With my recent hotel stays in Norway and Iceland I’ve learned quite a bit about the Radisson Blu stay experience. While I was familiar with the Club Carlson program going in, I didn’t have any experience with the actual properties, so there are many things I’ve found interesting.
One of which is that on two of my three stays I was upgraded to Business Class rooms.
I wasn’t really familiar with what they were going in, though in general I love the branding. As a frequent flyer program nut, who wouldn’t want an upgrade to business class? 😉
It wasn’t until my second Business Class upgrade that I actually looked into what it is, though.
What are Radisson Blu Business Class rooms?
Radisson Blu’s website describes business class rooms as follows:
Business travellers at Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts find the services and amenities they need with Business Class. For the extra convenience of our business guests, all Radisson Blu Hotels offer Free high-speed Internet access. And since most of our hotels have wireless Internet access, this means that you can log on to the Internet from anywhere in the hotel, free of charge.
An addition to the Business Class amenities is a Nespresso® coffee machine in your room with an assortment of flavors that invites you to a unique coffee experience.
Business Class amenities:
- Nespresso machine with a selection of coffees
- Free high-speed Internet access
- Daily newspaper
- Lifestyle magazines
- Pay-TV movies
- Breakfast with room service option
- And much more…
My experience being upgraded to Business Class rooms
I was upgraded to Business Class rooms at the both the Radisson Blu Oslo Airport and the Radisson Blu 1919 Reykjavik.
In the case of the Radisson Blu Oslo Airport I was upgraded to a massive room with extra beds. Based on the room itself I wasn’t really clear what made it a Business Class room, though it was nicely furnished.
Business Class room at the Radisson Blu Oslo Airport
My stay at the Radisson Blu 1919 Reykjavik cleared things up a bit.
Business Class room at the Radisson Blu 1919 Reykjavik
There was a placard on the wall which explained that I was in a Business Class room, and which amenities that entitled me to, including:
- Nespresso machine
- Bathrobe & slippers
- Good Morning News delivered to your room
- Free Monthly Magazine
- Upgraded bathroom amenities
- Free Pay TV movies
- Super breakfast buffet (not applicable for upgraded guests)
- Turn down service upon request
It is interesting to note that the complimentary breakfast only applied to guests that paid for that type of room (at least on paper).
Nespresso machine in Radisson Blu Business Class room
Redeeming points for Radisson Blu Business Class room
The Club Carlson program typically also lets you redeem points for a Business Class room for a 50% points premium. To figure out if it’s available, simply do a search for points availability for the hotel you’re looking at.
As soon as you get to the page displaying the various rate options, click the button that says “View All Rates & Packages.”
If the hotel has Business Class rooms available on points, it should display. In the case of the Radisson Blu 1919 Reykjavik, the premium for a Business Class room is 22,000 points per night.
Keep in mind that if you have the Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature Card, the second night of each award redemption is free. That includes premium rooms, meaning as a card holder you could redeem 66,000 points for two nights in a Business Class room.
Are Radisson Blu Business Class rooms worth the extra points?
Is it worth spending 50% extra points for a business class room? The most noticeable benefit you’ll get is complimentary breakfast, which at some hotels can be worth quite a bit. But there are lots of other features, like a larger room, Nespresso machine, etc.
Having stayed in a couple of Business Class rooms now, would I pay extra for them? I’d say it’s worth it, but only if:
- You’re traveling with someone else
- You’re staying in increments of two nights
- You have the Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature Card
For example, lets crunch the numbers on this stay. I paid 44,000 points for two nights, and if I had booked a Business Class room would have paid a total of 66,000 points, which averages out to 11,000 extra points per night. I value Club Carlson points at ~0.4 cents each, so that’s like paying a premium of ~$44 per night. For two people I’d say that’s well worth it for the breakfast buffet alone, especially in expensive countries in Northern Europe.
Add in the fact that the room is larger and the extra features, and I do think it’s well worth it.
However, when traveling alone I’m happy rolling the dice and hoping for an upgrade to a Business Class room thanks to the Gold status I have through the Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature Card.
What has your experience been?
I know in the comments section a lot of Gold members have mentioned receiving complimentary breakfast.
Is that because you were upgraded to a Business Class room and they honored the complimentary breakfast despite the fact that you were upgraded, or for other reasons? Would you spend the extra points for a Business Class room?
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