Please help me choose a hotel

[MatF]

Hi guys,

I spend every second week in Brisbane for work. My employer organises the accommodation, but I have some ability to decide where I stay, within a rough budget of around $180/night.

Our office was up near Spring Hill, and I used to stay at Mantra on Queen (which was OK, but certainly nothing special). However, our office has now moved down into the CBD.

I've been staying at the Sebel, which is extremely convenient, but it would make some sense to stay somewhere with a loyalty program. The Hilton would be excellent, but it's out of my price range unfortunately.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I guess the Marriot is an option, but may also be a bit too expensive, and is a bit out of the way.


Thanks,
Mat.

 

[Mal]

Brisbane and "good" accommodation (while around $180 / night) isn't that compatible.

Just about everything is run down, way beyond time for a refurb and similar. There just isn't the competition.

And loyalty schemes ... well, you need brands that participate to actually get any benefit.

Holiday Inn will generally fit into your budget, but the rooms are nothing special. Mercure might fit into the budget, but rooms aren't that great (still better than most other hotels though). Sofitel won't be in budget, but doesn't participate in A-Club anyway. I don't recommend the IBIS.

 

[munitalP]

Hi guys,

I spend every second week in Brisbane for work. My employer organises the accommodation, but I have some ability to decide where I stay, within a rough budget of around $180/night.

Our office was up near Spring Hill, and I used to stay at Mantra on Queen (which was OK, but certainly nothing special). However, our office has now moved down into the CBD.

I've been staying at the Sebel, which is extremely convenient, but it would make some sense to stay somewhere with a loyalty program. The Hilton would be excellent, but it's out of my price range unfortunately.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I guess the Marriot is an option, but may also be a bit too expensive, and is a bit out of the way.


Thanks,
Mat.

Rydges South Bank. Easy access to train, excellent loyalty programme although somewhat limited to hotels worldwide. 10 Stays - 1 free night. 15-20 stays, Platinum, 50% off food & drinks. Award nights - room available, award available - 150 points.

Rydges has been my hotel chain of choice for quite a few years, you will meet your budget mid week (forget Fridays!) and it wont take long to get to Platinum as I have been for 3-4 years and make the most of huge discounts - just ask the last Sydney drinks crew! (we drunk the bar bry of Veurve)

Oh, even as a newby, you will get 25% off food and drinks as well.

 

[Mal]

Rydges has been my hotel chain of choice for quite a few years, you will meet your budget mid week (forget Fridays!)

Not a hope with Rydges Southbank rateswise. Nice hotel, although a marked a star above it's true rating. Week nights tend to start at $190 and keep going up from there - especially if there is a conference in town. On average, I think the rate is about $250+ during the week.

Unless you get a good corporate discount...

 

[markis10]

The Sebel has a loyalty program, GHA, pretty hard to find anywhere else for that sort of money!

 

[MatF]

The Sebel has a loyalty program, GHA, pretty hard to find anywhere else for that sort of money!

Well, bugger me. There you go

That might do the job. Cheers!

 

[munitalP]

Not a hope with Rydges Southbank rateswise. Nice hotel, although a marked a star above it's true rating. Week nights tend to start at $190 and keep going up from there - especially if there is a conference in town. On average, I think the rate is about $250+ during the week.

Unless you get a good corporate discount...

Never paid more than $180 for a room there - obviously prices have gone up or our corp discount is quite good

Its not worth more than $180 either IMHO!

 

[MatF]

Thanks guys. I've enrolled in the GHA discovery program, though it doesn't look like there's a whole lot of benefit there.

I'll check out Rydges Southbank. We might get a decent corp discount there, so it's worth a try.


Cheers,
Mat.

 

[futaris]

Chiefly at Lennons on Queen has a loyalty program shared with Country Comfort, etc.

 

[MatF]

Well, I joined GHA and have settled on the Sebel as my regular - but they had no rooms at our corporate rate this week, so I'm at the Hilton trying out my newfound Diamond Elite membership (thanks to VA's status match) ... and I could definitely get used to this.

Our corporate rate here is actually pretty good, and includes breakfast. I might have to see if I can negotiate a rate without breakfast, which would get me pretty close to my budget - and since I've opted for the executive room upgrade as my default choice under Diamond, breakfast is included anyway.

I probably have Buckley's though.

 

[quark]

GHA isn't bad once you reach platinum (won't take that long). They upgrade you and give you a bottle of wine. I always stay at the Sebel when in Adelaide, and it is by far one of the best hotels I stay in (and I stay in a lot).

 

[JohnK]

Personally I feel accommodation in Brisbane is a little overpriced especially for places like the Hilton, Rydges, Sofitel etc.

Just as well I am leasing a hotel room otherwise accommodation costs for me would go through the roof. With my current setup it would still be cheaper to pay the rent for the whole year even if I only worked in Brisbane every second week.

 

[drmikki]

Don't forget also, Rydges members get 10% off rates when booked online, and occasionally larger discounts when they have specials. The upside of the 10% off is it's usually not just off the room-only rate - my current search is giving member discount options for room, summer special (upgrade and breakfast included) and 'Mary Poppins experience' (which looks to include breakfast, dinner and drinks, but not, funnily enough, Mary Poppins!)

I guess it depends how much notice you get for booking - there seems to be a massive amount of variability in rates - $161/night some days and then $358/night the next!:shock: