This is the top category on Club Carlson’s award chart. Standard Awards can be redeemed for 50,000 points per night, while Premium Awards are priced at 75,000 points. Interestingly enough, there are no Category 6 hotels in South America. The Middle East also disappointed in this category, as there are no properties worth shelling out 50,000 points for.
Even in Dubai, you’re better off staying at the Radisson Blu Residence, Dubai Marina for 44,000 points per night than the Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai for 50,000 points. Europe redeemed itself in this category, with high-value redemptions in nearly every major city. Without further ado, here are the top picks for Category 6:
North America
While the logical choice in this category would be New York for most people, the Radisson Blu Chicago offers far better accommodations, a great location, and a better redemption value. I’ve searched for dates from March – June and have found the hotel to either be sold out or posting rates of upwards of $250+ per night. I also think other chains have far more desirable properties in NYC than Club Carlson does.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)
Distinctions: N/A
Accommodations: A Standard Award gets you an impressive City or Park View room, with free wifi, in-room coffee machine, Anne Simonin bath amenities, and turndown service. Guests have access to the indoor/outdoor pool, sauna, steam room, fitness center, business center, game room, and outdoor terrace.
Location: The hotel is housed in the Aqua Tower, which is the tallest building in the world to be designed by a female lead architect.
Aside from the impressive building, the hotel is a short walk from Millenium Park, the Chicago lakefront, and the financial district. North Michigan Avenue, home of the Magnificent Mile, is less than a quarter of a mile from this property.
Honorable mention:Â Radisson Hotel Martinique New York-Broadway (New York, NY)
The Caribbean
Radisson Blu St. Martin Resort, Marina & Spa (Marcel Cove, St. Martin)
Distinctions: N/A
Accommodations: This property was fully renovated in 2011, so all rooms have a fresh look that incorporates a Caribbean island feel. At the Standard Award level, Superior Rooms offer garden views with a private balcony or terrace, free wifi, and in-room coffee and tea maker.
Update: I received confirmation from the hotel that award bookings include free daily breakfast.
Location: The hotel is located on the French side of the island, 45 minutes from the airport. An airport shuttle is provided for $60 per adult each way. To help you get around the island easily, the resort houses a Hertz car rental booth in the lobby.
The resort has a large infinity pool and rents out boats and kayaks. Snorkel gear is offered free of charge, though diving excursions have to be arranged for a fee.
Various daily activities are offered, including: Cooking classes, wine & cheese tastings, French language classes, and more. Some of these activites are complimentary, while others range from $20-$52 per person.
Honorable mention: Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa (Palm/Eagle Beach, Aruba)
Europe, Middle East & Africa
Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow (Moscow, Russia)
Distinctions:
- 2013 Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #15 Top hotel in Russia
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #10 Luxury hotel in Russia
Accommodations: At the Standard level, you’ll receive a 345-430 sqft Superior Room with free wifi, a large soaking tub and heated floors in the bathroom, free wifi, among other amenities. The decor at this hotel is classic – not exactly to my taste, but to each his own.
A Premium Award gets you into a 505-645 sqft Deluxe Room with views of the House of Government and Moskava River. Deluxe Rooms feature a separate sitting area, Penhaligon bath amenities, and in-room coffee machine.
Awards are subject to an 18% VAT.
Location: With its location in Moscow’s city center, this hotel caters to both business and leisure travelers. The House of Government is right next door, while Red Square, Arbat Street, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and the Pushkin Museum are within two miles of the hotel.
The hotel is 20 miles from both Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo International Airport.
Honorable mention: Radisson Blu Hotel, Kiev (Kiev, Ukraine)
Radisson Blu Le Metropolitan Hotel, Paris Eiffel (Paris, France)
Source: Tripadvisor.com
Distinctions: Conde Nast Traveler’s Hot List 2010: Paris’ Best Hotels
Accommodations: Rooms in Paris are small in general, and this hotel is no exception. Classic Rooms are just 215 sqft and include bathrooms featuring showers and sinks designed by François Champsaur. The fact that the hotel brags about the designer of its showers and sinks must mean it’s something special.
Bathrooms are stocked with Anne Sémonin bath products, fluffy robes and slippers. Guests receive free wifi, in-room Nespresso coffee machine, and an iPod docking station.
At the Premium Award level, guests can book a slightly larger 236 sqft Deluxe Room.
While taxes are waived for award bookings, guests have the option to contribute a 1 Euro Responsible Business fee.
Location: The hotel is located in the 16th arrondissement, within walking distance of major tourist attractions, including: Trocadero, Palais de Chaillot, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, and the Eiffel Tower (which can be viewed from the hotel).
Honorable mention: There are many great hotels in this category. There are great properties all over London and France. Below are some other properties that could easily have taken the top spot on this list.
- The May Fair, London (London, England)
- Radisson Blu Style Hotel, Vienna (Vienna, Austria)
- Radisson Blu 1835 Hotel & Thalasso, Cannes (Cannes, France)
- Radisson Blu Hotel, Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #22 Top Hotel in The Netherlands
Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel, Istanbul (Istanbul, Turkey)
Distinctions: N/A
Accommodations: Standard rooms are 300 sqft and guests get access to free parking, wifi, bottled water, and coffee/tea provisions. The decor at this hotel is modern, with light wood floors and soft colors.
For an extra 25,000 points per night, you can book a 344 sqft Business Class Room with a Bosphorus view. Complimentary breakfast buffet at StarBoard Restaurant, pay-per-view, daily turndown service, and in-room Nespresso machine are included.
Award bookings are subject to an 8% VAT.
Location: While the hotel itself is beautiful, it’s the location that really sets it apart from the other hotels in this category. Not only is it right on the Bosphorous, with views of the Ortakoy Mosque and Bosphorous Bridge, but it offers convenient access to a nearby bus and tram station, making it easy to get around town. I would avoid cabs at all cost in Istanbul, and if you’re staying at this property, that’s something you don’t have to worry about.
This property is a great base from which to explore the city. You’re just under 2 miles from Dolmabahce Palace, Rumeli Fortress and Taksim Square. All the other major tourist attractions (Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, etc.) are just 6 miles away and can easily be accessed via tram. Istanbul is one of my favorite cities and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a city that is both modern and entrenched in history.
Honorable mention: Radisson Blu Resort, Gran Canaria (Gran Canaria, Spain)
Northern Europe
Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Copenhagen (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Distinctions:
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #17 Top Hotels in Denmark
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #22 Top Hotels for Service in Denmark
Accommodations: Standard Rooms at this hotel are just 193 sqft and abide by Scandanavian design principles of simplicity and functionality. All guests get access to free wifi and coffee/tea provisions.
Royal Club Rooms can be booked at the Premium level and are slightly larger at 259 sqft. These are corner rooms on high floors with windows on both sides, boasting spectacular views of the city. Guests will receive free buffet breakfast at Alberto K, along with an in-room Nespresso coffee machine.
Location: This hotel is directly across from the Copenhagen Central Station, making it easy to travel outside the city center. The airport is just a 13 minute ride via train.
The location is perfect for tourists. You can walk to Tivoli Gardens, Town Hall Square, and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. There are various tour buses in the area, which you can hop on to see the sights.
Honorable mention: Radisson Blu Strand Hotel, Stockholm (Stockholm, Sweden)
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #10 Top Luxury Hotels in Sweden
Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, Cape Town (Cape Town, South Africa)
Source: Tripadvisor.com
Distinctions: N/A
Accommodations: Standard Rooms are 387 sqft and feature mountainside views. Guests receive complimentary daily newspaper, coffee/tea provisions and wifi.
Business Class Rooms are twice the size of Standard Rooms at 591-807 sqft and feature a balcony with sea/harbour views. Booking this room will get you free daily buffet breakfast and in-room Nespresso coffee machine. Business Class Rooms have sleeper sofas that can accommodate up to two children ago 12-17, free of charge.
Award bookings are subject to a tourism levy of 1%.
Location: Nestled in between the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain, the hotel offers amazing views. If you’re looking to explore the surrounding area, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is within walking distance and offers a variety of shopping and entertainment options.
You can catch a soccer game at Cape Town Stadium (a half mile walk), hang out with the eccentric crowd on Long Street, or make your way to The Table Mountain Cableway – all of which are less than two miles from the hotel.
Honorable mention: N/A
Asia and The Pacific
Club Carlson is opening two new properties in the Maldives later this year and I’m betting they will top all of their other hotels. The Radisson Blu Hotel Maldives Hulhumale is scheduled to open in November 2013, while the Radisson Plaza Resort Maldives Naagoshi will open that December. I wrote about these properties a while ago, and have yet to find more information.
I’m beginning to doubt Club Carlson will meet it’s goals of November/December 2013 opening dates, but let’s keep our fingers crossed that we’ll have a chance to redeem our points before Club Carlson does like Hilton and completely obliterates its award chart.
Pacific
Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney (Sydney, Australia)
Distinctions: Tripadvisor: #6 Hotel in Sydney
Accommodations: Guests booking a Standard Award have a choice between Atrium and Premier Rooms. Both rooms are 365 sqft and offer the same amenities: Separate shower and extra deep bath, free wifi, flat screen tv with cable, iPod docking stations, local morning paper delivery, and mini bar, tea and coffee provisions.
The difference seems to be that Premier rooms have high ceilings and larger windows. If you’ve actually stayed at this hotel and can offer up some feedback, I’d love to read about it.
Location: A great choice for the tourist group, this property is half a mile from the Sydney Opera House, and Sydney Aquarium. The Royal Botanic Gardens and Circular Quay are within walking distance. For far out attractions, you can head over to Wynyard Station, which is a short walk from the hotel. Overall, this is a great choice for those looking for convenient access to the city’s attractions.
Honorable mention: N/A
That does it for the Best Club Carlson Hotel Redemption series. Another series covering top redemptions for other major hotel chains is forthcoming. If you have any thoughts, questions, suggestions, please comment below.
Would you happen to know of a quick summary for the Radissons in Paris? There appears to be several. Is the one above have the best location? Thanks!
There are 3 other hotels (Radisson Blu Hotel Champs Elysees, Radisson Blu Ambassador Paris Opera, Radisson Blu Le Dokhan Trocadero), but the Le Metropolitan has the most central location, great service, and updated rooms. Maybe I’ll do a post comparing the four properties…
I would love to see that post! Planning a trip to Paris next year. Love your blog!
Thanks Kendra! It’s coming soon…
Also, Noob Traveler has reviewed the Le Metropolitan: http://www.noobtraveler.com/review-radisson-blu-le-metropolitan-in-paris/
are you saying this is a new price level for awards at 75k or you can get better rooms by using 75k instaed of 50k. i guess i have not paid attention to thissss recently. thanks.
It’s an upgrade. Most of the time you’ll receive a Business Class Room for 50% more points.
Hi, would you happen to know if the Business Class rooms are eligible for the CC VISA 2nd night redemption discount, e.g. 2 nights for 75K points?
The T&C only excludes cash + points bookings from the 2nd free night. Premium Awards should qualify for the 2nd night discount.
http://www.clubcarlsonvisa.com/credit/visaPremierCard.do#default_2
thank you so much for doing this series as a new Club Carlson member who is very excited about being a member of it, mainly for international stays I greatly appreciate it.
Thanks for your feedback. I’m glad you enjoyed the series. 🙂
I spent two nights at the Sydney Radisson Blu Plaza in November on an award stay. It is a very nice hotel. The lobby is a little blah but the room I stayed in was great. Great bed, fantastic bathroom, nice view of the city and a wee balcony. The staff was very courteous and service prompt. It has a fascinating fitness center with a pool that seems to have been installed as an aftermarket accessory – looks like an indoor aboveground pool – and a sauna and whirlpool too.
Still, in most respects it is a notch below the Park Hyatt Sydney where I spent the previous 4 nights.
Read the same thing about the lobby. If I were in Sydney, I’d rather stay at the Park Hyatt too. Apparently, every single room has a view of the opera house?
Not exactly. Have a look at the hotel on Google Maps satellite view. From my room I could see the Opera House only looking sideways from the balcony. Perhaps they save the best views for paying customers 🙂 Nonetheless I had a great view of the Quay and could have sat watching the ferries come and go all day. It is a lovely spot.
Haha! I was a paying customer, but apparently I wasn’t paying enough. The views from the spinning restaurant more than made up for any shortcomings, though. Stay tuned for the next post!
Truly a great series of posts. Couldn’t wait for the next ones to come up. Thank you for this.
Perhaps up next SPG cash and points best of? Would love to see that before the new changes take effect.
Thanks Freddy. I’ll definitely get to SPG and the others soon.
This series was excellent, thank you!
Pls delete prior comment.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for featuring it on your site.
Spent my time in Istanbul at the hotel on the Bosporus, and you are right, the location is amazing and the breakfast was more than you could imagine. loved this place and we ended up getting an upgrade to an apartment because of status! it was awesome!
That sounds wonderful. This hotel is on the books for my next Istanbul trip. Hope I’m lucky enough to get upgraded. 🙂
I’m trying to decide between both Caribbean hotels (Aruba vs St. Maarten) any further input? I’ve been scrolling through the tripadvisor.com comments, reviews, and pictures and researching both, but I still can’t decide!
@ Jill, the Radisson St.Maarten is much more secluded than Aruba. I think if you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing vacation, go with St. Maarten. If you get bored easily, the Radisson Arubo, with its casino and location seems like a better fit.
Thanks so much for your input! 🙂
Of course! Enjoy your vacation! 🙂
Hi great post! Just wanted to check where the additional benefits of the points upgrade can be found? I’ve been told in addition to getting a better room you also get free movies, lounge access, breakfast?
Thank you Tina! The benefits of the premium room depend on the property you’re staying at. If you have a particular hotel in mind, do a search on the Club Carlson website and then look for the Premium Award. The benefits will be listed. Hope this helps!
Here’s some of our favorites—didn’t see anywhere on the list—
Radisson Blu, Dakar Senegal (amazing “James Bond”-style hotel built into the cliffs overlooking the ocean)
Radisson Blu, Radisson Blu Hotel Paris, Marne-la-Vallee (big rooms….great breakfast–perfect for Disney Paris!)