Property: Hotel Chadstone Melbourne - MGallery Collection Status: Accor Gold Room booked: Classic Room with 1 King Size Bed Room upgraded/type: Yes, Superior Room with 1 King Size Bed, appears to be a bigger room on a higher floor Rate: Stay Plus Free internet: Yes Free Breakfast: Accor Dining Benefit Early check in/late out: Late check oou Welcome drink: Yes, 2 on the app Welcome gift: Yes, cake platter but no bottle of water Dislike: Pool is always crowded with family Staff: Check in staff was friendly and courteous. Concierge too.
One other thing I should have pointed out about the Novotel Melbourne airport is the access. They do run a shuttle bus but the easiest way is to walk, there are some signs (that take you the long way around) but the shortest route is to head towards the T4 drop off zone but don’t go up the escalators instead keep heading towards the regional bus bays, head across the first crossing down the bays starting row 7 and all the way to the end. The hotel is across the road it’s two lanes no crossing but an island in the middle and it’s not a busy road. If you take this route almost all of it’s undercover except for the road crossing right at the end.
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Property: Banyan Tree Bangkok Status: Accor+ Platinum Room booked: Base room but best view option Room upgraded/type: Yes, Serenity suite (average view?) Rate: flexible Free internet: Yes Free Breakfast: Yes. EL or main restaurant Early check in/late out: Neither required. Late checkout offered Welcome drink: Yes, 2 on the app Welcome gift: Yes. Some cakes plus fresh fruit in the room topped up daily.
All up a pretty good stay. Pim in the lounge who checked us in was amazing!
Lounge has all day beers as well as soft drinks, tea, coffee etc. Decent breakfast spread and other than one day, had breakfast in the lounge.
Gym was on the poor side in terms of equipment. Pool was nice enough and pleasant but very limited space. Once it was an issue for us but for a hotel if it's size, not sure how the pool copes when a bunch of people want to go.
Being a guest of the hotel gets you priority access to the various rooftop restaurants and bars. They did this really well actually. We dined at the Chinese restaurant one night as well as the Saffron River cruise which is run by the hotel. Wine lists at all restaurants were really poor though. The river cruise was worth doing IMHO. Food was excellent and I realise there are a bunch of different operators running such things, but this one seemed way more refined and the dining deck nicely air-conditioned with a glass roof. Also get an Accor+ discount for the cruise (I think it was 20%). Only disappointing aspect was having to make your own way to and from the boat. I think (even at an extra charge) it would be good if they offered a transfer service.
I’ve stayed at a few places in Perth in recent years; including the Ibis Styles East Perth and The Adnate. The latter was before I had joined A+ and this forum, so will post a review in 2 weeks time with an update.
Ibis Styles was a great location for walking distance to the WACA and Optus Stadium, which I was thankful for after a late Sunday arvo AFL game. But the rooms were average and pretty small as Ibis are. Service was pleasant and helpful though. The Adnate location is great for CBD and freeway access.
That's correct. And here's a pro-tip, if you hold Accor Platinum status you stand a good chance of getting upgraded to such a suite from the nose bleed seats:
I should note that the term "old and tired" is a very relative one. If, like me you pride yourself at staying at $60/night ibis budgets or Comfort Inn hotels, then it's not too tired. However, if you contrast it to something like a more modern Novotel then there's no contest:
Good central location and Miss Mi is there. I've heard decent things about the Adnate for not been there myself. The new Wonil hotel by UWA looks ok, but not a heck of a lot in terms of things around that area.
Generally, all of the boutique hotels Accor has are very nice. In other words, if it says Signature Collection or is a name that doesn't sound like a chain like Tribe, then it won't feel cookie cutter and by definition will have a degree of modernity to it.
Well that's the problem with Perth: a lack of luxury hotels. I mean you're never going to see a Ritz Carlton or an Intercontinental in a city like Perth. Oh wait, never mind. And I think that's the rub. If luxury is your concern, you need to throw any notion you have about brand loyalty out the window and see what is there. I know for some of us who have worked very hard to earn Platinum status with Accor (and by comparison only have lower level status with Marriott, say Gold) might be disappointed having to book another property and not receive the same benefits and recognition we get when staying at Accor but that is the trade off. On the flip side, if you can handle a mid-scale property that is somewhat dated, you can get good deals on the property and get recognition if you have Accor status.
One other thing I should have pointed out about the Novotel Melbourne airport is the access. They do run a shuttle bus but the easiest way is to walk, there are some signs (that take you the long way around) but the shortest route is to head towards the T4 drop off zone but don’t go up the escalators instead keep heading towards the regional bus bays, head across the first crossing down the bays starting row 7 and all the way to the end. The hotel is across the road it’s two lanes no crossing but an island in the middle and it’s not a busy road. If you take this route almost all of it’s undercover except for the road crossing right at the end.
Thanks @henrus
We popped in there recently to check it out when dropping family at T4. Mr Flyfrequently, along with all my c**p, will have his guitar (naturally) so it will be the shuttle
Slightly OT, but discovered Miss Mi at Movenpick Melbourne is closed on Mondays.
Fortunately, they apply the Accor Plus Dining discount with their Bar Street food menu - not all for me!
Property: FV by Peppers (Fortitude Valley, Brisbane) Status: Accor+ Platinum Room booked: Standard 1 bedroom apartment Room upgraded/type: No Rate: flexible Free internet: Yes Free Breakfast: No
Early check in/late out: Neither required Welcome drink: Bottle of wine in the room Welcome gift: No Recommended? No, under no circumstances.
I had stayed here one night before (without status) so had an inkling of what it would be like but it was so convenient to what I had to do while in Brisbane (plus very close to the train station), I gave it a go as a new Plat.
A shocker.
Parking - its park yourself nearby or 'valet' parking'. But to get the latter you have to hope there's somewhere to park outside, in a very busy location. I was told "if there's no spot, you might have to go round the block a few times". Sure enough this happened a couple of times. If they are busy at the desk or, one time "I'm here on my own" - there will be a decent wait for your car.
No recognition at all of status on check-in. Bottle of wine in room "if its not what you like you can bring it back and we'll replace it". I knew getting from reception to the room would be a hike, from before. Check-in; then to elevator # 1 - two, servicing 30 floors; always a queue. Get off at 6, walk around, out of the building, through the next building, into the third tower, call elevator #2, three this time for another 30 floors.
My standard enquiry if my standard request for a quiet room had been honoured met with the answer that she didn't know about the rooms. On pressing, she found some maps and I was, of course, close to the elevator but I could see that I wouldn't be impacted by people chatting there, so OK.
In the room, there was this note.
Now, that's very nice but sort of rubbing salt into the wound of no status stuff. I had to dash out straight away but discovered later that the room was very noisy - over-looking several very busy streets, not the quiet other side.
So, the apartment (my splashing!)
Typical apartment bathroom - impractical sink with no bench
And check this out - I assure you it's not me, but long term. Honestly - they think this is OK?
Lastly, the nice little balcony to have a sundowner. No - you sit there and you are blasted by hot air from the aircon.
Looks like we found one! With that being said, Accor is better than most hotels in offering this perk. Back when I was an SPG Gold, it was very hit or miss whether a property would provide free breakfast as a Gold member. If I were to stay at a Courtyard, generally no, but even staying at a Sheraton sometimes they didn't participate. Hilton was worse, since whilst there was always some breakfast benefit it varied by geography and brand. Staying at the Hilton Saint John in 2022 it was a $20 dining credit. Fast forward to this year and it's back to continental breakfast.
Not a complete shocker here. Many properties I've stayed at with Accor are the same way. In particular, a few properties I had to remind reception to check to see if they left an envelope for me (usually as a Platinum management will have an envelope containing a welcome letter and drink vouchers, although that might be changing as more hotels accept the digital ones).
My standard enquiry if my standard request for a quiet room had been honoured met with the answer that she didn't know about the rooms. On pressing, she found some maps and I was, of course, close to the elevator but I could see that I wouldn't be impacted by people chatting there, so OK.
Now, that's very nice but sort of rubbing salt into the wound of no status stuff. I had to dash out straight away but discovered later that the room was very noisy - over-looking several very busy streets, not the quiet other side.
In fairness, that's an issue staying anywhere in Fortitude Valley. Plenty of party goers at all times. It's sort of like being surprised at the noise staying in the Gold Coast, the Las Vegas of Australia!
As to your point that you wouldn't recommend staying here, I would agree with your assessment given the review. Indeed, there are solid Accor properties to stay at in Brisbane that will treat you better. Off the top of my head:
The former whilst yes an ibis, is actually quite well appointed, usually competitively priced and in a central location, oh and they do treat Platinums well there. The Mercure is the slightly upscale option. Generally speaking, this is why I tend to avoid apartment hotels like these. Yes the rooms are much better appointed but chances are you won't be treated as well as an elite and they won't have the same facilities that a Mercure or Novotel will have (e.g. gym, breakfast).
In fairness, that's an issue staying anywhere in Fortitude Valley. Plenty of party goers at all times. It's sort of like being surprised at the noise staying in the Gold Coast, the Las Vegas of Australia!
As to your point that you wouldn't recommend staying here, I would agree with your assessment given the review. Indeed, there are solid Accor properties to stay at in Brisbane that will treat you better. Off the top of my head:
The definitely was a quiet(er) side to this hotel. Not mine though.
Yes, I usually stay at The Johnson at Spring Hill. Also an apartment type place with no breakfast and wine-in-the-room but 100% better than FV Peppers. I chose FV Peppers this time due to a particular need to be close to a function.
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