Upgrade from AKL concierge to suite?

[tinkfan]

Has anyone ever paid at the AKL to upgrade from a regular concierge room to a suite? I was just curious what this might run?
Should I ask concierge when they contact me or wait and ask about availability when we check in? I can't just change the reservation because we are using DVC points for this stay ( due to a cancelled cruise ). I would really like to surprise my family with this. We have stayed at AKL twice before but just in the standard concierge room. We are moving from a 2 bdrm at OKW and going to the smaller room will be an adjustment, so I thought a suite would be perfect.
Thanks for any input.

 

[floridafam]

I suppose you could ask concierge before you arive and have it noted in your ressie but you would probably pay rack rate for the upgrade-the difference between the concierge room and the suite price. I don't think I would ask to have it put in my ressie. I would just wait until check-in.

You could ask at check-in if an upgrade is available. Again, you may have to pay the difference. Is this something that you want to do?

You never know, occasionally you may get bumped up if they overbook concierge rooms but I wouldn't think this happens very often.

I know of one occasion where someone paying pts wanted to upgrade and did for the difference in price.

There was another occasion where a person on these boards asked about an upgrade to a 1br suite and was upgraded to a 2br suite. I believe she also paid the difference between the concierge room and the 1br suite rate.

You do know that the suites are scattered throughout the hotel on various floors? This matters to some people, for others it is a plus because you may end up in a very quiet section of the hotel. Some may think the suites are a ways from the concierge lounge.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

 

[Richyams]

We did the AKL concierge on points recently. I asked, I came close to doing it, but decided not to. I am trying to remember the number....I believe it was $270 per night plus the resort tax on the amount spent.

There is a chance that I am wrong, but I believe I remember $270.

 

[jel0511]

I stayed in AKL concierge in Feb 2003 and I did ask about upgrading to a suite to suprise my family. I was told that since I was on points, it could only be done on a "space available" basis at check-in. Basically I couldn't request it before I got there, I had to ask at the concierge desk at check-in. I also was instructed to tell the bellman to take me to the lounge instead of my pre-assigned room, since if your room is ready they take you directly there. I was told it would cost me around $150 per night to upgrade to a one bedroom suite. I decided against it, since there would really be no suprise since I'd have to ask when I got there, instead of being taken directly to the suite.

 

[ducklite]

I recently upgraded from a regular concierge room to a suite. It was $150+ tax per night over rack rate. They did give me a complimentary upgrade from the 1BR to the 2BR, but it was my birthday and we were repeat AKL concierge guests...which I think had a LOT to do with the complimentary part.

The 1BR we were in had a seperate standard room atached. The way they have it set up, if the 1BR doesn't take the 2nd room, it just goes empty--so it wasn't a rom they could have rented. It was also VERY slow during the time we were there.

Keep in mind that many of the suites have a king in the BR and a sleeper sofa in the LR, so they only sleep four. If you need more space than that you would need the 2BR.

Also, you can't reserve them in advance. It has to be done at teh time of check-in, and is completely subject to availability.

Anne

 

[tinkfan]

Thanks everyone for the information. I will definately ask at Check-in. I am hoping to run over and check us in early while DH and the kids pack up at OKW, so it would be a surprise. I was thinking $150-$200 would be okay. I would love to get offered the 2 bdrm for that price and would defintately do it. Not sure about the 1 bdrm. It would depend on if we were assigned to a room with bunk beds as requested. My kids do not like sharing a bed, especially a sleeper sofa. ( 11 yr old girl and 9 yr old boy)
This will also be our 3rd trip to AKL concierge, so maybe that will help as well.

Thanks again!

 

[floridafam]

I could be totally wrong but I don't think there are any 1br suites with bunk beds. I know I have seen pictures of the 2br with bunk beds in the connecting bedrooms.

Just FYI. Maybe someone knows differently.

 

[tinkfan]

I realize there are no bunk beds in the suites. What I was trying to say is that we have requested bunk beds for our regular concierge room. If for some reason we do not get that, then I might be more willing to upgrade to a one bdrm suite.
I would definately take a 2 bdrm suite and pay the difference if affordable.

 

[floridafam]

I see. Sorry for the confusion.

Good luck. Maybe you'll end up in a 2br suite with bunk beds.

Let us know what happens.

 

[PatriciaH]

We stayed AKL concierge March 21st-25th and they upgraded us to a 2 beroom suite for free! They were going to put us on the Sunrise Savanna and they were re-surfacing so there were no animals on it. When I asked if there was anything on Arusha like we requested, the CM checking us in got her manager. He said she should not have put us on Sunrise that they were booking those rooms as standard rooms while they re-surfaced. He said he would find us a room but had a lot of trouble since that whole savanna was closed. Finally another CM suggested the suite. It was a WONDERFUL suprise and we wrote a nice letter thanking them.