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
- Best Category 5 Club Carlson Hotels
- Category 6 Club Carlson Hotels
Category 4 redemptions start at 38,000 points and many are just as good as the top category 6 hotels. Pretty much anywhere you want to go, you’ll find a great redemption in this category. There were so many great options that I had to include two new subcategories: US and Canada under North America, and Eastern and Western Europe.
NORTH AMERICA
Canada
Radisson Hotel & Suites Fallsview (Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada)
Distinctions: 2011 President’s Award
Accommodations: This hotel has stunning views of Niagara Falls. It has undergone a recent renovation, so even the Standard Award City View Rooms have a fresh new look.
All guests get free wifi, in-room coffee maker, mini-fridge microwave, and jet tub in the bathroom.
Location: Right by The Falls. If that’s not enough, there is a casino, golf club, IMAX Theatre, botanical gardens, and the Skylon Tower within a mile of the hotel to keep you entertained.
Honorable mention: N/A
US
Radisson Suite Hotel Oceanfront (Melbourne, Fl)
Distinctions: 2011 President’s Award
Accommodations: Every room at this all-suite hotel has a separate living area, floor-to-ceiling windows and an oceanfront view with a balcony.
Standard Award suites come equipped with a King-sized Sleep Number bed, a Queen sofa bed in the living room, free wifi, kitchenette, and 2 TV’s with a Nintendo. Rooms are spacious at 550 sqft.
This is so far the best value US hotel I’ve found in Club Carlson’s portfolio. It’s a great place for a family getaway.
Location: Oceanfront location with perfect views of the Atlantic. If you do want to venture outside the hotel, there are no less than 5 golf courses nearby. For kids, the Andretti Thrill Park and Brevard Zoo are great entertainment options. Just 20 miles from the hotel, you can check out Sebastian Inlet and State Park or Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
This hotel is also a great choice if you’re taking a cruise, as the Port Canaveral cruise terminal is about 20 miles away.
Honorable mention:
Country Inn & Suites New Orleans French Quarter
- Winner of the TripAdvisor 2012 Certificate of Excellence
Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino
- 2011 President’s Award
SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN & MEXICO
Radisson Hotel Maceió, Brazil (Maceió, Brazil)
Distinctions: Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #6 hotel in Brazil
Accommodations: Brand new beach-front hotel with an amazing rooftop pool boasting beautiful views of the surrounding beach.
A Standard Award gets you into a Superior Room, which includes free wifi and daily breakfast. Currently no Premium Awards are available, but with this being a new hotel, you’re getting a nice room either way and with the location near the beach, will probably spend most of your time outside.
Location: Perfect for business travelers with its proximity to the Maceio Convention Center, it’s beachside location makes it a great choice for a vacation. This hotel is just 1 mile from the popular Pajucara Beach, which is famous for its natural pools. The airport is just 10 miles away, and great restaurants and local markets are within walking distance.
Honorable mention:
Country Inn & Suites Panama Canal
- 2011 President’s Award
Radisson Hotel Decapolis Miraflores
- Recipient of TripAdvisor’s 2013 Travelers’ Choice Award
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #23 Top hotel in Peru
Radisson Decapolis Hotel Panama City
- Recipient of the 2013 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #4 Top hotel in Panama
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #23 Best Service in Panama
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
There were too many great hotels in this category, so I’ve included the best redemptions for Eastern and Western Europe.
Eastern Europe
Radisson Blu Hotel, Gdansk (Gdansk, Poland)
Have you ever wanted to travel to Gdansk, Poland? Me neither, until I stumbled upon the Radisson Blu Gdasnk and learned about this historically rich city. And the hotel’s superb location in old town makes it a perfect base from which to explore the city.
Distinctions:
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #12 Top Luxury Hotels in Poland
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #18 Top Hotels in Poland
Accommodations: Standard Awards include a 312 sqft room with heated bathroom floors, LCD flat-screen tv, and free wifi. While these rooms are on the small side, they make up for it in decor.
If you decide to splurge on a Business Class room for an extra 19,000 points, you get a slightly bigger room (385 sqft), free buffet breakfast, premium movies, in-room Nespresso coffee machine, and free in-house movies.
Location: The hotel is within walking distance of the commuter rail link, the famous Neptune Statue, St. Mary’s Church, the Polish Maritime Museum, Polish Baltic Philharmonic, Cinema City Theatre, Theatru Gedanense, Artus Court, and more. A cruise port and Gdansk Airport are both within 6 miles of this hotel.
Honorable mention: Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, Bratislava. With its location in Old Town, this makes for a perfect base to explore Slovakia’s capital, a historically rich city that is worth checking out if you’re headed to Eastern Europe.
Western Europe
Radisson Blu Park Hotel, Athens (Athens, Greece)
Distinctions: N/A
Accommodations: Rooms at this hotel are a mixed bag. On the hotel website, the Standard rooms are pictured as new and modern, while Superior rooms feature outdated designs. Be sure to check ahead of time what type of room you’ll be assigned, if that is important to you.
Standard Awards get you a 270 sqft room with a park view and free wifi. You can choose a triple room with an extra bed, which can save you money if you’re traveling with more than one person.
For an additional 19,000 points, you can book a Business Class room which is slightly bigger at 290 sqft. This booking will get you free buffet breakfast, premium movies, free wifi, in-room NEPRESSO coffee machine, and a fluffy robe and slippers. Business Class rooms are located on the 6th and 7th floors. If you’re lucky enough to land a 6th floor room, you’ll have your own balcony with views of the Acropolis.
Location: While location isn’t ideal for sightseeing, the nearby metro station makes it easy to get around. It also makes it convenient and cheap to get to and from the airport.
Honorable mention: Park Inn Berlin Alexanderplatz (Berlin, Germany).
MIDDLE EAST
Radisson Blu Tala Bay Resort, Aqaba (Aqaba, Jordan)
Distinctions:
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #5 Top Luxury Hotels in Jordan
- Traveler’s Choice 2013: #7 Top Hotels in Jordan
- Traveler’s Choice 2013: #13 Hotels for Service in Jordan
Accommodations: A standard award at this resort will get you the equivalent of a premium award at other properties: 340 sqft room with free breakfast buffet, wifi, bathrobe and slippers. You also get a balcony with views of the Red Sea, pool, or beach.
Premium Awards offer the same amenities, though the “premium” room type isn’t specified. You’re pretty much guaranteed a stellar view no matter what type of award you book, and I wouldn’t bother with a Premium Award unless the room is drastically different from a standard.
Note, all awards are subject to a 17% tax. Check with the hotel before booking to avoid sticker shock.
Location: This resort isn’t near any major attractions, but it does offer a peaceful oasis for anyone looking to unwind. The resort prides itself on its diving center. Families will be entertained with daily activities like volleyball, water polo, water aerobics, yoga, and more.
For those who do want to venture away, Wadi Rum, Petra, and the Dead Sea are 32, 80, and 118 miles away.
The airport is just a 15-mile drive and the hotel provides complimentary shuttle service for guests traveling on Royal Jordanian Airlines (a One World Alliance member).
Honorable mention: N/A
AFRICA
Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso, Djerba (Djerba, Tunisia)
Distinctions:
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #15 Top Luxury Hotel in Tunisia
- Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2013: #18 Top Hotel in Tunisia
Accommodations: This series has really brought Tunisia on my radar. It hadn’t crossed my mind as a travel destination (images of the Arab Spring come to mind), though I’m quite impressed with what it has to offer, especially within the Club Carlson portfolio.
The Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso is a beachside property resembling the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi more than your average Radisson hotel. All guests receive a free breakfast buffet every morning, free wifi, and a 450 sqft room with a balcony. You can upgrade to a seaview room for an additional 19,000 points per night.
Location: Located on what has been dubbed as “The Isle of Forgetfulness,” it’s easy to understand why. I can imagine staying here will make you forget all your problems back home. The hotel offers 6 PM late checkout, giving you even more time to enjoy your vacation.
A beachfront property and a 20-minute drive from Djerba-Zarzis International Airport. What more could you want? 300 days of complete sunshine and perfect weather? Check.
If you get tired of lounging by the indoor or outdoor pools, you can hit up a nearby golf club, Houmt Souk, museum, and notable historical sights are just a short cab ride away.
Honorable mention: Radisson Blu Hotel, Port Elizabeth (Port Elizabeth, South Africa)
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Radisson Plaza Hotel Tianjin (Tianjin, China)
Distinctions: N/A
Accommodations: Typical of Asian hotels, the Radisson Plaza Hotel Tianjin features stylishly decorated rooms with generous amenities.
A Standard Award gets you into a Superior Room, which are 387 sqft and come with either a King bed or 2 Twin beds, and offer sweeping views of the city.
All rooms include free wifi, 40 satellite TV channels (CNN, BBC, ESPN, HBO, et.c), in-room tea and coffee maker, and other amenities.
- Separate bath tub and shower room, hair dryer, iron/ironing board
Location: While this property caters mostly to business travelers, leisure travelers will also find lots to do in the area.
The Tianjin Eye is a great way for catching sweeping views of the city and is just 1.5 miles from the hotel. Tianjin Italian Style Town, the Binjiang Dao and Nanjing Road shopping district, and Jin Wan Plaza offer tons of entertainment options.
Honorable mention: Park Plaza Bengaluru Hotel (Bangalore, India)
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