH rates are higher than the hotels published rates. So going to compare it to Virtuoso.

 

[diningdecadence]

Thanks CE.

Yeah, that'll be great if you could pass on her details.

Looking at booking a 4 night stay in Venice for this August. The hotel is part of SLH and Virtuoso, but SLH rates are higher than the hotels published rates. So going to compare it to Virtuoso.

i've never booked through this - but they give you rates for virtuoso - Luxury Travel Agency - Luxury Hotels, Online Booking, Virtuoso Rates, Reviews - Classic Travel

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Thanks CE.

Yeah, that'll be great if you could pass on her details.

Here ya go - I will post details here so if anybody else wants to contact Lori you can - she was formerly with AMEX Platinum - always found her to be EXCELLENT.

Lori Rogers
Advisor

Concierge Travel
Level 4, 332 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000

P: +61 2 8270 4858 | E: [email protected]
W :www.conciergetraveller.com.au

Rooey - want to list your Virtuoso Contact also - you have a pretty good one too don't you?

Disclaimer: I have no association at all with Concierge Travel - Lori has just been a star for me over the journey

 

[ninja-tim]

Here ya go - I will post details here so if anybody else wants to contact Lori you can - she was formerly with AMEX Platinum - always found her to be EXCELLENT.

Lori Rogers
Advisor

Concierge Travel
Level 4, 332 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000

P: +61 2 8270 4858 | E: [email protected]
W :www.conciergetraveller.com.au

Rooey - want to list your Virtuoso Contact also - you have a pretty good one too don't you?

Disclaimer: I have no association at all with Concierge Travel - Lori has just been a star for me over the journey

Thanks for that CE.

Contacted her and couple others for quotes. They all pretty much gave the same quotes.

The only benefit I see, from my situation using virtuoso for just a single hotel booking, is the upgrade subject to availability upon arrival. Quotes for a room was pretty much similar to the hotels pricing of the room only + amenities (such as breakfast + lunch etc).

I'm booking a hotel for Venice for the end of August, and reading online the majority of people say it's going to be crowed as it's high season.

Does anyone know from experience using virtuoso and travelling during high season what the likelihood is of getting the upgrade subject to availability upon arrival?

 

[RooFlyer]

I guess 'subject to availability' means that ... if there is a room available in high season, your should get it, but if its a good hotel, in Venice, in high season, then I wouldn't count on it. I think as CE mentioned, its not about getting a better rate, but rather on added amenities.

I've had a couple of Virtuoso bookings through my own TA recently.

1) Four Seasons Istanbul: Got an upgrade on arrival (shoulder/high season in Istanbul); US$100 dining credit; free Museums Pass.

2) Belmond Iguassu Falls: Got an upgrade on arrival; airport pick up and transfer to hotel; 50% discount on any tours I booked through the hotel. There was something else too; I forget.

 

[LadyC]

I have also used the same Virtuoso agent as RooFlyer and would recommend her also.

My own data points are:
- Virtuoso has been good for inclusive breakfast and US$100 dining or spa voucher. Booking direct with hotel at same price but no breakfast or voucher so was definitely hundreds of dollars worth of value for me.
- the longer your stay, the less likely an upgrade. My stays have usually been 4+ nights. If only 1/2 night stay, more likely to get upgrade (from what I have read on other websites)

 

[Cynicor]

I find virtuoso guest are generally treated really well. The upgrades are frequently forthcoming.

If it's the same or similar price, go virtuoso.

 

[ninja-tim]

I find virtuoso guest are generally treated really well. The upgrades are frequently forthcoming.

If it's the same or similar price, go virtuoso.

Would anyone know how Virtuoso compares to the same hotels part of SLH?

One virtuoso agent I've asked for quote for Venice Ca'Sagredo has told me that as this hotel is an SLH hotel, it definitely helps to be a member. I'm not sure what she's hinting at; whether she can't be bothered with the booking and trying to handball me to book through SLH or being a SLH member (I'm a Loved member due to Amex) in addition to booking through Virtuoso means greater chance of upgrade?

 

[RooFlyer]

Why not take it on face value that she's trying to help you? Why wouldn't she want to do your booking?

Perhaps they are also an agent or partner of SLH and going that route might be better. My TA is Virtuoso as well as a Four Seasons partner - so I get the choice of Virtuoso freebies or FS freebies. Last time I think FS were better.

The more ticks you have on the hotel's profile/your booking, the better your chances of freebies, in my experience; if there's a club to join, then join the club.

 

[ninja-tim]

Why not take it on face value that she's trying to help you? Why wouldn't she want to do your booking?

Perhaps they are also an agent or partner of SLH and going that route might be better. My TA is Virtuoso as well as a Four Seasons partner - so I get the choice of Virtuoso freebies or FS freebies. Last time I think FS were better.

The more ticks you have on the hotel's profile/your booking, the better your chances of freebies, in my experience; if there's a club to join, then join the club.

Yeah nah I was just curious as to why she mentioned it that's all.

I've decided to go book with SLH anyways. The price difference between SLH and Virtuoso for 4 nights is about $520 AUD, plus SLH let you do lowest rate guarantee so I should be able to get back a further $200-300 back compared to rates on hotel website. Only difference between SLH and Virtuoso was a 3 course lunch for 2.

Might have to try virtuoso next time. Thanks to the help anyways CE + Roo

 

[jackthomas]

Bumping this old post again... Anybody have a good Virtuoso agent? I've never booked through one but looking to secure the IC Sydney lounge access deal. Will I be able to add elite loyalty numbers on bookings?

Thanks!

 

[Cynicor]

Bumping this old post again... Anybody have a good Virtuoso agent? I've never booked through one but looking to secure the IC Sydney lounge access deal. Will I be able to add elite loyalty numbers on bookings?

Thanks!

Yes, but as it's just a hotel I'd just find one on their site.
Loyalty numbers etc work fine as it's merely a GDS style booking.