How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

I suppose the other downside to accepting the ForEx from the merchant is you won't avail yourself of the bonus points for foreign spend found on some credit cards since it will be billed in your "home" currency.

You will need to weigh the benefits of bonus points against the odds of getting billed in local currency instead of foreign currency.

YMMV
 
The terms on the Citi card I have suggest that even when accepting the currency conversion to AUD at the terminal, if the merchant is based overseas they’ll charge 3.4% regardless!
 
You will need to weigh the benefits of bonus points against the odds of getting billed in local currency instead of foreign currency.
Generally there is no "deal" in accepting the conversion by the merchant the foreign currency you are in to your local currency. They're there to make a profit and remember the terminal also needs to take a cut too! If you travel enough, you should have a designated credit card that can deal with these foreign exchange issues either by waiving the 2.5-3.5% markup on the official exchange rate when paying in a foreign currency or compensating you well enough that you make it up with the bonus points. I used to think of this as a luxury but now having been an international student for the better part of 4 years, having that no forex fee credit card has been crucial. And the best part is the card I've got has no annual fee, gets me 1% cash back and provides me with a dozen free go-go in-flight internet passes.

-RooFlyer88
 
The terms on the Citi card I have suggest that even when accepting the currency conversion to AUD at the terminal, if the merchant is based overseas they’ll charge 3.4% regardless!
They certainly do - I believe all [Australian] card providers who would charge a fee for international transactions will apply this. It's not about the currency, it's about the merchant's location. Yet another reason why DCC is absolutely the gift that keeps on sucking! I made a property in Thailand (not an Accor one) cancel / refund on the spot after they processed our folio in AUD without asking, and to put it back through in THB. Between their laughably awful fx rate, and my 3.25% on top of the inflated total, it saved me about A$90 at the time. Cheeky buggers and their 'convenient billing' option.
 

I had this message before. you need to contact their customer service ( [email protected] ) and they will provide your upload link to upload ID document and you also need to change your password.

View attachment 353705

Thanks for sharing this ; what I don't understand is the reason for them suspending my account nor did I receive any email confirming this.

I am reluctant to share my identity documents in lieu of all the data breaches across platforms.

Did you share your details and was the issue resolved after that ?
 
Thanks for sharing this ; what I don't understand is the reason for them suspending my account nor did I receive any email confirming this.

I am reluctant to share my identity documents in lieu of all the data breaches across platforms.

Did you share your details and was the issue resolved after that ?

yes , after send the drive license , the account restore after 2 working days. not sure what's caused that, maybe I used some VPN or public network.
 
Property: Sebel Melbourne Ringwood
Status: Accor Plus Gold
Room booked: Classic King
Room upgraded/type: Yes, upgraded to Superior King
Rate: Members App Offer
Free internet: Yes
Early check in/late out: Not requested
Welcome drink: Voucher
Welcome gift: Chocolate muffin

This was our second stay at the Sebel Ringwood, an overnight following a wedding. This is a relatively new property and generally well appointed. Room was a good size with very comfortable bed, we weren't there particularly long but quite happy with everything for the price. Breakfast options were good, and I appreciated that there was an a la carte menu available as an alternative to the buffet. Would happily stay here again.
 
Property: Novotel Bayside St Kilda Vic

Many pleasant stays, dinners and memories, drove past last week.
Not sure what rock we have been living under but it is not there anymore - now apartments, when did that happen!?
 
Property: Novotel, Benoa, Bali
Status: Accor Plus Gold
Room booked: Garden King
Room upgraded/type: Yes, upgraded to Tropical Terrace King on beach side.
Rate: Members rate
Free internet: Yes
Early check in/late out: Offered
Welcome drink: Voucher
Welcome gift: Fruit plate and mix of cakes

So far very good, very comprehensive breakfast, but free bottled water would be nice, just 2 330ml of spring water offered.
Fruit was very interesting, 3 things I don’t recall ever seeing before.

We will probably eat here tonight, so more updates to come.

IMG_6768.jpeg
 
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Property: Breakfree Canberra
Room booked: 1 bedroom
Room upgraded: Yes, 2 bedroom
Rate: all guaranteed room
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: Yes, plus box with 3 snacks and bottle of wine
Early check in/late out: did not use

For some bizarre reasons, hotels in Canberra for this weekend were about $600 per night so we were happy with getting a guarantee room rate due to my Gold status.

Nothing flash but the upgrade to the extra room helped out. There is construction outside but no noise and it was pure entertainment for my 3 year old.

Just a note that the free drink is at Peppers which is walking distance
 
Property: Mercure, Melbourne, Therry Street
Status: Accor Plus Gold
Room booked: Studio One Queen
Room upgraded/type: Yes, minor upgrade to same room, but from map seemed slightly larger. Still small
Rate: Members rate $200
Free internet: Yes
Early check in/late out: Not Available
Welcome drink: 375ml of the De Bortoli Willowglen Cabernet / Shiraz
Welcome gift: None

This hotel was close to North Melbourne which was the intent. It is basic, but did what was needed for a busy Saturday night in the hotel (Spent 10 hours only in the room). Would i stay again? Yes if the rates were low. It was better than TripAdvisor reviews though
 
Property: Ibis Styles Brussels Centre Stephanie
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room booked: Queen + rollaway
Room upgraded/type: No
Rate: Members rate ~$250/night
Free internet: Yes
Early check in/late out: Not required
Welcome drink: No.
Welcome gift: Yes. See below

A straightforward two night stay where we planned to be out seeing the sights most of the time, so a basic room was sufficient.

The room was as advertised - nothing fancy.

A feature is the hotel's proximity to a small dining precinct in Stephanie. You can see one of my restaurant suggestions here.

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Generous welcome gift:

IMG_E9902.JPG

Tight, but functional bathroom.

IMG_E9903.JPG

IMG_E9904.JPG
 
Property: Breakfree Canberra
Room booked: 1 bedroom
Room upgraded: Yes, 2 bedroom
Rate: all guaranteed room
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: Yes, plus box with 3 snacks and bottle of wine
Early check in/late out: did not use

For some bizarre reasons, hotels in Canberra for this weekend were about $600 per night so we were happy with getting a guarantee room rate due to my Gold status.

Nothing flash but the upgrade to the extra room helped out. There is construction outside but no noise and it was pure entertainment for my 3 year old.

Just a note that the free drink is at Peppers which is walking distance
You've just discovered the triple punch of the Spilt Milk music festival and both the House and Senate sitting week. Same time every year. The local hotels make a killing.
 
Property: Mantra on Terrace, Brisbane
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room booked: Hotel Deluxe
Room upgraded/type: Yes, upgrade to top floor
Rate: Accor Plus Members Sale - ($124.15/night)
Free internet: Yes
Early check in/late out: Late check out to noon requested and given
Welcome drink: Iced coffee on checkout
Welcome gift: 750 ml bottle of Perrier, two cakes and a 750 ml bottle of Australian champagne

Headed to Brisbane this week to continue writing the manuscript of part of my PhD thesis and decided to stay here as it seemed to the cheapest Accor property in the CBD (well cheapest if we exclude the usual suspect of ibis budget). Ended up arriving at the hotel around 9 PM and was promptly checked in. Interestingly, this hotel doesn't have a dedicated check-in reception. Instead the reception is inside the bar of the hotel's restaurant. Check-in was prompt and was given a drink voucher without having to ask for a change. I was also informed that I was upgraded to a room at the top floor. The room didn't seem any nicer than the one I had booked but the gesture was welcome nonetheless. On the day before checkout, I inquired about getting a late checkout of 12 PM which was granted.

One thing I was blown away with and I can't express in the photos that well is how good the housekeeping was. Each and every day I received housekeeping without asking and it wasn't a half hearted effort by them either. For instance, every morning I would make instant coffee and before bed I'd have a tea (i.e. two mugs were used). Every time I came back to my room, there were fresh mugs provided. They didn't just rinse them or leave them there.

Anyway, on to the photos. The room itself is fairly modern with a number of electrical outlets including outlets near the nightstand which feature both USB-A and USB-C charging (a welcome change):
IMG_0819.jpeg
IMG_0818.jpeg

The room also had a (small) balcony:IMG_0825.jpeg

As for the restroom, those who have an aversion to shubs (i.e. the dreaded shower/tub combination) can find some relief at this hotel:
IMG_0820.jpeg

The "main" welcome gift:
IMG_0823.jpeg
How I used the welcome drink voucher:IMG_0885.jpeg

Would I stay here again? Absolutely! Good location, good price and decent, modern rooms with some of the creature comforts you don't always find at hotels.

-RooFlyer88
 
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Property: Pullman Penrith
Status: ALL Diamond
Room booked: Superior Room
Room upgraded/type: Yes, Junior Suite
Rate: ALL Longer Stay ($213/night)
Free internet: Yes
Early check in/late out: Not needed
Welcome drink: 2 Vouchers, also possible to get basic spirits
Welcome gift: 2 bottles of Purezza water, 1 bottle of Cab-Sav, 1 plate of cakes and a handwritten note

Brand new Pullman in Penrith, opposite of the Panthers League Club. Great Status recognition, modern rooms.
Suite includes a Nespresso machine, fridge, freezer, microwave, power plugs with USB-C outlet
Nice breakfast area with decent selection and a la carte hot food options, but you can see that some processes aren’t fully developed. Ordered a smashed avo from the menu and it took over 20 minutes, with only 10 other people at brekkie. Furthermore, my barista coffee order was missed as well.
Can definitely recommend the hotel when you need to go to Western Sydney
 

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