Fabulous Fridays this week deals with the fantastic amenities at the Conrad Koh Samui hotel, where this Diamond member spent his 100th Hilton night of 2021.
Earlier this month, I spent a week at DoubleTree Phuket Bathai and Hilton Phuket Arcadia hotels (Sandbox requirement). However, I decided to spend the nights that would put me over 100 at Conrad Koh Samui, where I had been twice previously.
You can access Conrad Koh Samui here.
READ MORE: Hilton Honors Rate & Bonus Points Offers
Luxury hotels tend to send you a pre-stay welcome email asking about the arrival time (and trying to sell you various services) plus other property information. I replied that I was already on the island (I checked out the brand new Hyatt Regency) and would arrive in a car that I had rented (if you want to get around in Koh Samui – you need a car).
I also let them know that this stay would put me over 100 Hilton nights in 2021 (all paid btw), and I would appreciate it if they could provide a small cake to celebrate the milestone.
Diamond Bear!
A very nice letter!
And cake with homemade ginger beer!
Welcome & Departure Gifts!
Conrad Koh Samui turtle, two Conrad Koh Samui face masks and Conrad Koh Samui magnet.
The pool villa that I had at the hotel.
I had 60 nights rollover from 2020 (Hilton rolled over all nights consumed last year into 2021 with a maximum of 60).
And unlike with Hyatt, the milestone bonuses keep yielding 10,000 points for every 10 nights even after you pass 100.
Conclusion
It seems that I’ll probably hit the lifetime Diamond requirement of 1,000 nights in 2023. However, I am at roughly 800 nights, and we still have three months of 2021 left.
Some may find it tacky that I requested a cake for reaching the 100 nights in 2021, but I have learned that if you want something, it never hurts to ask as others cannot read your mind (same rule applies here – if you like us to cover something – drop us an email). If they say no, you’ll move on.
Suppose you or the person with whom you are traveling is celebrating a milestone. In that case, it never hurts to let the hotel know in advance and spend it at a quality luxury property that provides amenities for such occasions, preferably one where you have been previously.
I have to say that I was positively surprised about these amenities that Conrad Koh Samui provided. They went above and beyond what I expected.
![Airfare of the Day [Business Class] STAR ALLIANCE Nee w York to Cairo from $2,211](https://cdn.loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/pyramids-g341c44564_1280-CAIRO-120x86.jpg)
![Airfare of the Day [Business Class] AMERICAN AIRLINES Milan to Chicago from 1,609€](https://cdn.loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/museum-of-science-and-industry-g859b4cc1d_1280-chicago-120x86.jpg)
Nice gesture.
How much did you pay per night at Conrad John?
Are the rates low compared to normal times?
Luxury hotels tend to keep rates pretty high I noticed
Their rates are roughly half now what they usually were (and I used for the third time Hilton’s F&F program). I am at the RC now that is extremely reasonably priced and at less than 10% occupancy.
As you warned, I do find this tacky.
I agree tacky and somewhat arrogant
BTW John you continuously encourage us to send you emails with our travel experiences . I have sent you four emails over the last 3 months regarding an unjustified denied boarding in Lisbon, with all the documentation and proof. I clearly accepted that that you might not be interested in my case but expected the courtesy of a response. Nothing. I’m an avid follower of you but very disappointed at your silence.
I read every email that is sent to me. Unfortunately, I cannot act upon every single one of them.
Thank you for your expedient response. I fully understand, you must be inundated with emails as your blog must have many followers. Perhaps just a quick ( pre- formatted ) email response to let us know you cannot act ?
As you say, some will find this tacky.
Others will be unable to conceal their jealousy and feel the need to betray themselves with bitchy comments.
As an IHG Royal Ambassador since 20 consecutive years as well as Aa HHonors Diamond member I can assure you I am not “jealous”. I have often been pampered beyond my expectations on some occasions and have fought for the promised benefits on others.
However I would never lower myself to ask for a “ cake “,or anything else , I am not entitled to, yet would be very appreciative if the management took that initiative.
What defines the quality of service is the ability to anticipate needs, to deliver attentions that surprise and testify to the understanding of the person.
We do not ask for a gift from the person we love, because she/he knows precisely what would make you happy, and when it would make you happy.
One of the most exceptional attentions I received from a hotel was when the concierge in a Tokyo property managed to find me the address of a so-called “tiny house”. He called the architectural firm first, but they only told him the neighborhood, because the house is a private property.
He then spent (probably some time) trying to find the said house on Google Maps in satellite mode (the house is less than 5 meters wide) and ended up finding it.
On returning to the hotel, I found a note from the concierge, and I was simply amazed. I obviously had a great pleasure to visit this house (from outside).
Maybe this teddy bear will compensate for the loneliness of the traveler in a room of a deserted resort, in period of covid and rainy weather
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/906de8a91ddc335e2caa78fbb36a632307a17d9204bf20792de5413ca3c279e9.jpg
What defines the quality of service is the ability to anticipate needs, to deliver attentions that surprise and testify to the understanding of the person.
We do not ask for a gift from the person we love, because she/he knows precisely what would make you happy, and when it would make you happy.
One of the most exceptional attentions I received from a hotel was when the concierge in a Tokyo property managed to find me the address of a so-called “tiny house”. He called the architectural firm first, but they only told him the neighborhood, because the house is a private property.
He then spent (probably some time) trying to find the said house on Google Maps in satellite mode (the house is less than 5 meters wide) and ended up finding it.
On returning to the hotel, I found a note from the concierge, and I was simply amazed. I obviously had a great pleasure to visit this house (from outside).
Maybe this teddy bear will compensate for the loneliness of the traveler in a room of a deserted resort, in period of covid and rainy weather
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/906de8a91ddc335e2caa78fbb36a632307a17d9204bf20792de5413ca3c279e9.jpg
I’ve stopped using Hilton after a horrific exchange with their customer “service” team (in India?) that went on for 2 weeks after a stay that went very badly (during memorial services for my mom). Their lack of training was just so incredibly apparent (“we’re so glad you stayed with us. It’s a shame your *old mother* is now dead from the Covid. Hope to see you again real soon”. Exact quote from one of them! In any event, attempts to escalate to management finally succeeded, but we’re done with the chain.
You seem upset.
I have received good service from the Honors when i have contacted them via email about some stay issues that we have documented here (see the Compensation Clinics).
Tacky it may be, it’s always nice to have a cake given to you during your stay! Also give the resort staff something to do during this quiet covid times, and this is evident from the details they put in. It’s a win win.
My mother once received a very nice cake in her room for her birthday… except that it was not her birthday!
She gave the cake to the housekeeping team, which was very happy about it.
And with no surprise, my mum received stellar service all the week she stayed at this hotel. 😊
Conrad Ko Samui is the best. Was upgraded as a diamond to a ridiculous 2 br 2 1/2 ba, two level villa. Private courtyard, bigger pool, big round master bed, it was insane.
They also did a brilliant job in heading off a potential nightmare. CKS leaves you monogrammed slippers, robe and pillows. I had been there before with an ex, and I forgot to update the companion info. So they monogrammed everything with my exes initials! As I was walking through I quickly noticed, hid the items before my current companion saw them, called service and asked for new monogrammed items to be discretely dropped off. Within 15 minutes they stopped by with the items that I promptly switched out. Phew!
That’s fantastic service too.
Very unnecessary. Your request has devalued their service, for them and for us, we appreciative HH members. Any Conrad worth its salts will do this as part of their process. The only time I request such a service *like a cake* is if a family member is staying on my points. Then I do point ou what is happening, I would appreciate their kindness towards my guests.
I recall with great fondness how the entire crew, including the captain, came to the front cabin of my AF AMS-CDG for connection to CDG-OUA, and sang me Haopy Birthday. Probably made them a few million quid, such a gesture, 1998.
I don’t expect hotels to keep track how many nights I have spent with the chain. I have received milestone surprises from select hotels for staying 20 times etc.
Let the property know you are celebrating! a what? A milestone?? Seriously….
This looks like a birthday party for a five year old, well, maybe quite befittingly so…. A bit tongue in cheek? I think they could have done better – a sandbucket and shovel is missing here.
I have 120 paid for nights with Hilton this year. I do like the points that come with milestones and that’s that. As regards to welcome amenities – I do notice and appreciate it when a hotel gets it right, when it’s something original and/or beautiful. But expecting it or even asking for it.? It just would’nt cross my mind. How different we all are.
I totally agree
They were ware that I don’t drink alcohol and the F&B manager knew that I really like very gingery ginger beer that they make at this hotel (think of Fever Tree Ginger Beer level of ginger) because we were chatting at the cafe they have.
Why i need a car to go around Samui and not on motorbike?
There is some heavy raining occasionally and traffic rules are what they are. I’m sure motorcycle is fine but you should have a motorcycle license and proper insurance.
I do have thai driving licence (expires in December Sigh) and international one as well. I used to borrow mbike in cbiang mai from the one which covers accidents and in the case of stolen you pay only 10000thb. on monthly basis 3500. Dont know if they still open. Indeed the rain in a curvy roads is no fun. I am sure you know the road Chiang mai-Pai.
Ha – yes very tacky indeed.
I redeemed a 5-night award stay at this property in 2015 and it was wonderful, especially the free full restaurant breakfast.
I must disagree that @ John@LoyaltyLobby’s request to have his 100th Hilton stay be recognized by the property was “tacky”. His rationale for doing it, which was that
should be remembered and practiced by anyone who patronizes Hilton Honors because that is precisely the recipe for getting the most out of one’s HH elite status. It is part of what I refer to as playing the game with “a full deck”. The key, though, is (a) to be polite and not come off as pushy or demanding, and (b) to move on when the answer is ‘no’, rather than to start a dispute and seem “entitled.”
Having said that, one of my most memorably stays as a Hilton Honors Diamond was checking in at Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri on my birthday in November 2016 and finding out not only that I had been proactively (i.e., without my asking) upgraded to a suite on the Imperial Floor, which is specifically excluded from upgrades in HH T&C, but also that two bottles of champagne had been delivered to my suite, each with a card wishing me a happy birthday…and I had not even told anyone it was my b-day!!! I think that I got two of everything because signals got crossed on the request to deliver the stuff to my suite and it was simply decided to let me have double the fun! Well, a picture is worth a thousand words. Cheers!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e88de39bd6912c7ce918031f1433429ab464130237b1efb3adb69b1fa906396a.jpg
[I had an addendum here that I just deleted after checking and confirming that a detail in the above that I wanted to amend was not necessary. So, never mind!]
That’s lovely. The issue with the Cavalieri in Rome is that even if now get an upgrade to the Imperial floor the Imperial lounge access (fantastic lounge) is excluded. I am not sure what is the situation of the “Diamond” lounge on the ground floor.
I have been at the Cavalieri twice; once with the Imperial lounge access (must have been early/mid-2010s), and last year with the Imperial room upgrade without access.
Did your card key have ‘Imperial Floor’ printed on it? It’s how to get to the Imperial Lounge. My understanding at the time was that the ‘Imperial Club’ (lounge) on the 7th floor was temporarily closed, but that might have simply been to prevent me from trying to access it 🙂
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/74098f1a1a1e6aba2da6d07736e22efd726bea88f0ca497696b0b6d5d70956a6.jpg
I did have access to a lounge on the ground floor (pictured below); maybe it’s the one you referred to as the ‘Diamond’ lounge, which was good enough for me. When you say “I am not sure what is the situation of the “Diamond” lounge on the ground floor“, was it not available to you when you stayed at the property?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/288c1a2176f3d4f993fd21947e4269bdae9cb180d45d77cc7a85b348b9afb03d.jpg
I have been a Diamond for some years, and in the US, I think all I have received was a few bottles of water and some candy bars from the little area that sell sundries. I guess being a Diamond member is more valuable outside of the US? The US Hilton lounges are not all that wonderful for the few brands that still have lounges. Being a Marriott Titanium has not been a big advantage either. An occasional upgrade at least at some Marriott properties and breakfast which is helpful when on the road. Some Marriott lounges are actually pretty good at least for breakfast. I thnk hotel status is like chicken soup, it does not hurt but not sure how helpful it is. I am not sensing my loyalty really does anything. Am I missing something?
Americans need to be re-trained. In Asia, most really treat diamond members like VIP with upmost respect. They will upgrade with you without having to ask.
I agree with the preceding two comments about elite status recognition overseas compared to in the US, and, generally, it’s seemed to me that the higher a property is rated, the better it treats top elites (e.g., with multiple stays at both properties, I generally got treated better at WA Shanghai on the Bund than at the now defunct Hilton Shanghai…)
It is not just with Hilton but will all other chains as well. The elite status is much more worthwhile outside of the US.
This is one of my favorite hotels and it’s awesome how they showed you their appreciation for your 100 night milestone.
Congratulations to John for reaching 100 nights and getting these lovely amenities! It was a very clever move from Conrad Koh Samui to offer the requested cake and other extras. At Conrad they know very well that John operates a blog of premium hotels. At Conrad marketing they knew John would post nice pictures and the resort would get a free advertisement which will give Conrad Koh Samui more visitors. Next time the amenity will be even better, just keep posting these nice fotos!