Despite Program Changes, Club Carlson Still A Great Value

Program changes to Club Carlson took effect on March 15, and despite mostly negative adjustments, the overall value proposition remains relatively consistent. The biggest devaluation, of course, is the newly added top-tier Category 7, at a rate of 70,000 Gold Points per night. Previously, there had only been a total of six categories, with the most expensive rate being 50,000 Gold Points per night. While this represents a whopping 40% increase in the top-tier category, the good news is that only nine properties have moved up to Category 7, and almost all of them are in Europe, where there are plenty of other hotel options available:

• The May Fair London
• Plaza on the River London
• Radisson Blu Hotel Champs Elysees Paris
• Radisson Blu Le Dokhan’s Paris
• Radisson Blu Le Metropolitan Paris
• Radisson Blu 1835 Hotel & Thalasso Cannes
• art’otel Amsterdam
• Radisson Royal Hotel Moscow
• Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Dubai

New hotel category and Premium Room option as of March 15, 2014

Creating a brand new top-tier category, however, does leave the door wide open for a more massive devaluation in the future. While visiting London last summer, I stayed at three different Carlson Rezidor properties, including The May Fair, which is one of the priciest hotels in the city. All three were wonderful, but I can understand how The May Fair definitely stood out and probably deserved to be in a higher category. In total, 114 hotels moved up in category, and 67 moved down. You can find the full list of changes here.

Sadly, the generous online booking bonus that provided up to 3,000 additional Gold Points depending on elite status will now be offered only on a promotional basis. Another devaluation bundled into these changes are the decreases in elite status bonus points earned through stays. Thankfully, the Concierge Status bonus still remains the same:

• Silver: 25% → 15%
• Gold: 50% → 35%
• Concierge: 75% → 75%

With the bad news out of the way, there are still some positive points that can be gleaned from all of this. First off, Gold Points can now be redeemed for premium rooms (room types and amenities may vary by hotel) at an additional 50% above the base redemption rate. This probably isn't a huge deal to most people who just want a basic room, but for those who would prefer something a little bit more fancy during a special trip, it can be a worthwhile option.

Mommy Points over at BoardingArea also found a new option of booking Family Rooms at some European locations for only a 25% points premium. These rooms have a capacity for two adults and two children under the age of 12, and usually feature an additional sofa bed.

Arguably the most beneficial feature to come out of all these changes are that award stays now count toward elite status qualification. Most of the industry have been moving to this structure, including Starwood Preferred Guest and Hyatt Gold Passport, and I'm glad to see Club Carlson also following in their footsteps. Not only that, elite members will now earn Gold Points for all food and beverage purchases charged to their room during award stays.

The Club Carlson Visa

The main reason why I say Club Carlson is still an amazing value, however, is because of its co-branded credit card with US Bank. Since its launch, card users and bloggers alike have raved about its spectacular benefits, including 85,000 bonus Gold Points after spending $2,500 in 90 days, automatic Gold Status, an annual 40,000 Gold Points renewal bonus, and best of all, the last night free perk when you redeem for an award stay two nights or longer.

Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa and Business Rewards Visa

This last benefit is especially lucrative, since it essentially reduces the amount of Gold Points needed for award stays by 50% when you only book two-night stays. In cities where there are multiple Carlson Rezidor properties such as London, you can basically hotel-hop from one property to the next for two nights each, and pay only 50% of the typical award redemption rate. Or, if you are traveling with a friend or significant other who also carries the Club Carlson credit card, you can remain at the same hotel and just alternate two-night bookings under each name.

Thus, despite the highest category charging 70,000 Gold Points per night now, the actual rate can be cut in half to 35,000 Gold Points. Of course, paying only 25,000 Gold Points before the devaluation is still a far better deal, but I honestly can't complain about a 10,000 point per night increase for only nine of their best properties worldwide. By all accounts, this is still a fantastic deal.

Add to the fact that the earn rate for both paid hotel stays (20 Gold Points per dollar) and for credit card spend (10 Gold Points per dollar at Carlson Rezidor hotels, 5 Gold Points everywhere is else) is unmatched by any other hotel loyalty program, and I would venture to say that Club Carlson is still the most rewarding program out there right now. The only downside is that they lack the regional coverage larger hotel chains have, and perhaps the quality and aspirational nature of their properties are still not up to par. In the meantime, I will still be collecting as many Gold Points as possible for all my future stays.

The South American Altiplano March 2013 - Radisson Plaza Hotel La Paz

***This post is part 7 of a full trip report. The index can be found here***

The Radisson Plaza Hotel is the only international chain in La Paz, but don't go there expecting international standards in decor and upkeep. In its heyday (probably a few decades ago), this was certainly a five-star hotel with its expansive lobby, full-service amenities, and towering presence over one of the wealthiest districts in La Paz. However, time hasn't been particularly kind, and without any major remodeling of the rooms and facilities, everything now looks incredibly dated and tired.

Armed with my U.S. Bank Club Carlson Visa,  I booked two nights here for only 15,000 Gold Points, with the last night free. If I didn't have this benefit, I probably would have just paid for the room out-of-pocket since prepaid nights often go for well under $100 USD. Booking over the Club Carlson website was very straightforward, and they even automatically removed the points deduction for the last night since your credit card and membership accounts are linked.

We arrived at the Radisson Plaza Hotel around 9:00 pm hungry and tired. Thankfully, the wait to check in was short. After an extensive day of traveling, I didn't have the energy or patience to take pictures of the facilities that night, but I did so the next morning. All we really wanted to do was throw our belongings into the room and quickly find something to eat in the area.

Radisson Plaza Hotel La Paz

Lobby

Comparison Of Three Carlson Rezidor Hotels In London

Besides the generous 85,000 Gold Points sign-up bonus, probably the best feature of the Club Carlson Visa is its "last night free" benefit, wherein if you redeem Gold Points for two or more consecutive award nights, your last night is always free. This creates an interesting proposition, because if a city you're visiting has multiple Carlson Rezidor properties, you could technically get 50% off your entire award stay by hotel hopping for two nights each.

I did this recently in London since they have no less than 15 properties close to downtown. I stayed for six nights total, choosing The May Fair, the Radisson Blu Edwardian Mercer Street Hotel, and the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. Hotels in London are incredibly expensive, and any of the Radisson Blu hotels can routinely top $400 per night. Carlson Rezidor's most famous and luxurious property in London, The May Fair, can start anywhere from $400-$700 per night and only goes up from there.

The May Fair is where I started, and to be honest, I was a little nervous to show up at one of London's hot spots with my nasty backpack and disheveled appearance. By then, I had been traveling through Germany for almost two weeks, and after a late night flight into London from Munich, I was exhausted and grimy. I kept imagining security dragging me out of the lobby while hip onlookers pointed and shook their heads disapprovingly. Luckily, reality was a lot less exciting, and I was courteously greeted upon arrival despite my demeanor. 

The May Fair

It was almost midnight when I checked in, so there were few people in the lobby, although the bar area was fairly crowded. I really appreciated the watermelon-infused water dispenser that was located at every check-in terminal. The very friendly front desk agent was efficient and quickly handed me the keys to my room. He noticed I was by myself and confirmed this with me since I typically put two people on the reservation just in case a travel buddy decides to join me. He then asked if I preferred a king bed instead of two twins, which I declined.

Lobby

When I entered the room, I was really surprised at how large it was. Shocked was probably a more apt description when I then saw the size of the bathroom. I'd read about how small London hotel rooms can be, so I was not prepared for so much open space. Not sure if I was upgraded to a nicer room because of my Gold Status or if this was just the standard room here... but either way I was extremely happy. On the table was a personalized welcome letter, as well as a small amenity box of chocolates. A complimentary bottle of water was also provided.

Easy 1,000 Club Carlson Gold Points Via Facebook

This is about as easy as it gets when it comes to free points! Just log into your Facebook account, then go to the Club Carlson I'm A Fan app page. Click the like button on the upper right corner, and you will be asked to enter your Club Carlson member number and email. That's it! You will receive 1,000 Gold Points within 2-3 weeks of submitting your information. This promotion is valid between February 15 and March 31, 2013 at midnight ET. Only one bonus award will be given per person and per Club Carlson account. You must be a Club Carlson member to participate in this promotion.

Hilton Any Weekend, Anywhere 24-Hour Bonus Facebook Event, Plus Club Carlson Joins In

Hilton HHonors is really piling on the promotions this quarter! Add this one to the list. Read very carefully, because it gets a little confusing.

First off, be aware of the Any Weekend, Anywhere Sale that has been going on since the end of December. The sale is described as follows: between December 27, 2011 and January 31, 2012, book a minimum two-night weekend stay for any weekend throughout 2012, and receive up to 33% off your stay using the Any Weekend, Anywhere rate. Plus, earn an additional 1,000 bonus points per stay. A weekend stay is defined as any night Thursday through Sunday.

On top of the regular sale, there is now the Any Weekend, Anywhere 24-Hour Bonus Event exclusive to Facebook that was just announced yesterday. This "bonus event" is for HHonors members and Facebook users who take advantage of the Any Weekend, Anywhere sale within a specific 24-hour period. Starting on January 17, 2012 at 12:00 pm EST and ending on January 18, 2012 at 11:59 am EST, you can book a weekend stay through the Any Weekend, Anywhere sale website. Then, you must return to the 24-Hour Bonus Event Tab on the Hilton HHonors Facebook page to enter your booking confirmation number as well as your HHonors number by 11:59 am EST on January 18, 2012. Doing so will earn you an additional 2,500 bonus points for each weekend stay you book during the 24-hour event, up to a maximum of 10,000 bonus points (four stays). The 2,500 bonus points will post after you have completed the corresponding stay.

Now here's where is gets really confusing. If you only want to stay for one night, you can still book the discount rate (up to 33% off), but your stay must occur between Friday and Sunday. You will not receive the normal 1,000 bonus points for a one-night stay. However, you will receive the 2,500 bonus event points if you complete the terms on Facebook. If you require a Thursday check-in, your stay must be at least two nights in order to book the discount rate, earn the normal 1,000 bonus points, and earn the 2,500 bonus event points. Got that? :)

All Any Weekend, Anywhere bookings are non-refundable, prepaid rates, and must be booked at least seven days in advance. Existing reservations booked prior to the 24-Hour Bonus Event will not earn the 2,500 bonus event points even if it is booked under the Any Weekend, Anywhere rate.

These offers can be quite lucrative, especially when stacked with the Hilton HHonors More Points promotion I detailed last week and the various bonus airline miles promotions I wrote about on January 9th. Here's an example: for a two-night weekend stay completed before March 31, 2012 at $100 per night (assuming you booked the Any Weekend, Anywhere rate during the 24-hour event period), you would receive 2,000 base spend points, 1,000 bonus points for the Any Weekend, Anywhere promo, 2,500 bonus points for the 24-hour bonus event promo, 5,000 bonus points + 2,000 bonus points for the More Points promo, plus an additional 2x or 3x bonus airline miles (depending on which offer you register for). That's a grand total of 12,500 bonus points for a two-night weekend stay plus additional bonus airline miles! Not bad at all.

Finally, Ric Garrido over at Loyalty Traveler details Club Carlson's Triple Points promotion for Q1 2012. He calls it the best offer so far of 2012, and I'd have to agree... even though I haven't stayed much at Carlson Hotels. Essentially, you will earn 60 Gold Points per dollar spent at all Carlson Hotels worldwide for stays between January 10 and March 16, 2012. It doesn't get much simpler than that (compare this to the Hilton mess above hah)! Register here.

Remember To Register For The Radisson 50,000 Gold Point Promotion Tonight!

Starting in about half an hour (midnight EST), registration will open for Radisson's Big Night Giveaway promotion. The first 50,000 people to register will have the chance to earn 50,000 Gold Points. All you have to do is stay at a Radisson or Radisson Blu hotel in the U.S., Canada, or Caribbean between November 10 and December 30, 2011.

It doesn't matter when you actually made your reservation. For example, if you booked way back in September, prior to the announcement of this promotion, your stay will still count as long as it falls between November 10 and December 30, 2011. One caveat is that your stay must be eligible to earn Gold Points in order for it to count, so make sure you read the fine print for the specific rate you are booking.

If you register after the first 50,000 spots are already gone, you still have the opportunity to earn 15,000 Gold Points after completing the same required stay at a Radisson or Radisson Blue hotel. Good luck everyone!

50,000 Gold Points For One Stay At A Radisson Hotel

Via the Mommy Points blog and this press release, Radisson's Carlson Club is running a pretty crazy promotion starting next week. In celebration of the Radisson Blu Hotel brand debut in North America (Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago), Carlson Hotels is rolling out the Big Night Giveaway. Be one of the first 50,000 Club Carlson members to register for this promotion on November 10, 2011, and then stay at a Carlson Hotel between November 10 and December 30, 2011, and you will earn 50,000 Gold Points, which is enough for a free stay at any Carlson Hotel worldwide!

The exact terms of this promotion is still a bit vague, and I think more clarification will probably come out prior to November 10th. For example, in the press release, it states that the stay can be at a "Carlson Hotel" to qualify, but then in the next paragraph, it says that the stay can be at any "Radisson hotel in the U.S., Canada, or the Caribbean". So will a stay at the Country Inn & Suites (also part of the Carlson Hotels family), which costs significantly less than a Radisson Hotel, count? In addition, do you also need to be one of the first 50,000 to complete the stay, or just to register for the promotion? Regardless, it may be a good idea to book a stay as close to November 10th as possible just be safe.

EDIT: It looks like only stays at Radisson or Radisson Blu Hotels will qualify. Also, from the terms and conditions on the registration link that was just released, it sounds to me like you just have to be one of the first 50,000 to register, and your stay can happen anytime before December 30, 2011.

Club Carlson is one of the less popular hotel loyalty programs out there, but for 50,000 points, it may be worthwhile to take a second look. I've had an account for about 2 years now, but I've rarely ever stayed at a Carlson Hotel, save for my Park Plaza stay in Beijing last year (which was wonderful by the way). Redemption opportunities seem decent, though the hotel tiers skew on the high side. With 6 categories of hotels, points per night run from 9,000 for the lowest category to 50,000 for highest. You can check out more details regarding Club Carlson hotel categories here.

Personally, I am still debating whether or not to take part in this promotion. I tend to stay away from offers where the cost becomes high enough that it outweighs the benefits (hence my apprehension towards the U.S. Airways Grand Slam Promotion). Now I actually think that the Big Night Giveaway is a very good deal, since spending roughly $100 for a one night stay will yield one free night at some of the most expensive Carlson Hotels in the world - upwards of $300-$400. But I suppose the first order of business is to figure out if there is even a cheap Radisson hotel nearby!

If you are not yet a Club Carlson member, sign up here and you will receive an addition 2,000 bonus Gold Points after your first stay. The registration link has now been activated, though actual registration begins on November 10, 2011. Act fast to be among the first 50,000 to sign up!