How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[Seat0B]

Congratulations on your marriage @ant-au

 

[rake]

Property: Raffles Udaipur
Status: Explorer+ Diamond
Room booked: Manor Suite
Room upgraded/type: Yes , one category upgrade to Oasis Suite
Rate: A$2700 for 3 nights
Early check in/late out: Requested late checkout of 5.30pm, was offered and moved to a non-suite room at 12 noon.
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes - 1x coupon on app (didn't use)
Welcome amenity: Collection of local sweets for adults. Candies and marshmallows for kids. Several souvenirs during the stay for us to take back.

We recently stayed at Raffles Udaipur and had a generally wonderful experience. Stunning architecture, pristine grounds and exceptional comfort. It is an exquisite property with world-class amenities, though some luxury service details need refinement.

The Oasis Suite was gorgeous, spacious and offered a peaceful view, contributing to some of the most restful sleep we've had in a luxury hotel. The butler and housekeeping teams truly went above and beyond with thoughtful surprises, and the overall quality of the dining outlets was impressive. We also deeply appreciated the family-friendly touches, such as complimentary children's meals.

While the physical property is breathtaking, a few service touchpoints fell slightly short of standard luxury expectations. The check-in and arrival process felt a bit disjointed with multiple handoffs, and dining flexibility was restricted. Additionally, service at times leaned a bit transactional rather than intuitive. Pre-arrival communication regarding transfer details could be handled with more secure, official channels.

Overall, it is a magnificent island sanctuary with incredible potential. With a bit more attention to seamless guest coordination and personalised luxury touches, it can easily live up to its name.

 

[Duffa]

Property: Sofitel Melbourne
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Superior Room (Base)
Room upgraded/type: Yes, to Prestige Suite Club Sofitel (corner suite)
Rate: Accor+ Explorer 15% off non-refundable rate. Stay Plus used, $306 for 2 nights
Early check in/late out: Not offered - not required
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Yes, in Club lounge or buffet restaurant
Welcome drink: Yes, at Atrium Bar Level 35
Welcome amenity: Bottle of red wine.
Recommend: Yes!

Arrived at 3 pm, check-in was very straightforward as the desk was empty. Very pleasant host offered an upgrade to the prestige suite which is the largest room on the floor with fantastic views of the bay, St Kilda Road arts centre and just around the corner, the MCG. Have already been to the Club Sofitel for tea and coffee which were served to us by very attentive staff. Going back for pre-theatre drinks and canapés .

 

[goldenhorn]

Property: Swissôtel Nankai Osaka
Status: Accor Platinum (Accor Plus)
Room booked: Swiss Advantage Queen (base room)
Room upgraded/type: Initially Swiss Advantage Select, then Swiss Select King after complaining (15th floor)
Rate: AUD $445 for 2 nights (second night on an Accor Plus free night)
Early check in/late out: Not needed. Arrived late and had a flight to catch on departure.
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Yes, lounge or level 36.
Welcome drink: Level 36, wine, beer, coughtail of the day or a decent French sparkling
Welcome amenity: Cream cake for my partner's 70th birthday, some jelly sweets, an apple and kiwi

We arrived at 11:30pm after a long day travelling (and drinking) from Singapore. I was not in the right frame of mind and not across the usual assessment of the room given at check in.

On a previous stay here as a Gold member 2 years ago, I asked at check-in about paying for lounge access and was simply upgraded to an executive room for free, so I assumed a similar upgrade as Platinum. Big mistake. We were given a tiny room on the 15th floor of a 36-floor hotel, with a queen bed pushed against the wall and a car park view. I know that Platinum only guarantees a one-category upgrade, but this was apparently our upgrade from Advantage to Select, and it was woeful. I can't imagine what the room below it would have been like.

After a lot of back and forth with the front desk, we were told no executive rooms were available, even though they were showing in the app. They moved us to a king room on the same floor. Bigger bed and not wedged into a corner, but still a low floor. Since becoming Platinum I've never been put on a low floor; it's always been one of the highest. We couldn't be bothered moving again the next day.

On the positive side, service was efficient as you'd expect in Japan. Breakfast on level 36 is very impressive with fantastic views of Osaka, but go early as it gets very crowded. 7:30am was fine. Don't bother with the executive lounge for breakfast - it was a tiny selection.

The lounge in the evening was quite nice. It's very small so get there early, but it never got completely crowded. Staff were efficient and kept food topped up. Self-serve Roku gin, beer, wine and French sparkling, plus a tasty spread of appetisers. Not a meal, but well presented.

We're back for one night next week. I've booked the base room again but requested a high floor and king bed before leaving. We'll see what they come up with, but overall very disappointed with how we were treated as Platinum members.

Update: We returned for one night a week later. Before leaving the first time, I'd requested a high floor and king bed, and they delivered: a Select King on the 25th floor, their newly renovated level.

Much better view, bigger room, and we were very happy with it. The hotel has redeemed itself. Lesson learned: even as a Platinum member, I'll be requesting a high floor and king bed (and a walk in shower - no shower/bath combos!) before every Accor stay.

 

[goldenhorn]

Property: Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore
Status: Accor Plus / ALL Platinum (not recognised at check-in)
Room booked: Base room
Room upgraded/type: Executive King, 63rd floor, Marina Bay Sands view
Rate: AUD $1,085 full flexible for two nights
Early check-in/late checkout: Not required. Arrived late after a 4-hour tech delay on the tarmac in Brisbane. Late checkout unavailable as the hotel was full, which was fine as we had a flight.
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Yes. Had in lounge both days. Very good quality. Singapore omelette was excellent.
Welcome drink: Excellent. Any drink or coughtail up to SGD $35 at SKAI restaurant on floor 70. We had Pommery champagne with amazing views over Marina Bay Sands. The best welcome drink I've had at any Accor property.
Welcome amenity: Plate of grapes, plus a mousse cake for my partner's 70th birthday, a lovely touch.


Overall I was disappointed with our first stay. I'd heard so much hype about this hotel, but it was absolutely packed and we were constantly waiting for lifts. Possibly the F1 the following week added to the crowds, and the city was very busy.

It didn't help that smoke from fires in Borneo blanketed the city for both days we were there.

The lounge does food well. Mostly quality options, and the live cooking station is a nice touch. Drinks, however, are subpar: very average beer and wine, and self-serve vodka and gin that's bottom-shelf. Is it really that hard just to have a decent bottle of sparkling wine to elevate the experience? The lounge also felt frantic, especially right at the 5:30pm opening, which was unpleasant.

Maybe my expectations are too high, but I'm over crowded lounges with people rushing for food and drink like pigs at a trough. We arrived at 5:20 pm one evening and people were already diving into the food and drinks as they’re being laid out by staff. One guest next to us had 20 blackberries on their plate, wiping out the selection for everyone else. Pure greed.

There’s no doubt that the MBS views are panoramic and spectacular, but overall, it felt like a soulless hotel to me.

We're back next week (after the F1 is over), having used a Suite Night Upgrade to book a Signature Suite (I believe a larger room with a lounge rather than a true suite), so I'll report back on whether the second stay changes my impression.




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Property: Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore
Status: Accor Plus / ALL Platinum
Room booked: Signature Suite (2 SNU) $915 for 2 nights, no refundable
Early check-in/late checkout: got a 1pm check in. Didn’t use late checkout.
Welcome drink: Pommery Champagne, SKAI Restaurant
Welcome amenity: initially nothing in the room. I had to ring down to ask for the welcome amenity. Came a few hours later - plate of grapes

Update: second stay, 2 weeks later

I wasn't thrilled to be on level 38 in a 70-floor building. Overall, the Signature Suite was underwhelming. Yes, it's bigger and the bathroom is further from the bed, but it's not a true suite with a separate room. It's simply an area next to the bed with a chaise lounge, a large TV and a desk behind. It felt like a poor use of my SNUs.

The lounge was more pleasant this time and far less frantic. Breakfast was very relaxed, with at least 50% fewer people than 2 weeks ago, so timing clearly makes a big difference here.

The stay was further let down by the smoke haze, which was even worse than 2 weeks ago. We basically spent two days inside the hotel and shopping malls to escape the putrid air. Very unfortunate timing.

This is a fine hotel to stay at in Singapore, but I'm sure there are better options outside of Accor.

I'll reach Diamond after this stay, so next time I'd like to try the Fairmont and its lounge, which I've heard is significantly better and more exclusive. Most importantly, I believe they serve champagne.