MaryW

Hope you really enjoy it again Kim - its such a lovely hotel.

My budget should definitely be for a very cheap place but we save up all year to stay at the Pen if we can because its such a wonderful experience!

When we first stayed there it only cost us about $80 US for a suite with breakfast - that was not long after they had opened and we had upgrades from an ordinary room for free - had to stay 5 nights though - such a hardship. Do wish we could still get it for that - I'd move in for a month or two.

hawaiiantraveler

The Penisnsulas' have come out with their Summer Splendour Package with a few perks. For those interested in just a room and not the suites its a very good deal.....you probably already knew

http://bangkok.peninsula.com/pbk/packages.html

Aloha!

katesy

We're staying for 3 nights later this month and tried to book the 275 rate through the Kiwi Collection. It all seemed to work fine, but the Peninsula just emailed to say the third night would be 480, so we are going to downgrade to a regular room for night 3. Bummer!

KimJapan

Interesting about your rate...I do know that direct booking this rate it is strictly limited to 2 nights...I have booked through asiatravel.com and the rate there is called The Suite Life x 4 (meaning 4 nights is ok I suppose). We booked 3 nights. I have been in contact with the Peninsula about this reservation to confirm an extra bed (no problem, complimentary) and to arrange airport transfer (we like the luxury of the hotel transfer). I can view my reservation online at peninsula.com and the $275.00 rate is OK for all 3 nights. In my 3 e-mails back and forth with them about this reservation they never mentioned that the third night rate would change, and I hope it won't.

crosscheck

Kim - If you have an American Express Platinum card, you might be able to get an even better deal on a suite. At Xmas time our standard rooms were $180 each and we were upgraded to two grand deluxe rooms. That rate included four massages, early check in, late check out and daily breakfast.

If you book a grand deluxe through Amex Platinum, you get a guaranteed upgrade to a suite, plus many other amenities.

KimJapan

Don't have a platinum card though.

crosscheck

It is pricey ($300 a year as opposed to $150 for a gold card), but the benefits have saved us hundreds, if not thousands.

I am not definitely not the type to sing the praises of a credit card, but it has really changed the way we travel - free travel insurance (including med evac), guaranteed upgrades and amenities, free business class companion tickets, concierge service, tickets to sold-out events, etc.

Guenmai

True...AmExp Platinum usually can get quite good rates. When I stayed at the Pen...I think in August 2004, I got a room for around $145.00 or less. Happy Travels!

moremiles

That's interesting Crosscheck-will have to look into the Plat Card in greater depth since you say the room upgrades are guaranteed? I've heard the 2 for 1 biz class deal is only on fares that are much higher than just purchasing a discount biz tkt. Is the med. insurance that comes with the card all that you usually travel with? Have you used the concierge service a lot and have room prices been comparable to what you see online?

Guenmai

Crosscheck...I just paid my Platinum card renewal fee, last month, and I'm 99% sure I paid $400. for the renewal. The fee went up.But, I've had Platinum for years and don't plan to get rid of it anytime soon. I remember when a friend and I stayed at the same hotel,in Asia, but in different rooms. We both booked standard rooms, but I had done it through Platinum and the friend hadn't. Well, when I arrived to the hotel, I had a choice of three rooms and was shown the best standard rooms of the lot, but then ended up automatically upgraded to the executive floor and for only $89.00...4-star hotel. The friend, who had booked through a different arrangement also had asked to see several rooms, but wasn't able to and was locked into a not-so-good,standard room to say the least and in an old wing of the hotel that I didn't even know existed. I've really noticed a difference in service,rooms,etc when using the card.
When another friend and I were in Kuala Lumpur, 2001, we stayed at the Ritz Carlton and were upgraded, using my card, to the executive/club level. The total cost of the room...$105. a night and we had a butler and meals all throughout the day which were included in the rate. Happy Travels!

hawaiiantraveler

some info

http://ncane.com/ykn

Aloha!

ekscrunchy

Guen: do you book the rooms through the Amex concierge or do you just have to pay with that card to get the benefits like upgrades? How do you get the special rates when you use that card..via the concierge or on their website? It sounds tempting..I have platinum Visa Signature Rewards but I never had any perks like you describe.

Guenmai

I just call Platinum Travel at 1.800.443-7672. They're on the telephone 24/7.I never have to go into an AmExp office. Most of the times that I've called, the phone agents have picked up here in L.A. which makes it convenient for me time zone wise. Many of the phone agents are somewhere in an office in L.A.
I just write down the names of the agents that I like and their extention numbers and call them. If I can't get a hold of a particular agent, I just go through the general-agent system. I can't imagine being without Platinum. The folks I've talked to over many, many years have been absolutely great.
When I planned, on my own, my first, 3-week solo trip to Souteast Asia back in the 90s,I was on the phone with one or two agents over a period of a good 6 months or more. I had some specific questions on hotels I had selected. They would call the hotel directly and then we would be on a three-way line and I could ask my question directly to the person in the other country. We did the same when I was planning my trip to Ghana back in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005. I do all of my own hotel research and then call them with my list and have them give me the rates. However, as for airfares, I personally book them separately by calling the airlines directly. Happy Travels!

Guenmai

Oh, I forgot to add that 99% of the time I don't prepay hotel rooms. I like to see what I'm getting before plopping down a lot of money. So, Platinum contacts the hotel and holds my reservation with my credit card. While on Bali, I had to change hotels after about 3 nights because I couldn't stand the hotel another second. I had not prepaid so I didn't have to worry about losing any money or fighting trying to get money back. I packed my bags and the staff at hotel 1 walked me across the street to hotel 2. The staff at hotel 1 even recommended hotel 2 and made the reservation for me, so they were aware that their hotel had gone WAY down and that people were checking out early. Happy Travels!

crosscheck

Never thought I'd be a spokesperson for Amex - Will try to answer everyone's Qs.

Guen - You're right - Mr. crosscheck just confirmed that card is now $400, but like you, we feel it's worth it.

moremiles - here are your answers:

1) ROOM UPGRADES are theoretically only available if hotel is not full, but we have always been upgraded, almost always to fabulous suites, even during the busiest travel periods.

2) TWO FOR ONE BUSINESS CLASS
Have not taken advantages of this because we usually use mileage to upgrade. But we have cousins who often get two business tickets for the price of one through Amex Platinum. They recently went to Hanoi from LA on China Air business for $1295 for 2. Airline selection is limited, but there are good deals available.

That said, we tend to use the card more for hotels and concierge services than for flights.

3) MEDICAL INSURANCE
Platinum insurance seems to be pretty good so if we buy our flights with Amex we do not supplement. But if we are traveling with mileage or purchasing airfare with another credit card then we do buy insurance.

3)CONCIERGE SERVICE
We use this often, including for sports or theater tickets in LA where we live. We go to NY a lot, and have been able to get restaurant reservations at "hot" places and house seats to sold-out shows. Used Concierge to book Gonpachi in Tokyo for New Years - got the best table in the house. Another time told them we wanted an affordable car rental(like a rent-a-wreck) and they found us a deal for a month's rental in Barcelona - $400.

4) HOTEL ROOM PRICES are usually less or the same as online, but the upgrades, late check out and amenities like free high tea or spa services make it worth it. Recently stayed in a huge suite at the Fairmont in Seattle with all sorts of welcome gifts, meals and spa treatments for less than the price of a standard room online. And even if you don't book the Amex preferred hotels, they seem to be able to get deals.

5) TRAVEL AGENT SERVICE
I normally never use travel agents, but when we went to Australia I used Amex to book activities and we received VIP service. Amex also found space for us on an internal flight that I was unable to book online.

ekscrunchy - To get all the above benefits you do have to book hotels on the Platinum website or by calling them directly. The concierge is not for hotels, just other services like tickets and restaurants. Hotels and flights are booked through a "travel consultant". If you wish, you can use the same consultant each time.

TC

I looked into the AM EX PL card a few years ago, but found the 2x1 Bus tix weren't useful for our travels. It wasn't good for every airline and only on flights from the airlines "gateway" cities -- unfortunately, not where we live. Maybe this has changed, but do be sure to ask for clarification.

moremiles

I believe the Plat card also gives you access to Delta Crown Rooms, CO and NWA airport clubs, thus eliminating the need to join any of those and was another reason I was considering it-so maybe when my DL CRC membership expires, Plat card sounds worthwhile. Thanks for all the info!

katesy

We considered booking the Peninsula through Amex Platinum but the rate was 240 for a standard room (including breakfast, one lunch, and 4pm checkout), which didn't seem that great compared to the 275 deal on the grand suite. Now if they'd upgrade us from a standard room to a suite, that would be a different story...does anyone know if we could count on being upgraded multiple classes of rooms?

We booked the Amanpuri on Platinum and are hopeful for a good upgrade there, as we booked the cheapest class of room and would love an ocean view.

Thanks for the recon on asiatravel KimJapan.

crosscheck

Don't think you can count on it, but it usually does happen.

Smeagol

i have found the congierge service by Amex to be patchy and not always guaranteed a room upgrade. I also found i could get better deals on flights searching myself but maybe that is just specific to the uk.
However they were fantastic at getting me tables in hard to book restaurants (except the french Laundry) and agree it can save ages of wasted time on the phone or internet searching out hotels etc.