How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[jase05]

Property: Pullman Adelaide
Status: All Accor Explorer Diamond
Room booked: Superior King
Room upgraded/type: Yes, Junior Suite
Rate: RHR $169/night
Early check in/late out: 12pm checkin, 3pm checkout
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Yes, standard spread
Welcome drink: 2x spirits at bar
Welcome amenity: Small bottle of Pinot Grigio and delicious chocolate cake.
Recommend: Yes, don’t mind it there.

Finished 2025 and started 2026 with a 2 night stay at the Pullman. Have stayed here many times and done many reviews but it’s one of those places that whilst not the best property in town it’s comfortable, staff are great and you know what you are going to get. Just a solid option and pretty well priced.
Arrived at around 12 and we’re just going to drop off our stuff, head to lunch and then check in later but were told we had received the usual upgrade to a junior suite and that it was ready now which was great. Room is clean and comfortable although I do think calling it a suite is a bit of a long bow. Nicely located on the corner with a small balcony but was very windy at the time. Bed is comfortable and room temperature settings importantly are easy and efficient.
First night we had dinner at Parc restaurant, food and service was good plus Accor plus discount proactively applied. EL is pretty small and only has a few basic dishes but staff are great and drinks proactively topped up and orders taken and served quickly. Lounge did get quite full but still fine. Weekends breakfast can also be had in the EL as well as Parc but as it was midweek then the restaurant was the only option. A slight change from previous visits where this time we received breakfast cards marked “Diamond” that are presented at the restaurant. I did question what the Diamond benefits were as I thought maybe it was Barista coffees or something but was told it was purely for seating purposes. The breakfast area can be a bit of a zoo and sometimes I’ve seen patrons told to wait 5-10 minutes for a free table but apparently they had some complaints and they now keep some tables clear for Diamonds so no queuing is required. On New Year’s Day the restaurant was packed but we were seating immediately. Staff are great throughout the property and whilst the hotel is not as good as the Sofitel I think the staff are far better.
We normally have about a dozen or so nights per year there and it’s still as solid as ever

 

[Captain Halliday]

Property: Fairmont YVR
Status: All Accor Explorer Platinum
Room booked: 2 Queen
Room upgraded/type: Yes, Deluxe 2 Queen with breakfast.
Rate: Member rate prepaid (about a week out, cancelling higher priced flex rate) CAD366.
Early check in/late out: Early check-in not required. 5pm checkout.
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: No. see notes
Welcome drink: one per guest.
Welcome amenity: Fruit plate.
Recommend: Only if you’re prepared to pay the premium for the only hotel actually at the airport.

Mixed views on this stay.

Upgrade showed in app ~24 hours before checkin and request for runway views was granted. Upgrade was a higher floor and Nespresso machine.

Staff member checking me in didn’t seem on the ball. No explanation of hotel facilities, nor time and place for breakfast. Therefore I didn’t ask about late checkout.

Returned later and requested late checkout. Was asked my flight time (8pm) and was granted 2pm checkout. Also told to check again the next morning “being Christmas Day it’s not busy. I’m sure we can bump it out a bit further.”

Next morning was granted 5PM checkout.

Plane spotting guide in the room was a nice touch.

Welcome drinks were valid for any item on the bar menu except double-pours and full bottles of wine . Three glasses of the top shelf champagne which was listed as CAD45 seemed like good value.

Being Christmas Eve the restaurant was not doing a la carte. After tax would have been ~600 for the three of us. Pass.

Dinner menu in the bar looked pretty good and we selected items that were in highlighted boxes. Only after requesting them were we told they were unavailable because the kitchen was doing a buffet. Plan B was to share a couple of entrees with Mrs H. Miss H had a burger.

The hotel only does a la carte breakfast and it turned out that the breakfast included with the room was actually a CAD90 credit. Not a lot for 3 guests when most items were ~CAD28, juice was CAD8 and coffee CAD7. Plus tax. Servings were small and the “bacon” was just warmed ham. Pretty poor overall.

Unlike AU properties which generally take a small deposit then full payment at checkout, this property took full payment plus CAD100 at checkin. Then, other charges hit my credit card after dinner and breakfast (amounts beyond the deposit). At checkout I was then charged the whole folio amount a second time. The charges in excess of the deposit are still showing as “pending” on my card a week after checking. Fingers crossed it doesn’t become a drama.

Overall: Spending the day in Vancouver didn’t seem viable because it was Christmas Day and everything was closed. In this context the 5pm checkout was a huge benefit. The drink voucher was also generous, but everything else seemed pretty lacklustre, especially for a Fairmont.

 

[mel-world]

Property: Novotel Sydney Airport - Wolli Creek
Status: All Accor Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Base Queen
Room upgraded/type: Yes, according to reception; but how would you know unless you were a regular guest - maybe a higher floor and a better view.
Rate: Member rate prepaid (about a fortnight before checking in) As above, cancelling higher priced flex rate - paid AUS160 for Christmas Eve.
Early check in/late out: Not required
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Yes, but did not require - looked busy as I walked out to the airport where a Lounge was waiting for a better breakfast.
Welcome drink: One per guest but only a beer or a house wine. The bare minimum.
Welcome amenity: Nothing eventuated although I think they may have attempted to deliver it when I had my DnD sign out.
Recommend: Not if you want a walk-in shower. I was there on Christmas Eve and it was busy with airline crews crowding the reception.

The location is only a 20-min walk to the International Terminal - probably not an option with a lot of luggage. The shuttle was $12 for a 5 min drive - I walked with HLO - Over the bridge, up and thru the T1 car park.

 

[jase05]

Property: Novotel Sydney Airport - Wolli Creek
Status: All Accor Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Base Queen
Room upgraded/type: Yes, according to reception; but how would you know unless you were a regular guest - maybe a higher floor and a better view.
Rate: Member rate prepaid (about a fortnight before checking in) As above, cancelling higher priced flex rate - paid AUS160 for Christmas Eve.
Early check in/late out: Not required
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Yes, but did not require - looked busy as I walked out to the airport where a Lounge was waiting for a better breakfast.
Welcome drink: One per guest but only a beer or a house wine. The bare minimum.
Welcome amenity: Nothing eventuated although I think they may have attempted to deliver it when I had my DnD sign out.
Recommend: Not if you want a walk-in shower. I was there on Christmas Eve and it was busy with airline crews crowding the reception.

The location is only a 20-min walk to the International Terminal - probably not an option with a lot of luggage. The shuttle was $12 for a 5 min drive - I walked with HLO - Over the bridge, up and thru the T1 car park.

We have stayed there a couple of times but not recently. For memory the base rooms which are “Superior rooms” are pretty basic and when we were Plats we got upgraded to the rooms that were located on a higher floor with views over the parklands.
Only time we stayed there as a Diamond they put us in the suite which is basically just a bigger room with the same views over the parklands.

 

[mel-world]

Property: Swisshotel, The Stamford, Singapore
Status: All Accor Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Premier, Marina Bay King with balcony
Room upgraded/type: Yes, according to reception. I did get room on the 59th Floor with the Marina Bay view.
Rate: It was Christmas Day so rates started high but eventually found a Stay Plus offering at SGD473 for 2 nights.
Early check in/late out: Not required
Free internet: Yes and Chromecast
Free breakfast: Yes, but go early to miss the queues that start around 0800. I was warned at reception that, due to the holidays, the Lounge would be packed for breakfast so did not even try it on the two days I was there. Did not get a coffee.
Welcome drink: As I had rebooked this room for a lower rate, the drink amenity did not show on the App but voucher freely given at reception. I got a top shelf G&T with voucher.
Welcome amenity: A Christmas gift and Christmas Cake - just a taste.
Recommend: I really liked this hotel - better than the Fairmont that I tried last year, although the rooms were similar. Check-in was via a terminal but I had someone to assist me. Marked down due to only a STUB in the Room.

Hotel was exceptionally busy with so many people checking out on Boxing Day morning.

If you got to the Lounge on the 75th Floor early, the snacks and drinks offerings were excellent after a busy day out and about in Singapore. A bit over my budget but worth it if you can use a Stay Plus night (and you don't have a significant birthday every day).


View from Room 5952

Check Out - Boxing Day

They love Christmas in Singapore - tree in Lounge.

A couple of shots from a early morning walk thru Gardens by the Bay:

 

[mel-world]

Property: The Silveri Hotel Hong Kong, McGallery Collection, Tung Chung, Lantau Island
Status: All Accor Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Classic Room, Urban Oasis view.
Room upgraded/type: Yes to a room with a view out to sea and the airport.
Rate: Rates over Christmas were ridiculous for the limited Accor offerings in HKG. Having lived there, I thought I would try this hotel near the airport. HKD3800 (AUD726) - two nights.
Early check in/late out: Not required
Free internet: Yes - very satisfactory
Free breakfast: Yes, including an egg station. Mainly catering for a Chinese market but plenty of options. I went early so plenty of room. Any type of tea or coffee could be ordered.
Welcome drink: Did not use as the Lounge was next door to the only Bar on the 9th Floor - reception level.

Recommend:

I'm not sure; but after writing notes below, probably not unless you want to be near the airport.

It was not located in Central or TST but close to the airport and a train to town. I did not find this an issue. I have lived in, and visited, HKG many times so was looking for an Accor a bit cheaper than city prices. The location was a bit inconvenient if you were in a hurry or wanted to maximise sightseeing. There is a free shuttle every 30mins to the airport - they sent pick up directions and a timetable by email before I arrived.

On the other hand, you had to negotiate a shopping centre to reach the Hotel from the MTR station - reception was on the 9th F but my room was on the 6th so you had to go up the the 9th, change lifts and then go down to the shopping centre on Level 3. Super Inconvenient. The Novotel nearby probably a better option.

The Lounge nothing to write home about. Very limited food and drink options during Happy Hour but not crowded - don't bother. Not open for Breakfast.

Room layout a bit strange with the basin in the room and separated from the rest of the bathroom - that did include a walk-in shower. Plus the power switch for the blackout curtains almost impossible to find - I tried every switch in the room - none of them marked.



Pity about the building site - but this is Hong Kong

 

[Captain Halliday]

Property: Novotel Suites Wien City Donau
Status: All Accor Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Junior Family Suite (King + sofa bed)
Room upgraded/type: No
Rate: Member rate ~AUD425/night.
Early check in/late out: Not required.
Free internet: Yes.
Free breakfast: Yes. See notes
Welcome drink: x3. House beer, wine and soft drink.
Welcome amenity: Novotel branded pencil case.
Recommend: No.

This is effectively an Ibis with Novotel branding.

Check-in was fast and efficient and our room was large with a comfortable bed. It had a small moulded bathroom similar to what you’d find in a budget Ibis. We requested an extra pillow and coat hangers. These never came.

The microwave in our room was broken. We were told that because it was a weekend, no maintenance staff were available to look at it. That’s fair enough. But the front desk staff were unable to bring a microwave from another room because “only maintenance staff can unplug appliances”. As a result we had to pack and move rooms. A major hassle, especially as we couldn’t change rooms directly and had to store our luggage for a day.

Staff were unfamiliar with Accor status benefits and had to consult a manager before granting weekend breakfast. The range at the breakfast buffet was consistent with other Novotel properties with a selection of hot and cold options. No barista coffee is available. However, there is insufficient seating leading to long wait times for a table. The buffet is also poorly laid out leading to congestion in walkways.

Location is close to a metro station and the price was cheaper than other mid-tier Accor properties in Vienna, perhaps reflecting both the location, rooms and service.

Pros

• Comfortable bed, good size room.
• One block to metro.
• Stable wifi with good speeds.

Cons

• Basic bathroom.
• Poor service with staff not guest focussed.
• Chaotic breakfast.
• Pets allowed = Barking dog at night.
• Slow lifts.

Overall
Expect an Ibis at a Novotel price and you won’t be disappointed.

 

[BEH]

Property: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains - McGallery Collection
Status: All Accor Explorer Gold
Room booked: Superior Room King Bed
Room upgraded/type: No
Rate: All Accor+ Explorer Red Hot Rooms, $206 AUD a night
Early check in/late out: Checkin at 12:30PM
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: No
Welcome drink: Yes, however app stated “welcome drink not available for stay”, had to talk to front desk to resolve
Welcome amenity: Yes - bottle of hunter valley wine and welcome note
Recommend: For the price yes, however property is quite run down and needs refurbishment. Service from staff was 10/10

 

[RooFlyer]

Looking to book the Sofitel Wentworth, Sydney. Classic and luxury rooms are described as having 'Bath'. Superior room described as 'bath/shower combination'. Detailed descriptions of all are the same including 'flexible shower head').

So I called to ask what those meant. After a while, the agent decided that the first 2 have a bath only while the bath/shower combo meant it had a bath and a walk-in shower. I mentioned that I hadn't heard of an Australian hotel room without a shower in many years, but the agent was unmoved.

 

[jc14]

Property: Ibis Styles Frankfurt City
Status: All Accor Explorer Platnium
Room booked: 2x Standard Room with one double bed
Room upgraded/type: N/A
Rate: All Accor+ Explorer 15% off saver rate
Early check in/late out: Early check in not required. Late check out at 1pm granted
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: N/A
Welcome drink: Yes, received 6x drink vouchers (2x via app and another 4x via paper vouchers). Could be redeemed for beer, wine, soft drink or tea/coffee
Welcome amenity: N/A
Recommend: For a one night stay yes but would not recommend for any longer. I would rate this hotel as "ibis budget" quality, room is very small and hotel quite dated with no "ibis style" feel/ambience. Hotel is non smoking however can smell smoke in room and in common areas.
Also the location of the hotel is a bit sketchy especially when walking from Frankfurt HBF.

Be aware of the additional €2 per person per night “city tax”. Thought all fees and taxes were prepaid upon booking however this is an additional tax that is collected upon check in.

 

[Tlee]

Looking to book the Sofitel Wentworth, Sydney. Classic and luxury rooms are described as having 'Bath'. Superior room described as 'bath/shower combination'. Detailed descriptions of all are the same including 'flexible shower head').

So I called to ask what those meant. After a while, the agent decided that the first 2 have a bath only while the bath/shower combo meant it had a bath and a walk-in shower. I mentioned that I hadn't heard of an Australian hotel room without a shower in many years, but the agent was unmoved.

Luxury Accommodation in Sydney CBD

Welcome to Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Sydney’s iconic first 5-star hotel in Australia, located in the heart of Sydney's CBD amidst the bustling business and shopping districts with 436 luxury rooms and suites.

www.sofitelsydney.com.au

There are some Google Street View style photos for each type of the room.
I got upgraded to one of the luxury rooms last May - not really impressed though.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Property: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains - McGallery Collection
Recommend: For the price yes, however property is quite run down and needs refurbishment. Service from staff was 10/10

Completely agree with you having stayed at that property a couple of years ago and now having stayed at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto (my 2nd Fairmont property). My room looks like it was stuck in the 90s, and keep in mind I was Accor Platinum at the time, so there was every good reason for the Fairmont Blue Mountain to put me in the nicest room they could arrange given my rate. The Fairmont Royal York, by contrast, was elegant and quite spacious (albeit some of that may have to do with the SNUs applied).

Property: Ibis Styles Frankfurt City
Recommend: For a one night stay yes but would not recommend for any longer. I would rate this hotel as "ibis budget" quality, room is very small and hotel quite dated with no "ibis style" feel/ambience.

Between the ibis Styles Frankfurt City and the Mercure Frankfurt Messe, the Mercure was the much nicer hotel, there is no comparison there. Spacious and well appointed rooms and the price difference was minimal (I believe something like 5 Euros per night). Certainly worth a consideration the next time you're in the Frankfurt area and are on a budget.

Hotel is non smoking however can smell smoke in room and in common areas.

Welcome to Germany. I absolutely hate this about the country as I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke. Although Germans love following rules (their number one sport is called Rules & Regulations), most Germans can't give up the fa_. Indeed, where I live in Germany now (Marburg), there are cigarette vending machines every 300 or 400m. It is what it is and I can't see how a hotel can "fix" this problem.

Also the location of the hotel is a bit sketchy especially when walking from Frankfurt HBF.

This is normal for Frankfurt. The German capital* is very sketchy, not just at the Hbf either. So I don't think if you spent the extra moolah and stay at, say a Sofitel you won't be spared seeing people injecting themselves on the street. The one benefit the ibis Style and the Mercure have is their proximity to the Hbf which if you are travelling regularly can be a real godsend. Indeed, I booked those hotels for a month when I moved to Germany as I wasn't sure how long it would be until I found a suitable apartment in Marburg and at around 50 Euros per night it was a decent alternative to even staying at a hotel in Marburg (prices there were closer to 100 Euros per night). However, the fact that it was a 5 minute walk to the Hbf meant each and every day I could take the train up to Marburg. And for those wondering how I could afford to commute every day between Frankfurt and Marburg there is a little thing called the Deutscheland Ticket that gives you unlimited public transit throughout Germany for 63 Euros per month (except for ICE and IC trains). Hard to beat that, even in Queensland!

Be aware of the additional €2 per person per night “city tax”. Thought all fees and taxes were prepaid upon booking however this is an additional tax that is collected upon check in.

This is common throughout Europe. Do I agree with it? Absolutely not. This is the type of drip pricing that is deceiving in my books, just as is the practice of tacking on the sales tax when you pay for something in Canada/USA.

-RooFlyer88

* The actual capital of Germany may very well be Berlin. However, if you visit Frankfurt you would quickly form the impression that Frankfurt is the capital. It's the financial capital of Germany, hosts one of the biggest airports in Europe and the biggest in Germany, and is the only German city with skyscrapers. In my book that makes it the capital.

 

[DC3]

Property: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains
Recommend: For the price yes, however property is quite run down and needs refurbishment.

I recall staying there some years back. The room was very run down and was sad for a Fairmont. The best thing was the roaring fire in the main lounge/bar area, being winter. However, I’ve heard that they’ve since dumped a restaurant in that spot.

 

[markis10]

Completely agree with you having stayed at that property a couple of years ago and now having stayed at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto (my 2nd Fairmont property). My room looks like it was stuck in the 90s, and keep in mind I was Accor Platinum at the time, so there was every good reason for the Fairmont Blue Mountain to put me in the nicest room they could arrange given my rate. The Fairmont Royal York, by contrast, was elegant and quite spacious (albeit some of that may have to do with the SNUs applied).

The Fairmont Blue Mountains has never been a part of the Fairmont Hotels group that merged with Accor a few years back and is definitely not comparable. The blue mountains property was an individual hotel brought into the fold by Dr Jerry Swartz (hence the M gallery branding Accor use when a hotel doesn’t fit its brand standards) and shares ownership with the Sofitel DH as well as Surfers Hilton amongst others. Hotels | Schwartz Family Company