Kimpton has a pretty cool “social password” concept, whereby you can receive extra perks for sharing a phrase at check-in. Kimpton generally has this promotion a couple of times per year — we last saw this in summer, and there’s now a new password for winter.
I wanted to talk about what the new password is, share my experience using it, and also pose a question to Kimpton regulars about the least cringeworthy way to go about saying it.
In this post:
What is the current Kimpton password?
Kimpton is one of the cooler IHG hotel groups, and there are a variety of things that set Kimpton apart from other IHG brands. One of those things is the social password. The idea is that seasonally Kimpton provides a phrase through social media that you’re supposed to say when you check-in, and if you do that, you’ll receive something extra.
The new Kimpton password is “chalet all day,” and it’s valid for stays between December 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024. So just say that when you check-in at a Kimpton property during the promotion period, and you’ll receive a surprise.
My experience using the Kimpton password
For those curious about what happens when you say the Kimpton password, in late 2021 I stayed at the Kimpton EPIC Miami, which was my first Kimpton stay in quite a while (and I haven’t stayed at once since either). It was a good value as well, as I was able to use a free night award earned with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (review).
I was curious what the benefit would be for using the password. So I shared the password with the front desk agent. At the conclusion of the check-in experience, he brought out a game show-style wheel. I might have spun too hard, it must have gone around for about 30 seconds. Go figure I landed on the tile that just had me spin again.
Then I spun again, and the prize was free parking. I had a car and was staying for two nights, and parking costs $44 per night. So using the Kimpton password saved me nearly $100 — score!!
Based on looking at the wheel, it seems that some of the other prizes include a free welcome drink, free breakfast, free snacks, and a free movie. There were also a few empty squares, where I guess you don’t win anything. And I’m not sure what the alarm clock, car tipping over, or postcard of Miami get you. Regardless, I’d say those are some awesome prizes, and I got a great reward.
It’s cute how the Kimpton EPIC Miami makes a game of this. I know there’s a lot of inconsistency when it comes to this benefit across Kimpton properties. Some hotels provide meaningful perks (an upgrade, free, parking, etc.), like I got here, while other hotels provide a 19 cent branded koozie.
It’s great that this has stuck around, given that it has presumably become increasingly popular. Years ago not everyone was on social media, so it was a good way to encourage people to follow Kimpton on Twitter, Instagram, etc. With the way the internet has evolved, times have changed a bit.
How do you non-awkwardly say the Kimpton password?
I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds the concept of saying a password at check-in to be kind of weird. So I think it’s fun to compare notes about how people share the password at the front desk. I find it awkward to just blurt out the password out of nowhere.
So when I used this for my stay, I said “I guess I’m supposed to say [social password] as the social password?” That did the trick, but I’d be curious to hear how other Kimpton regulars go about this!
Bottom line
Between December 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024, Kimpton’s social password is “chalet all day.” Just state that phrase when you check-in at a Kimpton, and you should get some sort of a surprise. The surprise will vary by property, so there’s no reason not to take advantage of this if staying at a Kimpton.
The last time I used the password I got to spin a wheel at check-in, and then I ended up getting free parking, which was a value of $44 per night.
If you’ve used the Kimpton password, what was your experience like?
Did this at. CLE and got a stocking with a small shot of fireball, candy cane, and a chocolate bar from Malley’s.
Key West I got a free drink. No fun spin board.
I stayed at the Kimpton in Bangkok and it is a really fantastic hotel, but when I said the password they gave me a little trinket...
A skier from France loved to play,
In the Alps, he'd frolic and sway.
With snow on the ground,
He'd always be found,
In his cozy chalet all day.
(Gotta love ChatGPT {:-). )
Very timely! Just checked into the Kimpton Everly Hollywood now and got a voucher for a freezer martini and a caviar bump. Not great as I’m not drinking but hey.
“I guess I’m supposed to say [social password] as the social password?” is basically exactly what I said when I did it once, ha. (I also thought it was a decent deal, we got a couple of reasonably nice luggage tags.)
We just came back from a ski trip, but the weather was bad so we just drank wine in the chalet all day.
Car tipping over probably means valet will take your car out for a joyride. The postcard of Miami is probably literally that.
As a diamond, free breakfast is included. I don't use the movies and don't drink. Usually I just ask if it can land on free parking and they accommodate.
$44 a night for parking is craaaaaaazy
It's always awkward but worth it for the password deals. I've used it a couple times at the Kimpton Vintage in Portland. It gets you a free bottle of wine but that's also a wine themed hotel so probably not really indicative of the norm.
I have previously received $50 off dinner at the Brice & more recently a gel eye mask that can be chilled or heated with “No Shade” at The Armory
I just have my kid go to the desk while im checking in and tell him to say the secret password. Its better when a kid says it because they get cuteness points from the staff. Scored $55 off my parking in Hollywood last week. Was thrilled to have them honor the code early.
I've never done this, but now I want to do so. I suppose I would ask my spouse to try to work it into a sentence naturally so see if the front desk notices. This particular one is kind of hard.
I'd guess the alarm clock is late check-out.
I thought it was gonna be a wake up call at a random time between 3 am to 5 am, but your interpretation makes a lot more sense.