Starwood Preferred Guest - Friends checking in for me

This weekend I am doing a SO CAL trip with some friends, staying at three starwood properties. (After this I will only need five more stays for Plat (ONLY)) Anyway I am flying late Sunday, and my friends are going to be in Santa Monica before me. I made the reservations at the four points. And mentioned in the reservation that they will be checking in. Should this be ok. Will they not have a problem, even though the reservation in in my name, as long as I let the hotel know they are coming. Appreciate input, I don't want them stuck in the Lobby. I once booked for my parents with no problem. So I think it should be cool. Never had a proble with starwood properties except the St Francis, where I will never stay again. Also Will there ever be a starwood property in Reno or Vegas. That would be great. I stay in those damm towns about 30 nights a year! Usually for free. But I would stay at a St Regis in LV over the Four Seasons. Starwood treats customers so good. It is sad when there is not one where I go sometimes http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Thanks

Ryan

I gather you are paying for the stay. I often fax a copy of my credit card so that the hotel is secure in the fact that they will get paid and thus allow whomever is checking in access to the room before you arrive. Along with the fax, just let the front desk know whom will be arriving.

The simplest thing is to add their name to your reservation, have them use their credit card to check in, and then swap card later on during your stay. No problem at all - as long as your friends trust you!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by ryan754:
Also Will there ever be a starwood property in Reno </font>

The local paper has reported that the Best Western at the Reno airport is up for sale. Apparently, it's family owned and they want to retire. From what I've seen of the property, it fits the criteria for re-branding as a Four Points. Any investors out there?

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Biggest Little 1K (in The Biggest Little City) In The World

Freakflyer is correct. I do this all the time when my partner is arriving the day before me. Both names on the reservation, his credit card to check-in, and I give him my Starwood card for miles/points. At some point during our stay I just go the the desk and give them my credit card. Never seems to be a problem. You are not doing anything against the rules, just arriving "really late" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Edited because I remembered which board I was on http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by keithnj973 (edited 06-30-2001).]

The St Francis is the least fair Starwood property I have ever encountered face to face.Caught them in more then one dishonest con game and coverup with regard to the terms and conditions of the program.Some have been satisfied but not a fair amount of the more frequent discerning travelers in the know.Their are some interesting posts on this topic.Sorry for getting off your topic.But The St Francis still leaves a bad memory in my mind......What a waste of an otherwise landmark hotel
Watch it turn into ST Francis something else other then a Westin in time.What goes around comes around
Happy Travels!!
By the way the 4 Points in Santa Monica has an outstanding track record of taking care of SPG guests.Have had more then a few stays there. Free Parking and awesome Oceanviews with some guest rooms at fair rates compared to other local competition.There is an outstanding fellow to speak with @ this hotel more recently by the name of Shawn.He is the director of revenue management.If what you are asking is possible/reasonable I am sure he will be delighted to assist you if that is at all possible.They look to encouarge business in this good value highly satisfactory property and keep SPG guests coming back for more .Have a great stay!!!!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by 777 global mile hound (edited 06-30-2001).]

Yes, the St Francis is a disgrace to the Westin family, the hard thing is I like the rooms over the small W rooms, and the older Palace rooms, as long as you are above the 16th floor. I was going to stay SAT night a few hours ago, and the guy said I am not a gold, and no upgrades, I said goodbye, and walked my ... out, and they lost my $139! This is because starwood hasn;t sent my gold card yet. This week will be cool though. We are staying at Santa Monica, San Diego Sheraton, and The Westin South Coast Plaza, I love the people there. that is probably my favorite Westin. I will call shawn in Today, and ask him to treat my friends well, as they are not used to nice hotels. And at $49 this will be a suprise. What is your name 777? If you don't mind me mentioning you to Shawn see if he remembers you. I appreciate your input. AFter this week I will have four more stays till Platinum. I will be probably the first 18 year old Plat from the Ghetto (Antioch, CA not ghetto, but nothing like Walnit creek or Danville!)

Thanks again!!!

Ryan

Speaking about the Westin St. Francis this
was my experience there last weekend.
I stayed there on $139 rate, got a suite,
and all was well. Then room svc. kicked in,
from 9pm to 2AM (Sunday), I begged them to
deliver my dinner/supper for 3 of us.
They finally got it to my room at 3AM !!!!

To their credit they did not charge me,
but trust me it still did not make up
for the agony of waiting in our rooms for
such a long time. Left a note for the
manager, but no response from him yet.
I wish this did not happen 'cause it would
have been a fantastic stay.

P.S. I am platinum

I believe Caesar's in Las Vegas is affiliated with Starwood.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by rgoel:
I believe Caesar's in Las Vegas is affiliated with Starwood.</font>

right.. one can earn and redeem starpoints at caesars Palace in las vegas (but not Atlantic city one)and the stay will count as will. but dont expect an upgrade of late check out or any kind of amenity.

happy travel

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by ryan754:
The Westin South Coast Plaza, I love the people there. that is probably my favorite Westin. </font>

Please tell me your secrets about this place. I stayed there last month and the only special treatment for Platinum status was a corner room on a high floor. It cost as much to park as it did for lunch.

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Biggest Little 1K (in The Biggest Little City) In The World

I have a couple $$$ saving secrets that you didn't here from me For Parking When they ask if you parked, say NO. And when you are leaving go to the front desk and ask for validation. It will save you the $12 fee. Also Head down to the FD at night, and ask for breakfast vouchers. You get a wonderful breakfast at Pinot Noir, which is a nice little resturant, and the food is good but breakfast is like $20 so the coupons make it free. As for rooms, they have a few suites on the top floor. If the hotel is full they are usually taken. But as a gold I have been upgraded to a suite. Probably because I stayed there four weekends in a row. $79 for a suite, free parking, and free breakfast isn't bad. But I only had one upgrade. The other "upgrades" are high floor SPG rooms, which have bath gel, and a steel ice bucket, and thats about all. I just like the people there a lot. Also try eating at Jerry's Famous Deli accross the street. If you have $300+ to spare Stay at the Four Seasons Newport Beach, very cool place, stayed there once. But I like paying $79 instead.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by BL1KITW:
Please tell me your secrets about this place. I stayed there last month and the only special treatment for Platinum status was a corner room on a high floor. It cost as much to park as it did for lunch.
</font>

Ryan:

Not to sound uppity or anything, but what you've talked about in the previous post, is, IMHO, unethical. If you park at the hotel and they charge for parking, then why would you say No? If you don't want to park at the hotel, then park elsewhere where it really is free. Perhaps parking is high, but to lie is, in my mind, akin to ripping off the hotel. You're so proud of getting all of these great deals ($49 and $79 rooms with upgrades), I would think that you would pay for the service(s) you are using.

And people on this board wonder why there are additional service charges that we get stuck with these days while travelling?

I totally agree with ids.

ryan, why lie?

happy travel

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by ryan754:
I have a couple $$$ saving secrets </font>

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try a couple of them (I'm afraid to say which) if I can find the $79 rate. I thought I was doing well with a $95 hot rate. Jerry's does make a mean corned beef and swiss on rye.



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Biggest Little 1K (in The Biggest Little City) In The World

I do understand your concerns. But actually this idea was given to me by the valet. The garage is a corporate garage, and the hotel has validation stickers. The girl at the front desk told me to to do this believe it or not.. I could not think of this myself. $12 is not too much compared to SF, but then again that is room service desert kate at night. (If I don't get a chance to go to the cheesecake factory)

ryan754, as long as your friends are listed as guests on your reservation, they should not experience any difficulty checking in before you.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

I'm curious about what others say about the St. Francis. I've stayed there many times over the last decade and always loved it. I especially like the huge ornate suites I get in the old section. However it's been a couple of years since my last stay. Has the service gone downhill since then? Or am just different than some of the others here?