upgrade possible?

[enewseven]

Hi O,



I believe that you have nothing to lose asking for an upgrade. With that said, I have also been promised certain accommodations either through websites, booking an my own , etc, only to be extremely disappointed. Of course I would let someone know how I feel about that but I have to say, every time I've done this always do it politely and respectfully and find that the resorts always make good and come through above and beyond.So many times I see these resortcheck in clerksgetting reamed by some traveler that had a bad day, and I think that they get that type of attitude too often...you catch more flies with honey

[jguffey]

I want to DOWNGRADE (yes, downgrade) from a hilltop villa at Evason Hideaway out of NhaTrang. We had a beach villa on the last visit and you could walk to the water in seconds. I don't want to be on a hilltop. I believe the management is going to allow this.

[claassenam]

Hi Mary J, new to these boards although I've purchased a few different Luxury Link packages. To reply to your question about upgrades, we had an amazing experience with a Peru package tour through Orient Express Hotels, purchased at Luxury Link. The package included deluxe rooms in the hotels throughout (all wonderful hotels, by the way, including Hotel Monasterio in Cusco and Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge). I'm not sure how we were so lucky, but we were upgraded to the Presidential Suites in a couple of the hotels, which was such an amazing surprise. I think it helped that the entire tour was booked through Orient Express Hotels and I let them know it was my birthday when I was booking. Since the same package is offered quite often through Luxury Link I doubt that every purchaser gets these upgrades, but just want to put it out there that it is possible!

As an aside regarding upgrades I have found that when my husband and I are traveling on our own to places where there are larger groups going through, we tend to be upgraded. We found this during a Nile Cruise on the Oberoi cruise line (where we were magically given, again, the Presidential Suite), and in Hong Kong, China and throughout Egypt and India. I think the more upscale hotels prefer to give upgrades when they can (to enhance customer service) but when there are large groups they of course can't upgrade everyone in the group to the same level, so singles and couples may get preferential treatment. Just a thought.

[colville12]

Hi I was looking at buying a LL auction for a Hilltop / hillside. Would you recommend against it - and of so why?

Cheers in advance - Stu

[claassenam]

Hi Stu,

I think we'd all need more information in order to help you. What hotel/resort are you looking at? Are you referring to the Casa Velas of the first poster? Room accomodations vary everywhere so a "hillside" room that's great one place might be bad in another....

[jguffey]

Which property are you looking at? We've stayed at the Evason Hideaway in/out of Nha Trang, Vietnam....and have recently won a 'hilltop' villa at the same resort. I've asked for (and been assured it's a done deal) that we'll have a beach villa instead. The hilltops are just that....you need bicycles and/or golf carts (driven by the villa butler) to get you around, i.e. to the main restaurant for breakfast, dinner. If you want privacy....by all means take the hilltop....if you like to walk...take the hilltop. If you want a less active holiday near the water...ask for the beach villa.

[kboojd]

claassenam wrote:
Hi Mary J, new to these boards although I've purchased a few different Luxury Link packages. To reply to your question about upgrades, we had an amazing experience with a Peru package tour through Orient Express Hotels, purchased at Luxury Link. The package included deluxe rooms in the hotels throughout (all wonderful hotels, by the way, including Hotel Monasterio in Cusco and Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge). I'm not sure how we were so lucky, but we were upgraded to the Presidential Suites in a couple of the hotels, which was such an amazing surprise. I think it helped that the entire tour was booked through Orient Express Hotels and I let them know it was my birthday when I was booking. Since the same package is offered quite often through Luxury Link I doubt that every purchaser gets these upgrades, but just want to put it out there that it is possible!

As an aside regarding upgrades I have found that when my husband and I are traveling on our own to places where there are larger groups going through, we tend to be upgraded. We found this during a Nile Cruise on the Oberoi cruise line (where we were magically given, again, the Presidential Suite), and in Hong Kong, China and throughout Egypt and India. I think the more upscale hotels prefer to give upgrades when they can (to enhance customer service) but when there are large groups they of course can't upgrade everyone in the group to the same level, so singles and couples may get preferential treatment. Just a thought.

Once again I have to agree with claassenam! Also, having "elite" status or being a member of that hotel's group can sometimes help - we stayed at the St. Regis Aspen on a LL package and were upgraded (without asking)to a suite that was bigger than our NY apartment. We brought our dog on that trip as well, and the hotel gave him a fancier dog bed and bowls than he had at home - he didn't know what to do with it! I like to think that our dog's cuteness had something to do with it, but really it was probably the Starwood Preferred Guest membership that did it.



Also, to echo other guests on this board, nothing ventured, nothing gained - it never hurts to ask politely!

[veikkola]

kboojd



Why do you copy what the other person said? I find this a waste of space and annoying. It is not needed. Their post is on the board. Just do YOUR reply.



veikkola

[disneygal]

Hi veikkola,



The reason for including the text of aprevious post is to reference the specific post to which you are responding. In this case, the response was not to the post immediately preceding, but to an earlier one.

[lhbrown]

Hi claassenam,
You have indeed been lucky to be upgraded in such a lavish manner. I tried the "it's my birthday" trick a number of times, but it has never worked for me.... c'est la vie....