Points booking advice please - Singapore

[feezable]

We will arrive into Singapore from KL late morning on 27 September and fly out on the SQ flight to Lombok at 0750 on 28 September.

We are a family of 4 (kids 15 & 12) prior to and after Singapore the kids will have a separate room so we are prepared to bunk in together for 1 night in Singapore. The Novotel is the only Accor property that recognises our children as children and therefore allows me to book 1 executive twin room.

My questions are:
Would you stay at the Novotel in this situation? Or would the Grand Mercure make more sense given our early departure from SIN the following morning? The Mercure will cost me slightly more points as it requires me to book 2 rooms.

How far in advance would you recommend using the points and securing the room? I think late September is busy in Singapore, we are there the week after the Grand Prix.

If there is an Accor sale is it likely that I will be able to use points to pay for the discounted rate?

Thanks in advance,
Fiona

 

[rfur78]

ive found the use of points to be hit and miss. it depends on the special and the property, do a few dummy bookings and when you get to the final screen it will give you the option of using points is available.

other option would be to try the phone booking system, worth a shot if you have time.

RF

 

[Awesom Andy]

At the time you need to reach the airport, you will need to catch a cab so either location is fine. The Mercure is slightly closer so you save about $4 in the cab fare (avoid the Merc and the black Chysler).

In terms of price points, I think the Novotel is a bit more expensive than usual, while the Grand Mercure is slightly cheaper than usual. You can try waiting for a 30/40% off sale but generally speaking, points cannot be used for these rates. Note that for the superior/deluxe room at the GM, the super advance saver rate is already a 30% off rate so I wouldn't expect much savings in future sales. And for the Novotel, one of the room type has already defaulted to only the plat rate, so don't count on sales being offered for this date for other room types either.

 

[feezable]

Thanks rfur78, your advice helped me particularly with a Melbourne booking I am doing, as only some rates were available for points payment.

Thanks Awesome Andy, I thought that taxi times would be OK from either location so you have confirmed this for me. I am only Gold, but managed to build up 16,000 points over summer. I am about to book the Accor plus members flexible rate which is only a little more expensive than the advance saver, it only allows me to use 10,000 points with 90sgd to pay at the hotel.