How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[kangarooflyer88]

Property: The Sebel Auckland Manukau
Room booked: Superior Room with 1 Kingsize Bed
Room Rate: ACCOR PLUS - STAY LONGER - BB, BED AND BREAKFAST ($19.80 for 4 nights and $188.10 for 5th night) - $53.46 NZD on average
Status: Accor+Platinum
Room upgrade: Yes, Deluxe.
Early check in: N/A
Late checkout: N/A
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: Yes, water, still 2 bottles, 2 drink vouchers and desert (see photo)
Access to executive lounge (if existing): Not applicable.

Found this deal on the Accor website for the dates I was staying in Auckland (Jan 10-15). The hotel itself isn't located in the CBD but rather to the East of Auckland (near the airport) in a suburb called Manukau. When trains are operating in Auckland (which they weren't when I was there) the trek from Manukau to Centreville (CBD) would be roughly an hour minute between the walk from the hotel to the train station and the roughly 40 minute train journey up to Britomart. This is the first time I stayed at a Sebel so didn't know what to expect. As it turns out it's an apartment hotel like a break free, albeit a bit fancier. The hotel has a restaurant on the ground floor which serves food till around 9 PM with breakfast being served between 6:30 AM and 10 AM. Unfortunately, due to my sleep schedule, I was unable to catch breakfast on the dates I stayed.





Overall, I was really pleased with the hotel, not just for the price, but also for how well appointed the room is. Certainly if I was searching Accor for hotels again and see a Sebel, I'd seriously considering staying at one. If there are any gripes I have about this hotel specifically, it would be the welcome gift, as I've stayed at other Accor properties where a bottle of wine was a given. In addition, it would be nice if the hotel had amenities one would find at other Accor properties (i.e. swimming pool, etc.) then again it is a Sebel.

-RooFlyer88

 

[oz_mark]

Overall, I was really pleased with the hotel, not just for the price, but also for how well appointed the room is. Certainly if I was searching Accor for hotels again and see a Sebel, I'd seriously considering staying at one. If there are any gripes I have about this hotel specifically, it would be the welcome gift, as I've stayed at other Accor properties where a bottle of wine was a given. In addition, it would be nice if the hotel had amenities one would find at other Accor properties (i.e. swimming pool, etc.) then again it is a Sebel.

-RooFlyer88

My experiences in staying at a range of Accor properties is that the bottle of wine as a welcome amenity is done by a handful of hotels. Certianly not the norm (as far as I can see)

 

[aaronm]

Property: Novotel South Wharf
Status: Accor Plus Gold
Room booked: Superior King
Room upgraded/type: Upgraded to Deluxe King
Rate: Flexible rate
Free internet: Yes, reasonable speed
Free Breakfast: Not included
Early check in/late out: Request for late check-out (12:30pm) was accepted
Welcome drink: Yes, two vouchers
Welcome gift: Box of health bars, bottled water replenished daily

First time at Novotel South Wharf, proximity to the convention centre was our main reason for staying here. Good sized room with comfortable bed and large bathroom and an excellent view of the city. Enjoyed the welcome gift - three health bars from The Unexpected Guest which I liked enough to seek out somewhere that sells them. Bottled water in the room was the celebrity-backed JUST water brand, replaced daily. A standard selection was on offer for breakfast ($35, Accor Plus discount was available). The food was good, only negative being that the toasters were completely useless even on the highest setting. We didn't eat there for dinner. There is also a smaller cafe near reception that looks to have been closed for some time. Minibar was on-demand but not after 9pm, so it would have been good to have a selection of snacks and drinks available at reception also.

It's certainly not Melbourne's least expensive hotel but we enjoyed our time here and I'd stay again in future.

 

[cdp88]

Property: Mercure Kyoto Station
Room booked: 3 X Standard room
Room Rate: Stay Asia 30% off discount rate.
Status: Accor Plus Gold
Room upgrade: Yes, one room upgraded to superior room. Rooms are same size but superior has Nespresso machine, blinds instead of curtains and is on higher floor. They only have 2 room types at this hotel.
Early check in: N/A
Late checkout: N/A
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: Yes, we were given two welcome drinks to be selected from a special menu with house wines/beer/soft drink.
Welcome amenity: I received 6 local sweets (a type of rice cake), 6 body care kits and 6 body sponges. I think this was because we had 6 people in the booking (although it was actually 5 and they did adjust the room rate accordingly)
Other: Hotel reached out by email ahead of stay to check if I needed anything. They confirmed at this time I would have one room upgraded.

The superior rooms entitle you to join the free afternoon drinks buffet. This was a limited selection of house red and white, soft drink and whiskey and tea/coffee with snacks to self serve. It was nothing to get too excited about but as it was free I didn’t complain. Apparently, you could also redeem this voucher for a takeaway canned drink although I didn’t remember to do this.

They provided a metal water bottle which you can refill and take with you. This was quite handy if you were going out.

While the location of this hotel is not great, being about 10 minutes walk from the Kyoto Station, the restaurant, room and staff were all excellent as was Accor recognition.

Points posted within one day which never happens for me in Australia!

 

[cdp88]

Property: Mercure Tokyo Stay Osaka Namba
Room booked: Superior Room with twin beds
Room Rate: Stay Asia 30% discount rate
Status: Accor Plus Gold
Room upgrade: No, hotel did appear busy.
Early check in: N/A
Late checkout: granted to 1pm but I didn’t use it.
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: 5 drink vouchers received with drinks to be selected from a menu for welcome drinks. Had a reasonable selection including spirits with mixers, wine, sake etc.
Welcome amenity: two cookies, two bottles of water and note from GM in each of our 3 rooms.

I have written a more detailed review of this and the Kyoto hotel in my trip report. I would not recommend this Osaka hotel as it has some design issues (rooms and corridors very dark).

 

[Sprucegoose]

I would not recommend this Osaka hotel as it has some design issues (rooms and corridors very dark).

Thats an interesting comment - would lighting fix this?

 

[cdp88]

Thats an interesting comment - would lighting fix this?

Perhaps, but the corridors have black paint and carpet and no natural light. The room design is also a bit unusual.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Perhaps, but the corridors have black paint and carpet and no natural light. The room design is also a bit unusual.

Ah a design issue

 

[Muppet501st]

Property: Pullman Reef Hotel Casino
Room booked: Standard 1 king mountain view
Room Rate: $400ish
Status: Diamond +
Room upgraded/type: Yes, Deluxe King ocean view
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: Yes, 2x still water, bottle of white and cheese platter.
VIP treatment: N/A
Access to executive lounge (if existing): N/A

Love this place

 

[Anna]

Property: Mövenpick Melbourne Spencer St
Room booked: Junior suite
Room upgraded/type: no
Rate: Fully flexible
Status: gold
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: Water 2 bottles, drink voucher
Early check in/late check out: 1pm checkout granted (normal checkout 11am)
VIP treatment: No (not that I am a VIP)
Access to executive lounge (if existing): Dunno. Didn't ask, and no lounge was mentioned.
Additional care: Probably not related to status, but the receptionist was most concerned when I described the burger I was served in the bar and took it off my bill without me even asking. Good result seeing the bar staff had already given me free icecream to make up for it! (Menu described the burger as being accompanied by Asian slaw, there was no greenery or leaves at all on the plate, when I asked for the Asian slaw it became obvious that neither the waiting staff nor the solo chef knew what Asian slaw even is ).

General comments: All rooms have a free bag of rocky road - yum, but a napkin and maybe a plate wouldn't go amiss because it is very crumbly and makes quite a mess. I had to use a face towel which wasn't ideal.

Chocolate hour is held in the cafe 4.30-5.30pm which is a small buffet of chocolate slices etc and a marketing push for the $20 house special chocolate parfait. When I walked past after 5pm there was not a great deal left so go early if you are keen.

The junior suite was a long rectangular room with a metal grille down the centre. The tv was on the centre of the long wall meaning it could not be viewed straight on either from the bed or from the sofa - not ideal for neck alignment. The decor was blues, deep emerald green and purple with orange and geometric accents. A designer might call it jewel colours - to me the orange was quite like a fever dream and not very relaxing.

The room contained a form to sign and return to reception forgoing housekeeping in return for 300 points. You're supposed to put the DND sign on the door as well but my room didn't have one. I assumed the form would be valid for all 3 nights, it worked for night 2 but housekeeping entered the room at 2pm on the day of night 3 so I sent them away. I queried it at reception, they said the form is good for 1 night, I asked how I was supposed to get another form if housekeeping weren't coming in, they agreed that was a good point. I ended up being given 900 points even though strictly speaking on a 3 night stay you would only expect to get housekeeping twice as the receptionist correctly pointed out.

Would I stay again - probably yes if it suited. The location is great if taking Skybus because it is right across from Southern Cross station. Several tram lines also right outside, and a Coles close by. I was in Melbourne for the tennis and it was a short walk down to Flinders St to get the shuttle tram to the AO.

Photo 1: Fever dream decor. Photo 2: I feel like these tables are in every Accor hotel, and always stained - how do they get stained like that? One in the bathroom looked like someone had put the iron down in it in 2 places! Photo 3: what I got when I asked for the Asian slaw missing from the burger.

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

Property: Mercure Ginza
Room booked: Privilege Queen room w' extra bed
Room Rate: ALL MEMBER PRIVATE SALE, ROOM ONLY (63,750 JPY for 4 x nights)
Status: Gold
Room upgrade: No, highest room category (although 6th floor out of 12...)
Early check in: N/A
Late checkout: granted to 2pm
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: 3 drinks (can of beer and 2 x small bottle of yellowtail wine) on arrival
Welcome amenity: Nil

Lovely hotel in a great location, close to Ginza shopping, walk to Tsukiji, subway (though a pretty average line) station accessed from basement and 2 x other stations less than 500mtr walk.
Staff were quite good, spacious enough room by Tokyo standards. Only gripe would be 6th floor room though I don't think the higher floors would have provided much more of a view. Very good value too.

Property: Fairmont Singapore
Room booked: Singature Gold King Suite (w' extra bed)
Room Rate: MEMBERS APP OFFER - 10% OFF, ROOM ONLY ($1,648.39SGD for 2x nights)
Status: Gold
Room upgrade: No, Don't believe I would be eligible as gold for an upgrade beyond this room anyway?
Early check in: N/A (We arrived at 2am... :/ )
Late checkout: granted to 3pm
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: Not really, Gold lounge access kind of negates this perk anyway.
Welcome amenity: Big fruit platter on table in room

Emailed before stay asking for a room with a bay view and received reply that 'a room with a great view would be prepared.' Ended up with a view to the opposite side towards Raffles which would be my only complaint...
Staff were fantastic, the lounge here is possibly the best in Singapore, extremely quiet during our visit. Breakfast was amazing, as were evening drinks including champagne and coughtails as well as a hearty spread of food, more than enough to call it dinner, all with a view of Marina Bay. Location again amazing with an MRT station and shopping centre right below. Gym is quality and the pool has been lovely and fairly quiet on both our stays here (other was in Swissotel Stamford). Used the Willow Stream Spa for the first time, well appointed facililty but starting to look a little tired.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Property: Mercure North Melbourne
Room booked: Standard Room 1 King Bed
Room Rate: Accor+Stay Longer and Save, Room Only, $104/night
Status: Accor+Platinum
Room upgraded/type: Yes, Superior Room (not mentioned by staff but could tell comparing standard room to superior room on website)
Free internet: Yes, although it is a bit flaky
Welcome drink: 1 drink voucher and a bottle of wine in room (no bottles of water though)
Early Check-In/Late Check-Out - N/A but was hounded at 10:30 by staff to leave room despite them advertising they provide complimentary checkouts to noon for new members of Accor All
VIP treatment: N/A
Access to executive lounge (if existing): N/A

I booked this hotel as I was visiting Melbourne for the week to see the first couple of rounds of the Australian open and as a sort of mini-writing retreat. The hotel itself is not located in a bad location, about 1.6 km from Melbourne Central station. The hotel itself is showing some wear (i.e. some of the carpeting has become very worn and threadbare). At the same time I did find the wifi to be patchy at times, with me regularly having to sign back in to get wifi working.




The Welcome gift:


The hotel has a restaurant called the Polo cafe, which provides breakfast, lunch and dinner through 9 PM with there being round the clock room service meals available via a limited menu. As an Accor+Platinum member, I had complimentary access to the breakfast buffet throughout my stay and found the buffet to be decent - certainly not the biggest buffet I've had so far (that would be at the Pullman Melbourne) but it did have all the key items and importantly the restaurant wasn't crowded despite the Australian Open going on:



The hotel also had an outdoor pool and an indoor sauna (the latter of which I haven't found at too many Accor hotels):


Would I stay here again? Certainly if the price was in that $100 range, it's a real no brainer for the amenities and the fact it's not chock-a-block which cannot be said about many Accor properties in Melbourne.

-RooFlyer88

 

[kpro]

Property: Swissotel Singapore
Status: Accor Plus Diamond
Room booked: Harbour View Suite using Suite Night Upgrade
Room upgraded/type: No further upgrade.
Rate: ACCOR PLUS - FLEXIBLE RATE, Bed and breakfast
Free internet: Yes
Early check in/late out: 6pm late checkout.
Welcome drink: Yes - bottle of wine in room.
Welcome gift: Yes - bowl of fruit in room.
Overall opinion:

• This might be the best Accor property I've visited in terms of Elite recognition.
• Check in is mostly self-service, with kiosks and staff on hand to help. However, asked if there was a priority line, and was shown to a dedicated table for elite members.
• Upon hearing that I had a late flight, the check in staff offered me a 6pm check out. Very impressive, as most Accor properties I've been to are reluctant to provide a late check out beyond 1 or 2pm.
• Room was newly renovated and very spacious in a studio suite layout. Two balconies with great views of the marina.
  • IMO the room was big enough to have been separated into two with a door to make a proper suite.
  • Supposedly only two of this room type exists in the whole property and therefore was placed in a room that was 'only' in the middle level of the hotel.
  • Shower had a blocked drain, had to request maintenance to come fix it, then housekeeping to clean up the mess.
• Lounge has even better views then the room and was almost completely empty. However, food and beverage options are only okay at best.
• Overall compared to the sister property of the Fairmont, I'd say the rooms are very comparable and the service maybe slightly better.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

• Upon hearing that I had a late flight, the check in staff offered me a 6pm check out. Very impressive, as most Accor properties I've been to are reluctant to provide a late check out beyond 1 or 2pm.
• Room was newly renovated and very spacious in a studio suite layout. Two balconies with great views of the marina.
  • IMO the room was big enough to have been separated into two with a door to make a proper suite.
  • Supposedly only two of this room type exists in the whole property and therefore was placed in a room that was 'only' in the middle level of the hotel.
  • Shower had a blocked drain, had to request maintenance to come fix it, then housekeeping to clean up the mess.
• Lounge has even better views then the room and was almost completely empty. However, food and beverage options are only okay at best.
• Overall compared to the sister property of the Fairmont, I'd say the rooms are very comparable and the service maybe slightly better.

Very nice of them to offer such a late check out which at least IME staying with an Accor is as an exception rather than the rule, even if you have top tier elite status. Room does look nice and would be curious how affordable the Movenpick S'pore is, especially for those of us frugal Accor elites who pride themselves on $100/night Accor+ rates.

Other items that I think might warrant further discussion is what the breakfast service consisted of and how wide the spread was so to speak. Was it the "standard" Accor spread you would find at a Mercure or Fairmont consisting of bean, bacon n' eggs, waffles and the like or was it more upscale (i.e. including items from a Nordic breakfast menu like salmon). Was the breakfast served in the lounge or did you have an option of either visiting the lounge and/or the restaurant? In terms of the lounge itself was there a happy hour? What was offered? What sort of working spaces did they have at the lounge?

-RooFlyer88

 

[PineappleSkip]

Very nice of them to offer such a late check out

6pm checkouts has been a Singapore thing for as long as I can remember, less so perhaps since internet bookings became a thing.

I booked a Mercure in Paris a few days ago and it offered me a 5pm check out for €62. Not sure what I'll be able to wangle for free.

Cheers skip

 

[Lynda2475]

Singapore hotels are pretty good at extending acces even if late chec-out not possible. Last visit whilst i had to check out at 1pm, they stored my luggage and gave me a new keycard that gave me access to pool area, gym and spa showers until 8pm. So i could freshen up and chnage before heading to airport for a late night flight.

 

[kpro]

Very nice of them to offer such a late check out which at least IME staying with an Accor is as an exception rather than the rule, even if you have top tier elite status. Room does look nice and would be curious how affordable the Movenpick S'pore is, especially for those of us frugal Accor elites who pride themselves on $100/night Accor+ rates.

Other items that I think might warrant further discussion is what the breakfast service consisted of and how wide the spread was so to speak. Was it the "standard" Accor spread you would find at a Mercure or Fairmont consisting of bean, bacon n' eggs, waffles and the like or was it more upscale (i.e. including items from a Nordic breakfast menu like salmon). Was the breakfast served in the lounge or did you have an option of either visiting the lounge and/or the restaurant? In terms of the lounge itself was there a happy hour? What was offered? What sort of working spaces did they have at the lounge?

-RooFlyer88

I wasn't planning to, and didn't have breakfast so I don't know whether it was offered at the lounge. I know they offer breakfast at Asian Market Cafe, which I had visited during my Fairmont stay. As I recall there was a ridiculously long line for breakfast, but otherwise it had the standard SE Asia type selection of continental, hot western and hot asian food.

Wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to the seating at the lounge, there were a lot of dining tables. The lounge itself is huge and I think takes up the whole level? It could easily be a very large restaurant.

Yes there's a happy hour. It consisted of some fired noodles, a few deep fried dishes and drinks (including your typical lower end spirits). Not sure if sparkling wine or champagne was available.

6pm checkouts has been a Singapore thing for as long as I can remember, less so perhaps since internet bookings became a thing.

Stayed at Fairmont Singapore the previous year and they were very reluctant to extend me a 4pm checkout. Had to mention I had a late spa appointment at the hotel before they would give it to me. In my experience, Accor properties don't really want to provide late checkout as the benefit is not guaranteed, but only subject to availability.

But I have had Andaz Singapore provide 6pm in the past as well. I do find Hyatt a lot better with late check out though. Likely because it's guaranteed by the WoH terms.

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

Maybe ot for this thread but would agree on rooms at Swissotel Stamford, the views blow the Fairmont out of the water and they’re all renovated unlike some Fairmont rooms (though ours on this stay was recently done and was stunning). Didn’t have lounge access at SS but the Fairmont lounge breakfast was truly amazing… all eggs cooked to order (any type), dumplings, bacon, cold cuts, potatoes different ways each day, huge pastry and bread selection, fresh fruits, barista coffee (though Singapore, not aus standard), juices, cereals etc…

Evening coughtail foods were again dumplings, cold cuts, small desserts, cheese, soups/noodles, satay and some more substantial meals, carrot cake on our visit (iykyk). Also champagne, some nice wines, beers and good spirits. Had 1 signature coughtail as well which was delicious.

Lounge staff were spectacular on this visit as were lobby staff. Even checking out at 3pm we were offered a key and informed of the showers in the lounge and gym but alas the Qantas 1st lounge called.

 

[kpro]

Unfortunately Fairmont Gold Lounges are excluded from elite access and therefore unlikely that I'd ever visit one. However, it does make sense in this regard that the lounge offerings would be higher quality then your average hotel.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Singapore hotels are pretty good at extending acces even if late chec-out not possible. Last visit whilst i had to check out at 1pm, they stored my luggage and gave me a new keycard that gave me access to pool area, gym and spa showers until 8pm. So i could freshen up and chnage before heading to airport for a late night flight.

Will need to keep that in mind! Meanwhile over here, hotel checkouts are at 10 AM and you're lucky if you get an hour extension. As a North American, this was probably the biggest culture shock travelling in Australia (in North America even at the cheapest Motel 6, 11 AM is the standard with most hotels offering a noon checkout and extensions into the afternoon for elites being a given).

-RooFlyer88