Sometimes you have to spend money to save money. As a travel professional, I’m constantly considering which travel amenities are worth spending money on and which are not. While I never want to overpay, one thing I don’t hesitate to pay extra for is hotel club lounge access.
In case you’re not familiar with the concept, think of hotel club lounge access as a hotel within a hotel. Club lounge guests have access to a dedicated area with amenities such as fast Wi-Fi, comfy seating, and a staff who offer personalized service. As someone who lives to eat, the big draw for me is the food. I’ve been to club lounges that offer continental breakfast, beverages, and snacks. At others, I’ve feasted on three daily meals, adding up to as much food as you’d get at an all-inclusive resort.
While the upfront cost of hotel club lounge access is more than a regular room, I’ve found the perks to be a real money saver, especially when I’m traveling with my family. You usually pay for lounge access per room, not per person, so the bigger your family, the bigger your savings.
The cost of club lounge (sometimes called concierge level) access differs from property to property and can fluctuate according to occupancy. I’ve paid as little as $75 per night and as much as $250. Frankly, I always feel like I get more than my money’s worth. If you’re a member of your hotel’s loyalty program and have elite status, you may even be given club access free of charge. Here are four of my favorite hotel club lounges.
The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay
Oahu, Hawaii
The club level lounge at the Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay has a view of the North Shore beaches that is so stunning I had to force myself to leave the couch so I could enjoy the resort’s array of activities like surf lessons and horseback riding. My young adult son and I were sharing a room during our recent vacation; I booked access to The Club so we’d have an additional space to hang out and give each other an occasional moment of in-room privacy. I’m so glad I did.
Three meals and multiple snacks are served each day, with farm-fresh produce and local favorites that showcase Hawaii’s fusion cuisine creatively woven into the menu (hello, Spam sushi!). “We are lucky to have a farm on our property that grows local produce including canoe crops such as taro that we use in our English muffins,” says Executive Chef Daniel Quintero. “Kuilima Farm also has fruit trees and banana, and the lilikoi butter is made with those fruits. We are able to source much of what we need in the Club Lounge from the farm.”
The lounge captures the essence of Hawaii’s breezy, indoor-outdoor architectural style, with the indoor space flowing effortlessly onto the panoramic terrace. There are games, puzzles, picture books on surfing, and a freezer filled with novelty ice-cream, adding up to a welcoming spot for families with younger kids, too.
InterContinental Boston
Boston, Massachusetts
For an elevated experience in more ways than one, take in Club InterContinental at the luxurious InterContinental Boston, where you can nosh on tasty bites while enjoying sweeping views of Boston from the top of an urban skyscraper. Club lounge guests get private check-in and check-out, concierge services, breakfast, afternoon refreshments, and copious hors d’oeuvres each evening that eat like a full meal.
Drinks, including fine wines, also flow freely. The culinary team incorporates regional flavors and locally inspired offerings throughout the menu, so expect New England farmhouse cheeses and fresh seafood.
Kids will enjoy the selection of Teddy bears who are happy to receive cuddles. In winter, the fireplace is a cozy spot for a bedtime story. The dedicated staff is happy to help craft a customized itinerary for guests visiting Boston with children. The hotel is walking distance from top family attractions including the interactive Boston Tea Party Museum, the hands-on Boston Children’s Museum, and the beloved New England Aquarium.
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Amelia Island, Florida
Amelia Island is a barrier island off Florida’s northeast coast, home to 13 miles of pristine beaches and a forest of live oaks dripping with moss. It’s also home to one of my family’s all-time favorite luxury beachfront resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, which keeps everyone busy with scores of land-and-sea activities, including naturalist-led educational programming at the nature center.
On our most recent visit, my family was upgraded to a room with club access. The indoor section of the club lounge is very comfortable, with sofas and oversized arm chairs, but we gravitated to the outdoor terraces with private tables overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
My family’s robust appetite was satisfied with the seemingly endless meals. Breakfast included a made-to-order omelet station and fancy goodies like smoked salmon. At lunchtime, the buffet table was overflowing with wraps, sandwiches, soup, and an assortment of jumbo-sized cookies. In the evening, cheese, charcuterie, salads, and a hot entrée were consistently delectable. There were also all-day snacks, including big bowls filled with colorful candy, and evening desserts served with top-shelf cordials.
Club level guests enjoy additional benefits, including access to Club Beach, a private beach club on a stunning swath of sand.
Arizona Biltmore
Phoenix, Arizona
Like an oasis, the Arizona Biltmore is nestled in gardens awash with cacti and desert blooms. Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture melds with a range of onsite activities for guests young and old alike, but my favorite time to visit is during summer, when you’ll find multiple swimming pools that are chilled with ice to beat the heat.
The resort’s Citrus Club is an adult-only immersion in luxury, so leave the kids at home this time. I visited with my young adult daughter and we loved it. There’s a sense of place from the moment you step in, with southwestern-style decorative accents and pops of lemon yellow. Relax on the outdoor patio in front of the fire pit, play one of the board games, or borrow a guitar and strum a tune.
Open from 7:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m., breakfast at the club includes fresh fruit, pastries, and egg bites. At lunch, chilled soup, crisp salads, and plump sandwiches are plentiful. Golden Hour is 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., when the buffet table holds warm bites from quiche to mini tacos. From 8:00 to 9:00 p.m., desserts, chocolates, and cordials take center stage. Keeping with the citrus theme, ask the bartender to make you the club’s signature drink, the lemon drop martini or sip a glass of premium wine.
As if the dedicated staff and round-the-clock food offerings aren’t swanky enough, Citrus Club guests receive extended lounge access pre-and-post check-in, shoeshine, and discounts on spa services and poolside cabanas, too.
