Ambassador wknd cert - favourite places to use them?

[NZflygirl]

I haven't stayed in a lot of Intercontinentals but was wondering where people felt they got good use out of their certificates.

I have stayed in Syd, tried staying in Adelaide but it appears there was a blackout date as it wasn't available to use for my dates so we rejigged the hotel order and paid to stay during the week instead. Booked to stay in Perth but thought it was cheaper to pay than use the certificate and maybe keep it for Sydney. I saw some pictures of the Melbourne one looking a bit dated.

I'm starting to wonder whether it's actually worth paying for Ambassador at all. The Perth booking I wanted to use points which you can only use for the basic room, and the paid nights we have been upgraded. Then received an email asking if we want to pay the difference for the 'points nights' to stay in the same room for all 4 nights. It's a hassle to move but to be honest we'll be out and about most of the day so we'll move rooms.

Maybe I should have done a points + cash approach for the booking although I didn't think of that. Run some numbers if it would have been a good use of points, stay in the same room the whole time, AND hopefully receive Ambassador benefits. I have gathered that if you use points for your stay that you aren't entitled to Ambassador benefits.

Anyone have any idea if a points + cash gives you Ambassador benefits?

And which IC's do you like to use your weekend certificate at? Adelaide and Melbourne are looking a little tired it seems.

 

[Steady]

I have one of these certs and have been wondering similar things.
Do I understand correctly that they can only be used for a standard room?
Or can I book a club room and still use the cert?
Or a room 1 level under Club and get the guaranteed(......) upgrade to a club room?

 

[NZflygirl]

I'm not 100% sure about the certificate but I think that you can book any room and receive the next night free (of course you've already paid that in your Ambassador membership fee).

But points was just the base standard room available.

As a comparison I have the Accor plus membership as part of the AMEX card and I don't receive diffferent treatment because I paid for a night using points vs cash. And the Accor certificate I can use for even a single night stay any day of the week. I'm not locked into just the weekend (typically higher rates), and having to pay cash for the other night.

If the properties are a bit tired it just makes them less appealing to stay at. Perth looks new (ex-Rydges renovated) but from what I can see the rooms generally look small.

 

[Solid]

I stayed in Perth last week. Rooms nicely renovated but are small and the view on one side is quite uninspiring.

 

[eric2011]

I have one of these certs and have been wondering similar things.
Do I understand correctly that they can only be used for a standard room?
Or can I book a club room and still use the cert?
Or a room 1 level under Club and get the guaranteed(......) upgrade to a club room?

In order:
No they can be used for any room type
Yes can be used when booking a club room
No can"t upgrade to a club room

You will recieve a 1 class upgrade but not into club

 

[eric2011]

For the OP. I usually use my voucher for the IC Sydney but last month I used it for a stay at IC Double bay. Double bay is now my favourite and have got another stay early next month. Have stayed at IC Melbourne which was excellent as well and have used at IC Sanctuary Cove. To me this property is a little bit under par for an IC

 

[Steady]

In order:
No they can be used for any room type
Yes can be used when booking a club room
No can"t upgrade to a club room

Thanks eric2011

 

[TheRealTMA]

Gold Ambassador

I've found that Australian ICs (Syd/Mel) tend to have very low availability of free weekend certs. Strange that I think. Tried booking IC Sydney for August in early June and was told "computer says no". In Europe, London, Madrid, Porto etc, availability has been excellent and one also gets an upgrade as well. In Porto last year, booked one night in junior suite and used FWC for the next night and we also go upgraded to the two story major suite. Booked two nights in Club room in Madrid and used points for another two nights and got upgraded to club suite for the four nights.

 

[eric2011]

Gold Ambassador

I've found that Australian ICs (Syd/Mel) tend to have very low availability of free weekend certs. Strange that I think. Tried booking IC Sydney for August in early June and was told "computer says no". I

Agree, however IC SYD and IC MEL are veyr popular at the weekends due to the locality plus weddings etc it may be that they are booked out

 

[NZflygirl]

Gold Ambassador

I've found that Australian ICs (Syd/Mel) tend to have very low availability of free weekend certs. Strange that I think. Tried booking IC Sydney for August in early June and was told "computer says no". In Europe, London, Madrid, Porto etc, availability has been excellent and one also gets an upgrade as well. In Porto last year, booked one night in junior suite and used FWC for the next night and we also go upgraded to the two story major suite. Booked two nights in Club room in Madrid and used points for another two nights and got upgraded to club suite for the four nights.

I was wondering about overseas locations and whether there might be better value there and availability there.

Does anyone know if a points & cash booking receives Ambassador benefits? I know now a points booking doesn’t appear to.

 

[eric2011]

I was wondering about overseas locations and whether there might be better value there and availability there.

Does anyone know if a points & cash booking receives Ambassador benefits? I know now a points booking doesn’t appear to.

Points + cash are treated as normal bookings. You pay for the points when you make the booking and it becomes a normal booking. you will get the normal ambassador in room perks, ie fruit platter, free movie etc. You will get the normal perks relevant to your status. ie 1 class upgrade, not upgrades into club etc

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

I am always struggling to find good value for these certificates as the rates are the flexible ones and I usually buy discounted non-refundable. In fact the past 4 years I have sold my certificate (to fund the Ambassador fee) but this year - low and behold - the certificate has my name on it :-(

 

[ALH]

Thanks for jogging my memory. We will use mine in Melbourne in August. We usually like to have a long weekend at Sanctuary Cove. Usually get an upgrade to the Homestead Suite.

Quite often I've given the certificate away, but this year (as thatsthatmattressman says), it has my name on it.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Sanctuary Cove has always given us a super suite and the 2 times I used it there.

I am looking at using in Bali now ..

Thanks for jogging my memory. We will use mine in Melbourne in August. We usually like to have a long weekend at Sanctuary Cove. Usually get an upgrade to the Homestead Suite.

Quite often I've given the certificate away, but this year (as thatsthatmattressman says), it has my name on it.

Sanctuary co

 

[ALH]

Sanctuary Cove has always given us a super suite and the 2 times I used it there.

I am looking at using in Bali now ..


Sanctuary co

Oh. The Bali Intercontinental is spectacular.

mmmmmmm. Now you've got me thinking. We could have a long weekend in Bali shortly!


@thatsthatmattressman You should check out Intercontinental Sun Peninsular in Da Nang. OMG. I had 3 days there 2 years ago. Incudes their private lounge at the airport on departure. It is the most beautiful resort.

 

[eric2011]

In fact the past 4 years I have sold my certificate (to fund the Ambassador fee) but this year - low and behold - the certificate has my name on it :-(

Sorry....I don't feel any sympathy for you. If you don't want or like the program then don't pay for it. If you don't want to respect the T&C's then don't complain when they change them to stop people abusing them

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Thanks @ALH I will do as Vietnam is next on my list - just checked the page great looking property!

Oh. The Bali Intercontinental is spectacular.

mmmmmmm. Now you've got me thinking. We could have a long weekend in Bali shortly!


@thatsthatmattressman You should check out Intercontinental Sun Peninsular in Da Nang. OMG. I had 3 days there 2 years ago. Incudes their private lounge at the airport on departure. It is the most beautiful resort.

 

[ALH]

I was wondering about overseas locations and whether there might be better value there and availability there.

Does anyone know if a points & cash booking receives Ambassador benefits? I know now a points booking doesn’t appear to.

I used points in Johannesburg and was upgraded to a beautiful suite, with Lots of gifts; bottle of wine, port, chocolates, macarons, nuts, lots of tropical fruits.

 

[ALH]

Thanks @ALH I will do as Vietnam is next on my list - just checked the page great looking property!

I can give you some really good ideas for Vietnam, having travelled pretty extensively around the country several times. Intercontinental Na Trang is worth a visit, just to see the buffet breakfast I think there were around 6 separate food stations with a massive array. Also had fabulous upgrades every time I’ve been there. IC Westlakes in Hanoi also treated us like royalty, and upgraded us to an overwater villa with Exec Lounge access for US$ 100 for three nights!! Only downside is that it’s not a very convenient location.

Vietnam is wonderful country with very friendly people.

I know some people are a bit meh about IHG, but I’ve been extremely happy as Platinum Ambassador.