e-upgrade vs Ambassador upgrade

[PineappleSkip]

Hi

Just joined Ambassador prior to a one night stay at IC at CAI. Booked a Nile view room, that will be something nice to look at. This didn't stop them sending me an email about 'Request one or more eStandby Upgrades'. I did similar at a Radisson Blu once but it seemed dumb with hindsight when I was a Club Carlson SG. Next time I stayed there I didn't go the punters upgrade, but got the upgraded room anyway.

The Ambassador guaranteed upgrade is one room category up I understand, which according to the e-standby options would be a club room with a view of nothing much. That would be a tough choice - a view of the Nile or a glass of bubbly and some canapes in a club that appears to get good reviews.

Greedy me would like club access and a view of the Nile. That would be two categories up, but it seems a bit dumb to pay for a punt on an upgrade when I can await a free one.

If you wanted both, what would you do?

Cheers skip

 

[Moopere]

Hi

Just joined Ambassador prior to a one night stay at IC at CAI. Booked a Nile view room, that will be something nice to look at. This didn't stop them sending me an email about 'Request one or more eStandby Upgrades'. I did similar at a Radisson Blu once but it seemed dumb with hindsight when I was a Club Carlson SG. Next time I stayed there I didn't go the punters upgrade, but got the upgraded room anyway.

The Ambassador guaranteed upgrade is one room category up I understand, which according to the e-standby options would be a club room with a view of nothing much. That would be a tough choice - a view of the Nile or a glass of bubbly and some canapes in a club that appears to get good reviews.

Greedy me would like club access and a view of the Nile. That would be two categories up, but it seems a bit dumb to pay for a punt on an upgrade when I can await a free one.

If you wanted both, what would you do?

Cheers skip

I'd go the Club access. The club probably has Nile views anyway (though I'd check first) and you can sit up there and enjoy the view. I rarely sit in my room looking out the window - though bizarrely I -do- like a nice view from the room just as a sort of backdrop.

I've got to look more closely at the Ambassador paid status - though gold was easy to attain and offers virtually nothing it seems too long a stretch to make it to Platinum and I'm splitting stays between IHG and HH now anyway.

Its a pity in my view that Ambassador only applies against IC properties and not across the whole IHG family - its sort of like selective status Still worth a good looking into though.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Ambassador ... Still worth a good looking into though.

Mmm, with hindsight I would have joined ambassador then booked, instead of booking at IC then joining ambassador. There are some good member offers that I hadn't noticed. Suspect these don't appear until you become a member

https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/offers/member-offers
[h=2]EARN 2,000 BONUS POINTS FOR ANY STAY[/h][h=2]BOOK ONLINE FOR THE AMBASSADOR COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST[/h][h=2]EARN 4,000 BONUS POINTS FOR ANY STAY[/h]

Cheers skip

 

[Moopere]

Mmm, with hindsight I would have joined ambassador then booked, instead of booking at IC then joining ambassador. There are some good member offers that I hadn't noticed. Suspect these don't appear until you become a member

https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/offers/member-offers
EARN 2,000 BONUS POINTS FOR ANY STAY

BOOK ONLINE FOR THE AMBASSADOR COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST

EARN 4,000 BONUS POINTS FOR ANY STAY

Mind you, did you have a look at the hotels participating in the free breakfast thing? Theres only about 2 dozen worldwide.

 

[Rick93]

I stayed there in May this year.

Paid for Club, as AMB Plat.

Got upgraded to High Floor with Nile View.

Club allows smoking INSIDE !!! ( can you believe that, in this day and age of 'no smoking cough' ).

No self-service drinks - everything is served to you. You do select your own food though.

Hotel is in a 'locked compound', to keep the taxi drivers and others OUT !!!

BE AWARE of the 'art gallery' scams .....

Never go with any local, for any reason. ( eg. "I will show you where it is safe to cross the road" ). It all leads to an 'art gallery' where you WILL BE pressured into buying their cough than can later be found on the street for a tenth of the price.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Thanks for the review Rick93

Hotel is in a 'locked compound', to keep the taxi drivers and others OUT !!!

Never go with any local, for any reason.

I feel at home already. Can't go anywhere in KBL that isn't in a (very) locked compound. The 'beware of going with locals' sounds so like DEL.

Cheers skip