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My son has Amex Platinum and added me as a supp Platinum cardholder.
The whole family plus partners, 10 of us, are going on holiday to Germany and I want to grab an FHR deal on the Kempinski Berchtesgaden.
I understand there is a 3 room limit for FHR terms, but can he book 3 rooms on his card and then I book 2 more rooms for the same 2 nights on my card and we still enjoy the FHR enhanced terms ($100 credit, late checkout etc) on all 5 rooms ? I couldn’t find a clear answer to this in the couple of articles I checked, sorry 😉The FHR terms, including the three room limit are supposed to be per party rather than per card, but I’m not sure how that is policed. A hotel in Germany is likely to be a little bit more punctilious/rule bound than one elsewhere. Assuming the hotel is also on Virtuoso, you could split the booking to be sure and not risk being banned from FHR. That said, both of those booking channels require you to pay the top whack price but then throw you a few bones in terms of F&B credit, breakfast, later check out. It would be extraordinary if you couldn’t get a cheaper overall package contacting the hotel directly and probably additional benefits as well if you ask for ones that would suit you. I find Kempinski extremely flexible/generous in this regard.
JDB – thanks. THe FHR deal has better perks than either the hotel’s own website or booking.com, for the same room rate, but you reckon I could get a better deal by calling them direct ? (Especially if I’m taking 5 rooms, right) Not done this before, and as you say the Germans are pretty rule bound, any tips for who within the hotel or organisation to target ?
As an aside, just how frickin’ expensive is Bavaria these days ?! The Kempinski is now actually cheaper than our previous go-to, the Edelweiss, which is now over 400 euros a night for a basic room on B&B basis in mid September.
JDB – thanks. THe FHR deal has better perks than either the hotel’s own website or booking.com, for the same room rate, but you reckon I could get a better deal by calling them direct ? (Especially if I’m taking 5 rooms, right) Not done this before, and as you say the Germans are pretty rule bound, any tips for who within the hotel or organisation to target ?
Yes, I would expect them to offer you a meaningfully better deal for one room, let alone five. FHR and Booking.com require the hotel to pay them a commission, plus often delayed payment on prepaid rates. The hotel’s own website is like the price in an antique shop window – a starting guide price. I would initially aim to speak to the reservation manager, and butter them up about their wonderful hotel, special family occasion, five rooms, imagine they would prefer you booked directly rather then pay away commissions but those channels do offer you benefits…
As an aside, just how frickin’ expensive is Bavaria these days ?! The Kempinski is now actually cheaper than our previous go-to, the Edelweiss, which is now over 400 euros a night for a basic room on B&B basis in mid September.
Much of Europe is now horribly expensive/bad value unfortunately! One needs to stick to Spain, Eastern Europe and some parts of rural France or further afield, South America and China. Even countries like Greece have got silly.
Just reporting back. Called the hotel, spoke to someone who was charming and obviously trying to be helpful, but… no dice. Apparently they are contractually obliged not to undercut the FHR rate. Hmmm. They could give me a “member rate” which is no better than via the website, but that only saves 80 euros a room over 2 nights vs FHR, which isn’t as valuable as about 90 euros food credit plus likely room upgrade (she confirmed they do try to give upgrades to FHR and will double upgrade if necessary) plus 4pm checkout.
(just confirming also – this hotel isn’t available via Virtuoso, have checked with Rob’s contact)
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