Virtuoso & Preferred Partner Hotel Rates: How to Book Them Online & Get Free Perks!

When you book a luxury hotel with a Virtuoso rate, you’ll receive great perks, including room upgrades, free breakfast, late check-out, etc.   And while most people think you have to call a travel agent to get these rates and benefits, you can actually book them online, on your own!

We’ve partnered with Classic Travel, a well-established New York-based luxury travel agency, to give MilePro readers 24/7 online access to Virtuoso and preferred partner rates. You can search hotels, compare rates, and complete your booking entirely online—no phone calls required.

Classic Travel charges no booking fees, and you’ll get all the same benefits you’d receive by calling a Virtuoso agent directly.

If you aren’t familiar with Virtuoso, keep reading…

What is Virtuoso?

Virtuoso is a network of travel agencies specializing in luxury travel, with more than 20,000 travel advisors worldwide. They have partnered with over 2,200 of the world’s best travel companies, including 5-star hotels and resorts, airlines, luxury cruise lines, and tour operators. Travel advisors in the Virtuoso network specialize in working with affluent travelers to plan luxury vacations. What sets Virtuoso apart is its collective buying power—by representing thousands of high-value clients, Virtuoso negotiates exclusive perks and benefits at luxury properties worldwide.

Through our partnership with Classic Travel (a Virtuoso member agency), you can now search properties, compare rates, and book instantly online—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You still get every Virtuoso benefit, but with the convenience of booking on your own schedule without waiting for email responses or playing phone tag.

For a complete breakdown of Virtuoso benefits and how they compare to other luxury programs, see our complete Virtuoso Travel Benefits guide.

Virtuoso Hotel Benefits

Luxury hotel companies are very strict about maintaining their rates and therefore rarely offer discounts like you would find at a typical Hilton or Marriott property. The primary way luxury hotels “discount” is by adding extra perks and benefits through their travel partners, such as Virtuoso.

When you book a hotel through Virtuoso, you will receive the following benefits, at no additional charge:

• Daily breakfast for two (Free)
• Room upgrade (when available)
• A special Virtuoso amenity (typically a $100 food/beverage credit or spa credit)
• Early check-in (when available)
• Late check-out (when available)

Are Virtuoso Rates Higher Than Booking Direct?

No. As a general rule, Virtuoso rates are the same as the best flexible rate offered when booking directly with the hotel.  In most cases, you’re not paying anything extra for booking through a Virtuoso agent.

However, some travel agents charge a planning fee to book through them, which is what makes it so nice to be able to book Virtuoso rates online (without human interaction).   You can check rates and book a hotel 24×7 without any additional fees!

Luxury Travel Programs:

In addition to Virtuoso, many luxury hotel brands have created their own invitation-only preferred partner programs for travel advisors. Classic Travel has access to all of these programs, which means you can book properties through whichever program offers the best rate and benefits for your specific stay.

Hotel Group	Travel Advisor Program
Accor Hotels	Accor Preferred
Aman Hotels and Resorts	Aman
Auberge Resorts Collection	Auberge
Belmond	Bellini Club
Four Seasons	Four Seasons Preferred Partner
Hilton (LXR, Conrad)	Hilton For Luxury
Hyatt	Hyatt Privé
IHG (Regent, Intercontinental, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo)	IHG Destined
Langham Hotels and Resorts	Couture by Langham
Mandarin Oriental	Fan Club
Marriott (Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, EDITION)	Marriott STARS & Luminous
Omni Hotels & Resorts	Omni Select Partner
Peninsula Hotels	Peninsula PenClub
Preferred Hotels & Resorts	Platinum Partner
Rocco Forte Hotels	Sir Rocco’s Knights
Rosewood Hotels and Resorts	Rosewood Elite
Shangri-La	The Luxury Circle
Six Senses Hotels & Resorts	IHG Destined
SLH (Small Luxury Hotels & Resorts)	SLH withIN

Not sure which program to use? When you search on Classic Travel’s booking platform, the system automatically shows you which rate offers the best value for your specific dates and property.

Why Book Through Classic Travel?

Classic Travel is a well-established luxury travel agency headquartered in New York City, serving discerning travelers for over 40 years. They’re an authorized Virtuoso member with access to all major hotel preferred partner programs.

• No Booking Fees: Unlike many Virtuoso advisors who charge planning fees ($50-150 per booking), Classic Travel charges no fees for online reservations. You get Virtuoso benefits at no extra cost.
• 24/7 Online Booking: Their platform lets you search properties, compare rates, and complete your booking anytime—day or night—without waiting for business hours or email responses.
• Instant Confirmation: Book online and receive immediate confirmation with all Virtuoso benefits automatically applied. No waiting 24-48 hours for a travel advisor to process your request.
• Expert Support When Needed: While you can book entirely self-service online, Classic Travel’s advisors are available by phone if you need assistance with modifications, special requests, or complex itineraries.
• Trusted Partnership: We have partnered with Classic Travel because they offer the perfect balance: the convenience of online booking with the backing of an established, reputable travel agency.

How to book Virtuoso and Luxury Hotel Partner Rates Online

Booking Virtuoso and preferred partner rates online is straightforward, but there are a few steps involved—especially if it’s your first time using the platform.

Step 1: Register for Your Free Classic Travel Account

Important: You’ll need to create a free account with Classic Travel before you can complete a booking. This is a one-time setup that takes about 2-3 minutes.

1. Click the booking link below to access Classic Travel’s platform
2. Look for the “Register” or “Sign Up” button (usually in the top right corner)
3. Enter your information:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Home address
• Create a password

1. Agree to terms and conditions
2. Click “Create Account” or “Register”
3. Check your email for a verification link and click it to activate your account

Why Registration is Required:

Classic Travel needs to verify you’re a real traveler (not a bot) and collect basic contact information so the hotel can reach you if needed. This is standard practice for all online travel booking platforms.

One-Time Setup: Once registered, you can log in anytime to book hotels 24/7 without registering again.

Step 2: Search for Hotels

Once you’re logged in:

1. Enter your destination – Search by city name, hotel name, or region
2. Select your dates – Check-in and checkout dates
3. Choose number of guests – Adults and children
4. Click “Search”

The platform will show you available properties with Virtuoso rates displayed.

Step 3: Compare Properties and Rates

Browse search results and you’ll see:

• Hotel names and photos
• Nightly rates (already including Virtuoso pricing)
• Included benefits (breakfast, upgrades, credits)
• Guest ratings and reviews

Click on any property to see:

• Detailed room descriptions
• Full list of Virtuoso benefits for that specific property
• Property amenities and location information
• Cancellation policies

Step 4: Select Your Room and Confirm Benefits

Once you’ve chosen a property:

1. Review room categories – Select your preferred room type
2. Verify included benefits – The platform shows exactly what Virtuoso perks are included
3. Check cancellation policy – Make sure you understand the terms
4. Click “Book” or “Reserve”

Step 5: Enter Guest Details and Preferences

On the booking page, you’ll enter:

• Guest names (exactly as they appear on ID)
• Contact information (phone and email)
• Hotel loyalty program numbers (if applicable—don’t forget this!)
• Special requests:

Pro Tip: Use the special requests section! Hotels appreciate knowing about celebrations or preferences in advance.

Step 6: Add Payment Information

Classic Travel requires a credit card to hold your reservation:

• You pay the hotel directly at checkout (not Classic Travel)
• Your card is only used to guarantee the reservation
• Make sure the name on the card matches the guest name (or specify if someone else is paying)

Step 7: Review and Confirm Your Booking

Before finalizing:

1. Double-check all details:

• Dates are correct
• Guest names are spelled correctly
• Loyalty program number is included
• Special requests are noted

1. Review total cost (including taxes and fees)
2. Confirm cancellation policy one more time
3. Click “Confirm Reservation” or “Complete Booking”

Step 8: Receive Confirmation

Within minutes you’ll receive:

1. Email confirmation from Classic Travel – This includes:

• Your reservation confirmation number
• Hotel contact information
• Summary of included Virtuoso benefits
• Cancellation policy details

1. Separate confirmation from the hotel (within 24 hours) – This may include:

• Hotel confirmation number
• Check-in instructions
• Additional property information

Save both confirmation emails. You’ll need them for check-in.

Important: All Virtuoso benefits are automatically applied. You shouldn’t need to request them, but it doesn’t hurt to confirm at check-in.

Booking a Virtuoso rate online is very simple; just use our Virtuoso booking link, and you can search properties, check prices, and be assured of getting all of the benefits you would receive when booking through a Virtuoso agent.

Booking Online vs. Booking with an Agent

I like to use this tool when I know where I want to go, and I am just booking 1-2 rooms.  If I were booking for a large group or planning a big event like an African Safari, I would definitely call an agent and leverage their advice and knowledge.

Summary: Are Virtuoso Rates Worth it?

Virtuoso is the world’s best luxury travel network and booking through them will give the traveler a lot of extra value in terms of perks and benefits.

One of the biggest myths in the travel industry is that you can only book these rates by talking with a travel agent. But if you are someone who likes to shop around and book your own travel online, then having the ability to book a Virtuoso hotel rate online is a great option!

When you book Virtuoso rates, you’re getting:

• Same price as booking direct
• Free daily breakfast (typically $240-640+ value on a 4-night stay)
• $100 property credit
• Room upgrade priority
• VIP recognition and service
• Early check-in and late checkout flexibility