How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[Daver6]

If you want champagne in a lounge Sofitel City Centre pours champagne Colette

 

[csg001]

Looks like a nice bathtub and bath. Any pictures of the local town you went exploring from the hotel through the direct entrance?

The bathtub is a nice change from the typical western-style rectangle. It reminds me of a giant noodle bowl!

The ancient town is a fairly typical water town (canals) that you see in the Yangtze River delta region of China. Apparently the town has been there for decades, but has been majorly renovated in the last 10 years to cater for tourism. There are "canal-keepers" rowing up and down daily scooping up dead foliage.

Interesting fact: The KFC in one of the below photos used to have signage in the traditional manor/temple style when it first opened, but I guess consumerism won over and it is now replaced by a brightly lit modern sign.

 

[i0sam0i]

A question for those that have stayed at Fairmonts, specifically Tokyo - Im platinum and have 2x suite night upgrades. Looking at booking for 5-6nights over NYE and trying to figure out options for rooms as it will have to be 2 separate bookings to use the SNU.
SNU will be before the year end, so for the NYE booking I have options of Tokyo Tower View, Signature Skyline View or Gold Tokyo Tower view. Gold is the only room type that provides lounge access.
Question - Is it worth paying the premium for Gold and getting the lounge, especially with a 7yr daughter? Im thinking it would/could be a nice way to see in the new year?

 

[jase05]

A question for those that have stayed at Fairmonts, specifically Tokyo - Im platinum and have 2x suite night upgrades. Looking at booking for 5-6nights over NYE and trying to figure out options for rooms as it will have to be 2 separate bookings to use the SNU.
SNU will be before the year end, so for the NYE booking I have options of Tokyo Tower View, Signature Skyline View or Gold Tokyo Tower view. Gold is the only room type that provides lounge access.
Question - Is it worth paying the premium for Gold and getting the lounge, especially with a 7yr daughter? Im thinking it would/could be a nice way to see in the new year?

Only you can determine if the price is worth it.
Have only stayed at around a dozen Fairmonts and for the ones that have lounges they are a great space and often quiet as it’s a bit more exclusive. Some lounges have great views and the food is pretty good. Tokyo Fairmont looks real nice and whilst I don’t know what the price difference is I would say I’d pay it if I didn’t have lounge access

 

[kileskus]

Property: Swissôtel Tashkent
Status: Explorer+ gold
Room booked: Swiss advantage king (base)
Room upgraded/type: no
Rate: non-refundable advance booking, $270 for the night
Early check in/late out: neither needed
Free internet: yes
Free breakfast: no
Welcome drink: non-alcoholic only so of no interest to me
Welcome amenity: a lot of sweet bites
Recommend: yes




Stayed here for one night just to try it out.

Location central in sense it's close to the Amir Temur square, but is fairly far from the main mosque complex and the Chorsu bazaar which might be better atmosphere for some people at night, but Yandex Go can get you anywhere.

Check-in was slow but staff were friendly, gave all the information needed without prompting and proactively offered concierge service.



The welcome gift I received was far more susbtantial than I expected, especially for gold. I hadn't booked a rate with breakfast so these snacks served as my breakfast. Quite nicely presented, although very high on the sugar side. My only issue this stay was that they had a kettle and coffee pod machine but didn't provide the pods or any instant coffee sachets.



Gym is spacious and even has a bench press set, so when not busy can just take the bar off and use it for other lifts. A good range of machines and free weights (dumbbells and plates), and apples and chilled towels available.

I didn't check out the spa, although there is a comprehensive-looking spa menu. Private hammam experiences start at about $200.

Didn't check out the restaurant either. The bar was open 24/7, had most classic coughtails and spirits at western prices, and even a cigar menu. Drinks voucher was only useable for non-alcoholic drinks for gold, platinum gets beers and basic wines and diamond get spirits.


There's a reading lounge with a range of English-language books too.

There's an executive lounge too but I didn't have access.

Overall, for having all the western comforts it was a pretty good given the rate. Would recommend, especially if you have a few days in Tashkent and plan to take it slow.