Hyatt Gold Passport - Another lone opinion.....

I must say I LOVE HYATT (Hotels & Program).

I must say I LOVE HILTON (Hotels & Program).

Both programs and hotels are excellent.



I like HYATT a bit more.



......But I must say I Like Hilton Garden Inns BETTER than Summer Field Suites.


I just got back from two stays at SS (LAX & SFO).

I am dissapointed in their(SS) quality.
Dark, old, not really concerned with Diamonds.


I know probably am not compairing the two as apples to apples. I know that, and you will correct me as is the trend around here.


I know SS is more for extended stays.

Perhaps Hyatt Place vs. Hilton Garden Inn is a better example to compare.

If that is the option, then I think I would go for HGI over HP.


I just used my FREE SS stay (Thanks Hyatt), but I don't think I will pick SS anymore. Just not for me.




BTW - Like many of you, I have stayed at some of the most beatiful and expensive hotels around the world.

Book online, show up, give credit card - done.....


....I know it is petty, BUT, I get irratated when I go to SS and:

I PREPAY online, Give Diamond card, Give credit card AND THEY STILL WANT MY ID!?!?!?!

What's the deal with that SS? The nicest hotels around do not required ID(After Prepaying, showing status card AND Credit Card.)


Anyone else notice this?


As I said, just my opinion....


.

I have never stayed at an SS, and I don't plan on ever doing so...

HP is better than SS in every way, from what I know (from FT, and I now blindly follow these reviews). Hyatt has some great properties... HP is pretty consistent for a lesser part of the chain. If you avoid the SS properties (like I have), you have almost unlimited happiness. :)

Somehow, this sounds like a Hyatt fortune cookie...

I had the opposite experience. The HP I was in was a dump and my local SS is relatively new and the rooms are in excellent condition.

I would be concerned about any hotel that is not checking my ID at check-in. A credit card is not a picture ID.

This is just basic security policy...or certainly should be at ALL hotels.

I would be concerned about any hotel that is not checking my ID at check-in. A credit card is not a picture ID.

This is just basic security policy...or certainly should be at ALL hotels.

satori,

In an ideal world I would agree with you.

EVERYONE ALWAYS should check ID, but that is not the real world.


Some more reasonable examples when it should be done, but rarely is....:

#1 Home Depot/Lowe's buy a tractor for $1,900 - they just look at "signature" - what a joke
#2 Best Buy - $4000 TV - the same "look at signature" a joke
#3 Restaurant - $600 Business meal for employees - They don't even look at the signature!
#4 At your local food store spend $250 food - glance at signature
#5 Gas - at pump - no looking at any your ID (save cameras)


So my point is (and was):
#1 here I PREPAY for a stay for weeks ahead for SS,
#2 already have even paid the card, if the billing cycle is lined up
#3 show Diamond status card
#4 show credit card which was used
#5 and they STILL need ID for $115 room night!?!?


That's all, just seems too overboard compared to the other examples I gave ($4,000 TV, $1,900 tractor, ect..)


I am not saying you are incorrect in your idea that Id's should be checked at check-in.

I believe that it is Starwood policy to require a picture ID in order to check in to one of their hotels.

Nordstroms requires a picture ID for any credit card purchase (which I confess I find highly annoying on a $20 purchase).

If you like to compare Hilton and Hyatt, you should compare both extended stay brands and make it a Homewood Suites vs. Summerfield Suites comparison.

The recently remodeled Summerfield Suites are really nice, however some older properties were not remodeled and clearly show their age, space is generous though. IIRC, Homewood Suites was originally a Promus brand and there are hardly any differences anyway between the two, maybe except that more Summerfield Suites tend to have a full kitchen including an oven.

The vast majority of Hyatt Place properties were Amerisuites Hotels before. Amerisuites was originally dreamed up as an all junior suite hotel offering a bit more space and value for money.

I would not call it a chain designed to please guests on extended stays, however it is somehow intended to offer a limited service, bit more space alternative with a Hyatt twist.

Limited service is not necassarily something Hyatt was known for and I can only conclude that this is the reason why reviews tend to be sub-standard, which is actually surprising for me, at least when you know exactly what to expect.

If you do not need a full service hotel, I actually prefer a Hyatt Place to any US Hyatt Regency and some Grand Hyatts when the lounge is closed or they do not even have one.

As someone who has stayed extensively at HGI, Homewood, Hampton, and pretty much every other HH brand, I can say the only things HGI has over HP are free hot breakfast for elites and very occasional suite upgrades. But the HP rooms are significantly nicer than most HGI rooms I've stayed in (save perhaps for the presidential suite they upgraded me to in the HGI in Tampa!)

(Probably the best comparison is between HP and Marriott Spring Hill Suites, which are the same kind of junior suite property, but I have never stayed in one, so I'm not really able to comment.)

It's just extra security I guess, not really a big deal?

Having said that, I was surprised when I saw I forgot to sign my new credit card a couple of weeks ago after already using it for 2 restaurant payments (about $50 and $30). I guess they didn't check the signature at all!

I have stayed at exactly one Homewood Suites, 2 SS, no HP, and several Hampton Inns. Homewood Suites edges out the rest on the strength of the amazing (free) fresh cooked breakfast buffet that was included in the rate. The exterior of the hotel was more like an apartment complex, but the room was nice (full kitchens). The SS rooms were slightly nicer than the Homewood Suites, but the hot breakfast is not as good (egg-like hot entrees, for example). Hampton Inn breakfasts are similar to HSS breakfasts. Perhaps I've been lucky, but both HSS I've stayed at were very nice properties, and quite affordable.

I'm a Hilton Honors member because they have so many properties, and it's easy to earn points without necessarily staying at their hotels (credit cards). But I'm more and more a fan of Hyatt's GP program because of their outstanding customer service, and the many enticements they've given me to stay this year.

I believe that it is Starwood policy to require a picture ID in order to check in to one of their hotels.

Nordstroms requires a picture ID for any credit card purchase (which I confess I find highly annoying on a $20 purchase).

Clearly that latter comment must vary by store, it doesn't seem to happen to me (yet, knock on wood) at the Palo Alto store.

Back to the topic: Never tried a SS but if it is pitched below HP, that's all I need to know in order never to try it. There are many places where Hilton Garden Inns or Courtyard by Marriott are as good as you are going to get. I'll take either of those over a HP.

satori,

In an ideal world I would agree with you.

EVERYONE ALWAYS should check ID, but that is not the real world.


Some more reasonable examples when it should be done, but rarely is....:

#1 Home Depot/Lowe's buy a tractor for $1,900 - they just look at "signature" - what a joke
#2 Best Buy - $4000 TV - the same "look at signature" a joke
#3 Restaurant - $600 Business meal for employees - They don't even look at the signature!
#4 At your local food store spend $250 food - glance at signature
#5 Gas - at pump - no looking at any your ID (save cameras)


I believe that it is Starwood policy to require a picture ID in order to check in to one of their hotels.

Nordstroms requires a picture ID for any credit card purchase (which I confess I find highly annoying on a $20 purchase).

What most people (almost always the cashiers/waiters whatever, and sometimes even the managers) actually don't know is that it is against the rules of visa and mastercard (and amex when the merchant accepts visa and/or mastercard) to require id to make a purchase regardless of the amount. They can request it, but they can't not accept your card because you refuse to show id. (i believe hotels are different in this case due to the prepaid stays and occupancy laws)