You know we dish about know before you go advice, and one of the big questions travelers have when considering a beautiful resort getaway before booking is how and where to spend their money. This includes whether to splurge on a swim-out room, maybe get that oceanfront instead of garden view, and, whether or not to book a premium level of service like a Club Level room. We will break it down with several real life resort examples to let you know where to splurge and when it might not be worth it.
What is a Club Level Resort Service, Anyway?
This is a common question for our travel agents and first let it be known – this is your resort experience, not your room. You might hear it referred to as “Club Level,” “Preferred Club,” or some unique term to that property, like “Inspira” for Atelier Playa Mujeres. Your room category will usually remain the same, whether you upgrade to club level or not. Usually. Some do include a room upgrade; they are usually more expensive nightly charges.
So lets jump in and see what club level is all about. We will help illustrate the amenities we’ve experienced at several different resorts booking their club levels to help you make a great decision.
Sandals Resorts – South Coast
Sandals Resorts are a time-honored favorite here at Penyak Travel. They feature luxury, club, and butler level options for booking. We will use Sandals South Coast as the example here. Here we have options for rooms in the Italian Village: the Italian Beachfront room and the Italian Beachfront Club Level Junior Suite. These are essentially the same room. It’s $135/night (average) more for club level, again, booking the same room.
The Club Sandals Upgrade Includes:
Arrival and In-room Services: Private Check-in/Check-out area, room service included with your room (7 a.m. – 10 p.m.).
Dining/Lounge escort to the club lounge.
Upgraded mini bar: at club level you’ll receive four different types of liquor, beer, wine, water, soda and juices.
Location of club level room bookings are usually preferred at club level. You’ll also get a preferred club room key – if status matters to you. Some cocktail events are exclusive to club level guests.
Concierge Service is included to book reservations at restaurants, excursions, and spa treatments. This includes better reservations times at popular dining spots, which can be key at some places which are hard to book or nearly impossible without dedicated concierge service.
Royalton Bavaro – Dominican Republic – *family resort*
This family resorts deserve love, too! The Diamond Club is your access to a more luxe experience at this resort for all ages. It’s an extra $133/night (average) for double occupancy – for a family it’s a little bit more, September 2023.
Diamond Club at Bavaro will score:
Arrival/In-room Services: Nightly turn down service; special wristbands.
Dining/Lounge: Diamond Club lounge and daily continental breakfast service in the lounge; evening hors d ‘Oeuvres and afternoon snacks; premium liquor in the lounge.
*Upgraded Mini Bar: This depends on the resort, but you have the option to ask for alcohol to be stocked in your mini bar at family resorts as they usually do not have them stocked on arrival for obvious reasons.
Location of Diamond Club level room bookings are in more desired spots and you have access to a private pool for Diamond Club. Exclusive beach area with dedicated bar and waiter service.
Other Extras: preferential reservations at a la carte restaurants. Access to the FlowRider® Surf Simulator, (otherwise an extra fee.)
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana – Dominican Republic
This is an elite tier food and service resort with a massive beach and great pool, adults-only, but adjacent to Ziva where it’s family friendly. This upgrade is $85/night for September 2023 on average. Oceanview Junior Suite is what was priced vs. the club level Oceanview junior suite. Janet says this is worth the small extra cost for what you have access to with the club upgrade.
Splurging for Club Level Here Gets:
Arrival/In-room Services: Private Check-in/Check-out area,
Dining/Lounge: You’ll receive an escort to the club lounge with premium liquor. Restaurant just for club level guests for breakfast and lunch. The views from the restaurant are lovely, overlooking the beach. The club level restaurant is less crowded than others on property.
Location of club level room bookings are usually preferred at club level. Private club level pool with swim up bar, which is very quiet.
Concierge Service is included to book reservations at restaurants, excursions, and spa treatments. 10% discount on spa services.
Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort – Honolulu, Hawaii
In the middle of popular Waikiki, this resort features the upgraded club called the Voyager 47 Club for an extra $170/night for September 2023, double occupancy. For this comparison, remember, this is a United States destination and is NOT all-inclusive, when figuring in value of this club-level upgrade.
Say Aloha to an Elevated Experience:
Arrival/In-room Services: special turn down and maid services, black out drapes, balcony.
Dining/Lounge: Complimentary breakfast in the club lounge — minimum breakfast costs are $50-$75 for two people, each morning, so this is a great value. Complimentary evening appetizers with beer, wine, and cocktails. This is another huge benefit! Also, premium Kona coffee!
This is a great value to get close to an all-inclusive experience for the cost. You’re going to pay that anyway once you get there to eat and drink, so this give is a really great way to save.
Excellence El Carmen – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Excellence brand amenities are very standard throughout locations. $86/night average will get you an elevated experience here. Janet feels this little bit of extra cost is definitely worth the reward.
Leveling Up Here Will Get You:
Arrival/In-room Services: Private Check-in/Check-out area.
Dining/Lounge: Excellence Club lounge, with concierge service and a bar with snacks throughout the day. There is also an Excellence Club restaurant in addition to the bar.
In-Room Mini Bar: Upgraded mini bar is included in-room with premium liquor and an upgraded room service menu.
Location Perks: There is a private beach for the Excellence Club level guests.
Excellence Club extras also include fresh flowers, sparkling wine on arrival, and even use of a beach bag for the duration of your stay. You get daily fruit and petit fours delivered to your room. One aqua/hydro therapy session per person, per stay.
Secrets Resorts – A Tale of Two Secrets in Mexico
Secrets Resorts are a spot you’ll often also find the Caribbean Queen! There are many variables with Secrets Resorts and they will be slightly different depending on where you book. (This can be tricky! To make sure you’re getting all the perks you’re paying for, give us a call and we’ll make sure to book exactly what you’re expecting and walk you through the inclusions!)
It’s important to remember, there is a lot of inconsistency with this favorite brand. Secrets resorts even in the same destination but different properties can be vastly different experiences. Just a friendly reminder (and to take a lot of the guess work out of your booking) we can help you navigate these idiosyncrasies to make sure you’re getting great value!
Secrets Moxché
Preferred Club books about $110/night (average for September 2023 extra, based on double occupancy) for club level, again, booking the same room.
What You Get with Preferred Club at Secrets Moxché:
Arrival/In-room Services: Separate Check-in/Check-out area,
Dining/Lounge: Daily continental breakfast to upstairs restaurant; Preferred club lounge where you can have breakfast (including snacks, desserts, and premium liquor) 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Upgraded mini bar: at club level is slightly better but the opinion of the in-room mini bar is low for this location to begin with (literally mini bottles of liquor.) This is not the high selling point of Secrets!
Location of Preferred club level suites bookings are in premium locations.
Concierge Service is included to book reservations at restaurants, excursions, and spa treatments. Impressions Moxché is coming! Which will be a more upscale version of the resort and the Preferred Club at Moxché will give you access to dining options at this level for a small fee to enjoy the Impressions Moxché area.
Rooftop Access You will also get rooftop dining access for breakfast and the rooftop infinity pool at Moxché.
Secrets Akumal
Preferred Club books about $339/night (average for September 2023 extra, based on double occupancy) for club level, again, booking the same room. In THIS instance (again, same brand as Moxché, totally different perks) Janet and George don’t believe the benefits are worth the extra cost. Here’s a glimpse of what the extra fee gets you at this particular Secrets site.
Akumal Preferred Club Perks:
Arrival and In-room Services: Nice Preferred club lounge.
Dining/Lounge: Separate restaurant for breakfast.
Location while there is no Preferred Club pool, there is a Preferred Club beach area, though rather small. The Preferred Club rooms are located closer to the beach at this resort.
Atelier Playa Mujeres – Mexico
Atelier Playa Mujeres is a new favorite resort for George and Janet. It’s $350/night (average) more for club level, again, booking the same room. Club level at Atelier is called Inspira. You’re also getting an upgrade room with an Inspira Suite. (Swim-out or plunge pool, much more enhanced room in addition to the amenities.) Swim-up rooms have heated pools! George and Janet will be hitting this resort for the second time in a year they love it so much!
Inspira elevated access comes with:
Arrival/Dining/In-room Services: Private Check-in/Check-out area, early check-in before 12 p.m., based on availability. Special bracelet for posterity (it’s your room key and it’s a different color for Inspira.) Bottle of wine and fresh fruit on arrival. Pillow menu. Separate, upgraded room service menu. One free dinner at Maria Dolores if you are staying four nights or longer, the specialty dining restaurant. Discounts on food, beverage, Xbox rentals, and spa treatments.
Upgraded mini bar: premium liquors including whiskey, tequila, vodka, rum, and champagne.
Location – Access to the Inspira club lounge and beach area. Exclusive day time access to the Inspira infinity rooftop pool area, overlooking the whole resort. Free hydrotherapy session. Two rounds of golf if you’re staying seven nights (very night and expensive course.) The rooftop lounge has a lovely view, which has George sold on the Inspira club.
Concierge Service is included to book reservations at restaurants, excursions, and spa treatments. This includes better reservations times at popular dining spots, which can be key at some places which are hard to book or nearly impossible without dedicated concierge service.
Parting Thoughts on Club Level
What upgrading really boils down to is: will you use the exclusive services? Will a great view and rooftop access bring you joy? Do you lust for the exclusive treatment and a little extra attention?
You’re already taking time away from work. You’ve traveled to get to your beautiful destination. Our seize the day advice is in line with Anthony Bourdain: “…Have the cream sauce…have the Negroni. Have two… Enjoy the ride.” So go for it (after you’ve researched the value — or better yet, researched it then asked us to help you make it happen) and go for the club level experience. At least once.
Penyak Travel can help you book your club level service experience at a lovely resort for zero fee expertise!
We always book a room in club level when we are at Sandals Resorts. Grenada will be the first where we don’t have club level because we like the luxury level room better.
I agree. When we stay at Sandals we always use club level. We are currently booked for a luxury level room at Grenada for the location, and am still debating whether we should upgrade to club level.