Swanky surrounds ... the Club InterContinental Lounge in Singapore.
With hotel occupancy rates dropping rapidly worldwide as the global economic crisis deepens, properties are offering deals to lure travellers through their doors.
While that's bad news for the hotel industry, it means cheaper rooms and add-ons are available to the public, including the chance to gain access to one of the best perks on offer - the club lounge.
Normally the domain of high-rollers and business people on expense accounts, club lounges around the world have gone quiet and hotels are increasingly allowing "regular Joes" staying at their properties access to these facilities, free of charge or for an additional fee.
For those not familiar with the club lounge concept, this is where a whole floor - or several floors - is packed with comfy sofas and chairs and where refreshments and snacks are usually available for free all day. Throw in free internet access, newspapers, breakfasts made to order and evening cocktails, it all adds up to an indulgent oasis.
With the Australian dollar struggling against the US dollar, the Euro and many Asian currencies, accessing the club lounges is not just a little bit of luxury, it can actually save you money - especially in countries where prices are expensive to begin with.
Some internet deals for hotels openly offer their club lounge as an added bonus for booking and, even if they don't, with low occupancies it's worth asking for access even if it means paying an extra fee.
At the "top end of town", for example, the InterContinental Hong Kong offers its award-winning lounge for an additional $HK900 ($150) a day. This may seem a steep addition to the accommodation cost but with panoramic views of Victoria Harbour, the Club InterContinental Lounge is worth it for free broadband, local calls, Chinese and Western breakfasts, snacks all day, afternoon tea with classic pastries and an evening cocktail and canape service with premium wine and French champagne.
At the business level, the Japanese hotel chain Prince offers a guest program for foreign visitors that allows them to join their Prince Club International for free, allowing club lounge access at its 13 properties.
The lounges typically offer a continental breakfast and refreshments during the day but with hotel breakfasts now costing about $40 in Japan, often with long queues to get into the restaurants, this is also a good way to save cash.
Each hotel, or hotel chain, offers its own level of food quality and service in the club lounge so it's worth getting the details of what's available and how much it costs and then deciding if it's worthwhile. If nothing else, it makes you feel like a rock star for a day.
WHAT YOU GET
· Free breakfast - this can range from the basic continental of juice, tea or coffee, cereal and pastries, to a made-to-order selection cooked by a hotel chef.
· Free refreshments - most lounges offer water, tea, coffee, soft drinks, fruit and some snacks during the day.
· Afternoon tea - from elaborate, silver service "high tea" offerings with the finest pastries and cakes to self-service stations with coffee and cookies; again, the quality of the hotel will often dictate just how good this is.
· Evening cocktails - typically between 5pm and 8pm, the five-star hotels will often break open the Moet and serve food prepared by their own restaurants in a refined and elegant atmosphere. Others may offer local beers and a house wine. Some will charge for alcohol, but check prices: it may be cheaper than going out to a bar.
· Free internet access - most lounges have broadband access with computers available and connections for laptops.
· Free newspapers - these will mostly be local newspapers, although the bigger international chains will often have one or two British and US newspapers.
· Express check-in - many hotels will let you check-in and out at the club lounge, a great way to avoid queues.
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