The Citi Prestige Card is one of the best credit cards around. Among the many reasons for this is its complementary 4th night benefit. However, that is not the only awesome hotel benefit available with the Citi Prestige.
I applied for the Citi Prestige late last year. As I was going over its “directory of services” booklet I noticed the following on page 14: “Receive Special Benefits at Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons Hotels”. These benefits consist of the following:
You will enjoy benefits such as complimentary breakfast for two daily, dining and spa credits [available at Four Seasons hotels only], a welcome amenity [varies by property] and, based on availability, room upgrades, early check-in and and late check-out as well.
These benefits are similar to those offered via Amex’s Fine Hotel & Resorts. As is the case with the complimentary 4th night benefit, in order to enjoy the aforementioned benefits at Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons hotels, you must complete your booking by calling the Citi Prestige Concierge at 1.877.288.2484. Please note that you cannot combine the complimentary 4th night benefit with the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons hotels benefits.
At the time I received my Citi Prestige Card I was considering a stay at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve located in Ubud, Bali. Since having Marriott Rewards elite status is worthless at Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties, I decided to book my stay at Mandapa via the Citi Prestige Concierge. I specifically requested the aforementioned Ritz-Carlton benefits. The rate offered by the Citi Prestige Concierge was the same as the one offered directly by Ritz-Carlton, plus all the other benefits were confirmed, including the $100 dining and spa credit which the booklet mentions is only available at Four Seasons hotels.
A couple of days after booking my reservation, I noticed that I had been upgraded from Mandapa’s most basic room, the Reserve Suite, to what turned out to be an out-of-this world 4,630 sq. ft. one-bedroom riverfront pool villa! Additionally, I was able to enjoy all the other awesome benefits, including a $100 dining credit, early check-in and late check-out. I plan on covering our stay at Mandapa in detail soon.
Bottom Line
Whenever you are staying at a Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons hotel, the Citi Prestige Card will allow you to enjoy extraordinary high elite level-like benefits. Don’t forget to book your stay via the Citi Prestige Concierge to ensure you will be able to enjoy these.
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7 comments
Key word is have too book through Citi, which means your booking at full retail. Many times you can get a little better deal than that especially if you have status, but in any event your booking is controlled through Citi, just like Amex.
ghost, that is not generally the case at all. Every time I have booked via Citi Prestige Concierge I have been provided the lowest rate available, including AAA and AARP rates. Furthermore, when applicable, as is the case with Amex FHR, you earn points and elite credit for hotels booked via said Concierge.
That is truly an insane upgrade. The main drawback that I see is that you’re paying something like $600 a night before taxes, which is just as insane as the upgrade, except the price is certain, where the upgrade is not. Bali is also known for having very reasonable prices. Last September, my wife and I stayed in a large lovely 2 story villa for $100 a night in Ubud, although the mosquitos were pretty pestiferous due to the very high ceiling and proximity to the rice paddies.
How much is a free breakfast truly worth when you’re spending all that for 3 paid nights? . With all the other ways to redeem for free hotel night this is one expensive benefit. This coming from a fan of the card. Sometimes pushing a card gets in a way of common sense.
Marty, I am by no means “pushing” this card so that you can get free breakfast on stays at Mandapa. There are plenty of cheaper Ritz properties out there.
I too earn with using my AMEX booking directly for essentially same deal. What I am pointing out that these “enhancements ” are not always the best deal, they want you to book through them, which is the point. Now having said that we do book things like safari’s through AMEX for the security that AMEX brings more than another card service. But past that no.
So you know our Amex runs 20 to 30 k a month in travel for business and pleasure.
I do hear your thoughts and for the person that does not travel as much it can be much easier to book through Citi, But Citi’s rates on their cards are the highest in the industry, among tier one cards. Check it out. Why I don’t use mine
This is clearly a good benefit at a Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton; two hotels that really don’t discount that much… it’s not a ton different from booking via one of their preferred partner travel agents… however, it probably makes sense more on 1-2 night stays.. on a four night stay it might be better to book a breakfast inclusive package and get the free night credit…
There are other options out there that are cheaper… but for those that plan on staying at these hotels, this is a nice benefit… (but I would still use a travel agent probably to get a bit of a personal touch)
FDW