My last few visits to the Point Hacks Melbourne office have followed the same routine – catch up with my colleagues, see the latest shows, and unwind at The Langham.
Of course, five-star luxury hotels are usually outside of our travel budget. But thanks to Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, I’ve now enjoyed three stays here at the unbeatable price of $590 for three nights.
With the third night free, this rate is not only cheaper than the standard public rate, but also beats the pricing of most other comparable hotels in Melbourne. The cherry on top: Fine Hotels & Resorts stays come packed with many bonus perks that sweeten the deal.
What do you get with Fine Hotels & Resorts?
Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) is American Express’ top-tier luxury hotel program. Generally, all stays come with:
- US$100 Experience Credit, usually redeemable for dining and spa treatments.
- Room upgrade upon arrival, based on availability.
- 12pm early check-in and guaranteed 4pm late check-out.
- Daily breakfast for two people
Happily, all the perks work as expected during my stay. I’m usually upgraded from a base room to a Deluxe River room, but this time, I get one better with a larger, corner room with a view.
There’s no denying that The Langham in Melbourne is an old property. The rooms do look dated compared to the many newer luxury hotels in the area. But on the upside, the footprint is spacious and there’s plenty of old-school luxury charm throughout.
If you can put up with older furnishings and inconveniences such as limited charging options by the bed, then The Langham is still worth considering.
Dining spree: using the US$100 Experience Credit
Here’s the fun part – US$100 to spend at leisure. The Langham still pegs this as a fixed amount of A$145, which is not too far off the current rate at the time of my stay.
Dining at The Langham isn’t cheap, but the credit can stretch to a cosy meal for two or two hearty dinners for one. As I arrive late on the first night, I treat myself to an indulgent room-service dinner (‘Private Dining’ in their parlance), overlooking the Yarra River.
My picks: half a dozen oysters ($36) to start, followed by the Lamb Rogan Josh ($38). Note that there’s also a 10% delivery fee, so my bill comes to $81.40.
To make your credit last longer, consider visiting Aria Bar & Lounge. Here, not only is there no 10% service fee, but Brilliant by Langham members also get at least 5% off the bill.
An ‘escobeche of Queensland tiger prawns’ is a delightful starter from the $15 evening light bites menu. That’s followed by a hearty serve of roasted lamb rack ($46) alongside truffle fries ($9) and a Coke Zero ($8). After the 5% discount for members, the total is $74.10.
Both meals come to $155.5, putting me just $10.50 over my experience credit – not too bad for two excellent dining experiences that are mostly on the house.
Buffet breakfast and other perks
Melba Restaurant hosts a fabulous buffet breakfast that’s included for two people, thanks to FHR. Even if you’re staying solo, you’re welcome to bring a guest to breakfast. It’s an excellent way for me to catch up with colleagues before we head off to the office together.
Inside, there’s plenty to enjoy, including a fresh juicing bar, an egg chef (and to his credit, he remembers my order on the third morning – two fried eggs, extra crispy), an avocado bar and more. There’s also unlimited barista-made coffee. I don’t often stay for hotel breakfasts, but this one is worth visiting.
Our verdict
With the third-night free offer, The Langham in Melbourne offers tremendous value. The location in Southbank is great for me, as it’s close to Flinders Street Station, offering easy access to the office and various theatres in the city.
During the summer months, it’s also buzzing in the evenings, particularly close to Christmas.
I’d be hard-pressed to find three nights at any decent inner-city hotel for under $600 with the standard rates, so getting the same length of stay for $590 with all the perks is almost too good to be true.
As a bonus, this reservation counts as a direct booking, so I’m also able to earn 8,850 points (and go up a status tier) in the Brilliant by Langham program.
- Also read: Ultimate Guide to Brilliant by Langham
- An introduction to American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts
American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts is only available through the Platinum and Centurion card families.
American Express® Platinum Business Card
Photography by Brandon Loo, who travelled at Point Hacks’ expense.
I’ve used this “perk” a few times. The major challenge with it is that a lot of hotels don’t fully recognise the benefits (for eg, failing to offer room upgrades).
After having booked and stayed at a few properties where this has occurred, I’ll be sticking to booking direct with the hotels where my status is recognised.
Nice review! Just wondering does booking an Accor hotel also count as a “direct booking” for Accor status and points?