Platinum peeps ... PBH help, please

[AlexandNessa]

Gulp. Mike and I may change our May trip plans from RPR Club to PBH. We are platinum, but since we'll only stay club at RPR (and platinum bennies don't apply to club, bummer ), Mike is intrigued with having 2 bathrooms by being able to upgrade to a Portofino suite at PBH. I don't really want to change resorts, but he fears that we won't be "all that" at the RPR anymore now that our favorite person has left the RPR. Plus, the RPR seems to be lacking a Loews First contact right now; at least they didn't have one when we were there mid-December (we asked).

I promised Mike I would look into booking PBH, but it is just as important for me to have club bennies as it is to him to have a suite.

So, most important, what is anyone's experience adding club privileges to your comp upgrades at PBH? Are all the Portofino suites garden view? Any all the way down the East Wing that we would be stuck in?

Any input is most welcome, and feel free to PM me as well with any advice.

P.S. I hate split stays, so that's not an option.

 

[yourgoingagain?]

When you book the room you can put in a request for a bay view room. The garden view may end up being a view of the villa pool which is also nice. I have had 5 stays at PBH in last 2 years with platinum upgrade, 2 of the 5 have been in a villa suite which is awsome. Either way the extra room is nice.

An option that might work is to book a garden room at any of the resorts, using lowest qualifying rate (AAA or supersavers), get the free suite upgrade based on platinum level, and then pay the additional money for the club access. That price varies by resort but you could always call the hotel direct to ask the rate.

 

[Motherfletcher]

The last time I tried to upgrade to RPR club at check in they wanted to charge an extra $100. At PBH they did it for $50. If Mike would have seen our suite and the club at PBH he'd be throwing rocks at RPR!

 

[damo]

Did you just ask at check-in or did you contact the hotel manager before arrival?

 

[Motherfletcher]

I have done both. It never hurts to ask at check in but sometimes you know that you have to have it in advance. What's really nice is to get the club access compted in advance.

 

[damo]

I think I will contact my original contact shortly before we go to inquire. Can't hurt!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Thanks for the info. We're can't get off this fence. I know Mike would have loooooved your suite, MF! We'd be fine in the Portofino Suite, but if we also manage to get club access, we wouldn't want to be all the way down the East Wing either.

The RPR has gone through so many changes, I wouldn't even know who to contact anymore. Last time I wanted a King Suite on the club floor at RPR, they wanted .... wait for it.... $444 per night during September, when hotel occupancy was at 20%, and they couldn't guarantee me the 7th floor. Plus, we were Platinum and had our contacts in the club lounge call directly to the VIP staff, or whoever they were. Hmpphhh.

Ultimately, I think we'll miss the walk from the RPR to Margaritaville too much, but we shall see....decisions, decisions



P.S. Hey, I forgot to mention that we confirmed what the "1" means on your key card (e.g., "A 1 *" or "C 1 *") The "1" does indicate "VIP." We were at Bubba Gump's one night, and the bartender's BF worked at the RPR. The bartender took our key card and called his friend and asked what the "1" meant, and his friend confirmed it meant VIP. We were supposed to go see his friend back at the front desk to see what the "1" actually gets you, but he was only on till 11 pm, and we rolled in much later than that. So, plat peeps, check your key cards next time and see what that "1" gets you!