The lounge at the hotel is even better than at the airport
We often talk about lounges in airports, but very little about lounges in hotels. One of the main benefits they give the [...]
We often talk about lounges in airports, but very little about lounges in hotels. One of the main benefits that statuses in hotel chains give is precisely access to lounges in hotels that offer this service. When I go to an establishment I don't know, the first thing I do is look to see if there is a lounge, and between a hotel that offers it and one that doesn't I almost always choose the former.
What are hotel lounges
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The first thing to know is. not only chain hotels offer this service, in the past I was at the Siam@Siam in Pattaya, Thailand, and I had booked just such a "business" room that gave access to the lounge. I did the same at theAtlantis of Dubai where booking club rooms gives a lot of additional pampering.
These spaces are open almost all day long and, like airport lounges, you will almost always find food and drink here, as well as a perfect environment for working or relaxing after a busy day.
Breakfast is also generally served, but my advice is to always have it in the main restaurant for quality of offerings and service.
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During the rest of the day, happy hour or the classic afternoon tea are organized, depending on the hotel, which is not simply drinking herbal tea, but includes sandwiches and cakes, a real snack.
Lounges in major hotel chains
Hilton Honors
Access to Hilton's "executive lounges" is free if you hold the Diamond level in the Hilton Honors program, this is because in any case you will receive an upgrade to an executive room. Gold members are not guaranteed access and must hope for an upgrade to try to grab a room on the executive floors. Those without the status can still book an executive room and thus have access to the hotel lounge.
Shangri-La Golden Circle
The lounges at these hotels are called the Horizon Club (or Traders Club) and are open to guests staying in club-level rooms and suites as well as Diamond members and their guests. Those with access to the Shangri-La Horizon Club will enjoy benefits such as check-in in the lounge or even in the room (Diamond members), late check-out, free breakfast, morning/afternoon tea, as well as canapés and evening cocktails.
Marriott Bonvoy
Access to the executive lounge, called the MClub or Sheraton Club, is a benefit offered to Platinum Elite members and above, while Gold Elite members will have to hope for a room upgrade. Again, it is always possible to book a room with Club access.
Not all lounges are the same
As with airports and airlines, hotel chain lounges are not all the same: in my experience I have found the best in South America and Asia, and the worst in Europe and the United States. One of the best I have visited is the one at the Sheraton Buenos Aires, not to mention those in Asia. While one of the worst perhaps was at the Marriott in Athens, basically a room with chairs and nothing to eat, a similar situation at the London Heathrow Marriott.
This is especially a problem when you are paying for this service, because you are unsure of the quality of the lounge, the food offerings, and the opening hours.
Why I think lounges in hotels are essential
Of course, I don't point to these places for mooching dinner, partly because if I'm on the other side of the world I like to go out to dinner. But traveling often with my daughter, they are a lifeline to the sudden demand for food. Here you can always find something to munch on and drink, without touching the items in the minibar that are always exorbitantly expensive.
They are also perfect locations to work comfortably, I often have calls and this is a perfect place. Quiet and at the same time bustling, but never confusing, sort of in between a coworking space and a starbucks.
All this without forgetting that they are almost always elegant rooms, located in strategic areas of the hotel with panoramic views or in alternative situations-for example, at the Marriott in Buenos Aires, to enter the lounge, you have to take a dedicated elevator and you also have access to an exclusive rooftop terrace.
It pays to book an executive room
If you do not have the status you must book a room that gives access to these lounges, there is no Priority Pass for hotel lounges. My advice is to evaluate the cost difference and analyze well what is included in the room in question.
First of all, breakfast is of course included, and generally a better room than the basic room. If you are traveling alone and have no special work requirements, I would say it doesn't make much sense as an extra expense. Conversely, if you are traveling as a family or it is a long stay, it can make sense because it definitely saves money in hotel expenses, and outside, not to mention the convenience of having this space accessible two minutes from the bedroom.
