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.
