Sojourn Flights

Did you know that you can get free breakfasts, room upgrades and $100 of in-hotel credit if you book through a specific website or luxury travel advisor? This is over and above your usual status benefits that you get when you book stays in these hotels.

There are several great ways to book stays at nicer hotels — better than booking with the hotel directly.

• If you have a Platinum Card by American Express the Fine Hotels & Resorts program lets you book at what’s often the same as the cancellable rate while getting breakfast, late checkout, a possible upgrade and another throw-in included.

• Book through Visa Signature Hotels and perks are a little less generous, they used to be a strategic site to book through for major cities because free parking was included but that no longer seems to be listed among benefits.

• You can get similar throw-ins booking through Mastercard as well.

You don’t need a specific credit card, though, some of the best benefits are accessible directly through travel agents that are part of the Virtuoso network, booking through them gets you upgrades, meals, late check-out and other perks. It’s the opposite of what we’re trained to think. Hotels give you more for booking through an agent than if you book on their own website.

Booking into certain Intercontinental properties through a Virtuoso agent gets you Club Lounge access, something not provided by Royal Ambassador status.

This really works for more upscale hotel brands, and won’t get you benefits at a Hilton Garden Inn. That said it works at more hotels than you may realize, including higher end Hyatt, Hilton, Starwood and Marriott properties and not just top luxury hotels around the world.

Park Hyatt New York

Some years ago the Virtuoso folks reached out to see if I was interested in becoming a Virtuoso agent myself after I was included for the first time as one of Conde’ Nast Traveler‘s ‘World’s Top Travel Specialists’ for my award booking service.

I didn’t go down that road myself. However a reader asked that I pass along their information as someone who can help you get more benefits on your hotel stays.

Justin Harrison with his wife Margaret have a boutique operation that’s part of Four Seasons Preferred Partners, Ritz-Carlton STARS, Mandarin Oriental FAN club and many more.

If you are considering booking into any of the hotel brands below or any luxury hotel reach out to them to see what deals are available before you book. You can only be better off for the inquiry.

What Chains Can I Claim Benefits At?

Park Hyatts and Grand Hyatts, you get:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  
• Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests
  
• $100 USD Equivalent Food & Beverage credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
  
• Welcome amenity
  
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
  
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Park Hyatt Sydney

Marriott’s collection of North American and Caribbean resorts

• Complimentary amenity with Welcome note
  
• Pre-registration for express check in
  
• Priority for early check in and late check out (subject to availability)
  
• Upgrade to next category IF available at check in
  
• Priority for requests submitted on VIP form ie: connecting rooms etc.
  
• No walk policy for Paradise Elite guests

Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts:

• Daily breakfast for two people.
  
• Food and beverage credit of USD100.
  
• Upgrade of one category, based on availability at time of check-in. Four Seasons Preferred Partner agents get priority upgrades over Virtuoso and Amex Finest Hotels & Resorts.
  
• Complimentary basic Internet in all guest rooms.
  
• Complimentary welcome gift.

Ritz Carlton:

• Early Check in and 4pm late check-out, upon availability.
  
• Continental breakfast for two daily.
  
• Complimentary, customized amenity, activity or service.
  
• No Walk Policy.
  
• First Priority for requested rooms, bed types, connecting rooms, etc.

Ritz Carlton Al Wadi Desert Resort

SPG – Luxury Collection:

• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
  
• Daily full breakfast, for up to two in room guests
  
• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  
• $100 USD Equivalent Food & Beverage credit, (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full, applicable in restaurant only)
  
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Luxury Collection Las Alcobas, Mexico City

St. Regis:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  
• Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests
  
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
  
• $100 USD Equivalent Spa Services credit, (not combinable, not valid on products, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
  
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

St. Regis Bangkok

Bulgari:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  
• Continental breakfast daily for up to two in-room guests
  
• $100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit per room, per stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed)
  
• Welcome amenity
  
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
  
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

EDITION properties:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  
• $60 breakfast credit per day for two guests inclusive of tax and gratuity (excluding alcohol)
  
• $100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
  
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
  
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

W properties:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  
• Complimentary Full breakfast for two daily for duration of the stay, in Market Kitchen
  
• $100 USD equivalent Spa Services credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
  
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
  
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

W Union Square, New York

Hilton Luxury: Conrad and Waldorf Astoria

• Best available rates
  
• Complimentary breakfast for two
  
• $100 USD hotel credit per stay, or local currency equivalent
  
• Next category upgrade, subject to availability
  
• Double Hilton Honors Points

Conrad Koh Samui

Benefits such as daily breakfast for two people. Food and beverage credit of USD100, Upgrade of one category and welcome amenity are also available at the following luxury chains:

Mandarin Oriental (Fan Club).
Dorchester Collection.
Hyatt.
Park Hyatt.
Four Seasons Hotels.
Bulgari.
SPG (Sheraton) A Luxury Collection.
JW Marriott.
Aman Hotels & Resorts.
Ritz Carlton.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.
Six Senses.
Raffles.
Leading Hotels Of The World.
Waldorf Astoria.
Relais & Chateaux.
Trump Hotels.
Rosewood.
Rocco Forte Hotels.
St. Regis Deer.
Belmond Hotels.
Anantara
Intercontinental

They also offer airfare savings as well, and not only on business and first class tickets either. Check them out.

Sojourn Flights