Today: Review of the Shangri-La Hotel, Doha (Qatar).

• Location: Google Maps
• Address: Conference Centre Street, P.O.Box 9282, Doha, Qatar
• Hotel website: Shangri-La Doha

In a city that treasures the past and welcomes the future, the five-star Shangri-La Hotel, Doha towers over the district of West Bay, the town’s diverse business hub. The 50-storey hotel blends Asian graciousness with Arabian warmth, offering 272 luxuriously appointed accommodations, a variety of exciting dining experiences, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, and a host of leisure options.

In this review (more info below my Youtube clip & slideshow):

• Pros & things I like
• Cons & things to know
• My verdict
• Tips for future guests & save money
• Best time to visit
• How to get there

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PROS & THINGS I LIKE

• Shangri-La Hotel, Doha is centrally located in the commercial district of West Bay, with easy access to the business and diplomatic areas and direct links to City Center Mall, one of the largest malls in the Gulf. Only a 20-minute drive from Hamad International Airport, the hotel is also close to several attractions, such the Museum of Islamic Art and the Souq Waqif.

• The hotel is housed in a new, glittering, 50-storey tower that resembles a falcon’s head in a nod to Qatari falconry, the country’s historic pastime. It only opened last January, so everything is shiny and new.

• The Shangri-La skyscraper is part of the Doha City Center complex, which comprises five high-rise hotel towers in total: two hotel towers are built at the west end of the City Center Mall (operated by Marriott and Renaissance) while the three other towers are located on the east side of the mall (operated by Rotana, Merweb, and Shangri-La). All hotel towers are linked at the podium levels and via the massive shopping complex.

• A massive bottle tree and a falcon, a symbol of Qatar’s ancient falconry tradition, welcome arrivals at the main entrance. Inside the ornate lobby, a sparkling multi-faceted chandelier hangs from a vast golden dome and scatters its brilliance over the floor. The gleaming hallmarks of opulence are delicately balanced by the floral-patterned wall behind the front desk, where staff attired in red and gold move with unhurried grace.

• An lovely scent permeates the hotel’s communal areas. Created exclusively for the company and called the “Essence of Shangri-La”, the signature fragrance is a mixture of vanilla, sandal, musk, bergamot and tea spiced with ginger.

• Each of the 272 modern guestrooms and suites features a warm, stylish design and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in an abundance of natural light and showcase scenic views of the city and the Arabian Gulf beyond. During my visit, I stayed in a spacious deluxe room on the 39th floor. It featured two Shangri-La’s signature single beds (utilising patented body-contouring technology), a full-size executive writing desk, and a bathroom with deep-soaking tub and a walk-in rain shower.

• The hotel offers a wide range of sophisticated cuisines in vibrant restaurants and bars, from the interactive all-day dining experience at Sridan to authentic South American favourites at Fuego, creative seafood selection at Yabby, beautifully designed pastries at the Lobby Lounge, light refreshments at the al fresco Pool Bar and signature concoctions at The Den, Doha’s first non-smoking piano lounge.

• The hotel’s seventh-floor Health Club features some of Doha’s finest recreational facilities, including a fully equipped, 24-hour fitness centre, steam and sauna rooms. But the real highlight is the spectacular tree-lined pool deck, where you can slip into the large, curving outdoor pool, have a drink at the swim-up bar, relax in the jacuzzi, or simply luxuriate and soak up the sun. Despite being surrounded by skyscrapers, the pool deck enjoys brilliant sunshine from around noon until sunset because of its orientation.

• Hotel guests and Qatar residents seeking to improve their holistic well-being can indulge in a rejuvenating signature treatment at the luxurious CHI, The Spa, which features eight private treatment rooms, an outdoor hydrotonic pool, and a team of highly skilled therapists.

• The Horizon Club Lounge is the largest executive lounge in Doha and offers 360-degree panoramic views of the city. Guests who book a Horizon Club room have access to the lounge and a wide range of privileges such as in-room check-in/out, a dedicated Club Concierge, suit pressing and shoe shine service, beverages, breakfast, and evening cocktails with canapés.

• The hotel is managed by the Hong Kong based Shangri-La Hotel Group, which currently owns and/or manages 95 five-star deluxe properties under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of 39,000.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Just a few months after its official opening, the Shangri-La Hotel is already Doha’s best luxury hotel, exceeding the experience offered by its high-end competitors St Regis and Four Seasons (the latter two both suffering from an old-fashioned design and lack of sunshine in the afternoon). The hotel has no real cons, just some minor issues that you may want to know when considering a stay here: 

• The hotel is located in the centre of Doha, not along the seashore. While this may not seem ideal for those looking for a recreational holiday, it should not put you off as the large pool deck is gorgeous, and in fact enjoys even more sun exposure as compared to the high-rise hotels along the beach (which throw their shade on the beach in the afternoon). And if you are in need of a beach, walking a few blocks will bring you to the corniche, the waterfront promenade extending for several kilometers along Doha Bay which features a couple of beaches.

• The water in the pool is very cold. While this is a blessing in Qatar’s very humid and hot summer, in winter, swimming in the pool is a very chilly experience. I feel it would be better if the hotel would heat the pool in winter. In addition, the water in the jacuzzi was not warm.

MY VERDICT

• Location: 8/10
• Design: 8/10
• Rooms: 8/10
• Food: 9/10
• Service: 9/10
• Overall experience: very good: 8,4/10

TIPS & SAVE MONEY

• Save money: read my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like the Shangri-La Doha. Book a room at the cheapest price and/or receive many free perks!

• Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Qatar has a moderate desert climate with extremely hot summers and mild winters. Temperatures range from a low around 7°C (45°F) in winter to a high of around 42°C (118°F) in summer. Humidity levels can be extremely high on the coast during the summer. Rainfall is scarce (average 70 mm per year), falling on isolated days mainly between October and March.

HOW TO GET THERE

The hotel is located a 20-minute drive from Hamad International Airport. Check the Wikipedia page of Hamad International Airport for an updated list of airlines that offer direct flights to Doha.

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The post Review: the Shangri-La Hotel, Doha (Qatar) appeared first on the Luxury Travel Expert.

Today (March 21, 2016): Top 10: luxury hotels that disappointed me.

My luxury travel blog is all about inspiring you, and recommending the best places to stay around the globe. However, from time to time, a holiday at a luxury hotel can turn into a disappointing event, whether it be because of a service problem, a poor decor, bad food, or exorbitant prices that are not in line with the  experience offered. Indeed, there is no excuse for a hotel that costs more than – let’s say – 500 USD per night to be anything other than brilliant, especially when that hotel belongs to the portfolio of one of the world’s most luxurious hotel brands. I hereby share with you my 10 most disappointing hotel experiences at famous luxury hotels that did not live up to their reputation and that I wished I had not given my money to.

There is more information below the slideshow. Did you ever stay at a luxury hotel that disappointed you? Leave it in the comments below.

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10. SUNSET KEY COTTAGES, KEY WEST, USA: LACK OF SERVICE

Sunset Key Cottages, a Luxury Collection Resort, enjoys a spectacular location on gorgeous Sunset Key, a secluded 27-acre island seven minutes by launch from Key West, the gateway to the Islands of Caribbean. It’s one of Florida’s most expensive and exclusive hotels. The private island setting of the resort is terrific indeed, and the on-site restaurant offers mouth-watering dishes, but apart from that, the resort has a very mediocre decor that is more reminiscent of a motel than an exclusive enclave, and above all, during my stay, there was an absolute lack of service. For example, upon arrival at the island (with the resort’s private boat), there were no staff members present to welcome guests and I was confused about where to go for check-in. At the beach, service was non-existing for the two consecutive days that I was there. At a given point, I wanted to order lunch, and finally after one hour a waiter appeared but he told me that he had just finished his duty and could not take orders anymore. The worst part was that for the two days I was there, the room was not cleaned and the beds were never made up (despite multiple calls to the housekeeping staff). Totally unacceptable for a hotel of this caliber, but apologies were never offered, not even at check-out. If you are holidaying in the Florida Keys, your best choice is Little Palm Island, which I liked a lot and did not regret spending my money on.

• Hotel website: Sunset Key Cottages, a Luxury Collection Hotel

9. AMANRUYA BODRUM, TURKEY: WRONG LOCATION

Amanruya is an über-luxurious resort located in a picturesque bay of the Bodrum Peninsula. Named after the Sanskrit word for peace, ‘aman’, and the Turkish word for dream, Amanruya belongs to the portfolio of Aman, the world’s most exclusive hotel brand. It’s probably the only Aman resort that I did not like that much because of its suboptimal and somewhat puzzling location. The resort is set on a hill with pine trees and foliage sprouting up everywhere, blocking the view of the Mediterranean Sea and making you feel disconnected from the maritime environment. It is a mystery to me why the resort was not built closer to the sea since there is plenty of space along the shore that is not used. In addition, because of its hillside location and orientation towards the east, the resort is in the shade several hours before sunset; it does not have a real beach (although it promotes to have one); and from time to time, wasps can be a real problem and ruin the outdoor experience. Usually, Aman Resorts occupy the very best spot in the area where they are built, but that’s not the case in Bodrum, where Amanruya’s location is inferior to that of its high-end competitors Mandarin Oriental Bodrum and Jumeirah Palace Bodrum.

• Hotel website: Amanruya
• Review: to read my review of Amanruya, click here.

8. LONGITUDE 131°, AUSTRALIA: OVERPRICED

Longitude 131° is one of Australia’s most unusual lodges. It is located in the spirited heart and red centre of the country, commanding spectacular views of the outback icon Uluru and World Heritage listed wilderness of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. However, the lodge has one major problem: it is exuberantly overpriced for what you get. The management takes advantage of the lure of Uluru and the lack of luxury competitors in the area to charge insane rates. If Uluru is on your bucket list – and frankly, it should be – then “bite the bullet” and pay the price but be aware that you are not getting 1000 AUD per night per person (!!) worth of value. Things that I did not like: excursions are done in group, the tented pavilions are fine (but not luxurious), the tiny pool is uninviting, and the main restaurant serves delicious food but feels soulless. The good news is that the lodge is set to be renovated, with upgrading the pool and adding balconies to tents.

• Hotel website: Longitude 131°
• Review: to read my review of Longitude 131°, click here.

7. W PARIS OPERA, FRANCE: SUPERTINY ROOM

Near landmark museums, the Opéra Garner, and the famous shops and dining of Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, W Paris Opéra bills itself as one of the best hotels in the French capital, amplifying the colorful culture of Paris with its dynamic spark. And while there are several good things to be said about the hotel (such as the super central location, the great staff, and the young vibe), there’s no denying that hotel has one major shortcoming: the hotel spaces are very cramped, and even feel claustrophobic. The lobby has the ambiance of a closet, the gym area is too small, and the supertiny rooms seem designed for hobbits. Because of my SPG status, I was upgraded to a so-called “spectacular room” during my stay, which was still very tiny so I cannot imagine how small the lower category rooms must be. In addition, I was there during a rare Parisian heat wave and the air conditioning did not work nor was it fixed during my stay, despite me contacting the staff multiple times (which made the whole experience quite miserable). Despite being a very loyal SPG customer, I will not return to the W Paris Opéra anytime soon.

• Hotel website: W Paris Opéra

6. SAN CLEMENTE PALACE, VENICE: CREEPY DESIGN

San Clemente Palace Venice is one of Venice’s most famous hotels. The retreat sits on its own private island in the heart of the Venice lagoon, just minutes away from Piazza San Marco by one of the hotels iconic complimentary boats. The upscale hotel offers 6 hectares of majestic gardens, a private 15th century church ideal for celebrations, and 189 spacious suites and rooms. But no matter how beautiful the hotel is from the outside, its interiors are a huge disappointment (even downright creepy). The hotel buildings are massive, with a complex labyrinth of very long, intimidating hallways that could easily feature as the background of a horror movie (especially at night). The place does not feel intimate nor inviting, and rather intimidates its guests. In addition, room furniture is very old-fashioned and far from classy. Last year, the hotel shifted management in just a few months time, which is never a good sign: it was a St Regis hotel for a couple of months, before it was taken over by Kempinski. I visited the place when the hotel was still managed by St Regis, and frankly, the hotel was a shame to the brand because the interiors and design of San Clemente Palace are not in line with the ultraluxurious character of St Regis’ other properties (so it does not surprise me that they dumped it a few months after the opening). I can only hope that Kempinksi will hire a design team and refurbish the rooms to turn this place into an amazing 5-star hotel (as it has the potential to be one).

• Hotel website: San Clemente Palace Kempinski
• Review: to read my review of San Clemente Palace, click here.

5. ONE&ONLY LE SAINT GERAN, MAURITIUS: IN NEED OF RENOVATION

One&Only Le Saint Géran basks on the golden peninsula of Belle Mare on Mauritius’ northeast coast, surrounded by 60 acres of tropical gardens and thousands of swaying coconut trees. The location is quite stunning and the terraced and balconied rooms all face out privately to the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. The famous hotel, which opened in 1975, has a reputation for being one of the pioneers of luxury travel in the Indian Ocean and has long been the jewel in Mauritius’ crown. However, while its design was cutting edge in the last century, the resort’s room and communal areas are now in desperate need of facelift, especially since the resort continues charging its guests the island’s most expensive room rates based on its outdated reputation. Although the One&Only Le saint Geran used to be the Grand Dame of Mauritius, there are now far better and more luxurious accommodations to be found on the island of Mauritius, such as the St Regis Mauritius and the Four Seasons Resort at Anahita. Unfortunately, IMHO, this One&Only resort in no way measure up to all the other brilliant One&Only resorts, and I can only hope that the One&Only Hotel Group will soon start a refurbishment of this otherwise excellent resort.

• Hotel website: One&Only Le Saint Géran

4. PARK HYATT SHANGHAI, CHINA: POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Park Hyatt Shanghai is a sophisticated, 5-star luxury hotel located in the heart of Shanghai’s Pudong business district. Occupying floors 79 to 93 of the Shanghai World Financial Center, it is the world’s second highest hotel (behind the The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong). Soaring above this Chinese metropolis, guests can take in sweeping views of the city skyline and Huangpu River from any of the 174 luxury rooms & suites. Unfortunately, I fell sick during my stay (influenza-like symptoms). Nothing too bad but very inconvenient nonetheless. While this was not the fault of the hotel of course, their ‘attitude’ during the last day of my stay disappointed me. Check-out time was noon, but my flight departed only in the evening at 11 pm. All I wanted to do was sleep and rest while waiting for my longhaul flight back home, so I requested a late check-out. I was denied this possibility (unless I booked a new night), despite the fact that the receptionist could observe that I was not faking my symptoms and that the occupancy rate that day was only 65% (which I later learned from the hotel staff). So, I went to the pool, and had some sleep on the loungers there for the remainder of the day (which was quite embarrassing). I understand that hotels cannot always offer late check-outs because of organisational reasons or because their occupancy rate does not allow them to do so, but in this case, I think they should have done it, simply because the room was available anyhow and because I was feeling very sick. But the staff made no effort to understand my needs and the hotel’s poor customer service left a very bad taste in my mouth.

• Hotel website: Park Hyatt Shanghai
• Review: to read my review of the Park Hyatt Shanghai, click here.

3. MANDARIN ORIENTAL MUNICH, GERMANY: LET ME DOWN TWICE

Tucked away in a quiet side street, Mandarin Oriental Munich offers an enticing mix of Oriental style, German charm and internationally renowned service. Bust despite being Munich’s most luxurious property, I was confronted with a double disappointment during my stay. Initially, I had booked a stay in September 2014, but when I was on my way to the airport to catch my flight to Munich, I was contacted over the phone by the hotel’s management to inform me that the hotel was overbooked, and that I could not be accommodated at the hotel that night. They offered me an alternate hotel, which I declined (since the whole purpose of my trip to Munich was to stay at the Mandarin Oriental), after which they refunded my (prepaid) hotel stay and offered me a 2 night voucher for a future trip. A few months later, I decided to give the hotel a second chance (using my voucher) but this time the luxury experience was ruined by the fact that the hotel was undergoing a major renovation: the grand lobby, restaurants and rooftop were all closed, while they moved the reception and breakfast area to a couple of joined guestrooms. I was clueless as to why I was not informed about this when I made the booking, sine the hotel staff was well aware at that time of the upcoming renovation works. It takes many good impressions to undo a bad first impression, but unfortunately, the hotel did not succeed to turn around my initial disappointing experience with them, despite the fact that I am (still) a huge fan and supporter of the Mandarin Oriental brand. IMHO, during a renovation of this magnitude in a property of a world-known luxury hotel brand, it would be more appropriate to close the hotel or substantially lower the room rates. Having said that, last autumn, the renovations of the hotel were completed and guests are now able to experience the newly designed lobby, bar as well as the brand new Matsuhisa Munich restaurant by renowned Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa.

• Hotel website: Mandarin Oriental Munich
• Review: to read my review of the Mandarin Oriental Munich, click here.

2. ROCKWATER SECRET COVE RESORT, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA: NO SLEEP

Rockwater Secret Cove Resort on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast is one of the region’s most unique lodges. Nestled in the rainforest above a gorgeous cove, the lodge has several luxurious (and very expensive) tenthouse suites, some of them coming with an open view of the Pacific Ocean. These are perfect for a romantic getaway, one would think, however, that was not the case during my stay when a wedding party was held at the lodge. The guests of the nearby tenthouse were continuing the party on their terrace after midnight, which made me wake up of course. Not the fault of the hotel (rather the fault of the rude guests), but the hotel should have interrupted this unacceptable behavior immediately. However, despite multiple calls to the lobby – in which the concierge assured us that they would send someone over to stop the guest’s behavior – the party was still going on more than two hours later. A luxury lodge in this kind of spectacular natural setting should have a zero policy when it comes to noise disturbance after 10 pm since the guests stay here to relax and enjoy the silence. It bothered me that the hotel never sent someone over to the partying guests as they pretended they would do (they only phoned twice, as I could hear that very well). It bothered me even more that when making the booking, the staff assured me that I would spend a very quiet time at the lodge since no event was taking place (as a matter of fact, several Tripadvisor reviews complained about excessive noise from wedding parties at the lodge, hence why informed upfront whether a party was planned at the lodge during my dates of visit). At check-out, I was offered a 50% reduction of the room rate, which was a nice gesture but did not undo the bad experience.

• Hotel website: Rockwater Secret Cove Resort

1. ROSEWOOD AT BAHA MAR, BAHAMAS: NEVER OPENED

The $3.5 billion casino resort Baha Mar in the Bahamas, the largest hospitality project ever in the Caribbean, was supposed to revivify the economy of the island nation, and to include the 1,000-room Baha Mar Casino & Hotel, the 707-room Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar, the 300-room SLS Lux at Baha Mar and the 200-room ultra luxe Rosewood at Baha Mar. Instead, Baha Mar missed all of its scheduled opening dates last year and is now embroiled in a bankruptcy battle because of a standoff between the resort and its Chinese construction company. As a consequence, many travel plans were interrupted, including my own since I had booked a stay at the Rosewood a few months after the resort was supposed to open. Although I was informed in time about the fact that the hotel was not going to be able honor my reservation, the communication with the resort afterwards was abominable. I was advised to postpone my stay but by the time I tried to schedule my new stay (a few weeks later), the email and phone numbers of the resort had disappeared and it took Rosewood more than 4 months to properly address the issues I encountered (again, not something you would expect from one of the world’s most exclusive hotel brands). However, my experience pales in comparison to the story of a bride and groom who were scheduled to have their wedding at Baha Mar last June and were unable to get a refund for the wedding party as well as for the travel expenses for their 100 guests.

The post Top 10: my most disappointing luxury hotel experiences appeared first on the Luxury Travel Expert.

Today (March 18th, 2016): travel tip: how to get the best deal at a luxury hotel and save money?

Today is the second anniversary of my travel blog, and to celebrate the occasion, I repost one of my most popular articles, covering tricks and tips to get the best deal at a luxury hotel, helping you saving (tons of) money. Who doesn’t love a good bargain at a luxury hotel? And who doesn’t hate paying full prices? Getting a good hotel deal always feels great, and there are always some things you can do to get significant discounts.

In this blogpost:

• Inspiration for finding the right hotel
• Tips for when to book
• Tips for booking a room at the cheapest rate
• Tips for booking a room with (complimentary) extra perks
• Tips for staying for free at luxury hotels
• Key points

Think I forgot a tip? Share your own travel tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel in the comments section below.

INSPIRATION FOR FINDING THE RIGHT HOTEL

• Be inspired by my luxury travel website & blog. Every week, I post top 10 travel lists and reviews of luxury hotels. You can subscribe to my newsletter (3x/week) and/or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

• Be inspired by Kiwi Collection, a great website featuring the best luxury hotels around the world.

• Read the Conde Nast Traveler and Travel&Leisure magazines.

• Read Tripadvisor reviews.

• Read Flyertalk posts (google the name of the hotel + flyertalk).

• Watch Youtube clips of luxury hotels (you can find some examples on my Youtube Channel).

TIPS FOR WHEN TO BOOK

• Do not book too late as the best luxury hotels will often sell out months in advance. Do not count on a last-minute deal (which are not offered by most high-end hotels anyway).

• When you want to save some bucks, travel in the shoulder season (e.g. summer months for the Caribbean, autumn months for the Maldives), but try to avoid the worst months weather-wise as you may find yourself very disappointed despite the fact that you saved a lot of money!

TIPS FOR BOOKING A ROOM AT THE LOWEST PRICE

• Most of the time, the cheapest room rate can be found on the aggregator websites Hotelscombined and Trivago. These aggregators verify hotel prices at hundreds of other sites (e.g. Booking.com, Hotels.com, Hotelopia.com, Onhotels.com, Otel.com, Expedia, etc…) and show where you can book the cheapest rate. Try it out for yourself here:

• The member-only websites Jetsetter, Secret Escapes and the Vacationist (which do not feature on aggregator websites) negotiate temporary, heavily discounted rates with some of the world’s finest hotels. Membership is free and without hassle (just submit your name and email address). Sign up for the Jetsetter, Secret Escapes and Vacationist newsletters, so that you stay updated about their temporary offers. Read here why I love Jetsetter so much, and here why I am a fan of Secret Escapes.

• You should always compare the price that you find on aggregator or member-only websites with the one featured on the official hotel website to make sure that it is the best price indeed. Do not forget to click the “special offers” section that is present on most hotel websites (and which can save you lots of money).

• If you find a better, publicly available rate on another website than the official hotel website, you can submit an online Best Rate Guarantee claim. If your claim is approved, not only will the lower price be matched, but you will also receive an additional 10 to 25% discount (depending upon the Best Rate Guarantee program of the hotel chain). Finding a better rate than the one on the official website is not difficult at all, as you can read here.

• Except when staying at one of the big hotel chains (Starwood, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Hilton), I advise you to book your hotel stays via the website Hotels.com , which is one of my prefered hotel booking websites and you can read here why. In a nutshell: Hotels.com is not only very generous in matching the best price that you may have found on another websites, but you also collect credits towards free hotel stays, and they always have discount coupons on offer. However, you will not collect points for a hotel loyalty program when you book your stay via Hotels.com, explaining why you should always book a stay at one of the big hotel chains (Starwood, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Hilton) on their official websites.

• Search for discount coupons which are widely available on the internet (google the hotel booking website or hotel name + coupon). For example, Hotels.com regularly sends out 10% discount coupons by email (although these coupons are not valid for the big hotel chains).

• Sign-up for the newsletters of your preferred hotel (chains) or hotel booking website. They often email coupons or advanced notifications when they’re having a sale.

• Stay for free at a luxury hotel by using hotels points and credits that you collected in a hotel loyalty program (although only very few of the high-end luxury hotel chains offer that option).

• Stay for free or at a highly discounted rate at a luxury hotel by keeping an eye out for erroneous rates in this Flyertalk post.

TIPS FOR BOOKING A HOTEL ROOM WITH (COMPLIMENTARY) EXTRA PERKS

• Some of the world’s most exclusive hotel brands will only publish the best rates on their official hotel website. For example, if you consider a stay at an Aman resort – widely recognized as the world’s top hotel chain – you should not waste your time trying to find a lower price on an aggregator or member-only website as you won’t find one.

• Check the hotel website directly for packages that include extra perks like spa credits, breakfast, or complimentary nights.

• Absurdly, when booking a room at a luxury hotel, it is sometimes advised not to book it directly on the official hotel website, but rather through a Virtuoso travel advisor, which will cost the same but comes with complimentary VIP perks (e.g. upgrades, dinners, early check-in, late check-out, spa credits). If you are an Aman junkie, like me, then Virtuoso is the only way to book your stay, but the same is true for Four Seasons, Rosewood and Six Senses hotels to name a few. You cou can read here why I love Virtuoso so much. Most of the times, Virtuoso hotel bookings are not made online, but through a Virtuoso travel agent. There are exceptions though, such as the website of Classic Travel which offers a great online booking tool and is one of my prefered hotel booking sites.

• Holders of an American Express Premium or Visa Signature credit card benefit from extra perks when they make the booking via their credit card travel office and/or pay with their credit card. Contact your local credit card company to find out whether they offer this travel service.

• Elite members of hotel loyalty programs will receive several benefits during their stay, ranging from late check-out and complimentary WiFi to suite upgrades and breakfast. Click here for more info.

• Elite members of Cathay Pacific‘s frequent flyer program (Marco Polo Club) are entitled to special benefits (e.g. early check in, late check out, room upgrade, complimentary breakfast) with partners such as Hilton, Hyatt, Fairmont, Marriott, Langham, Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La, Swissotel, Peninsula, Swire and Ritz-Carlton. While some of these deals only apply to hotels or rentals in the Asia-Pacific region, others do not; the Mandarin Oriental benefit is applicable worldwide, for example.

TIPS FOR STAYING FOR FREE AT A LUXURY HOTEL

You can always try your luck and score a complimentary stay at a luxury hotel by reading my tips for getting free hotel nights.

KEY POINTS

• Inspiration: this website + the Kiwi Collection.

• When money is an issue: book outside the high season.

• Cheapest room rate: mostly found on Hotelscombined, Trivago, and/or the official hotel website. Always check all three of them.

• Best Rate Guarantee: match a lower rate and receive an additional discount.

• Free extra perks: book a package on the hotel website, through a Virtuoso, or via your credit card travel office.

• Complimentary stay: subscribe to of a (hotel) loyalty program.

• My preferred hotel booking websites: Hotels.com, Jetsetter and Classic Travel.

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