Virtuoso - Where to Start?

[Cruiser Elite]

Thanks to this response from Cynicor in another thread:

CE, if you like Club rooms then give the Fullerton a shot, and book with a virtuoso agent for free (guaranteed) club access and room upgrade.

I decided to persue this matter a little further as I have zero knowledge of this system - so I contacted Virtuoso and here is there response:

Hi CE,
Thank you for contacting Virtuoso! We are pleased you have expressed interest in working with a Virtuoso travel advisor. Virtuoso is a network of independent travel agencies and advisors, and as such, Virtuoso does not book travel directly. Bookings are made through the travel agencies that partner with Virtuoso to broker the perks and amenities offered by our Virtuoso preferred partners.
Our website, Virtuoso.com, contains all of our network's travel advisors and providers. Advisor profiles contain the advisor's location as well as details about the type of travel they specialize in and the destinations they are well-versed selling. It also gives details about their background and places they have visited firsthand. Once you find an advisor that fits your travel needs, you may create an account on Virtuoso.com and select him/her as your advisor. He/she will contact you within 24 hours (during the regular business week), and begin learning more about your travel desires. There is no obligation to work with the selected advisor. You may select a new one at any time. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Thank you!
Safe Travels,
Virtuoso® | 505 Main Street, Ste. 500 | Ft. Worth, TX 76102 | 817.870.0300

So I register and log onto Virtuoso - OMG - what do you do from there?

 

[RooFlyer]

PM sent. Extra characters.

 

[Cynicor]

I've never done any of that junk!

Just find a Virtuoso agent and book away. Actually, Classictravel is canadian, i think, and have a website so you can see the virtuoso rates before you book. I don't use them as I have my own agent, but it is a useful site to see what hotels are on offer and their current rates.

 

[LadyC]

Would be interested in hearing your experiences Cruiser. Haven't yet booked through Virtuoso agent but have been toying with the idea for hotels i would like to stay at that I know are in their listing.

 

[RooFlyer]

My TA is a Virtuoso agent. I've only occasionally booked through that channel but each stay (all international) has had some decent perks - such as airport transfer, guaranteed room upgrade etc .

 

[Cruiser Elite]

One night stay in SIN Sept 14 will be initial test - will report back.

 

[Cynicor]

One night stay in SIN Sept 14 will be initial test - will report back.

Good luck! I look forward to hearing your review of the Fullerton (I assume) vs the Raffles and MBS

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Good luck! I look forward to hearing your review of the Fullerton (I assume) vs the Raffles and MBS

We went and had a quck look at Fullerton when in SIN in June - Cruiserette was pretty impressed with the main bar - we will only be in hotel for 15hrs tops so I think we might give it a try.

Cynicor I was hoping you might chip in with some advice on how to use this site.

When I click advisors I get a new page and I can see this:



It only lists USA and Canada? What if I want to go to Asia or Europe> It's no advantage to try to find an advisor even on the continent I want to visit?

Anybody care to share some tips on how to actually make this site work for me?

 

[Cynicor]

Hey CE. I'm on the phone/app. What site is that?

The virtuoso main site cannot be booked through, but lists the hotels and their benefits.

Using Luxury Travel Agency - Luxury Hotels, Online Booking, Virtuoso Rates, Reviews - Classic Travel you can get rates and compare availability and book. I use my own virtuoso agent (TG on here) but some are better than others. I had one locally (Bicton Travel) who were less than stellar.

A quick Google should show a local one, but that's not really necessary. I used to use Renshaw travel in Canada because I could email during the day and get a reply overnight.

I only use the main site to scout hotels, but I'm using classic travel for my scouting more and more, because I like to know the price too.

If you PM me your number I have half an hour before work if you want more details.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Hey CE. I'm on the phone/app. What site is that?

http://www.virtuoso.com/

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Ok after a bit more investigation - Fairmont pricing direct from their web site:



And prices quoted by Virtuosa agent:



Appear identical to me

So when / where are the Virtuoso extras / upgrades advised / applied? Do you know you will be upgraded before making booking / when making booking / after making booking / at check in? I am sorta kinda wondering why you would use a Virtuoso agent for something so basic as 1 nt in Fairmont? Or am I missing something?

 

[Cynicor]

If I ever wrote Fairmont, I meant to write the Fullerton. The benefits are guaranteed, so it depends on the wording. If they say room upgrade then it is generally on booking, and they have never played the "space available" card on me.
The Virtuoso rate often comes with breakfast and an in room benefit equiv to 100 USD, generally spa or restaurant credits, so 1 night stays can be the best use of virtuoso.
I prefer hotels that give the benefit of free club lounge, however, like the Fullerton and the IC Le Grande, as it is a tangible benefit to me.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Oh shoot - I have my F's mixed up - yes Fullerton of course - we could see it from MBS so walked and inspected it - back to drawing board - I'm just a cough!

 

[Cynicor]

Oh shoot - I have my F's mixed up - yes Fullerton of course - we could see it from MBS so walked and inspected it - back to drawing board - I'm just a cough!

No worries, I do it all the time with those two so I thought it might have been me. I haven't yet turned up to the wrong one, but it's probably just a matter of time!

 

[Alanslegal]

This article - a bit dated though - may help;

Understanding Virtuoso and American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts - One Mile at a Time


I had one Virtuoso transaction 18 months ago - for Paris - and although the rate was a bit more than the hotel's, there were some additional perks prescribed, such as 2 category room upgrade, breakfast, late check out. That said, if money is not an issue and time is precious - then booking through Virtuoso would be much more beneficial (with the added on benefits) than any elite member status.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Damn - no EL access as Virtuoso benefit:

 

[Cynicor]

Damn - no EL access as Virtuoso benefit:

View attachment 53107

the Fullerton Bay doesn't have an exec lounge.

the Fullerton is the Post office, the Fullerton Bay is the glass hotel on the bay. You can cross charge and use the facilities at both, including the great rooftop pool.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

the Fullerton Bay doesn't have an exec lounge.

YEP correct - again a mistake by me - I did snip the list of Virtuoso benefits at both Fullerton and Fullerton Bay to forward to the Virtuoso agent I am dealing with - I just posted wrong snip here. As you can see in snip I posted Fullerton Bay has no EL but it offers S$88 credit to be used in hotel - here is snip of Fullerton benefits:



And here is offer I got from Virtuoso Agent:



And here is pricing direct from Fullerton Web Site:



More about the room and rate here:



And the rate for Quay Room - next room class:



So if I am reading this correctly booking through Virtuoso gets me FREE upgrade to next room class + FREE breakfast for 2 + FREE lounge access - but I forgo S$50 hotel credit. IMHO booking through Virtuoso is a worthwhile exercise in this instance - BUT - again as always when booking through agents you need to have your wits about you and check / re-check both hotel benefits if booked directly and benefits offered by Virtuoso.

I hope this helps others who might also want to get started down Virtuoso path.

 

[Cynicor]

All correct CE. Those bonuses on the direct booking are very new. Plus with your room you get the option of breakfast in Town downstairs, not just in the lounge.

but yes- always see what else you can get. I suggest that if your rate is better direct than with Virtuoso, the agent will sort something out for you if they are worth their salt. I also find that the hotel treats you very well as a Virtuoso guest, similar to a Diamond with HH but without the need to stay all the time!

glad it's sorted, now to hear your thought on the hotel.

 

[LadyC]

Thanks for posting Cruiser - let us know how the stay goes