How I maximised the value of an IHG reward night, including free lounge access

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• George says:

  27 Jul27 July 09:09

  You are in my head. I was planning exactly the same redemption, at the same hotel, but with two IHG credit card free nights. Maybe it’s an overkill now…

• Andrew says:

  27 Jul27 July 09:16

  I assume you just mention upon checking in that you have two bookings and can you just stay in the same room throughout?

  • Rob says:

    27 Jul27 July 09:22

    Yes. I also put it in the comments to the original bookings, including (on booking 2) listing the confirmation number for booking 1.

• shadowfixer says:

  27 Jul27 July 09:23

  Hi Raffles;
  Can you elaborate on *how* you managed to book the paid night and then the two reward nights on the same booking please?

  Thanks
  SF

  • barrycutters says:

    27 Jul27 July 13:22

    It wouldn’t have been same booking

• Nick says:

  27 Jul27 July 09:38

  Worth flagging that not all hotels are as generous- I have had stays on a mixture of bookings before where the hotel had expected me to move rooms I.e. Recognising ambassador benefits only for nights paid in cash direct with IHG, and downgrading me for adjacent nights booked on points, with vouchers or through 3rd parties. One can’t complain as them’s the rules, but it’s still a pain and inevitably I end up having to pay cash to upgrade the points nights so I don’t have to change rooms mid-stay

• CV3V says:

  27 Jul27 July 09:43

  When booking with the AMB certificate (which i am still waiting on arriving) on website, and on the AMB booking page/rate, my booking shows at the full rate for 2 nights although it does reference the AMB certificate i.e. it looks like being charged for both nights. Is this normal?

  Looking at booking the IC Nha Trang for 3 nights using the same approach as Raffles. The debate i am having is going with a standard room and paying for the huge breakfast spread or paying the inflated Ambassador rate, using certificate, and going all out with an Exec room and lounge access.

  • Genghis says:

    27 Jul27 July 10:35

    I asked this last week and was informed that it’s perfectly normal. Present your AMB voucher on arrival and the bill gets sorted out.

  • Leo says:

    27 Jul27 July 12:16

    It is confusing I agree – as a first time user I emailed the hotel direct for an explanation, which they happily gave – confirming that the AMB night does not actually make it onto the final bill which it didn’t. It was a simple process even without having a physical certificate due to non-arrival of pack.

• Butzi says:

  27 Jul27 July 10:02

  SAY WHAT?
  “Le Grand sells lounge access as an add-on for €120 per room per night for Ambassador members (€140 for non-members)”

  • Rob says:

    27 Jul27 July 11:43

    This is a good deal for a couple given you get fed all day and there is free flowing champagne and decent wine.

    • Butzi says:

      27 Jul27 July 12:38

      That makes 60 pP which is indeed a better ratio 🙂
      I was thinking of how much champagne I had to drink on my own for 120…

      • Rob says:

        27 Jul27 July 15:06

        Euro 120, so £50 each. I actually paid the full £100 just for myself when I was there in May – but I did get evening food and (lots of) drink, breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea snacks on both days (had 4pm check-out) for that.

        • Will says:

          27 Jul27 July 23:00

          Plus, if you know your going to be around the hotel for a large chunk of the day you at least shield yourself from an unexpected bar tab once your too merry to turn down another (10).

• Artem says:

  27 Jul27 July 10:10

  Raffles, the hint on booking a room when travelling with children is great.
  Have you thought about putting together an article on travelling with kids? I have 2 young kids now and when 4 of us are travelling the usual tricks don’t work.

  • 2bad4ya says:

    27 Jul27 July 13:51

    Great idea

    • Yuff says:

      27 Jul27 July 18:37

      Have just emailed the Conrad algarve that same question!!!

• trickster says:

  27 Jul27 July 13:17

  It’s always worth asking in advance on things I find.
  I managed to get an upgrade and lounge access at the CP Liverpool based on my Plat status, when booking a free night from my wife’s standard Club account!

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