Welcome to our new feature: Luxury Locations.

In each edition, we will be showing you how and where to get the maximum value and perks from any hotels you may be booking at a particular destination.

Of course, the perfect Tricks of the Trade situation would be for you to redeem loyalty points for free stays every time you require a hotel!

However, there are two problems with that plan. Firstly, availability. You may have enough points, but there ain’t a whole lot you can do with them if a hotel isn’t making any rooms available on points on the dates you need. Secondly, many higher end hotels brands such as Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental don’t offer a loyalty scheme as such. If you wish you treat yourself and book an extra special luxury hotel, you will simply have to pay cash.

The focus, therefore, shifts to how you can get the most from the hard earned cash that you are having to part with. Xexec’s Preferred Partner status with many high-end hotel brands, means that bookings you make via Xexec will usually be accompanied by added complimentary benefits and extras.

I want to highlight just what sort of perks you can typically expect to receive and in this edition, the spotlight turns to New York.

At all of the following hotels, the rate you would book would be the Best Available Rate (BAR), which is a flexible and cancellable rate. While you may find this to be more expensive than a non-refundable Advanced Purchase rate, the complimentary benefits provided will usually greatly exceed any differential.

Four Seasons Hotel New York

Living room with New York views at the Four Seasons New York

Xexec Amenities:

  • USD 60 daily breakfast credit for up to two guests per bedroom, exclusive of alcohol, taxes, service and delivery charges
  • Food and beverage credit of USD100
  • Upgrade of one category, based on availability at time of booking (valid for Gotham Junior Suite, Cosmopolitan Junior Suite and Manhattan Junior Suite)
  • Late check-out at 4pm, based on availability
  • Welcome note at check-in acknowledging you and your travel agency and the amenities that are being extended
  • Complimentary basic Internet in all guest rooms; complimentary premium Internet in all suites

Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown

Exterior shot of the Four Seasons New York Downtown

Xexec Amenities:

  • Daily USD 100 breakfast credit for two people per bedroom, served through In-Room Dining or CUT
  • Choice of USD 100 Spa credit (not applicable to products) or USD 100 In-Room Dining credit
  • Upgrade of one category, based on availability at time of check-in (excluding signature suites, villas, and private residences)
  • Welcome note at check-in acknowledging you and your travel agency and the amenities that are being extended
  • Complimentary basic Internet in all guest rooms; complimentary premium Internet in all suites

Mandarin Oriental New York

Hudson-river view room at the Mandarin Oriental New York

Xexec Amenities:

  • Upgrade at check-in if available (room to room, suite to suite)
  • Continental breakfast for two daily
  • High-speed internet access
  • USD 50 credit on dining and spa services for Suite bookings (once per stay)
  • VIP status and Welcome amenity

St Regis New York

Lobby of the St Regis New York

Xexec Amenities:

  • One 100 USD food and beverage credit per room, per stay
  • Daily full breakfast for two guests in the restaurant or via room service
  • Complimentary standard in-room internet access
  • Upgrade at time of booking
  • Early check-in and late check-out which are all subject to availability.

The Chatwal, A Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City

Swimming pool at The Chatwal, Luxury Collection, New York

Xexec Amenities:

  • One 100 USD spa services credit per room, per stay
  • Daily continental breakfast for two guests
  • Complimentary standard in-room internet access
  • Upgrade on arrival, early check-in and late check-out which are all subject to availability.

A key point to draw attention to with all of these hotels is the cost of breakfast. At high-end hotels, it’s not unusual for breakfast to exceed $50 per person. Over the course of a 5-night stay, the complimentary breakfast benefit alone could well save you over £400.

Details of how to book these hotels with the benefits mentioned can be found at the bottom of the page.

How to get there

Of course, accommodation is only half the fun. In this section, I’ll be taking a look at some of the more creative ways of getting to New York, using miles and points, in style!

Now as it happens, New York can often be a fairly easy destination to find premium cabin availability given the sheer number of flights each day.

But let’s take a look nonetheless at some of the more interesting options:

1.) Aer Lingus – Dublin to New York

Until a couple of months ago, the only way to book Aer Lingus flights using Avios was to call the BA call centre.

With the official launch of Aer Club (the Aer Lingus loyalty program) availability has been loaded to Avios.com and you can now see and book seats online.

But you shouldn’t do that. Taxes on Avios redemptions when booked on Avios.com, while lower than BA taxes on similar routes, are still considerably higher than the prices you will pay when calling to book via the BA call centre.

Via avios.com the cost of a return business class ticket from Dublin to New York is 100,000 Avios + £219 on Aer Lingus. The cost of going London to New York on BA is the same 100,000 Avios but £529 – so a great saving. But you can do better. By calling the BA call centre to book your Aer Lingus flight that should bring the taxes down to well less than £100.

For the time being at least, this is a terrific way to save on the extortionate taxes out of London.

2.) Iberia – Madrid to New York

Another fabulous option. Not only can you hugely reduce your cash outlay, but you would also require far fewer miles. To fly direct from London with BA using Avios in Club World would cost £529 per person. Iberia, by comparison, charges just £162 for a business class return ticket! 

Furthermore, BA requires 100,000 Avios per person for an off-peak return to New York and 120,000 on peak dates. A return Business Class journey on Iberia costs just 68,000 Avios – that’s superb value.

Considering you can pick up a return to Madrid using just 9,000 Avios + £35 or even a cheap cash ticket, these are huge savings. If you are travelling with a companion you are looking at more than £600 saved!

3.) Lufthansa First Class – Frankfurt to New York

Ah, the luxurious option. The First Class Terminal, being driven to your plane and caviar and champagne aplenty!

Lufthansa only releases First Class availability to Star Alliance partners 14 days before departure. If you want to lock something in before that, space can be booked using their own Miles and More miles. Miles and More charges 85,000 miles each way to North America in First Class + taxes. Definitely one of the best ways to cross the Atlantic!

4.) Singapore Airlines  – Frankfurt to New York

This is a really cool use of miles and a great way to try one of the industry’s most aspirational First Class products. I have written briefly before about fifth freedom routes and Singapore Airlines operates an Airbus A380 between Frankfurt and New York en route to Singapore. And the A380 aircraft features their iconic Suites Class.

A one-way flight costs 76,000 Singapore KrisFlyer miles + taxes per person. You can accrue KrisFlyer miles by transferring across points from the American Express Gold or Platinum cards. Alternatively, you could convert HSBC Reward points or even SPG points to KrisFlyer miles.

To book any of the hotels mentioned today or for any of your general travel queries:

Phone: +442032016483

Email: travel@xexec.com and put Luxury Locations in the subject line.

Or fill out the contact form below:

 

 

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