How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[sudoer]

Property: ibis Singapore on Bencoolen
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room booked: Standard Queen
Room upgraded/type: N/A - property fully booked
Rate: Accor Plus Saver Rate avg SG$194pn++
Free internet: Yes, appears to be capped at 15mbps both ways
Free Breakfast: Yes, buffet at Taste restaurant
Early check in/late out: Neither required but are listed on benefits paper
Welcome drink: Yes, two vouchers
Welcome gift: Fruit plate, handwritten welcome card, complimentary minibar (Coke, Sprite, Tiger, Kitkat, peanuts)

Unable to go back and edit post but I ended up asking for 3pm late checkout which was granted.

I also found out that rooms booked with the "extra benefits" rate, of which the benefits were extended to Platinums for free, include the lending of wifi hotspots and bicycles from reception - which I thought was quite good for an Ibis.

Here for a few nights on a short getaway to Singapore. Wanted to stick with Accor as this will nudge me up to 60 nights to retain Plat, however all the other Accor properties were either >$500pn or well outside the CBD, so I thought I'd give this Ibis a try and save myself ~$900.

The good: Room has surprisingly comfortable bedding and strong aircon. Plenty of staff around and good service. The location is not the worst given the price - it's walkable to Bugis, Little India, Chjimes/Raffles City, etc. It's also not far from Bencoolen & Rochor MRT stations and Queen St Terminal (buses to Johor Bahru). EZLink cards can be borrowed from reception. Has coin laundry facilities which many of the higher end Accor hotels do not. Complimentary minibar for Platinums (unsure if lower tiers also get this)

The bad: The building is quite old and it shows. Decor is pretty tacky and dated - plenty of antique Accor Le Club posters. The room's early gen 720p LCD TV is straight out of 2005 (passport pic for scale) although the property is upgrading TVs at the moment. A bit of traffic noise from the street can be heard in my room on Level 5 although it's worst during the day and wasn't an issue during the night. Housekeeping by request only.



The breakfast spread was very good for an Ibis. This hotel offers quite a sharp B&B rate which seems popular as there were at least 50 people eating at 7:30am, and the maître d' (used very loosely but Accor is French after all ) went through a list of at least 100 rooms with breakfast inclusions to confirm I was eligible. Taste has seating for about 120-150 people and there were at least 8 FOH staff so it's quite a large operation - but this means a decent selection and high turnover of buffet items. I went for the construct your own Nasi Lemak station:



The buffet included machine coffee only, I used one of my drink vouchers on a cappuccino from the bar which was unfortunately not a huge step up from the buffet machine.

In short, the property has its downfalls and if money was no object I would pick one of the many 5* options in Singapore. But I don't regret my choice to stay here on this trip given the savings, and would absolutely stay again for the right price.

 

[sudoer]

Early check in/late out: Neither required but are listed on benefits paper

Unable to go back and edit post but I ended up asking for 3pm late checkout which was granted.

I also found out that rooms booked with the "extra benefits" rate, of which the benefits were extended to Platinums for free, include the lending of wifi hotspots and bicycles from reception - which I thought was quite good for an Ibis.

 

[Dr Bob]

Property; Sofitel Melbourne
Status; Platinum
Room Booked; Superior
Upgrade; High floor (49) bay views
Rate; Stay longer save more
Free Internet; Yes high speed / several years ago I couldn't log on to the guest internet ( something about security settings ) so an IT guy logged me into the main business internet so now my Mac recognises it every time so don't have to log in every visit.
Welcome Drink; Yes a voucher for 2 house selections
Early check in late check out; Asked for mid day check out extended to 2pm as they had to reset keys
VIP treatment; Chocolates only in room with card / no wine. Had turn down service with nightly chocolates & water.

Lounge was vastly improved on last visit in July, better wine selection, food selection and, importantly, staff. Breakfast was fresh and well prepared and served promptly. Bar closing at 10pm was disappointing so no coughtails after the show we went to / should have asked but assumed at least 11pm.

 

[SYD]

Property: Breakfree on Cashel, CHC
Status: Gold (via Ibis Business)
Room Booked: City Urban King
Upgrade: Top floor
Free Internet: Yes
Welcome Drink; Yes a voucher for 2 house selections of beer, wine
Early check in late check out: N/A
VIP treatment; Chocolates in room with card / bottle of water.

Flew into CHC to start a road trip to ZQN. Something was on in town - not sure what - but the Novotel was booked out. The CP was $350+ and even the Ibis was $280 on

This came up fairly cheap but went for a room with a window and view….


Room was basic, with a cruise ship style modular loo/shower but a reasonable lobby bar/cafe that does breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Whilst on the SE corner of town, it’s a short stagger to restaurants and bars. Plus, there was free on street parking out front after 5pm (Mon-Thu)!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Property: Breakfree on Cashel, CHC
Status: Gold (via Ibis Business)
Room Booked: City Urban King
Upgrade: Top floor
Free Internet: Yes
Welcome Drink; Yes a voucher for 2 house selections of beer, wine
Early check in late check out: N/A
VIP treatment; Chocolates in room with card / bottle of water.

Flew into CHC to start a road trip to ZQN. Something was on in town - not sure what - but the Novotel was booked out. The CP was $350+ and even the Ibis was $280 on

This came up fairly cheap but went for a room with a window and view….
View attachment 309214

Room was basic, with a cruise ship style modular loo/shower but a reasonable lobby bar/cafe that does breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Whilst on the SE corner of town, it’s a short stagger to restaurants and bars. Plus, there was free on street parking out front after 5pm (Mon-Thu)!

Thank you for sharing the review as I'm staying there on Sunday for 5 nights to attend a conference. Would be curious whether the hotel offers breakfast as I'll be Accor+Platinum then and would really like to pack in the carbs before heading to the conference!

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

Thank you for sharing the review as I'm staying there on Sunday for 5 nights to attend a conference. Would be curious whether the hotel offers breakfast as I'll be Accor+Platinum then and would really like to pack in the carbs before heading to the conference!

-RooFlyer88

I presume they’ll offer you something. From memory you can book the room + bfast option (which ought to be free for ALL Accor Ps.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I presume they’ll offer you something. From memory you can book the room + bfast option (which ought to be free for ALL Accor Ps.

Key question is whether my status upgrade will come through in time. I've currently got 58 nights this year, and am just about to complete a 7 night stay at the Ibis Styles CBR (more on that later) checking out tomorrow which would easily put me at Platinum status at 65 nights. I'm landing into CHC around midnight Sunday (so effectively Monday morning by the time I get to the hotel). Hopefully the couple of days between checking out at this hotel and checking in at CHC will be enough for the Platinum status to come through!

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

Key question is whether my status upgrade will come through in time. I've currently got 58 nights this year, and am just about to complete a 7 night stay at the Ibis Styles CBR (more on that later) checking out tomorrow which would easily put me at Platinum status at 65 nights. I'm landing into CHC around midnight Sunday (so effectively Monday morning by the time I get to the hotel). Hopefully the couple of days between checking out at this hotel and checking in at CHC will be enough for the Platinum status to come through!

-RooFlyer88

That’ll be pushing it but as I recall you may have asked previously, a status upgrade mid flight (stay) ought to provide benefits for the rest of the stay (possibly even retrospectively when it comes to settling the bill).

 

[PineappleSkip]

Property: Ibis Styles Elizabeth Street, Brisbane
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room Booked: Superior Queen River View
Upgrade: Yes, From a shoebox to a hatbox.
Deluxe corner room River view
Free Internet: Yes.
Welcome Drink: Yes, usual vouchers
Early check in late check out: didn't try
Welcome gift; Chocolates, water in room.

This hotel has nice views of the river from the upper floors. Restaurant was tres ordinaire.

 

[http_x92]

Decided to use my Accor plus free night at the Sofitel Brisbane Central, anyone know if the up to 50% off dining offer works for breakfast buffets? Or would it only be for a-la-carte items on the menu?

Gold member here.

 

[emilbulls]

Status: ALL Platinum

Property: Mercure Rouse Hill

Room booked: Superior Twin

Room upgraded/type: no

Rate: Corporate Rate

Free internet: Yes (Standard)

Welcome drink: Yes - 1 voucher which can be used in the adjacent pub, everything on tap can be selected, scored a niece pint of Stone & Wood; no free water or anything on the Romm

Early check in/late out: no needed

VIP treatment: tiny box of chocolates


Quite disappointing treatment. I got better treatments in some hotels as lousy silver
The pub next to the hotel is nice, also brekkie is served a la carte there which is a nice change to the usual breakfast options in hotels.

 

[rginoz]

Recently returned from a few weeks in the USA, including also short stops in Singapore and Tokyo along the way there and back. This was my experience as an ALL Platinum member.

New York City, Sofitel, booked six nights in a basic room. Was given a street front room overlooking West 44th St, no other upgrade, no mini bar etc. Two welcome drink vouchers, could be used for basically anything we wanted from the hotel bar. The room was looking tired and could do with some basic maintenance. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful, and the location on West 44th St. is very central to places tourists might want to visit.

Chicago, Sofitel Manificent Mile, three nights booked in a basic room. Upgraded on checkin to a multi-room suite, great views. Two free water bottles each day. Two welcome drink vouchers could be used for anything we wanted from the hotel bar. Hint - go to the bar at a non-busy time; it was bedlam there on a Friday night, with lots of very noisy walk-in customers making a display. The hotel was otherwise excellent.

Washington DC, Sofitel Lafayette Square, seven nights booked in a standard room. Upgraded on checkin to a multi-room suite on the fourth floor, looking inwards to a courtyard. We were happy with this arrangment and accepted the upgrade. Two free bottles of water each day, two welcome drink vouchers which could be used for anything we wanted from the hotel bar. The hotel charges a US$30 + tax per day additional fee for better internet access, free glasses of water in the evenings in the foyer, yoga sessions etc. (Treat it as a compulsory surcharge on the room rate). The suite was spacious and comfortable. The hotel staff were mostly invisible. But the location was great, just a short walk to the Washington Mall and the fabulous Smithsonian Galleries and Museums which are free to visit. Book well ahead if you want to visit the Capitol building - tickets are free but must be booked in advance. There were some OK coffee and eating options in the nearby area, especially if you like expensive, ordinary food, and indifferent service.

Tokyo Mercure Ginza. We stayed just one night. No upgrade, but a well-located comfortable hotel.

Singapore Grand Mercure Roxy. Total three nights. No upgrades, but always a comfortable and pleasant place to stay. No more free shuttle bus to/from the Airport, but taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

 

[Daver6]

Property: Pullman Aerocity
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room Booked: Base king
Upgrade: Yes, superior suite
Free Internet: Yes.
Welcome Drink: No. I didn't ask as I have lounge access and already swam through the week.
Early check in late check out: midday check-in and 4pm check-out pre-arranged by email
Welcome gift; No

Needed to overnight in DEL again. Previously stayed at the JW Marriott but base rate was ridiculous. I had also wanted to try the Pullman so here we are. Impressions are good. Good status recognition. Duty manager came to talk to me at check-in and offer any assistance. Happy to talk about off site restaurants etc.

The Novotel is right next door and connected. Can dine there and charge to the room here. Maybe not quite as shiny at the JW Marriott but at least I got some status recognition here. The lounge is smaller. I don't think breakfast is served there. I'll see what evening drinks and canapes are like later.

I'll confirm later, but I suspect if I was here again and rates were similar I'd go this over the JW Marriott just due to status recognition (only Bonvoy gold).



Last two above are room views.


Pool

 

[Daver6]

Property: Pullman Aerocity
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room Booked: Base king
Upgrade: Yes, superior suite
Free Internet: Yes.
Welcome Drink: No. I didn't ask as I have lounge access and already swam through the week.
Early check in late check out: midday check-in and 4pm check-out pre-arranged by email
Welcome gift; No

Needed to overnight in DEL again. Previously stayed at the JW Marriott but base rate was ridiculous. I had also wanted to try the Pullman so here we are. Impressions are good. Good status recognition. Duty manager came to talk to me at check-in and offer any assistance. Happy to talk about off site restaurants etc.

The Novotel is right next door and connected. Can dine there and charge to the room here. Maybe not quite as shiny at the JW Marriott but at least I got some status recognition here. The lounge is smaller. I don't think breakfast is served there. I'll see what evening drinks and canapes are like later.

I'll confirm later, but I suspect if I was here again and rates were similar I'd go this over the JW Marriott just due to status recognition (only Bonvoy gold).

View attachment 310315View attachment 310316View attachment 310317View attachment 310318View attachment 310319View attachment 310320View attachment 310321

Last two above are room views.


Pool
View attachment 310322

Welcome gift was just delivered (unprompted)

 

[Captain Halliday]

Recently returned from a few weeks in the USA, including also short stops in Singapore and Tokyo along the way there and back. This was my experience as an ALL Platinum member.

New York City, Sofitel, booked six nights in a basic room. Was given a street front room overlooking West 44th St, no other upgrade, no mini bar etc. Two welcome drink vouchers, could be used for basically anything we wanted from the hotel bar. The room was looking tired and could do with some basic maintenance. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful, and the location on West 44th St. is very central to places tourists might want to visit.

Chicago, Sofitel Manificent Mile, three nights booked in a basic room. Upgraded on checkin to a multi-room suite, great views. Two free water bottles each day. Two welcome drink vouchers could be used for anything we wanted from the hotel bar. Hint - go to the bar at a non-busy time; it was bedlam there on a Friday night, with lots of very noisy walk-in customers making a display. The hotel was otherwise excellent.

Washington DC, Sofitel Lafayette Square, seven nights booked in a standard room. Upgraded on checkin to a multi-room suite on the fourth floor, looking inwards to a courtyard. We were happy with this arrangment and accepted the upgrade. Two free bottles of water each day, two welcome drink vouchers which could be used for anything we wanted from the hotel bar. The hotel charges a US$30 + tax per day additional fee for better internet access, free glasses of water in the evenings in the foyer, yoga sessions etc. (Treat it as a compulsory surcharge on the room rate). The suite was spacious and comfortable. The hotel staff were mostly invisible. But the location was great, just a short walk to the Washington Mall and the fabulous Smithsonian Galleries and Museums which are free to visit. Book well ahead if you want to visit the Capitol building - tickets are free but must be booked in advance. There were some OK coffee and eating options in the nearby area, especially if you like expensive, ordinary food, and indifferent service.

Tokyo Mercure Ginza. We stayed just one night. No upgrade, but a well-located comfortable hotel.

Singapore Grand Mercure Roxy. Total three nights. No upgrades, but always a comfortable and pleasant place to stay. No more free shuttle bus to/from the Airport, but taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

Is the Roxy shuttle gone because the MRT has been completed out the front?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Property: Ibis Styles Canberra
Status: Accor+Gold
Room Booked: Standard Queen Room
Upgrade: Deluxe Room (Suite)
Free Internet: Yes. Good speeds too as I could upload some long videos to Youtube!
Welcome Drink: Yes two, although I had to "remind" them I'm Gold to get them. Didn't end up using them.
Early check in late check out: N/A
Welcome gift: Bottle of water?

I was staying at this hotel for 7 nights to attend a conference as well as to explore Canberra, thereby allowing me to finally tick the last territory off my list of Australia to visit. I was pleasantly surprised ending up a Suite room without being told beforehand of the upgrade. It's arguably one of the nicest rooms I've stayed at in an Ibis property (see photos). Housekeeping was a regular occurrence , something that can't be said for many hotels that use "COVID" as an excuse for only tidying rooms every 4th day that ends with banana. Like many Ibis properties the reception closes after 8 or 9 with the restaurant closing around the same time. There is a swimming pool just outside the hotel's restaurant. I didn't have much of an opportunity to go swimming so can't comment on the size of pool, temperature or alkalinity of the water. For those attending events in Canberra CBD it's probably not the most ideal location as it took me about 30 minutes by eScooter to get there from the hotel. That being said the price was right at ~$100/night which for Canberra ain't bad. Would definitely stay here again. The only downside is my stay hasn't yet posted (and it's been a week now) meaning I'll need to follow up to chase this stay down. Something I haven't done with Accor thus far.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Property: Breakfree on Cashel Christchurch
Status: Accor+Gold
Room Booked: City Urban Double
Upgrade: Maybe? Got room facing hill on stay 1 of 2
Free Internet: Yes. Acceptable speed.
Welcome Drink: Yes one for each "stay" (more on that later).
Early check in late check out: N/A
Welcome gift: Bag of chocolates one for each "stay" (more on that later).

I booked this hotel as I was to be presenting at a conference at Canterbury University in Christchurch. For those not from the area, this hotel isn't close to the University (which is located in the Ricarton suburb) but rather the CBD. Nevertheless, I always prefer staying in the CBD when possible and reckoned that I could just hire an eScooter to get me to/from the Uni (which was what happened). There were several reasons I booked this hotel - first reception would be open 24/7 which was important as my QF flight into CHC landed at 1:30 AM. Second, the price was right ($120 NZD/night). Third, I'd get free breakfast as I should have Accor+Platinum by the time of checkin (which didn't happen since the stay from the previous hotel didn't post at all that week meaning I was still stuck at Accor+Gold). I ended up staying a total of 5 nights at the hotel, but ultimately booked it under two reservations: one for a four night stay (which was initially the amount of time I thought I'd need to be in CHC and what was initially booked) and another for a one night stay (to allow me to stay an extra night for additional conference proceedings). When checking in, I inquired whether I could combine the two reservations or alternatively could just keep the same room but was told no I needed to check out and check back in again. Oh well. They also mentioned no can do on the breakfast since the system was showing Accor+Platinum.

So here's the room I got for my first stay:




Very basic "Euro" stye one comes to expect from only the finest Ibis properties! That being said, the view ain't bad from this room:


Here's the chocolate gift I received on each "stay":


My second "stay":



-RooFlyer88

 

[rginoz]

Is the Roxy shuttle gone because the MRT has been completed out the front?

Sadly Captain Halliday, the shuttle stopped because of Covid, when the Roxy became a quarantine hotel. The subway construction is continuing and won't finish for another two years, according to Mr Google. And it will be 2040 before the new line is planned to reach Changi (altho Changi access will be possible sooner, with a change of trains along the way).

 

[maia200]

Property: Breakfree on Cashel Christchurch
Status: Accor+Gold
Room Booked: City Urban Double
Upgrade: Maybe? Got room facing hill on stay 1 of 2
Free Internet: Yes. Acceptable speed.
Welcome Drink: Yes one for each "stay" (more on that later).
Early check in late check out: N/A
Welcome gift: Bag of chocolates one for each "stay" (more on that later).

I booked this hotel as I was to be presenting at a conference at Canterbury University in Christchurch. For those not from the area, this hotel isn't close to the University (which is located in the Ricarton suburb) but rather the CBD. Nevertheless, I always prefer staying in the CBD when possible and reckoned that I could just hire an eScooter to get me to/from the Uni (which was what happened). There were several reasons I booked this hotel - first reception would be open 24/7 which was important as my QF flight into CHC landed at 1:30 AM. Second, the price was right ($120 NZD/night). Third, I'd get free breakfast as I should have Accor+Platinum by the time of checkin (which didn't happen since the stay from the previous hotel didn't post at all that week meaning I was still stuck at Accor+Gold). I ended up staying a total of 5 nights at the hotel, but ultimately booked it under two reservations: one for a four night stay (which was initially the amount of time I thought I'd need to be in CHC and what was initially booked) and another for a one night stay (to allow me to stay an extra night for additional conference proceedings). When checking in, I inquired whether I could combine the two reservations or alternatively could just keep the same room but was told no I needed to check out and check back in again. Oh well. They also mentioned no can do on the breakfast since the system was showing Accor+Platinum.

So here's the room I got for my first stay:

View attachment 310359View attachment 310360
View attachment 310361

Very basic "Euro" stye one comes to expect from only the finest Ibis properties! That being said, the view ain't bad from this room:
View attachment 310362

Here's the chocolate gift I received on each "stay":
View attachment 310363

My second "stay":
View attachment 310364
View attachment 310365

-RooFlyer88

Quite a difference in rooms. ️

 

[SYD]

Quite a difference in rooms. ️

The 2nd room looks like the one we had last week. Still very basic bathroom but it was cheap for one night before heading off on a road trip. Being just on the edge of downtown, there was free street parking after 5pm!