AUH/DXB/CMB/SIN Accommodation selected - comments requested please!

[Deleted member 29185]

OK, for a trip in Jan, I think I have chosen the accommodation I want/suits, but as I've never been to most of these places, any experiences, suggestions alternatives and advice is sort and most welcomed.

Really only looked at Hilton group and IHG to maximise our point redemptions. Most can be changed so any better options.........please, do tell! :mrgreen:

OOL-SYD - Not booked yet. May do a VA redemption.
SYD - Not booked yet. Open to suggestions. One or two nights.
SYD-AUH - VA arrives late. Assuming no arrivals access at AUH EY Diamond lounge??

AUH - IC - 1st night @ 35k redemption. No lounge, no b/fast but only arriving late at night so we're not overly worried.
AUH - Hilton - 2nd and 3rd nights. AU$138/night ++, "resort special" 30% deposit. Have lounge access + b/fast due to diamond
DXB - IC Festival City - 4th night @ 45K redemption. No lounge, no b/fast but need some days without privileges to sample local fare!
DXB - Hilton Jumeriah residences - 5th and 6th nights @ 70k redemption/nite. Big question mark here?? Any suggestions? We do have our daughter who loves water! Also considered the Conrad for the same redemption. lounge access + b/fast due to diamond.
AUH - IC - 7th night @ 35k redemption. No lounge, no b/fast but we leave reasonably early
AUH-MLE - EY, I hope to have EY diamond lounge access pre flight. I'll be VA plat, Lisa VA gold, daughter VA red.

MLE-Conrad - 7nights Conrad pearler redemption that cannot be changed (unless insanity prevails).
MLE-CMB - Still to book but seems either Sri Lankan @ US$343.50 or Emirates @ US$ 433.50 ???? Suggestions.

CMB - Hilton residences (hotel not available). 3 nites @ AU$152/nite ++. No lounge but b/fast due to diamond Hoping for an extremely late checkout.
CMB- SIN - SQ redemption. Leaves at an ungodly 1.30am. No idea about lounge access at CMB.

SIN - IC - 1 night @ 50k redemption. No lounge, no b/fast. Anything better? Chose IC due to 4pm late check-out for amb. Flight leaves 11.40pm.
EY to BNE - hopefully gives us lounge access in SIN.

 

[jetlagger]

OK, for a trip in Jan, I think I have chosen the accommodation I want/suits, but as I've never been to most of these places, any experiences, suggestions alternatives and advice is sort and most welcomed. Most of it can be altered.

Really only looked at Hilton group and IHG to maximise our point redemptions. All can be changed so any better options.........please, do tell! :mrgreen:

AUH - IC - 1st night @ 35k redemption. No lounge, no b/fast but only arriving late at night so we're not overly worried.
AUH - Hilton - 2nd and 3rd nights. AU$138/night ++, "resort special" 30% deposit. Have lounge access + b/fast due to diamond
DXB - IC Festival City - 4th night @ 45K redemption. No lounge, no b/fast but need some days without privileges to sample local fare!
DXB - Hilton Jumeriah residences - 5th and 6th nights @ 70k redemption/nite. Big question mark here?? Any suggestions? We do have our daughter who loves water! Also considered the Conrad for the same redemption. lounge access + b/fast due to diamond.
AUH - IC - 7th night @ 35k redemption. No lounge, no b/fast but we leave reasonably early and hope to have EY diamond lounge access the next morning.

CMB - Hilton residences (hotel not available). 3 nites @ AU$152/nite ++. No lounge but b/fast due to diamond.

SIN - IC - 1 night @ 50k redemption. No lounge, no b/fast. Anything better? Chose IC due to 4pm late check-out for amb. Flight leaves 11.40pm.

Wise choices!

 

[markis10]

Wise choices!

I am not so sure, AUH- I would suggest looking at the other Hilton which has a great lounge and cheaper. SIN IC - 4PM checkout is common but the two HIX are much better value considering its 20K with Breakfast

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I am not so sure, AUH- I would suggest looking at the other Hilton which has a great lounge and cheaper. SIN IC - 4PM checkout is common but the two HIX are much better value considering its 20K with Breakfast

Thanks for the feedback! Does the HIXes also offer the late checkout? Also what's the locations like. Not there for long (arrive 7.55am one day and leave 11.40pm the next) and would like to see the big attractions (??) Sentosa perhaps? Oh, and chose IC for the room size as well. Seems most SIN rooms are very small and there's 3 of us in there. IC are 36m2 I think from memory.

 

[markis10]

Thanks for the feedback! Does the HIXes also offer the late checkout? Also what's the locations like. Not there for long (arrive 7.55am one day and leave 11.40pm the next) and would like to see the big attractions (??) Sentosa perhaps?

The HIXs do offer late checkout till 2PM I think, alternatively you will still be ahead if you keep one room for another night. They are also very well located, one slap bang in the middle of Orchard Rd, accessible from either Orchard or Somerset MRT stations, the other at Clark Quay.

Its pretty hard to have a bad location in Singapore considering their public transport system pretty much goes everywhere, with cars discouraged.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I am not so sure, AUH- I would suggest looking at the other Hilton which has a great lounge and cheaper.

For the nights we're staying Hilton Capitol Grand is about au$20-AU$30/nite dearer and I was sort of thinking it's probably not in the touristy area so much. I know Hilton Abu Dhabi is about 7min drive from the city centre, but at least it's on the beach, although Jan is probably coolish-cold?

 

[markis10]

For the nights we're staying Hilton Capitol Grand is about au$20-AU$30/nite dearer and I was sort of thinking it's probably not in the touristy area so much. I know Hilton Abu Dhabi is about 7min drive from the city centre, but at least it's on the beach, although Jan is probably coolish-cold?

Yes its cold, think 17-19 during the day, I was in in AUH this Jan. FWIW I think you are moving around too much and are losing value, have you considered the Hilton Capital Grand at 30K a night with the 5 night free as a redemption? Thats 120K of points used. Taxis are dirt cheap so location is irrelevant, and you could rent a car for DXB day trips for a couple of days.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Hmmm. Colder than I thought. The water equipment was a prime motivator but at those temps, even my daughter might think twice about swimming. HCG would be cheaper by 20k points but give us 5 nights......worth thinking about, that's for sure. How much better is the lounge?

 

[markis10]

Hmmm. Colder than I thought. The water equipment was a prime motivator but at those temps, even my daughter might think twice about swimming. HCG would be cheaper by 20k points but give us 5 nights......worth thinking about, that's for sure. How much better is the lounge?

I have not been to the other property so cannot compare. However they do seem to give nice suite upgrades, that can make a big difference to a longer stay especially if there are more than two staying.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm also now thinking of changing the IC AUH for the first and last nights to the CP Yas Island simply due to access to the Airport. Our flight in arrives at 2340 so the closer to the airport the better I guess and the flight out leaves at 0935 and if we do gain access to the EY Diamond lounge, we want to be there long enough to appreciate it!

It also means we could do the Yas Island attractions on those days as well!

Still haven't decided upon HCG. It's 20 min out of the city, which could be a PITA also. I do like the look of the rooms but maybe H AUH may be better positioned. Has anyone stayed at both to offer a comparison?

Any comments on CP Yas?

 

[markis10]

CP Yas is nice although the rooms are small, most would not take a rollaway, and the place is dead on Monday as the attractions are closed.

 

[djchuckles]

I read that the rooms are pretty dated at the Hilton Beach in AUH. One of the reasons I ended up staying at Rotana Beach which I was v impressed with.

Booked a King Premium and was offered a cheap upgrade at check in to a Club King - which for the equivalent of c. $50 extra a day gave us club lounge access with free breaky, wifi, snacks, soft drinks and 4 hours of alcohol in the evening - very good value. Hotel was great - rooms were pretty good, pool/beach area great and some nice bars and restaurants - we only ended up eating in one of them - Benihana - which if yo've not visited is a great experience

Would definitely stay again.