Kimpton is my favorite hotel brand. It’s the points man’s Four Seasons. This time, I stayed at the Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort and Spa.
Booking
Booking a hotel with a stay cert is complicated. IHG did not allow consecutive bookings for two nights. To overcome this, I booked one night using my start cert, the next using Ms. TPOL’s, and the next in mine.
Getting There
I paid $15 to reach the hotel. The taxi bandits wanted $35 (see “Taxi my friend?” The Worst Places to Hail a Cab). The trick is to leave the airport and go across the street. Someone will stop and take you.
TPOL’s Tip: Arrange your own taxi on the way back. The hotel charges an obscene rate. I used this number +504 9750-5403 and paid $35.
Welcome Drink
There is a benefit to having three separate reservations. Each day, I received a rum-infused welcome drink. Each day, my key would reset, so I deserved it. I also had a $20 per diem which was also spent on rum.
Resort Fee
What do I hate more than tipping (see I Don’t Tip at Lounges Either)? Resort fees. The Kimpton charges a $69 resort fee. When redeeming a stay cert, you must factor in the resort fee and the $99 Chase annual fee to determine whether you’re getting full value for the cert (see Bus-Ted: Central America Trip Report Points & Cash Summary).
The retail price of the hotel was $375. The average cost per points night was 54,000. IHG points are worth .5 points. That comes out to $434. Even after subtracting the $20 per diem, I still did not receive full value. Can I rationalize that $117 difference would have been the cost of renting snorkeling gear twice (see Shaqtin’ a Fool: How I Almost Drown in Roatan)?
Shuttle
The hotel does provide a free shuttle to West End. Perhaps I can include the cost of a taxi in my equation.
Suite
While the room did not have a view, I had no complaints.
Bathroom
There was a bathroom both inside and outside.
View
The aforementioned lack of a view. The $99 Chase card gives you status, but obviously not enough.
Welcome Amenity
Should I count the wine and cheese spread in my points valuation?
Coffee
I was very happy that there was a proper Nespresso machine and not instant coffee. I also found the water filter to be quite clever.
Pool
I’ll let the pictures do the typing.
Property
The place is gorgeous.
The Beach
The beach is public. The nuisance is from cruise goers (see Cruises Kill: Just Say No).
Gym
I bring my own workout equipment everywhere I go (follow my fitness channel, The Nomadic Athlete, on YouTube).
Ping Pong
What would a hotel be without a ping pong table?
Happy Hour
And who isn’t happy at happy hour?
Bar
I attempted to do some work at the bar and it ended up as you would expect.
Service
Perfect.
Overall
While I was checking out, they asked how I enjoyed my stay. I said that I’m not complaining and that is a big deal.
I’m inclined to parrot your approach on my next Virtuoso or whatever rate stay somewhere. It always seems like the credit that comes with these ought to be higher on a 6 night stay than a one night stay. It might be worth the hassle to book a six night stay as six alternating stays (except that I have higher status in most programs than my wife) and get six US$100 credits instead of one.