Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- What is Virtuoso?
- Virtuoso Hotel Benefits
- Are Virtuoso Rates Higher Than Booking Direct?
- Can you earn hotel loyalty points when you book with Virtuoso?
- Luxury Travel Programs that Participate in Virtuoso:
- How to book Virtuoso Rates Online
- Booking Online vs. Booking with a Virtuoso Agent Direct
- Summary: Are Virtuoso Rates Worth it?
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 book through a travel agent to get these rates and benefits, you can actually book them online, on your own!
In this article, we’ll review everything you need to know about Virtuoso rates, the benefits they offer, the brands that participate, and how to book Virtuoso rates online.
In the event, you’re already familiar with the program and just want to book your trip, here’s a link to Classic Travel’s online Virtuoso booking tool.
Get Free Breakfast, a Room Upgrade, Early Check-in, Late Check-out, and a $100 Hotel Amenity when you book a Virtuoso rate with Classic Travel.
If you aren’t familiar with Virtuoso, keep reading…
What is Virtuoso?
Let’s start with a quick overview of Virtuoso.
Virtuoso is a network of travel agencies specializing in luxury travel, with more than 20,000 travel advisors. 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 that are a part of the Virtuoso network all specialize in working with affluent travelers to help them plan luxury vacations.
There are many benefits you receive from booking through a Virtuoso agent, and now you can take advantage of these rates and benefits without having to get a Virtuoso agent on the phone!
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
- Room upgrade (when available)
- Early check-in (when available)
- Late check-out (when available)
- A special Virtuoso amenity (typically a $100 property credit, spa credit, or airport transfer)
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 will charge you a planning fee to book through them, which is what makes the ability to book Virtuoso rates online (without human interaction) so nice. You can check rates and book a hotel 24×7 without any additional fees!
Can you earn hotel loyalty points when you book with Virtuoso?
Yes. You will still earn loyalty points and status with these rates, as it is considered an “eligible rate”. Booking with Virtuoso online (and with an agent) is very different from booking with an OTA like Expedia or Priceline, where you do not receive any credit with the hotel loyalty program.
Luxury Travel Programs that Participate in Virtuoso:
| Hotel Group | Travel Advisor Program |
| Accor Hotels | Accor STEP |
| Belmond | Bellini Club |
| Dorchester Collection | Diamond Club |
| Four Seasons | Four Seasons Preferred Partner |
| Hilton (LXR, Conrad) | Hilton Impresario |
| Hyatt | Hyatt Privé |
| IHG (Regent, Intercontinental, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo) | IHG Luxury & Lifestyle |
| Jumeirah | Passport to Luxury |
| Langham Hotels and Resorts | Couture by Langham |
| Mandarin Oriental | Fan Club |
| Marriott (Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, EDITION) | Marriott STARS & Luminous |
| Peninsula Hotels | Peninsula PenClub |
| Rocco Forte Hotels | Sir Rocco’s Knights |
| Rosewood Hotels and Resorts | Rosewood Elite |
| Shangri-La | The Luxury Circle |
| SLH (Small Luxury Hotels & Resorts) | SLH withIN |
There are many more luxury hotels and resorts that participate in Virtuoso, such as Aman, Viceroy, Soneva, etc.…
How to book Virtuoso Rates Online
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.
Get Free Breakfast, a Room Upgrade, Early Check-in, Late Check-out, and a $100 Hotel Amenity when you book a Virtuoso rate with Classic Travel.
Booking Online vs. Booking with a Virtuoso Agent Direct
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, then I would definitely call an agent and leverage all of their advice and knowledge.
To find an advisor, you can visit the advisor catalog.
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!
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