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Agree with @Go197 – worth having if you stay at IC’s. You definitely get better treatment.
I joined at the end of last year to extend my Diamond status even though my husband is a long term Ambassador – means we have two weekend vouchers to use this year.
While I have you all here, can someone explain the appeal of the IC Amb?
I understand the free weekend night, but you need to book a certain rate for it? So the real savings could be less than expected? And you have to pay for breakfast. To me it sounds like, you pay to get Amb and use it to pay for breakfast for a couple for two nights.
What am I a missing?The AMB weekend rate isn’t always a lot more than the BFR. I used it at IC Athens last summer and these two rates were practically indistinguishable, so it was basically half price. If I see that they’re taking the mick with the AMB BOGOF rate (like 50-60% more than BFR as IC Dubai Marina once had) I simply won’t use it there.
I’m Diamond Ambassador so having the breakfast for free makes ICs a lot more attractive than before. Now that I’ve got the Lounge Pass also then staying at ICs is a no-brainer where I can find a decent rate.
Any thoughts on the Las Vegas ICs – at the Venetian resort? Do they operate on the same AMB principles?
Very few readers seems to travel west?!!
Lots of great options here, thanks all.
I think Estoril might be top of my list for a weekend away this year with and Rome or Bucharest soon as well.
Has anyone been to the IC Ljubljana? Have an overnighter booked though Amex FHR in early April.
Check that the Club Lounge is open if you have lounge access or are booking a Club room.
I stayed there in June and when I booked the stay (3 days beforehand) the room details and reservation confirmation both said I could enjoy access to the Club facilities (lounge pics included). However, when I checked in the FD guy said the lounge had been closed since the pandemic and they had not bothered ever to reopen it due to staffing issues. I showed him the reservation in my app, which clearly stated lounge access, and he just shrugged his shoulders and offered me an F&B voucher as comp (in addition to the standard Ambassador credit).
There was still nothing on the website to indicate the lounge had been closed. Anyone booking it would naturally assume that it was available.
Apart from that, I really enjoyed the LJU IC. Great rooftop bar and restaurant, plus the swimming pool and sauna area. The staff were all nice, other than the guy who checked me in as he seemed totally indifferent about the lounge situation and acted like there was nothing strange about selling Club Intercontinental packages for a lounge that had been closed for over a year.
Any thoughts on the Las Vegas ICs – at the Venetian resort? Do they operate on the same AMB principles?
Very few readers seems to travel west?!!
Yes I did Palazzo on IHG points in August. Got a room upgrade, 4pm check out, points, etc. Did not get the Diamond breakfast – IHG t&cs now clearly state this exemption but didn’t at time of my stay so I got points compensation in lieu of breakfast. Anyone staying now simply will be expected to know they’re not getting breakfast.
As for the hotel, it’s on the northern end of the strip so mercifully distant from the worst sleazy parts. The Palazzo feels more relaxed than the very busy Venetian. Pool loungers are a pitched battle daily to secure if not down at opening. Ridiculously early pool deck closure time of around 17.30 if I recall. Fashion Show mall is an easy walk across 2 elevated walkways. I’d stay again on points if the right price but I preferred Crockfords LXR at Resorts World.Any thoughts on the Las Vegas ICs – at the Venetian resort? Do they operate on the same AMB principles?
Very few readers seems to travel west?!!
Very different principles. See the InterContinental Alliance Resorts section of the Ambassador terms:
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/content/gb/en/ambassador/terms-conditions#iaresort
I thought the Vegas properties were leaving IHG?
I thought the Vegas properties were leaving IHG?
So people keep saying here but I’ve seen the Palazzo available for points this summer. Points rates are good midweek when even lower than already low cash prices. But weekends in Vegas are where an Amex FHR deal can be your best option.
Any thoughts on the Lyon hotel?
Any thoughts on the Lyon hotel?
It was built as a sister to the Marseille one. If it’s to the same standard it will be fabulous.
Has anyone been to the IC Ljubljana? Have an overnighter booked though Amex FHR in early April.
Check that the Club Lounge is open if you have lounge access or are booking a Club room.
I stayed there in June and when I booked the stay (3 days beforehand) the room details and reservation confirmation both said I could enjoy access to the Club facilities (lounge pics included). However, when I checked in the FD guy said the lounge had been closed since the pandemic and they had not bothered ever to reopen it due to staffing issues. I showed him the reservation in my app, which clearly stated lounge access, and he just shrugged his shoulders and offered me an F&B voucher as comp (in addition to the standard Ambassador credit).
There was still nothing on the website to indicate the lounge had been closed. Anyone booking it would naturally assume that it was available.
Apart from that, I really enjoyed the LJU IC. Great rooftop bar and restaurant, plus the swimming pool and sauna area. The staff were all nice, other than the guy who checked me in as he seemed totally indifferent about the lounge situation and acted like there was nothing strange about selling Club Intercontinental packages for a lounge that had been closed for over a year.
I had a similar experience in September 2021 and even back then club lounges were re-open in most other hotels around Europe.
They were using the club lounge space for conferences / business meetings and I wondered how long it would be before they ever let go of that extra income stream and choose to resume spending money on providing a club service.
I also had a room that was overlooked by an office building and so had zero privacy. They told me the windows had privacy glass and nobody could see in. I went outside and took a photo showing a clear view into the room.
I persisted with my complaints about the club lounge failure and the lack of privacy, until they relented and agreed to give me a different room.
The only room available was the top floor Presidential Suite. That gave me probably the best view from any hotel in Ljubljana.
My first stay at an Intercontinental was the Intercon Phonm Penh when I was a young adult. First time I experienced staying at a 5* luxury hotel. Been keen on luxury travel ever since! First experience of a club lounge which needless to say was great.It was a lovely hotel, bit of a shame that one has now closed.
I’ve been interested in the brand in more recent years and stayed at both the IC Park Lane and the IC O2 in London. I personally much preferred the Park Lane IC over the o2 one. The o2 one had fairly poor service in the club lounge for breakfast last summer whereas the Park Lane service was quick.
Also stayed at the Intercontinental Lisbon which I really enjoyed, lovely staff and modern decor and rooms which I personally prefer although I know is not the traditional Intercon setup. Whilst there is a club lounge, it seems to be a more exclusive one with no rooms including access in the room rate, either be a RA or pay a fee to access daily. Not either, was only a diamond ambassador so don’t know what that was like but the breakfast in the breakfast restaurant was pretty good. However I really disliked the sausages, I couldn’t eat them and I love sausages but everything else on offer was great. Best buffet scrambled eggs I’ve had, normally I don’t go for them as they are the processed, not fresh kind but these ones tasted great.
Looking forward to the next stay at the LeGrand in April on points. Not sure why it seems to get rave reviews, rooms appear small and old-fashioned on a points booking, hopefully will get an upgrade but can’t complain as booked on a heavily discounted points sale. No breakfast as diamond will expire by then, how much is a breakfast at the LeGrand or should I just go out to eat?
Interested in any European IC recommendations with with a good lounge, hard to figure out what IC’s offer a club lounge as that section of the site that listed seems to have been removed
Interested in any European IC recommendations with with a good lounge, hard to figure out what IC’s offer a club lounge as that section of the site that listed seems to have been removed
There’s a new thread for 2023 on the IHG forum at Flyertalk which has a Wiki of all the ICs with lounges. There are symbols alongside each property
CL = Club Lounge
V = verified as open recently by FT member
% = closed
DLS = Dual Lounge Standard. A few hotels (IC Tel Aviv) have two lounges and the lounge for people who get free access will be inferior.So check the section for Europe, then you can click on the link for individual threads giving user reports on that property.
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Looking forward to the next stay at the LeGrand in April on points. Not sure why it seems to get rave reviews, rooms appear small and old-fashioned on a points booking, hopefully will get an upgrade but can’t complain as booked on a heavily discounted points sale. No breakfast as diamond will expire by then, how much is a breakfast at the LeGrand or should I just go out to eat?
Can’t you extend Diamond by buying or renewing Ambassador? That’s the usual trick.
[…]
Looking forward to the next stay at the LeGrand in April on points. Not sure why it seems to get rave reviews, rooms appear small and old-fashioned on a points booking, hopefully will get an upgrade but can’t complain as booked on a heavily discounted points sale. No breakfast as diamond will expire by then, how much is a breakfast at the LeGrand or should I just go out to eat?
Can’t you extend Diamond by buying or renewing Ambassador? That’s the usual trick.
Sadly not as was already ambassador when I got the free upgrade to diamond.
Can’t you extend Diamond by buying or renewing Ambassador? That’s the usual trick.
Sadly not as was already ambassador when I got the free upgrade to diamond.
So your current Diamond status will cease at the end of February when the status resets, correct?
It’s just that someone on Flyertalk posted that they had official Diamond status till 31/12/22. They were still showing Diamond in the first week of January (as the status won’t reset until end of Feb) and they decided to purchase Ambassador for 40k points. Result: their Diamond status is now showing valid until 31/12/2024!
You can renew AMB within 90 days of expiry so if your membership is due to finish before the end of May then maybe you could try renewing it before the end of February and see how it goes?
IHG IT has plenty of quirks and they often work in our favour 🙂
So your current Diamond status will cease at the end of February when the status resets, correct?
Yep that’s correct.
It’s just that someone on Flyertalk posted that they had official Diamond status till 31/12/22. They were still showing Diamond in the first week of January (as the status won’t reset until end of Feb) and they decided to purchase Ambassador for 40k points. Result: their Diamond status is now showing valid until 31/12/2024!
I’m jealous, that worked out well!
You can renew AMB within 90 days of expiry so if your membership is due to finish before the end of May then maybe you could try renewing it before the end of February and see how it goes?
Sadly not it’s later on, was kicking myself at the time for renewing ambassador about a month before the deal which prevented me from keeping it. Still grateful for being able to use diamond for that period. Let’s hope there’s another easy promotion or challenge to diamond this year.
Our favourite ICs have been Shanghai Ruijin (upgraded to a 2 room suite and lovely grounds) and Barcelona (lounge and spa staff/facilities were excellent).
Also booked Venetian with points previously.Our favourite ICs have been Shanghai Ruijin (upgraded to a 2 room suite and lovely grounds) and Barcelona (lounge and spa staff/facilities were excellent).
Also booked Venetian with points previously.Was at Barcelona recently, never knew it had a lounge (granted I didn’t have access then), great hotel, a slight shame about the location imo but you can’t win them all.
Resurrecting this – what do people think of the IC Berlin? It looks to be quite far from the main tourist sites but I have an Ambassador certificate to burn and Ubers seem plentiful and inexpensive. Does the junior suite have a door between the bedroom and living room? We have 3 nights next month with the teenager and trying to find the best option which will give us all some privacy!
Resurrecting this – what do people think of the IC Berlin? It looks to be quite far from the main tourist sites but I have an Ambassador certificate to burn and Ubers seem plentiful and inexpensive. Does the junior suite have a door between the bedroom and living room? We have 3 nights next month with the teenager and trying to find the best option which will give us all some privacy!
Cash rates are so cheap there it’s hardly ever a good use of the AMB cert. You can pick up the tour buses easily enough from the zoo gate.
Resurrecting this – what do people think of the IC Berlin? It looks to be quite far from the main tourist sites but I have an Ambassador certificate to burn and Ubers seem plentiful and inexpensive. Does the junior suite have a door between the bedroom and living room? We have 3 nights next month with the teenager and trying to find the best option which will give us all some privacy!
Public transport in Berlin is very efficient. There is a 200 bus stop right outside the IC and that can take you to the main sights in the city. There’s also a 100 bus stop 5 minute walk away and the U-Bhan from the Zoo too.
If you have time Potsdam is well worth a day trip – lots of palaces and gardens
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