How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[jase05]

Mostly undercover

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Guests of the hotel have designated floors that are undercover though

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Property: Sails in the Desert
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Superior Room
Room upgraded/type: No
Rate: A$1828 for 3 nights, booked (inclusive of ALL Accor Plus 15% discount) - no breakfast inclusion as part of the rate but got one as a Platinum member.
Early check in/late out: Not requested, but we did arrive at 2pm and the room was not going to be ready until the guaranteed checkin time of 3pm.
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes - 3x paper based coupon (they didn't accept the one on the app)
Welcome amenity: 1x Wine bottle, 1x still water, 1x sparkling water.

This was a personal travel with family. The hotel has a very relaxed vibe in the lobby/restaurant area with high ceiling and "woven basket" lanterns suspended from roof lightly swaying. For a property that opened in 1984, it is in a fantastic condition. There is absolutely nothing I can pinpoint as being sub par. The staff is a very diverse young one. I was actually surprised by the variety and quality of food (including desserts) that was at the hotel. I had tempered my expectations given the location, but the hotel exceeded all of them. In particular, I appreciate there being a complimentary filtered water station which meant we never went to local IGA.

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That carpet looks like someone was murdered in the room and they dragged the body across the floor.

 

[k_sheep]

Property: Novotel Miami Brickell
Status: Platinum Explorer
Rate: Base - usd 136
Room booked: Base
Room upgraded/type: ... don't think so?
Early check in/late out: No. Walked in at 11ish, said happy to drop bags. They said they would WhatsApp when room ready. Went back at 3pm after no news - yes rooms ready, no notification.
Welcome drink: Yes. Rooftop bar. Average wine or beer.
Welcome amenity: Yes. Choc "flavoured" almonds.
Recommend: No.

An involuntary stop in the USA meant we had to overnight in MIA. Public transport okay (it was our goal to spend as little USD in the LOTFAP). Do NOT rely on the free trolley - they just plain don't turn up, when they do they refuse entry (it looked like they were on a quiet strike).

Miami is horrible. Just don't.

 

[k_sheep]

Property: Novotel Casablanca
Status: Platinum Explorer
Rate: ~$90 AUD per night (3 nights)
Room booked: Base
Room upgraded/type: Sea view, 17th floor.
Early check in/late out: Early check in, room was available in the morning around noon. Late not asked or required.
Welcome drink: Yes. Beer, wine, non alcoholic. Surprisingly decent white wine ( tasted pinto grigio but I didn't ask).
Welcome amenity: Yes - plate of fruit (peach, ENORMOUS nectarine, apple, pear, 3x baked sweets, almonds, dried fruit).
Recommend: Absolutely.

This is the perfect location - there is an Ibis, a novotel and sofitel in the same block. Pick your level. Absolutely perfect location - direct train from the airport (60 MAD, about $9 aud or bus 50 MAD) with direct access to trams or busses to all the tourist sites. Took the number 5 bus multiple times (5 MAD pp, less than 1 AUD) and tram (6 MAD with card, 8 without). Express trains to Rabat / Tangier across the road.

Currently undergoing renovations which makes it a bit rustic. Reception has moved. Lifts appear random (buttons appear to be cross wired - press up and the down button lights up). Construction everywhere, but you can't hear a peep in the room. Minor beef - housekeeping took away our soap each time and didn't replenish it. One day only 1 coffee pod replenished, one day 2. Shrug. Power point only on one side of bed. Shower had good pressure but was lukewarm.

 

[Holiday.with.Ken]

Property: Fairmont Century Plaza Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
Room upgraded/type: Signature one-bedroom corner suite (90m2).
Early check in/late out: Early check in not needed. 4pm check-out accepted.
Welcome amenity: A bottle of red wine and welcome cards.
Recommend: Absolutely.

Signature one-bedroom corner suite (90m2) has 3 private balconies and beautiful sunset view! Also enjoyed the daily breakfast ordered via the in-room dining service. Visited the restaurant once for breakfast and they served high quality a la carte menu, great services, and most importantly it was not crowed.

 

[rake]

Property: Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne On Spencer
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Superior Room with King Bed
Room upgraded/type: Yes , one category upgrade to Deluxe King Room
Rate: A$470 for 2 nights
Early check in/late out: Neither requested, nor offered.
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes - 1x coupon on app
Welcome amenity: 1x Bag of white chocolate coated almonds.

Accor says this hotel is 5*, but I'd say this is more 4* vibe. The beds are comfortable, the bathrooms feel newish so the fittings and the water pressures are all great. Not. big fan of the "open wardrobe", but at least it's there. Also not a fan that most rooms in this hotel do not have a proper work desk. Overall good value option given the location.

Best part of the hotel for me is the restaurant downstairs - Miss Mi. With the Explorer discount, a three course typically costs around $60. The service is top-notch, the food delicious (specially the kangaroo skewers and beef rendang).

In the past I had my rooms changed not to be facing the streets on the tram as the sound proofing isn't the best.

 

[Cloud9]

Property: Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne On Spencer
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Superior Room with King Bed
Room upgraded/type: Yes , one category upgrade to Deluxe King Room
Rate: A$470 for 2 nights
Early check in/late out: Neither requested, nor offered.
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes - 1x coupon on app
Welcome amenity: 1x Bag of white chocolate coated almonds.

Accor says this hotel is 5*, but I'd say this is more 4* vibe. The beds are comfortable, the bathrooms feel newish so the fittings and the water pressures are all great. Not. big fan of the "open wardrobe", but at least it's there. Also not a fan that most rooms in this hotel do not have a proper work desk. Overall good value option given the location.

Best part of the hotel for me is the restaurant downstairs - Miss Mi. With the Explorer discount, a three course typically costs around $60. The service is top-notch, the food delicious (specially the kangaroo skewers and beef rendang).

In the past I had my rooms changed not to be facing the streets on the tram as the sound proofing isn't the best.

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Surprised they've changed the details to say 5 star. I thought I'd only ever seen it in the app as 4.5. (Although amusingly, just went in to take a peek and they do indeed have five stars beside it). I'd say round it down if it's not a true five star.

Miss Mi's very good for a meal, but totally agree that this is more of a four star venue in truth.

The suites are nice. But really weird. Bathrooms are arguably way too big, and the bedroom/lounge area could use a proper divider. Just feels too open.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm staying at Peppers Cradle Mtn Lodge (Tas) next week and will have some interstate family with me for a day and I'll take them to lunch at the bistro (party of 8).

Call this morning - voice menu says no need for reservations at bistro, but because we are 8, I wanted to be sure of seating/timing, I continued on the call for dining reservations. No answer in 10 minutes with an irritating 'thank you for holding' message every 20 seconds

So I send email to reservations@ .... to book. No reply confirmation (or otherwise) by this afternoon, so I call. Again, not answered.

So I call and choose front desk. Explain that I want to make a reservation, etc. Turns out there is no-one at reservations today - at all. "They've been very busy all week, and the person on today is sick .." So no-one to speak to, at all? No. I testily suggested that maybe they might change their voice menu or at least have someone answer e-mails. I asked to speak to a manager type. "I'm not sure if he's here ..." Goes off, comes back a few minutes later and says they will make reservation for me, but the GM is away, until next week. The maintenance manager is in charge.

Yes, I would like the GM to call me back whenever he turns up.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Hotel: SO/Auckland
Status: Accor + Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Collection King
Room upgrade: Yes to Studio King - higher floor and bigger room.
Rate: Initially booked via Accor app at $230 pn = $923
Fora Agent was able to offer HERA rate, one free night and USD100 credit, could be used on F&B, Spa etc = $775 for 4 nights.
Early Check-in : not required
Late Check-out: granted 12 md
Free Breakfast: Yes in Harbour Society restaurant
Free wifi: Yes
Welcome drink: Dropped from my App as reservation was changed to HERA rate via Fora agent.
Front desk staff member arranged for 2 free drinks for 3 nights to use in Harbour Society and Rooftop Bar HI-SO ( not open on Sun/Mon)
Welcome amenity: Chocolates, Birthday card and birthday cake


Recommend:  Yes
Executive Lounge (Club Signature)

Canapes and drinks nightly from 5-8 pm
Staff pour but proactive top ups
Good array of food, Cheeses, Charcuterie, 2 - 3 hot dishes ( pork belly/ steak slices) Dumplings, salads, desserts.
My only feedback was the hot dishes were luke warm (no heating lights or hot plate)


It was only busy on the Friday night, it is a small space maybe seats ~35 but there is an upstairs terrace ( no food, just seating)

 

[mel-world]

Hotel: Pullman Sydney Airport
Status: Accor + Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Superior King - 2 x 1 night at either end of our recent trip to Japan
Room upgrade: Deluxe Corner King (at start of holiday), No upgrade really at end of trip, maybe a higher floor.
Rate: $199 - first night, $262 ($62 + 6000 points), second night.
Early Check-in : not required
Late Check-out: Not required
Free Breakfast: Yes, substantial hot breakfast - would have cost A$82 for the two of us - but used vouchers each time.
Free wifi: Yes
Welcome drink: Used App. List of available drinks behind Bar so must have a lot of requests. Found the list quite acceptable. Better than Novotel nearer T1.
Welcome amenity: Chocolate covered nuts
Recommend: Yes, if needing something close to the airport and the price acceptable - varies a lot.

Just stayed there as had to overnight both ends of our holiday. This Hotel has been reviewed previously so nothing much more to add except I did not like the bathroom set-up with it open to the room so no privacy. No hanging hook in shower so had to step into room to get towel.

Otherwise staff courteous and location fine. Bar can get busy at night. Just used local 350 bus to and from T3 and then inter-terminal bus to and from T1. About a 7 min walk from Mascot train if you want to spend the money to get to T1 but easy to get to city for dinner.

 

[mel-world]

Hotel: Hotel Sosei Sapporo - MGallery Collection
Status: Accor + Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Standard Deluxe (I believe)
Room upgrade: Executive Deluxe, Executive Privilege, King - 39sm - large for Japan
Rate: 3 nights including 1 x Stay Plus night + 68k Yen
Early Check-in : Not required
Late Check-out: Not required
Free Breakfast: Yes, cooked hot breakfast
Free wifi: Yes
Welcome drink: Used App. but not really required after access to afternoon tea and evening canapes everyday with any drinks included on each occasion
Recommend: Yes, most definitely. There are not many Accor properties in Japan, especially outside Tokyo; this one exceeded our expectations.

We would not normally book a high end hotel while on holidays but the rate was not excessive and it offered a Stay+ option. We do book some months in advance to lock in the rate then check the rate again closer to the stay.

The outside of the Hotel was uninspiring and initially, our top floor room seemed rather dark but the whole property was very tastefully furnished and the staff were just so accommodating and professional that we did spend a bit too much time enjoying the hotel when we should have been sightseeing.

I did like the 'wet-room' concept with the bath and shower in the same room. This was common at many of the Hotels we stayed at.

The location is 15 mins from Sapporo station so an easy walk to downtown and restaurants or to the station. You probably do need a car to see the best of Hokkaido but we don't drive overseas anymore.

I'd highly recommend this property if you are exploring northern Japan.

 

[MELso]

Hotel: Pullman Tokyo Tamachi
Status: Accor+ Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Superior room with a king sized bed
Room upgrade: Not as far as I could tell
Rate: $1020 for three nights, including a Stay Plus voucher
Early Check-in : Not required
Late Check-out: Not required
Free Breakfast: Yes. Decent spread with cooked-to-order eggs, waffles and pancakes, and barista coffee.
Free wifi: Yes
Welcome drink: Yes. Had a beer at the lounge bar. Photo of the options below.
Welcome amenity: A bottle of green tea, ginger crisp thingies, canales (I'd left two to consume on the second night with my coffee but they were whisked away, so the pro-tip is to eat them all on the first day).
Recommend: Yes, definitely. I had a comfortable stay here, and it was one train from NRT. The only quibble I had was the quality of the food in the lounge during canape hour.

Stayed here for three nights after the end of my cruise and it was very comfortable. It was close to Mita station, so was one train from Narita airport, while Tamachi got you to Haneda easily. Add to this close proximity to many sights and it was well located.

The room was substantial and had a walk-in show (a distinct improvement over the Swissotel in Osaka which was shower-over-bath.

The executive lounge was a mixed bag, with pluses being beer on tap, decent afternoon tea and no crowding, but the downside was the mediocre food spread.

Breakfast offered a fairly decent spead, including cooked-to-order eggs and rotating hot and cold items (including excellent tempura shrimp).

They also gifted me a bottle of sake for my 50th birthday.

All up then, for the price I paid, this was a great way to spend a few nights in Tokyo.

 

[MELso]

Hotel: Mercure Tokyo Haneda
Status: Accor+ Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Superior room with a king sized bed
Room upgrade: Not as far as I could tell To a Privilege room
Rate: 18,700 yen, less 4,000 points so came to $37.
Early Check-in : Not required
Late Check-out: Not required
Free Breakfast: Yes, but did not avail myself of it.
Free wifi: Yes
Welcome drink: Yes. Had a coughtail at the bar, before launching into a (paid) whisky flight.
Welcome amenity: Rice crackers, mineral water, mini bar.
Recommend: Yes, definitely. A free shuttle to Haneda was the icing on the cake of one of the best airport hotels I've stayed in.

A great one night stay before my flight to Sydney.

A comfortable bed, dedicated shower, free minibar (with beer) and decent bar made for a comfortable stay. The shuttle to the airport was also efficient.

A highlight was a whisky flight, which offered (among other things) tastings of Hibiki blender's choice and 21 for just over $50.

 

[mel-world]

Hotel: Pullman Tokyo Tamachi
Status: Accor+ Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Superior room with a king sized bed
Room upgrade: Not as far as I could tell
Rate: $1020 for three nights, including a Stay Plus voucher

I was busy composing a similar report for the same property so, thanks MELso for saving me some time.

My Rate: $456 for two nights, including a Stay Plus voucher.

My only other comment regards the option for an upgraded room or immediate check-in.

We arrived around 1030 after a quick Shinkansen ride from Koryiama. Our upgraded room was not ready so we could leave the luggage but was offered a check-in to the room we had booked after a 10-min wait in the Lounge. MrsMW will always take the immediate check-in if possible. For a two night stay when most of our time was spent sightseeing, the standard of the room is of marginal benefit to us. YMMV.

Convenient location, very handy for transport options, as mentioned above, and the staff were excellent. A 7000 yen taxi to HND for the early flight to SYD.

Edited to take out the extra 0!!

 

[markis10]

A 70000 yen taxi to HND for the early flight to SYD

Hope you put an extra digit in there otherwise that’s one expensive taxi ride at $625AUD

 

[sudoer]

Hope you put an extra digit in there otherwise that’s one expensive taxi ride at $625AUD

That's definitely an extra digit.

 

[sudoer]

Room upgrade: Not as far as I could tell

The floorboards with blue carpet is a Privilege room, which is an upgrade from the Superior category. These are on a high floor, have nespresso machine and free minibar. The bathtub is also potentially an upgrade, depending on what you booked - some rooms are shower only.

 

[serfty]

The floorboards with blue carpet is a Privilege room, which is an upgrade from the Superior category. These are on a high floor, have nespresso machine and free minibar. The bathtub is also potentially an upgrade, depending on what you booked - some rooms are shower only.

Yes, rooms with bathtubs are generally sold at a premium in Japan.