How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[jase05]

Meanwhile over here, hotel checkouts are at 10 AM and you're lucky if you get an hour extension.

I don’t know what hotels you are staying at but the bulk of Accor properties I stay at are 11am checkouts. As a Platinum I found that some did offer up an extra hour but as a Diamond I reckon I’m at about 90% success rate of getting an extension to midday If requested. I’ve had 5 stays at the Sofitel Adelaide since New Years with another to come this weekend and every single time we have received a midday checkout

 

[maia200]

I agree have always been given a 11 a.m. check out. Generally stay at the Sofitel Brisbane and normally get offered the 12 p.m. check out. Have given the Pullman a miss as it needs an upgrade but going back there in April to use my SNU.

 

[Dr Bob]

Property ; Movenpick Melbourne Weekend before Christmas picking up the kids.
Status ; Platinum
Room Booked ; Superior King for 3 nights (Friday to Monday) and Superior 2 Singles for 2 nights (Saturday to Monday)
Rate ; Stay longer and save
Room Upgrade ; Apologies not available as house full Friday & Sarurday
Early Checkin ; Yes King room available at midday Friday and Twin room was available at 10:00 Saturday as son arrived from airport
Late Checkout ; not required
Internet ; Yes good speed
VIP treatment ; No lounge but Platinum recognised Two bottles of water daily and a bottle of wine Legacy Shiraz or Chardonnay and box of chocolates in each room and note for manager
Car Parking ; about 20 spaces underneath but need to be booked / there were 3 left when I arrived (had not been booked) / had 2 EV charging parks close to the lifts and when I left on Monday am they were in use / a Ford Ranger and a Toyota Landcruiser

Booked here for the weekend as I though the kids would have come in on the Skybus - not a change and no AUD on either of them so guess who paid the $60 taxi fare x 2.
A pleasant hotel and polite helpful staff. Restaurant Me Mi and bar small, enjoyable food but not memorable, good coughtails. Breakfast on Saturday was an absolute zoo, way over crowded, quests eating in the bar and front caffe area BUT food was very good, eggs to order and buffet hot and moved well. Saturday evening chocolate hour was a sight to behold - kids everywhere and their hands everywhere and chocolates everywhere (on the floor chairs and half eaten bits back on the plates). We came into the bar about half way through and, i think, the bar manager saw my look of disgust and disappeared to return with little plates for those sitting around the bar. Breakfast Sunday was a little better and Monday was a breeze.

Anna did you not try to swing TV from wall / the ones in our rooms moved.



,

 

[Captain Halliday]

A week or so late but...

Property: Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort
Room booked: Queen + single, Garden view
Room Rate: Accor Plus Stay Longer and Save.
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room upgrade: Yes. One bedroom suite. (see notes)
Early check in: Not required
Late checkout: Granted to 12:00
Free internet: Yes. School holidays + kids on devices = slow internet
Welcome drink: Yes, 2 x vouchers to split between three. Cheese platter and bottle of red wine.
Access to executive lounge (if existing): N/A

We had a ski trip to Japan booked for January, but I wasn't confident about borders opening there, so booked this as a placeholder. We pulled the plug on Japan in Oct so two weeks at the beach was a good plan B.

Having stayed here before I booked the basic room with some confidence of an upgrade with around 50% of the rooms at this property being suites.

At check-in I was advised we'd been upgraded to a refurbished executive room with two double beds overlooking the lagoon. While technically an upgrade, my personal view is that going from a queen bed to a double is a downgrade.

I politely suggest both Mrs H and I would prefer a Queen, even if it mean sacrificing the view or going back to the room type booked. The response: "Oh let me see if any of our one bedroom suites are available. But they're not refurbished and it would mean a sofa bed for Miss H."

Bingo!

For a two week stay, a hotel room would have been very cosy regardless of the bed. So even though the suites are in desparate need of a refurb, we we happy to have a partial kitchenette (microwave & toaster) but no cooktop. Also a large bathroom, corner spa. But most importantly, plenty of space.

I'll summarise on a few service aspects and then talk specifically about the restaurant.

Front desk: Other than the check-in, this was all a bit going-through-the-motions. Fair

Housekeeping: Some days we had to stop them as they were doing other rooms to ask for items that weren't replenished, loo paper especially. Poor.

Activities: Free water sports year round. During holidays there are beach games for the kids hourly. In wet weather these switch to indoor things like cupcake decorating, movies & playstation competitions. Good

Activities staff: One or two were very guest focussed and enjoyment seemed to be a priority. Others must have recently had WHS training and were more like the fun police, bordering on rude at time. Overall, poor.

Bar staff: They seemed under-staffed so service was slow. But the staff were friendly and polite. Fair

Breakfast restaurant staff: Outstanding (see below)

Dinner restaurant staff: Mixed bag (see below)

Seafood buffet: Outstanding

I've written about the breakfast here before and it just keeps getting better. The food is very good - the usual hot and cold options. It's also expansive with three large two sided service areas. Eggs include scrambled, poached for fried, but for Plats and above there's a secret code for made to order omelettes.

But what sets this breakfast apart is the staff. Yet again they were outstanding. Most of the staff being the same from our previous visit last year. A couple remembered us from that trip and one addressed us by name without referring to computer or guest lists.

Though we were happy to wait in the queue on busy mornings, there were at least three occasions when we were seen by the supervisor, pulled from the queue and seated at the next available table (slightly embarrassing actually, but appreciated).

It's auto coffee machines included with the buffet, but there is barista coffee at the bar. There is no coffee tax for status holders. Within a couple of days staff knew our order. On several days this was extended to table service and the coffee was delivered without us ordering. First class service. The staff were all happy to chat and really efficient. Gifts for staff on day of departure were met with humility and genuine gratitude.

Dinner is an order at the counter, take a number, food delivered to table, system. The first night was really good. Meals were prompt. Large portion sizes . Very enjoyable.

However, on the second night two of the three meals were burnt (I'm talking dark brown, almost inedible calamari) and the third meal was incorrect. Miss H ordered a chicken burger with Chipotle on the side (assuming it would be too hot for her), but it came with chipotle on the burger AND on the side. We sent that one back and the waiter quipped "yeah the kitchen wasn't sure if you didn't want it, or wanted extra on the side, so they just guessed". I'll give the waiter points for honesty - but seriously, if you're not sure, just ask!

All four meals at the restaurant (one seafood buffet and 3 a la carte) all came with a larger than expected Accor plus discount. I won't say too much so as not to kill the golden goose, but will offer two examples:
- A la carte dinner 4 adults, one child (excluding drinks) $86.
- Seafood buffet 2 adults 1 child $130.

So while there was one particularly bad dinner, the deep discounts meant I went easy on them.

Overall, its' a good hotel resort option for those with children who like outdoor activities.

 

[Anna]

Anna did you not try to swing TV from wall

Was bolted to the wall and swinging it would not have helped anyway. It needed to be 3 metres to the left for straight-on viewing from the bed or 3 metres to the right for straight-on viewing from the couch.

 

[Lynda2475]

Property: Sofitel Wellington, NZ
Status: Gold Plus
Room Booked: Classic room
Rate: Accor plus flexible rate
Room Upgrade: Yes, Superior Queen
Early Checkin: Not required
Late Checkout: Yes 12pm
Internet: Yes good speed
Amenities: 2*welcome drink, bottle of water, snacks in fridge





View of Park, church gardens and cemetery! Does cemetery beat carpark?

 

[FlyingFiona]

I booked a Mercure in Paris a few days ago and it offered me a 5pm check out for €62.

Nice. Which one was it?

 

[PineappleSkip]

Nice. Which one was it?

This one
Mercure Paris Place d'Italie
We picked it -haven't tried it - because it was close to Butte aux Cailles, which we haven't been to, and Rue Mouffetard, which we like.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Property: Mövenpick Melbourne Spencer St
Room booked: Junior suite
Room upgraded/type: no
Rate: Fully flexible
Status: gold
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: Water 2 bottles, drink voucher
Early check in/late check out: 1pm checkout granted (normal checkout 11am)
VIP treatment: No (not that I am a VIP)
Access to executive lounge (if existing): Dunno. Didn't ask, and no lounge was mentioned.
Additional care: Probably not related to status, but the receptionist was most concerned when I described the burger I was served in the bar and took it off my bill without me even asking. Good result seeing the bar staff had already given me free icecream to make up for it! (Menu described the burger as being accompanied by Asian slaw, there was no greenery or leaves at all on the plate, when I asked for the Asian slaw it became obvious that neither the waiting staff nor the solo chef knew what Asian slaw even is ).

General comments: All rooms have a free bag of rocky road - yum, but a napkin and maybe a plate wouldn't go amiss because it is very crumbly and makes quite a mess. I had to use a face towel which wasn't ideal.

Chocolate hour is held in the cafe 4.30-5.30pm which is a small buffet of chocolate slices etc and a marketing push for the $20 house special chocolate parfait. When I walked past after 5pm there was not a great deal left so go early if you are keen.

The junior suite was a long rectangular room with a metal grille down the centre. The tv was on the centre of the long wall meaning it could not be viewed straight on either from the bed or from the sofa - not ideal for neck alignment. The decor was blues, deep emerald green and purple with orange and geometric accents. A designer might call it jewel colours - to me the orange was quite like a fever dream and not very relaxing.

The room contained a form to sign and return to reception forgoing housekeeping in return for 300 points. You're supposed to put the DND sign on the door as well but my room didn't have one. I assumed the form would be valid for all 3 nights, it worked for night 2 but housekeeping entered the room at 2pm on the day of night 3 so I sent them away. I queried it at reception, they said the form is good for 1 night, I asked how I was supposed to get another form if housekeeping weren't coming in, they agreed that was a good point. I ended up being given 900 points even though strictly speaking on a 3 night stay you would only expect to get housekeeping twice as the receptionist correctly pointed out.

Would I stay again - probably yes if it suited. The location is great if taking Skybus because it is right across from Southern Cross station. Several tram lines also right outside, and a Coles close by. I was in Melbourne for the tennis and it was a short walk down to Flinders St to get the shuttle tram to the AO.

Photo 1: Fever dream decor. Photo 2: I feel like these tables are in every Accor hotel, and always stained - how do they get stained like that? One in the bathroom looked like someone had put the iron down in it in 2 places! Photo 3: what I got when I asked for the Asian slaw missing from the burger.

Property ; Movenpick Melbourne Weekend before Christmas picking up the kids.
Status ; Platinum
Room Booked ; Superior King for 3 nights (Friday to Monday) and Superior 2 Singles for 2 nights (Saturday to Monday)
Rate ; Stay longer and save
Room Upgrade ; Apologies not available as house full Friday & Sarurday
Early Checkin ; Yes King room available at midday Friday and Twin room was available at 10:00 Saturday as son arrived from airport
Late Checkout ; not required
Internet ; Yes good speed
VIP treatment ; No lounge but Platinum recognised Two bottles of water daily and a bottle of wine Legacy Shiraz or Chardonnay and box of chocolates in each room and note for manager
Car Parking ; about 20 spaces underneath but need to be booked / there were 3 left when I arrived (had not been booked) / had 2 EV charging parks close to the lifts and when I left on Monday am they were in use / a Ford Ranger and a Toyota Landcruiser

Booked here for the weekend as I though the kids would have come in on the Skybus - not a change and no AUD on either of them so guess who paid the $60 taxi fare x 2.
A pleasant hotel and polite helpful staff. Restaurant Me Mi and bar small, enjoyable food but not memorable, good coughtails. Breakfast on Saturday was an absolute zoo, way over crowded, quests eating in the bar and front caffe area BUT food was very good, eggs to order and buffet hot and moved well. Saturday evening chocolate hour was a sight to behold - kids everywhere and their hands everywhere and chocolates everywhere (on the floor chairs and half eaten bits back on the plates). We came into the bar about half way through and, i think, the bar manager saw my look of disgust and disappeared to return with little plates for those sitting around the bar. Breakfast Sunday was a little better and Monday was a breeze.

Anna did you not try to swing TV from wall / the ones in our rooms moved.

Just returned from a 4-night stay at the Movenpick on Spencer, and had similar experiences. A summary of my experience as an Accor Plus Gold:

• The hotel was not at all busy, despite the tennis being on - strange.
• Arrived at the hotel at 9AM expecting to drop my bags off and head out, but they had a room available for me which was appreciated. No upgrade (superior room booked and received).
• I was not provided with my complimentary drink voucher at check-in. I of course could have followed it up, but didn't bother as I wasn't drinking this trip.
• Box of rocky road in the room - agree that some cutlery, a plate and napkin would go a long way.
• Breakfast was an absolute zoo - plenty of staff, but it was chaos. Staff don't appear to have processes in place. E.g. eggs could be ordered from the kitchen, but staff didn't appear to note which table had made the order, so they ended up going to every table asking if it was their order. It's a small space, with lots of over-crowding. I was disappointed with the options, and the eggs I ordered were often completely over-cooked.
• They offer 300 points per day you don't have the room cleaned. There's a piece of paper you have to provide to reception, but it doesn't ask which nights you do/don't want the room serviced??? I have been credited for one day, but didn't have the room cleaned for two days. I've emailed them and have no doubt they'll add the points, but the process clearly doesn't work. My room didn't have a 'do not disturb' sign, which had to be left on the door to alert cleaners not to make up the room (despite providing the form to reception).
• Late check-out of 1PM provided.

I've stayed here a couple of times now - the first time was great (a-la-carte breakfast during COVID), but this time was disappointing (breakfast and small service deficiencies described above). Think I'll try something else next time.

 

[Anna]

I agree the Mövenpick Melbourne breakfast area is a bit of a shambles. Placing the coffee machine in a traffic area was silly to start with. I'd booked a table for breakfast at 8am one day because I'd invited friends to join me for breakfast - the staff had no clue about the booking and it was pure fluke that a large enough table was available at 8. And each time someone arrived at the table the staff made a huge issue about whether they were a hotel guest with breakfast included and if not how were they going to pay. It was embarrassing. However - we ordered omelettes and really enjoyed them. They are at no extra charge and they are made fresh to order.

Also agree the whole thing about 'put the DND sign on the door as well as filling in the form to forego housekeeping' is dumb, especially when the rooms don't even have DND signs!

 

[Dr Bob]

Property ; Pullman Melbourne Swanston St Kids flying home after christmas.
Status ; Platinum
Room Booked ; Superior King 2 nights and Superior 2 Queens 2 nights
Upgrade ; Yes both rooms to Delux keeper on same floor
Early Checkin ; Yes the King available for 1 pm checkin (all bags placed in this room) But the double Queen was not available until 4.30pm
Late Checkout ; 2pm granted for the King Not required for the other.
Internet; Yes and good speed and easy login
VIP Treatment ; not really , no Accor priority checkin, 2 bottles water per room for 1 night only and a managers welcome note. 2 drink vouchers for 1 room only.
Lounge access ; Yes
Parking ; A block and a half away in Russel St $24 validated parking or $60 valet parking.

First time at this hotel since the upgrade. Great rooms bedding etc but noisy aircons. Reception very small and slow, Half hour wait at checkin / 5 in front of me and only 1 staff at 1pm. At a 2pm checkout only 2 people in front and about 5 minutes. Breakfast in restaurant is a la cart with juice yoghurt cereal buffet. Didn't have breakfast in the lounge as $50 extra for the kids and their rate was breakfast included.
Staff were great but reception under staffed. Took the valet parking as we had a car full of bags. Half hour wait for the car had ordered it for 4.30pm at 2pm checkout. Had a look at the lounge when arrived and it looks great, lots of seating and some quite areas.Large display of wines and spirits so son and I returned at 5.30pm for a drink / big disappointment - De Bortoli Legacy range and some beers only - you could order a mixed drink but charged back to room. Cannape range small but OK I would stay here again but it would have to be a lot cheaper than the Sofitel. Might try the upgraded Pullman on the Park next time but, again, would have to be cheaper than the Sofitel.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Large display of wines and spirits so son and I returned at 5.30pm for a drink / big disappointment - De Bortoli Legacy range and some beers only - you could order a mixed drink but charged back to room.

Could you use one of the drink vouchers to order a mixed drink from the lounge?

 

[Lynda2475]

Re Sofitel Wellington i only notice tonight that the executive lounge is on the ground floor directly behind reception. With windows and large glass doors you can see the punters sitting on the lounges having their free drinks as you walk by to exit the lobby.

 

[sudoer]

Re Sofitel Wellington i only notice tonight that the executive lounge is on the ground floor directly behind reception. With windows and large glass doors you can see the puters sitting on the lounges having their free drinks as you walk by to exit the lobby.

Sofitel Auckland has a similar setup - the entrance is just next to reception. The space itself is secluded enough from the lobby, but you can see in off the street.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Re Sofitel Wellington i only notice tonight that the executive lounge is on the ground floor directly behind reception. With windows and large glass doors you can see the puters sitting on the lounges having their free drinks as you walk by to exit the lobby.

Sofitel Auckland has a similar setup - the entrance is just next to reception. The space itself is secluded enough from the lobby, but you can see in off the street.

I wonder how these hotel lounges compare to QF's flagship lounge at HBA?

 

[Dr Bob]

Could you use one of the drink vouchers to order a mixed drink from the lounge?

I wish but they were only tap beer or house wine

 

[bullerdude]

Property: Novotel, Wollongong
Status: Platinum Plus
Room Booked: Queen Ocean View Room
Rate: Accor plus flexible rate
Room Upgrade: Yes, Queen Ocean with Balcony
Early Checkin: Not required
Late Checkout: Yes 12pm
Internet: Yes, average speed
Amenities: 2*welcome drink, 2x bottle of water, 1x bottle of basic red, small box of rocky road in fridge

Super busy property given the location on the beach and has been renovated recently. Room have had some minor upgrades and overall quite comfortable; they are quite large and the queen rooms include a comfy couch/chaise for lounging around looking out over the sea. Common areas have had a more subtantial upgrade and there are large indoor bar, a pool bar, a sports bar / nightclub, a beach bar and a restaurant. Wouldn't say there was much special treatment as a Platinum and from what I could tell my parents who are Accor Plus silver also got an uprade and welcome bottle of wine etc. Breakfast was in their 'Palisades' restautant which doubles as their Accor plus restaurant for Dinner - overall was a pretty decent spread with multiple options of Eggs, pancakes and other regular hot food. On the fresh side, there was bircher, yoghurt, fruits, chia and rice puddings plus the ususal contineal options. For bakery, there were multiple breads, croissant and muffins etc. One plus for Platinum/diamonds is complementary parking saving $25/night. Overall quite a nice place to stay! Yes it was damn expensive and probably more than i would usually pay for a Novotel - but when in Wollongong on a long weekend that's what it is.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Property: Novotel, Wollongong
Status: Platinum Plus
Room Booked: Queen Ocean View Room
Rate: Accor plus flexible rate
Room Upgrade: Yes, Queen Ocean with Balcony
Early Checkin: Not required
Late Checkout: Yes 12pm
Internet: Yes, average speed
Amenities: 2*welcome drink, 2x bottle of water, 1x bottle of basic red, small box of rocky road in fridge

I'm curious if you could comment on the breakfast spread, as I reckon fellow Platinum members might want to take that into consideration when booking a hotel in the 'gong!

-RooFlyer88

 

[bullerdude]

I'm curious if you could comment on the breakfast spread, as I reckon fellow Platinum members might want to take that into consideration when booking a hotel in the 'gong!

-RooFlyer88

Updated

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Breakfast was in their 'Palisades' restautant which doubles as their Accor plus restaurant for Dinner - overall was a pretty decent spread with multiple options of Eggs, pancakes and other regular hot food. On the fresh side, there was bircher, yoghurt, fruits, chia and rice puddings plus the ususal contineal options. For bakery, there were multiple breads, croissant and muffins etc.

So it seems like a "standard" Accor breakfast in the sense that there are hot and cold food options available. I'm guessing it was a buffet? If so how big was the buffet? Was custom food offered for Platinums (i.e. the ability to request omelettes?) In any event, great to see the hotel putting out the breakfast spread. I've been very fortunate to visit higher end Accor hotels like Mercures and Fairmont.

-RooFlyer88