Starwood Preferred Guest - has anyone stayed at SWAN/DOLPHIN with gold?

just curious as to what kind of service and upgrades you received at these hotels.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/000838.html

Sorry I just could not read that thread.
Here is my experience. I am SPG P. Had to
work very hard at check-in (tip) to get
upgrade to one bedroom (two rooms) suite.
Had to move out of one room on last night.
We kept bigger room. Also received some nice
certs. for comp. dinner on property. It was
a good deal. Since these Hotels are on D
property they are always pricey. Last time
stayed at Vistana. It was very nice, big and
at time still under some construction. If
you have car this may be a idea. About 1/3
the price of on property hotels. Also
received SPG points. It took three months to
credit.

My family and I stayed at the Swan a year and a half ago. It's a decent hotel! We used points for our stay and received a room on the Concierge floor, which was nice for the access to continental breakfast and evening snacks and happy hour. Rooms were small, in my opinion.

I'd stay there again.

I stay there every January for a convention. Before you book, make sure there's not a convention going on - they pack the place and upgrades are very hard to get.

Several good restaurants on property - an Italian one in, if I recall correctly, the Swan. There's also a new Shula's Steak House in either the Dolphin or the Swan.

The rooms and services in both are the same. They're separated by a 2-300 foot walkway.

Good luck!

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Jonathan Goldstein
jonathan@pobox.com
http://www.urbantechgroup.com

As a platinum member I was given TWO rooms -- one normal double room and another with a Murphy bed, a sofa, some chairs, etc. I had to ask for the upgrade; none was offered.

Have stayed at both, but last year stayed at the Dolphin, during a convention, and discovered a better room, if you like a balcony. The club level rooms had no balconies, and the views were so-so, so we actually booked a club level room (mostly to get the amenities, which turned out to be not needed by us). But we asked to be DOWNGRADED to a resort view room with the large balcony. The ones on the "Swan" side of the Dolphin Hotel, at the very end of the hall (very hard to explain, but once you see them, you'll understand) have have very large balconies, and have a great view of Epcot, if you ask for one high above the "palm tree line". We had club access (since we paid for club level room) but had to take one elevator down and another back up to get to club (we hardly ever did anyway). I would rather stay in this room without the club priveleges (and price) then to be cooped up in a room with no balcony!.

I stayed at the Swan before Starwood owned Westin. Then I was a Westin Gold (the highest tier then).

Before making my reservation I contacted the Front Office Manager asking what days would be best for us to come to accomadate upgrades so I could make the stay nice (and affordable) for my family. She replied stating to come when I wanted which we did. (I should probably point out it was July)

We were exceptionally well taken care of. It was the greatest vacation of my then three and four year old daughters lives, much of it because of the accomadations and amenities afforded us by the Swan.

I cannot recommend a hotel higher for a kids vacation. The hotel was very gracious and showed their appreciation for our continued corporate loyalty.