HoteLux: Book luxury hotels and enjoy elite benefits, without elite status

Book hotels via the HoteLux app and get room upgrades, free breakfast, up to US$100 credits and more- at no additional cost to you.

Update: HoteLux will be temporarily suspending its 2 free trial bookings for users, effective 2359 on 26 January 2021. All existing bookings made by this deadline will remain intact. Even if you’re not 100% sure of your dates, you can make a speculative booking first, and cancel it up to 24 hours before check-in.

If you don’t hold elite status, are you forever consigned to be a second class citizen at hotels? 

It can certainly seem that way, when you see others getting room upgrades, free breakfast, late check-out and other perks. But did you know there’s a way to secure all those benefits, without needing to rack up tons of nights?

Download the HoteLux app

Enter HoteLux, a startup that’s just launched its luxury hotel booking app. This allows you to make instant bookings with various luxury programs like Hyatt Prive, Shangri-La Luxury Circle, Virtuoso and more. 

These bookings enjoy the following benefits:

  • Daily breakfast
  • Up to US$100 hotel dining or spa credit per stay
  • Complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability)
  • Early check-in & late check-out (subject to availability)
  • Flexible cancellation policy (pay upon check-in)
  • Welcome amenities

In other words, you receive all the perks of elite membership, without actually needing to have it.  There’s also third/fourth night free offers and bonus hotel credits depending on the property. 

What are luxury programs?

To encourage customers to book direct, hotels offer additional benefits plus credits of up to US$100 for bookings made through luxury programs such as:

  • Four Seasons Preferred Partner
  • Hilton Impresario
  • Hyatt Privé
  • Mandarin Oriental Fan Club
  • Marriott STARS & Luminous
  • Rosewood Elite
  • Shangri-la The Luxury Circle
  • The IHG Luxury & Lifestyle
  • The Peninsula PenClub
  • VITA by The Leading Hotels of the World

These price the same as the hotel’s Best Available Rate, and are fully refundable (you only pay at check-in). Best of all, they earn hotel points and elite night credits too, and are eligible for the quarterly bonus points promos that chains usually run. 

The catch: these rates can only be booked through luxury agents. Luxury agents aren’t hard to find, but they’re a hassle to book with. Virtually all of them work via phone or email only, so you’ll need to send them your dates, wait for a reply, and do a few rounds of back and forth while you finalise the rates. You’ll also need to send your card details over email, and changes and cancellations depend on how fast they reply to you. 

The inability to make instant bookings, changes or cancellations is unthinkable in 2021, but that’s exactly what HoteLux is offering through its app. 

Download the HoteLux app

For a limited time, HoteLux is offering all users two free bookings. After that, users can make unlimited bookings by paying S$99 for an annual subscription, or by referring 10 friends. 

Here’s some great offers I spotted on HoteLux. 

Shangri-La Singapore Valley Wing from S$330 nett

Shangri-La Garden Wing Room
Shangri-La Garden Wing Room
Update: Shangri-La will no longer upgrade people from the Garden Wing to Valley Wing, so this method won’t work any more. Any existing confirmed upgrades to Valley Wing will be honored.

One of the best deals I’ve found is at the Shangri-La Singapore. For the month of January, I can book a Luxury Circle rate for Garden Wing Deluxe Pool View room from just S$280++ (S$330 nett). 

This includes:

  • Room upgrade, confirmed at the point of booking*
  • Daily breakfast for two 
  • Early check-in (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out (subject to availability)
  • A US$100 dining credit (when I stayed on a Luxury Circle rate last week, this was converted to S$139)

*The room upgrade is technically confirmed about 24-72 hours after your booking is made, but well in advance of check-in

It gets better. Since the Tower Wing is temporarily closed to accommodate SHN guests, a one category upgrade from a Garden Wing Deluxe Pool View room takes you straight to the Valley Wing.

Shangri-La Valley Wing Deluxe Room
Shangri-La Valley Wing Deluxe Room

This comes with all of the following benefits:

  • Breakfast in The Summit Room
  • Afternoon tea at The Valley Wing Lobby Lounge
  • Evening canapes and cocktails at The Champagne Bar
  • All-day champagne at The Champagne Bar

Once you account for the dining credit, you’re paying just S$191 for all of the above privileges- almost too good to be true. It does work though, and I’ve already booked and completed two stays this way. 

Remember- you must book the Garden Wing Deluxe Pool View. It’s one category up from the Garden Wing Deluxe City View. 

Keep in mind that this is a limited time opportunity. Eventually the Tower Wing will reopen, after which Garden Wing Pool View Rooms will be upgraded to Tower Wing Horizon Deluxe Rooms instead.

Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore from S$530 nett

Deluxe Kallang Room, Ritz-Carlton Millenia
Deluxe Kallang Room, Ritz-Carlton Millenia

Hotelux has a Virtuoso rate for the Ritz Carlton’s lead-in Kallang Deluxe Room at just S$450++ (S$530 nett). 

This includes:

  • Room upgrade, upon arrival (subject to availability)
  • Breakfast for 2
  • Early check-in(subject to availability)
  • Late check-out (subject to availability)
  • US$100 dining/spa credit

For the sake of comparison, this package is even better than the DBS one, which I already thought was excellent value at S$588 nett with breakfast and a S$100 F&B credit. Even the flexibility policy is better: Virtuoso rates are refundable up to 24 hours before check-in; the DBS deal has a 96 hour deadline. 

Conrad Centennial Singapore from S$306 nett

Conrad Centennial Deluxe Room
Conrad Centennial Deluxe Room

Hotelux offers an Impresario rate at the Conrad Centennial for a Deluxe King room, at S$260++ (S$306 nett). 

This includes:

  • Room upgrade, upon arrival (subject to availability)
  • Breakfast for 2
  • Early check-in(subject to availability)
  • Late check-out (subject to availability)
  • US$100 dining/spa credit
  • Double Hilton points

Remember, Impresario rates are not just eligible for Hilton elite benefits and points, they also earn double Hilton points. Plus, you can stack this with whatever ongoing promotion Hilton has, such as their Points Unlimited offer. This means your S$306 nett stay would earn:

  • 1,960 base points (based on 10 points per US$1)
  • 1,960 bonus points for booking an Impresario rate
  • 2,000 bonus points from Hilton Points Unlimited (registration required)

This doesn’t even take into account the 20/80/100% points bonuses for Silver/Gold/Diamond members.

For comparison, Conrad’s Lavish Retreat package costs S$350 nett, with breakfast and S$80 F&B credits. The Impresario rate is significantly more worth it once you account for the US$100 credit. 

JW Marriott South Beach Singapore from S$328 nett

JW Marriott South Beach Deluxe Room
JW Marriott South Beach Deluxe Room

Hotelux’s Luminous rate at the JW Marriott Singapore costs S$279++ (S$328 nett). 

This includes:

  • Breakfast for 2
  • Early check-in(subject to availability)
  • Late check-out (subject to availability)
  • US$100 dining/spa credit

The cheapest rate I can find on the JW Marriott’s official website is S$339 nett for just the room, so it’s a no-brainer to book this one instead.

HoteLux is also offering a Stay 3 Pay 2 rate, which means you could even stay 3 nights for just S$657 nett in total. Stack that with Marriott’s upcoming double elite nights promotion, and you could be looking at a fast track to elite status…

W Sentosa Cove Singapore from S$411 nett

W Sentosa Singapore
W Sentosa Singapore

The W Sentosa Cove is available through Hotelux at S$349++ ($411 nett). 

This includes:

  • Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability)
  • Breakfast for 2
  • Early check-in(subject to availability)
  • Late check-out (subject to availability)
  • US$100 dining/spa credit

For comparison, the cheapest rate for a Wonderful Room on the W Sentosa’s official website starts from S$380 nett, which includes just the room. 

HotelLux is offering an additional US$100 of dining/spa credit when you stay a minimum of two nights, so you could receive up to US$200 in total. 

Other HoteLux Offers

In addition to the offers above, there’s a few others worth exploring:

  • St Regis Singapore: Stay a minimum of 3 nights and get an additional US$200 F&B/spa credit (i.e US$300 total)
  • Raffles Hotel, Four Seasons Singapore, InterContinental Singapore: Book 2 nights, get the 3rd night free
  • JW Marriott Singapore:  Book a suite for min. 2 nights and get an additional US$100 F&B/spa credit (i.e US$200 total)

Conclusion

HoteLux is a convenient way of making DIY luxury program bookings, and the rates themselves can be even better than the hotel’s own staycation packages. Obviously the appeal of a 3rd/4th night free is limited now, but imagine using this when travel resumes again (in a place like Bangkok, where luxury hotel rates are notoriously affordable). 

Remember: HoteLux does not take any payment from you. Your credit card details are only used to secure the reservation, and you’ll make payment at the hotel. You can also cancel your reservation instantly via the app any time before the cancellation deadline.

So be sure to download the HoteLux app now and play around with it. Let me know what other deals you find!

Download the HoteLux app

Aaron Wong
Aaron Wong
Aaron founded The Milelion to help people travel better for less and impress chiobu. He was 50% successful.

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Suning

How is that different from classictravel.com which also allows you to get these benefits online (and no fee to book)?

Wee Lin

Conrad Bangkok next week: S$107 nett with US$100 dining credit and breakfast.

Should have taken that relocation offer last year 😉

cheesecake

I booked Deluxe Suite at JW Marriott South Beach for 2 nights. Supposed to get USD100 hotel credit + USD100 extra credit for staying 2 nights + upgrade to next suite category. But the email confirmation received immediately after booking didn’t contain such details. From your booking experience, is HoteLux supposed to “adjust details at the backend” and send a revised confirmation after, if so how long does it take to arrive?

cheesecake

A follow up to my situation. I never received any backend adjusted details. Basically I decided to try HoteLux after reading this blog, but have regretted it since, as I’ve had immense problems with the booking process. Honestly unsure why you endorse on your otherwise respectable blog an app so half-baked, badly tested and with bad customer service without having done adequate prior due diligence. Kinda reminds me of another MilesLife. The rate shown in-app before I submitted my booking for JWM South Beach was lower than the rate eventually displayed in my email confirmation. When I contacted HoteLux customer… Read more »

cheesecake

I stand by what I previously said about the HoteLux app and customer service: – Information shown in-app doesn’t gel with what you see in the email booking confirmation received. Understand that Shangri-La bookings you’d receive an amended booking confirmation that said “Garden Wing Deluxe with upgrade to Valley Wing Deluxe”. For JWM South Beach, no such follow-on confirmation was sent, even though my booking was supposed to have guaranteed upgrade from Deluxe Suite to Premier Suite according to the app. Even after alerting HoteLux (by the way their only way of contact is via chat), their customer service themselves… Read more »

Bystander

Hey cheesecake, While I feel that the consternation and irritation is understandable, reasonable, and to some extent valid, I do not think that is fair to direct part of it towards Aaron. Unfortunately consistency of experience is something that is not standard across most industries, not just the service/leisure/travel industry, and that has to be addressed, and I agree and empathise with most of the points that you have raised. I am sure Aaron is also disappointed that you did not have the same lovely experience as he did, but I think it is also important to try to be… Read more »

milo peng

the funniest thing is you can spend hours in focus groups, working with the app developer to test their UX, customer service, trying the product yourself to make sure it’s good enough for your audience etc.

but if it launches and there’s even one negative experience, some people go OMG YOU DIDNT BOTHER DOING ANY DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE PROMOTING IT

source: also a blogger

YSY

fully agreed! YMMV

Michael

Perhaps you can consider cancelling the reservation before the deadline. I was also tempted after reading from mile lion but when i saw that the total download on google play store was only 100+. I had second thoughts on this.
Do provide a stay review if you are proceeding. Stay safe and good luck.

YSY

My point is since the booking is fully refundable and you will only need to pay at check-in. why don’t you cancel booking instead?

ian

will bookings made through hotellux accrue elite night credits?

Matthew Chong

Yes, as the booking is direct with the hotel.

Vwing

booked garden wing pool view room and got UG to valley wing, just like you said. awesome price of just over $300.

thanks!

Josh

Can I assume this doesn’t work with the SGdiscovers vouchers?

Matthew Chong

yes. it doesn’t. SRV vouchers only can be used on the authorised booking partners. Been discussed many times.

https://milelion.com/2020/11/23/full-details-how-to-redeem-singaporediscovers-vouchers-child-subsidies-and-other-faqs/

Daniel

Does anyone happen to know if booking thru travelux means i get to double stack on bonvoy plat benefits? Eg: do i get an extra bfast for 2 pax/ lounge access, etc?

Matthew Chong

Yes it stacks with any elite status that you have with the hotel chain. It’s written in the article.

Ariel

Maybe they have changed the valley wing entitlement. Because after several attempt, Hotelux finally confirm that room is upgraded to valley wing but no lounge access. So a bit no point to upgrade and not like the benefits above mentioned

cheesecake

What a joke! OMG.

BMman

Hey Aaron, you have edited that the garden room with pool view does not upgrade to valley wing anymore. So will the comp upgrade not apply if I were to make a booking then?

David

They raised their annual subscription from 99$ to 149$ instead of 299$.
Even though it looks like a good UX platform (unlike marketing which keeps changing in a very short time), its too expensive.
I’ll be happy if anyone can refer a local agent if that’s ok with you Aaron. I can’t find all deals on classictravel.

David

Marriott 3 for 2 paid nights. I compared the next week. Hotelux app offering this deal and classic dont

David

Solved, found it. Thanks 🙂

Gerry Howard

Hello Aaron – thanks for this article and introducing Hotelux. Interesting how many website are out there which offer this great benefits. Do you know privateupgrades.com? I am using them since a couple of years now and they have all this benefits and also great promotions. Wanted to compare with Hotelux but as Privateupgrades is free I am not gonna pay for a membership to try it out.

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