Editor’s word: This is a recurring publish, usually up to date with new data and provides.
Capital One has tossed its hat into the ring, launching a luxurious lodge program to compete with these supplied by Chase and American Express. Say hey to the Premier Collection.
While the unique October 2022 announcement lined what the Premier Collection ought to appear to be, the reserving portal was not but stay. We had been promised a launch date earlier than the top of 2022, however that date got here and went with out updates. However, we will verify that bookings at the moment are stay.
Access is proscribed to these with premium bank cards from Capital One — solely the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (a private bank card) and Capital One Spark Travel Elite card (a enterprise bank card).
The data for the Spark Travel Elite card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Bookings with the Premier Collection embrace automated advantages like free Wi-Fi throughout your keep, day by day breakfast for 2 individuals and bonus miles on paid reservations — or the choice to redeem your Capital One miles to pay for the reservation. Other advantages like room upgrades and early check-in could also be supplied relying on availability.
With all of those advantages accessible, are there any drawbacks to reserving via the Premier Collection? Does the portal work as anticipated? Now that Premier Collection bookings can be found, it is time for TPG to take it for a take a look at drive.
Today, we’ll stroll you thru reserving with the Capital One Premier Collection and whether or not reserving your subsequent lodge keep right here is sensible.
What is the Capital One Premier Collection?
The Capital One Premier Collection is a set of boutique and premium lodges which you can e book via the Capital One Travel portal.
Sign up for our day by day e-newsletter
Since it is a curated assortment of lodges, not all lodges can be found for Premier Collection bookings. However, lodges from the next manufacturers are amongst these you could find within the Premier Collection:
- 1 Hotels.
- The Leading Hotels of the World.
- Montage Hotels & Resorts
- Six Senses.
- Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
- Viceroy.
There are also many impartial lodges which you can e book via the Premier Collection. All lodges collaborating within the Premier Collection needs to be “one-of-a-kind luxurious lodges and resorts, every filled with persona and hand-picked for distinctive high quality,” in response to a spokesperson for Capital One. Noticeably absent within the assortment are international lodge manufacturers like Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott and Wyndham.
Main advantages and perks with Premier Collection
It’s price stating that not one of the lodges collaborating within the Premier Collection are unique to this reserving portal. Alternatively, you can name or use the web site for any of those lodges to e book instantly. You may also discover these lodges on websites like Hotels.com. Prices may very well be greater or decrease, relying on who you e book via.
The fundamental benefit to creating a reservation with the Premier Collection is the suite of advantages added to your reserving. Cardholders who make Premier Collection lodge reservations will get pleasure from the next assured perks added to every room at some stage in their keep:
- An on-property “expertise credit score” of as much as $100.
- Daily breakfast for 2 individuals.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi.
- Elevated incomes charge of 10 miles per greenback.
In addition, you could obtain these extra advantages, if accessible throughout your keep:
- Room improve at check-in.
- Early check-in.
- Late checkout.
While many of those advantages are easy, it is price highlighting the expertise credit score. When visiting a international nation, the profit can be made accessible within the native forex. Also, every property will decide this credit score independently. Thus, it may very well be legitimate just for meals and beverage purchases at some lodges whereas different properties could permit you to use this credit score for massages on the spa or greens charges on the golf course.
Related: 5 methods to get your lodge breakfast without spending a dime
To use the on-property credit score, eligible purchases have to be charged to your room. Then, the credit score can be utilized at checkout when settling your invoice. To decide what a lodge’s expertise credit score is prematurely, you may must contact the lodge instantly. Details on the credit score and its makes use of aren’t accessible on the Premier Collection web site previous to reserving.
As these credit can fluctuate from lodge to lodge, it is price contemplating the way you worth this profit. Evaluate whether or not the perk is saving you cash — by offering a free dinner, for instance — or simply providing a pleasant expertise that you just would not select in the event you needed to pay for it your self. Then, resolve whether or not your valuation of the perk adjustments your need to e book that property via the Premier Collection.
Many of those advantages are just like what you will note in different premium lodge collections. See extra particulars right here: A comparability of luxurious lodge applications from bank card issuers: Amex, Chase and Capital One.
How to e book Premier Collection lodge stays
To e book a lodge with the Premier Collection, you could e book via Capital One Travel.
While quite a few bank cards present entry to Capital One Travel, solely two playing cards present entry to the Premier Collection. Those are the Venture X and Spark Travel Elite.
Once logged in, you’ll be able to both click on on the “Premier Collection” tab on the highest proper, or “Hotels” to see each Premier Collection and non-Premier Collection lodging choices. (We’ll go together with the latter.)
Search to your supposed vacation spot as you usually would.
If you have chosen the “Hotels” tab, you’ll be able to then filter for lodges which can be a part of the Premier Collection.
From right here, you may now see 10 lodges, which means the overwhelming majority of lodges in Capital One Travel will not be a part of the Premier Collection.
You can scroll via the checklist to see highlights of the lodges, akin to accessible facilities and pricing.
Clicking on a lodge gives particulars about its choices and placement.
If you click on on the “Choose Room” button, you’ll be able to browse room varieties and related pricing.
When making a paid reservation with both of those playing cards, you’ll earn 10 Capital One miles per greenback. TPG values these miles at 1.85 cents apiece, which means you’ll earn a wholesome 18.5% return on spending.
Finally, you’ll have the choice to pay money or redeem your miles at 1 cent apiece to pay. (We suggest paying in money as you’ll be able to get higher worth to your Capital One miles on different redemptions.)
Will I obtain factors or elite standing advantages with lodge applications via Premier Collection?
You would possibly obtain some or all the advantages from a lodge program when reserving a lodge that participates in a rewards program, however you may not.
Many individuals obtain keep credit score or standing perks when reserving via Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection or American Express’ Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection, however some do not, and it isn’t assured. That’s as a result of these bookings are thought of third-party bookings, and lodge loyalty applications will not be required to supply standing advantages on these reservations.
Related: Things to contemplate when selecting to e book by way of a portal vs. reserving instantly
Capital One will present the choice to incorporate your rewards/loyalty account quantity when making a lodge reservation, however the choice to acknowledge your standing or award factors to your keep can be made by the lodge itself, in response to the identical spokesperson for Capital One. Thus, in case your lodge standing and its perks are essential to you, think about whether or not you wish to e book via a portal the place your standing advantages and keep credit will not be assured.
Can I pay for Premier Collection bookings with my Capital One miles?
When making a Premier Collection reserving, you’ll be able to pay along with your Venture X card or Spark Travel Elite card — incomes 10 miles per greenback spent on the reservation. However, you can also redeem your Capital One miles to cowl the price of your reservation.
Using your miles right here will present a redemption charge of 1 cent per mile. TPG values Capital One miles at 1.85 cents apiece, so this isn’t the perfect use of your miles. You could also be higher served utilizing your miles elsewhere. If you are sitting on a mountain of Capital One miles or cannot afford to pay the money value of Premier Collection lodges, then utilizing your miles to economize may make sense for you.
Related: Tips and tips to get most worth out of your Capital One miles
Can I get a free evening added onto Premier Collection bookings?
Several lodge applications supply advantages like a “free fourth evening” or “free fifth evening”. To obtain this profit, you must e book instantly with the lodge and redeem factors from that lodge’s rewards program.
Additionally, we’ve seen promotions like “pay for 3 nights, get a fourth evening free”. However, all of those promotions and advantages without spending a dime nights added to your reservation require reserving instantly with the lodge. As Premier Collection reservations are thought of third-party bookings, you will not be eligible for these extra, free nights. Be positive you think about the doable financial savings earlier than deciding how one can e book your subsequent lodge keep.
Is the Premier Collection price it?
We checked a handful of lodges in London and New York City. On common, reserving with the Premier Collection prices 13% greater than reserving the identical room instantly with the lodge. Compared to reserving with Hotels.com, we discovered reserving with the Premier Collection was as much as 3% cheaper in some circumstances however as much as 9% dearer in others.
To put this into perspective, do not forget that you’ll not get the additional advantages supplied by the Premier Collection when reserving instantly with the lodge or with websites like Hotels.com. The query is whether or not you suppose the additional advantages are price the additional value.
When to e book with the Premier Collection
We see two occasions when it is advantageous to e book with the Premier Collection, regardless of the upper value:
- When you will have adequate miles and do not wish to pay money.
- When the advantages are price greater than the additional value of reserving with the Premier Collection as a substitute of reserving instantly with the lodge. For instance, think about places the place your day by day breakfast can be costly if not supplied without spending a dime along with your lodge room.
Related: 5 methods to get your lodge breakfast without spending a dime
Bottom line
Bookings for the Capital One Premier Collection are stay. Those with the Venture X or Spark Travel Elite playing cards can entry these bookings for advantages on their upcoming lodge reservations.
While there are additional advantages with these bookings, there may also be greater prices. Cash costs are constantly decrease when reserving instantly with the lodges, as a substitute of via the Premier Collection.
However, there are occasions the place you could resolve it is price it, given the power to redeem your miles for these bookings or to get a set of advantages that may cut back your out-of-pocket prices throughout the whole lot of your trip. In brief: be sure to do the mathematics.