Editor’s observe: This can be a recurring put up, usually up to date with new data.
Till 2020, I had by no means heard of Sonesta or its Journey Cross loyalty program. Granted, firstly of 2020, Sonesta had solely 58 properties. However now that the Crimson Lion household of inns has joined Sonesta, the loyalty program has quickly grown to over 1,100 properties in eight international locations.
In case your journey is primarily targeted within the international locations served by Sonesta — the U.S., Canada, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Peru and Sint Maarten — you would possibly wonder if it’s best to care about Sonesta and its Journey Cross program.
I’ve principally ignored the Sonesta Journey Cross program to date. Nevertheless, the 2023 overhaul of Sonesta Journey Cross and the newer addition of Crimson Lion inns inspired me to take one other have a look at this system. Right here’s what I discovered.
Sonesta elite standing is straightforward to earn
Sonesta Journey Cross has 4 elite standing member tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The necessities to achieve every member tier are as follows:
- Bronze: None
- Silver: 10 nights or 10,000 factors per calendar 12 months
- Gold: 20 nights or 20,000 factors per calendar 12 months
- Platinum: 40 nights or 40,000 factors per calendar 12 months
Nevertheless, you don’t want to remain 20 nights or earn 20,000 factors for Gold standing. In any case, main cardholders of the Sonesta Credit score Card from Financial institution of America get computerized Gold standing for so long as their card is open.
The knowledge for the Sonesta Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Sonesta additionally gives elite members in different lodge loyalty applications the chance to match their standing. To request a standing match, enroll in Sonesta Journey Cross and get in touch with Journey Cross buyer care along with your Journey Cross Member ID and a duplicate of a present membership card or assertion displaying your standing in one other lodge loyalty program.
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Sonesta Journey Cross makes use of set award night time pricing
Sonesta Journey Cross has set award night time pricing for every of its properties. Whereas this system beforehand printed an award chart and which inns have been in every award chart tier, now you may solely discover the award night time value whenever you seek for a keep and click on on the property to see the room varieties.
The dearth of a broadcast award chart and the truth that you should seek for a keep to be taught the award value are big downsides. With no printed award chart, Sonesta can change award night time pricing at any property at any time when it desires with out the unfavorable press typically related to switching to dynamic award pricing (like Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards and Hilton Honors) or doing annual class adjustments (like World of Hyatt).
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40,000 Sonesta factors for an all-inclusive resort
Sonesta has two all-inclusive resorts situated facet by facet in St. Maarten. Nevertheless, I might solely see award charges for one in every of these resorts, the Sonesta Maho Seaside Resort, On line casino & Spa, on-line. Every award night time at this resort prices 40,000 factors per night time.
This beachfront resort is an AvGeek favourite because it’s situated minutes from Princess Juliana Worldwide Airport (SXM) and overlooks Maho Bay in Sint Maarten. The 420-room resort has an oasis pool with a swim-up bar, a children membership, an aqua park and a teenagers zone.
The opposite resort, the adults-only Sonesta Ocean Level Resort, was beforehand bookable for 50,000 factors per night time. Nevertheless, Ocean Level Resort not seems in search outcomes on the Sonesta web site.
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Sonesta advantages and facilities are poorly outlined
Whereas writing this text, I grew to become more and more annoyed by the lack of know-how and poorly outlined advantages as I regarded by means of Sonesta’s web site.
In keeping with the chart of member advantages, Silver, Gold and Platinum members get a welcome reward, early check-in and late checkout. Nevertheless, regardless of looking out the phrases and situations and your entire Sonesta web site, I might discover no additional point out of a welcome reward, early check-in or late checkout advantages based mostly on member tier. Since these advantages aren’t nicely outlined and could also be left as much as the whims of every property, they don’t maintain a lot worth in my eyes.
Every day complimentary continental breakfast is a profit supplied to Gold and Platinum members, however it’s solely supplied at some inns, and the inns that don’t provide this member perk aren’t outlined. Likewise, all of the Sonesta Journey Cross phrases and situations need to say in regards to the breakfast profit is the next:
“The complimentary continental breakfast profit entitles the member to obtain a voucher or credit score for complimentary continental breakfast at collaborating Sonesta retailers. Complimentary breakfast profit could differ by model.”
This assertion from the phrases and situations leaves me with many questions. For instance, what number of vouchers or how a lot credit score do members obtain? Is the voucher or credit score just for the member, or is a voucher or credit score additionally supplied per visitor staying with the member?
Lastly, complimentary breakfast is normally supplied to all company at Sonesta ES Suites. However, since some properties don’t provide breakfast, the model web page for Sonesta ES Suites states there isn’t a “assure of free breakfast at each Sonesta ES Suites,” and company are instructed to “verify with respective lodge for particulars.” As a visitor, I’d a lot reasonably know all Sonesta ES Suites properties provide complimentary breakfast as a substitute of getting to verify with every property.
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Backside line
The Sonesta Journey Cross lodge loyalty program has some enticing components, together with easy-to-obtain lodge elite standing and an all-inclusive resort bookable for 40,000 factors per night time. Nevertheless, poorly outlined advantages and the shortage of an award chart dissuade me from changing into too excited about this system.
Though I don’t presently have plans to stick with Sonesta, I’ll reap the benefits of a standing match when and if I ebook a keep at a Sonesta property. At that time, I’ll have an interest to see how the on-site expertise is with Platinum standing, together with how a lot of a breakfast voucher or credit score I obtain.