so....what did the welcome package come with at a price of S$398?
Loads of group dining certificates, some complimentary freebies and discounted services and of course the 2 complimentary nights stay at any of Accor hotels.
To name it all here:
Group Dining Certificate:
Buffet at Feast@East buffet- 50% for up to 10 people
Jia Wei Chinese restuarant - 50% for up to 10 people
Royale @ Mercure Bugis ala carte - 50% for up to 10 people
The Square Novotel Singapore buffet - 50% for up to 10 people
Xperience Restaurant @ Sofitel - 50% for up to 4 people
The Square Novotel Singapore ala carte- 50% for up to 4 people
Kwee Zeen @ Sofitel Singapore - 50% for up to 4 people
The Garden @ Sofitel Singapore - 50% for up to 4 people
HI-SO Rooftop Pool bar - 30% for up to 4 people
BARtistry@122 Mercure Bugis - 30% for up to 4 people
Le Bar Rouge @ Novotel Singapore- 30% for up to 4 people
Illido at the Cliff ala carte - 30% for up to 4 people
LeBar Afternoon Tea @ Sofitel - 20% for 2 persons
won't go into the rest of the dining certificates from the budget hotel establishments...
For the discounts on services:
Sofitel Singapore Spa - 25% discount for up to 3 persons
Complimentary freebie:
Birthday cake
Pros:
If you go for dining at good restaurants frequently with your partner/spouse, then it is really value for money for the membership. There is the 50% of for 2 pax, which means 1 dine free for 2 persons eating.
There are occasional flash sales of 50% dining at partner hotels, for example Prego at Fairmont has a 50% off which is rather good value for money.
Going for good dining every fortnightly or so, my partner and I went to Xperience restuarant ($60) and Kwee Zeen buffet ($80). Quality of ala carte at Xperience and buffet at Kwee Zeen was really good, ambience was awesome as well. For comparable standards, we could have spent $100 and $160 respectively.
Accommodation wise, the 2 free nights help to defray the cost of the package. You could book at luxury hotels in Singapore or pay for it in your FnE vacation overseas.
Cons:
Better book the luxury hotel (Sofitel) for your complimentary nights many many many months in advance, you have been forewarned. I couldn't get any dates for the complimentary night on my birthday on an October saturday this year. As for my partner's birthday in January 2018, I only managed to book either a mercure bugis or novotel clarke quay. So there are limited availability which is a con. Alternatively, you could use these 2 free nights in Asia Pacific but not consecutively...pretty funny rule but they make the rules.
Some dining establishments seem to have prices inflated, which I probably would not patronise. I always check the menu before I make the booking. For example, the poolside bar @ Mercure roxy seem too exorbitant....
Verdict:
The limit of Sofitel room booking is a dampener. Considering that each room cost S$300-350 at cheapest you can possibly get, that is probably expected but more availability will be welcomed. I can only look forward to the opening of the next Sofitel in Singapore this year and make my booking asap on my birthday, I just love staycations!
I find that this is rather worthwhile as the dining options are fantastic and my spouse who loves buffet was just delighted by the quality and spread at Kwee Zeen. She has rated it better than Intercontinental's Oscar buffet as a benchmark.
Will I get this membership again? It is a start for now. If I get my money's worth in accommodation, dining, experiences and do not get bored of choices available, I will get it again.
