As of April 2013, the Club Carlson award chart has changed. Please see the updated list of Best Club Carlson hotels:
- Best Category 1 Club Carlson Hotels
- Category 2 Club Carlson Hotels
- Best Category 3 Club Carlson Hotels
- Category 4 Club Carlson Hotels
- Best Category 5 Club Carlson Hotels
- Category 6 Club Carlson Hotels
Redemptions in this category start at 28,000 points. You can’t go wrong with any hotel in Asia, especially India and China. It was tough to pick, but here are the top Category 3 redemptions:
NORTH AMERICA
Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Distinctions: 2011 President’s Award Recipient, 4 key rating from the Green Key Eco-Rating Program
Accommodations: This property was recently renovated and the rooms look fresh and modern. Standard rooms feature views of the Wasatch Mountains and downtown Salt Lake City. Complimentary wifi is available in all rooms.
Location: Located in the midst of the city’s business and entertainment districts, just a few blocks from historic Temple Square and other popular attractions: Capitol Theatre, Family History Library, Gateway Shopping Center, Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and more.
Honorable mention: Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel Scranton: Not your typical vacation spot, but this is one unique property. It was a historic train station that was converted to a hotel in the 1980’s. The rooms aren’t the nicest, but the Grand Lobby is stunning.
Country Inn & Suites Gillette: Not a highly ranked property, but it features its own waterpark!
SOUTH, CENTRAL AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN & MEXICO
Radisson Royal Quito Hotel (Quito, Ecuador)
Distinctions:
- 2011 President’s Award
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013 Winner: #6 Top Hotel in Ecuador
- 4-key rating from Green Key Eco-Rating Program.
Accommodations: Comfortable rooms with free wifi and evening turndown service. The Radisson Royal Quito offers an evening reception for all guests Monday through Friday from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, featuring snacks, water, unlimited soda, and a choice of 2 glasses of house wine or 2 national beers.
Location: Located 15 minutes from Mariscal Sucre International Airport and is within walking distance of the Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can check out century old cathedrals, El Panecillo, local markets, art museums, and more. The hotel secures special cab fares for guests.
Honorable mention: Radisson Hotel Iquique (Iquique, Chile). Guests describe this property as being “in the middle of nowhere,” but for those looking for a tranquil beachside location, this is a great spot.
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
Europe
Art’otel budapest by Park Plaza (Budapest, Hungary)
Distinctions: N/A
Accommodations: An art-centric hotel, each room at this property features artwork by contemporary artist Donald Sultan. Standard rooms are 226-290 sqft and include complimentary wifi along with access to the fitness rooms and sauna.
Premium Awards can be booked for 42,000 points and are the same size as standard rooms. However, they offer direct views of the Danube and come fitted with flat screen tv’s, bathrobe and slippers, bottled mineral water on arrival, late checkout, and a free drink at the bar.
Location: Located opposite the Hungarian Parliament on the Danube River and within 1 mile of all the important sights and attractions: Budapest Citadel, Liberty Statue, Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church, Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Hungarian National Gallery, Batthyány Square, State Opera House, Gellert Thermal Bath, Margaret Island.
Honorable mention: Radisson Blu Hotel Olumpia, Tallinn, Radisson Blu Elizabete Hotel, Riga
Both of these properties received high marks, winning several awards. While Estonia and Latvia haven’t been on my list of places to visit, these properties make my list of top places to stay in the area.
Middle East
Park Inn Abu Dhabi, Yas Island (Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Distinctions: Traveler’s Choice 2013 Winner: #6 Bargain Hotel in the UAE
Accommodations: All rooms at this property offer views of the Gulf or golf course. A standard award gets you a 300 sqm room with a walk-in shower and free wifi. The maximum number of guests for a standard room is 3.
Stay through March 30, 2013 and get 50% off the redemption rate.
Location: 7-minute drive from Abu Dhabi, 45 minutes from Dubai. Three golf courses, Ferrari World, and Yas Waterworld are located within 3 miles of the hotel.
Honorable mention: N/A
Africa
Park Inn Cape Town Foreshore (Cape Town, South Africa)
Distinctions: Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013 Winner: #5 Bargain hotel in South Africa.
Accommodations: Standard rooms range between 247-344 sqft and feature modern rooms with flat screen TV, complimentary wifi, and gym access. Breakfast at RBG Bar & Grill is included. All rooms at this property feature views of the city and the beautiful surrounding scenery.
Location: This is a great property located right in the city centre and just 15 miles from the airport.
The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service that runs within a 1-mile radius – enough to get you to many popular attractions, including: Artscape Theatre Centre, Cape Town international Convention Centre, train station, Robben Island, Table Mountain, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town Gardens, and more.
Honorable mention: Park Inn Ulysse Resort & Thalasso Djerba (Djerba, Tunisia) – This beachfront property boasts stunning views and has won three categories of Tripadvisor awards: Top Hotel in Tunisia (#8), Top Luxury Hotel in Tunisia (#9), and Best Service (#14)
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Asia
Radisson Hotel Agra Taj East Gate Road (Agra, India)
Distinctions: Voted #3 hotel in Agra on Tripadvisor
Accommodations: Strangely, this hotel lets you choose between a Superior and Deluxe room on Standard Award redemptions. Superior Rooms are 376 sqft while Deluxe are 403 sqft and include free wifi, tea & coffee maker, and turndown service.
Location: Excellent location, within half a mile of the Taj Mahal. Agra Fort, Itmad-ud-Daulah and Sadar Bazar are within 2 miles of this hotel.
Honorable mention: The Park Plaza Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok has won a slew of awards and would have taken the top spot, but I think the Category 2 <Park Plaza Bangkok Soi 18 is a better redemption in the city for half the points.
- Rising Star Award, 2009 Carlson Hotels Worldwide Asia Pacific Annual Awards
- Global Hospitality Award 2010
- Carlson Employee of the Year Asia Pacific 2011 Award
- Expedia Insiders’ Select 2012: Top 200 hotels worldwide.
Pacific
Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu (Cebu, Philippines)
Distinctions: Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #4 Top hotel in the Philippines, #4 Best Service in the Philippines.
Accommodations: Standard Awards offer Superior Rooms which are 376-495 sqft and offer views of the city or Mactan Channel. All rooms come equipped with memory foam beds, goose feather pillows, and down filled duvets, free wifi, laptop safe, and bottled water.
Location: Cebu is the oldest city in the Philippines and offers lots to see, all of which can be accessed from this property. Just 6 miles from Mactan International Airport, this hotel is a short walk from public transportation and the ferry terminal. This makes it easy to get to the many local attractions, including: Magellan’s Cross, Cebu Taoist Temple, Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, Colon Street (the oldest street in the Philippines), Fort San Pedro, and Casa Gorordo.
Honorable mention: N/A
Thoughts, questions, suggestions about this list? Please comment below.
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