Loyalty schemes are usually free to join, but some carry a membership fee. I’ve covered previously why I’m happy to pay for IHG’s Ambassador membership, which I renewed just before my Christmas trip to Thailand, and I’m now a paid up member of Accor Explorer.  

Before jumping in, it’s worth highlighting that the main benefits of Accor Explorer will be felt when travelling in the Asia Pacific region, so if you don’t live or don’t have big travel plans in the APAC coming up, you’ll want to think harder about whether paying for Explorer is worth it for you. As I had Thailand booked for Christmas and New Year plus a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand with my mum in March, paying the €200 membership fee started to make sense. 

Here’s a snapshot of the core benefits you’d receive with an Explorer subscription. 

1. Instant Gold elite Status

You get 30 bonus status nights automatically each membership year, which unlocks ALL Gold status globally (this is the only benefit that would apply for your bookings outside of APAC, assuming most of your stays are outside of APAC, like mine are). Gold status perks  are pretty weak though, with benefits like priority check-in, late check-out and room upgrades based on availability — and not guaranteed. 

Of course, the 30 status nights puts you half way to Platinum status (which needs 60 nights), and Platinum is where status perks start getting interesting with 2 Suite Night Upgrades (effectively free upgrades from a standard room to a suite), free Executive Lounge access and free breakfast (free breakfast all week in APAC region only). I was already Gold when signing up to Explorer, so the 30 bonus nights tipped me to Platinum which supercharged the value of membership. 

2. “Stay Plus” Free Nights (Asia Pacific)

You receive two “Stay Plus” free night certificates per year (buy at least one night, get one night free) at participating APAC hotels. Used wisely, you can make back the €200 membership fee back in one stay. 

Whilst there’s some blackout dates, I was able to use one of the vouchers for our stay at the Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam for New Year. You can see the night of 29 December is priced at THB 0.00, but the rate was about THB 6000, or £140 (€160 of the membership fee covered straight away). As a side note, as I had Platinum status on check-in, we got free breakfast (worth £40), free Executive Lounge access (worth about £120) and a free upgrade to a room with a direct view of the New Year’s Eve fireworks (we were out at another event for NYE, but that view comes with a chunky premium). 

I’ve used the second voucher for a stay at the Mgallery Hotel des Arts in Ho Chi Minh City in March, which has saved another £140 (€160). We’ll also get free breakfast and lounge access as well as room upgrade, if a higher category of room is available at check in, with my Platinum status. 

3. Dining & Red Hot Room Deals (Asia Pacific)

In APAC, you get up to 30% off dining and 15% off drinks at hotel restaurants, and access to member-only flash hotel deals. I didn’t get opportunity to use the dining discount in Thailand, but will see if I can get value during my Asia trip in March. 

The Red Hot Room deals are interesting and you can get value. For my trip to Asia in March, I can stack a Red Hot Room rate with my Suite Night Upgrades and save £160. 

4. Hotel Discounts Worldwide

Outside of APAC, you’ll get 15% off Best Available Rates at over 4,500 Accor hotels globally. If you frequently book Accor hotels in Europe or elsewhere, this could save money on room rates, but I wouldn’t get too excited about it. 

As you can see, paying the €200 membership resulted in €320 of direct savings, so I’m in profit by €120. The 30 bonus nights tipping me into Platinum status also unlocked about €300 of free breakfast and Executive Lounge access, not to mention the value of free room upgrades. I think it’s fair to say, I’ve had decent value from membership so far.