While many of us have used the services of a hotel concierge to get dining reservations or tickets to a show, a surprising number of credit card users don’t realize that many premium credit cards give them 24/7 access to their very own virtual concierge desk.
First, be sure to read the fine print that comes with your card. It’s not just the fancy gold cards or high annual fee cards that offer concierge services. All of the major players like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, offer concierge service to their premium cards customers. And while specific services vary, in general, you can certainly give your concierge a call when you want to make restaurant reservations, get tickets to a show or sporting event and book travel and car services. They can also make spa reservations, coordinate business related services, arrange roadside assistance and even order and make delivery arrangements for flowers and gifts.
Credit card concierge services also have access to an exceptionally well-connected network of travel advisors, tour handlers and shopping experts for an infinite number of cities around the globe. This means that when you’re in a new city you can use your concierge as you own personal tour guide and researcher in one.
Turn to them when you want to get the latest pop-up restaurant recommendation, the hair salon with the blow-out in the city or if you want to locate a hard-to-find object (i.e. just where in Toronto can you find the new La Mer face cream that was just released?). If they don’t have the answer at their fingertips, it’s not uncommon for them to give you an estimate of how long it will take to research your request and they will then get back to you in the time promised with the information.
I myself have used my credit card concierge to find a doggy daycare for my pooch while on holiday and I’ve asked them to find out where the nearest feeding zoo was when I was traveling with my niece and nephew. Famed entrepreneur and author Tim Ferriss wrote at length about his love of concierge services, detailing how he used them for a variety of tasks, including finding a giant tub of nacho cheese and getting the answer to a difficult crossword puzzle word (seriously; you can read about it here).
Of course, if you do ask a concierge to get you theater tickets or locate a hard-to-come-by face cream, it’s up to you to pay the actual bill for the product (though it’s worth noting that there is no actual charge for the concierge’s time and effort!). And, much like a real-life personal assistant, concierges can’t do the impossible. They can’t get you tickets to a sold-out show, reservations to a restaurant that is completely full or a room in a hotel that is booked solid. They will also not do anything that is against the law, such as help you get illegal drugs, for example.
So be sure to take the time to get to know what your cards’ concierge services offer. After all, it’s always nice to know that there’s someone else out there who has your back when you need a helping hand.
[Image via Getty]