Virgin Flagship hotels

[jen_uk]

Hi,
I was flicking thru the latest Virgin brochure today and I noticed that the All Stars isnt listed as one of their flagship hotels anymore, does anyone have any info about this? It was one when we booked (it was one of the reasons we booked there), does this mean that we wont get any of the benefits that were previously listed???

Jen

 

[mandymouse]

We booked our holiday last year and travelled in May. We still received our 'Flagship' incentives - 2 resort mugs, AMC cinema tickets and Park photo.

 

[poohmadmum]

jen uk : I found the same thing and have actually queried this with Virgin as we don't go until March 06. I have now received a response to say that because we booked from the previous brochure then the incentives (tickets, mugs, photo etc) will still be honoured - good news for us! Suggest you double check as well.

 

[Clare D]

Hi Jen
I have also received the '06 brochures and was too busy looking at next year's holiday to notice that the hotel we have booked for the 2nd part of the trip - the Hilton Marco Island is also no longer a flagship.
It wasn't until I read your thread that I thought I best double check. I did notice that it had been reduced to a 4 star so will also query with Virgin about the flagship benefit.
Thanks Clare

 

[Miffy2003]

Other than a few freebies, is there any other benefits with the Virgin Flagship thing? We stayed at ASMo and got the free cinema tickets and free mugs & photo but personally I wouldn't book at one of these just to get that (unless I wanted to stay at the hotel anyway)

Did I miss something else?

 

[jen_uk]

Ive stayed at the all stars before and I really like it there, I was tempted to try Pop this time tho but bcos all stars was flagship and pop wasnt I thought it might not be as good, if I had known they were going to take away the flagship I probably would have booked pop instead.

 

[Miffy2003]

Jen, I'm sure Pop is as good as All Stars - maybe better as I think they learnt some stuff from All Stars that they improved with Pop. They are the same rating though.I think the flagship thing is just the things you get free (maybe wrong). It sounds like a typically Virgin thing to do to me, LOL

 

[Night-train]

I've queried this with Virgin also and the response I got was that all contracts are with individual hotels/resorts and are re-negotiated on a year-to-year basis so it's all down to what Virgin and Disney can agree on basically! One year a flagship, the next not. It can be that simple!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Hi Jen
I have also received the '06 brochures and was too busy looking at next year's holiday to notice that the hotel we have booked for the 2nd part of the trip - the Hilton Marco Island is also no longer a flagship.
It wasn't until I read your thread that I thought I best double check. I did notice that it had been reduced to a 4 star so will also query with Virgin about the flagship benefit.
Thanks Clare

Hope that wasn't my complaining about this hotel that did this.

Nothing too huge, just we'd stayed there the year before and had the most brilliant time there. Last October we the 'paying public' (and other Brit families) felt we were treated like second class citizens - compared to a huge optalmologists convention there . . . pool area only open to them most afternoons and early evenings for their blasted buffets. I won't go on. I did try to chat with the Virgin rep based at the hotel - but she was on her vacation and the telephone number we were given was just a continuous answerphone.

Don't worry, it's still a lovely hotel - the rooms are a great size, the location is second to none. I feel justified that it's been reduced to a 4 star now though.

You will still have a great time there.

 

[carolfoy]

Hi Jen I queried this with virgin back when the new brochure first came out, am staying in ASMo at the same time as you, Virgin reassured me we'll still get the same benefits

 

[Clare D]

Hi Mrs Dazzle
Thanks for your previuos updates on the Hilton at Marco Island. I queried why it had been reduced to a 4* when I was paying for it to be 5*. Was told due to reduction in activities. As it was a 5* break we wanted I have had a chat with a few friends who love Naples and have decided to ask Virgin if we could transfer our booking to the Registry which comes highly recomended. They have done this with no charge just the difference in price

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Clare - The Registry - fantastic place. Whilst we've not stayed there (was due to be two years ago but it was undergoing massive refurbs which is why we switched to the Marco Hilton), we have "visited" it a couple of times. It is just what you think a 5 star hotel should be, from the moment you've arrived and the facilities there are really excellent.

We love Clam Pass beach - we go there when we're down in Marco for the day - you get a little trolley bus from the Registry that takes you down this boardwalk through a little grove, it's lovely.

Have a wonderful stay - I'd love to hear all about their rooms for our next time

 

[kevin harrison]

Flagship really means nothing. Virgin used to class the Premier Inn on Westwood as a Flagship and read the reviews on tripadvisor about it.

 

[Clare D]

Thanks Mrs Dazzle for the update. I haven't told DH that we are forgoing the breakfast but it does look a fab resort. I fancied it last time but as the Hilton was 5* and included breakfast went for that instead. Thankfully Virgin have been very good and the hotel was available. I'll have to let you know what it was like on our return.
Clare