Property: Conrad Resort Bali
Status: Diamond
Room booked: Deluxe King Pool View
Rate: 2X Points (3.2m IDR / $300 AUD / $205 USD inc taxes)
Received: King Ocean Front Suite
Overnight transit on the way to Singapore as I couldn't find a direct award but SYD-DPS / DPS-SIN was available. I also had a US$250 Aspire Amex credit to use before Feb, and with no travel to Hilton resort locations planned in the next few months, this was a good opportunity to use it. Other than having a bed to sleep in I guess the aim was to maximise the credit and minimise out-of-pocket expenses - I was looking to squeeze the best possible room, a 2X points rate, and airport transfers into US$250.
The hotel emailed a week prior to the stay to confirm transfers which were 400k IDR each way, compared with about 200k if using Grab. I was also contacted by chat the day prior asking what they could do to make it amazing - I responded with the usual pleasantries and suggested a suite or villa upgrade. Initially they said the policy was a one category upgrade which I politely questioned with reference to the Honors benefits page "If we have a better room available it's yours - up to a X". They immediately came back and said yep, sorry, if we have a villa available at check-in, the front desk will upgrade you!
After exiting DPS customs and immigration (~40 minutes with an eVOA pre-purchased) the guy holding the Conrad sign advised a driver would be there "soon", which turned into an awkward 15 minute wait standing among the sea of drivers in the usual Bali humidity. Not the best start given the premium charged for the transfer.
The front desk put me in a King Ocean Front Suite - not quite the villa mentioned over chat but I was still very happy with it. Room rate is approx 6m IDR / $600 AUD. Nothing out of the ordinary at check in, although I did pay for the room and transfers at this point. I also mentioned the transfer experience and asked for the GM's email address to provide feedback.
The suite was huge with a foyer, large living/dining area, two toilets, and three separate patios directly facing the beach and grounds. The layout was functional and furniture comfortable, although the room was a little rough around the edges with some small issues - dodgy shower head, enamel chips in the bottom of the bath, and the bottle opener looking like it'd been through a war or two. The welcome gift was a bowl of fruit.
Not long after reaching the room I got a call from the duty manager to apologise for the transfer delays and say they'd waive one of the transfers. I mentioned having already paid, he said I could offset any other consumption charges or they'd refund at checkout.
Breakfast in the morning exceeded my expectations with many made-to-order stations including omelettes/eggs, bakso, pancakes/waffles, and a couple of others. There were also about 20 hot dishes of various asian cuisines, plus the usual cereals, western options, cold cuts, fruit, etc. Barista coffee was proactively offered and very good.
I didn't end up charging anything else to the room so at check out they suggested 10k HH points in lieu of the 400k IDR refund. Given the stay was being paid with the credit I didn't really want the refund anyway and gladly accepted the points.
Overall an excellent stay - a comfortable bed in a great room, transfers, breakfast, ~25k HH points from the room rate 2X, Diamond 2X, Aspire 14ppd, compensation, etc for..
..$3.79 out of pocket!