onedog
Oct 10, 01, 12:08 am
Since I just recently became a convert to Priceline, I thought it would be nice to share my stay experience at the Westin Santa Clara (my expectations of my treatment as a Priceline guest were very very low versus my usual high expectations as a Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum) with my FlyerTalk friends.
Not really knowing what to expect, I called Westin reservations the day before my stay to confirm my upcoming stay and to try and have my Starwood Platinum number entered into my reservation locater. The agent at Westin reservations informed me that she couldn't enter anything into my reservation since it was a Priceline reservation, but she recommended that I try calling the front desk directly. I took her recommendation and called the front desk. The helpful agent who answered my call was able to enter my SPG number with no problems.
I'll skip my flights and the airport information other than to say that the lines at the airport were really long and the National Guard were there.
Luck would have it that I would spill food on my shirt while eating dinner that night. Not wanting to look like too much of a klutz when I checked in, I decided to take off my now visibly soiled shirt and just wear my white Hanes undershirt. Since I was wearing blue jeans, I was basically dressed very casually in a James Deanish kind of way (if you really used your imagination that is) and I didn't really look like a goof who had just spilled food on his shirt.
Not wanting to park in the structure way at the back of the hotel, and also not wanting to fork over $11 for valet parking, I drove around the front parking lot a couple of times until I found a very nice close-in spot to park the rental car. I checked in late Monday night around 9 p.m. Since I had a choice of a non-SPG check-in desk and a SPG check-in desk, I figured "why not" and I rolled my luggage right up to the separate SPG desk. The desk agent greeted me and was very professional. While she was checking me in, I was chatting with her and was trying to look at the information displayed on the check in monitor, all the while trying not to look like I was trying to look at the check in monitor (was that understandable?). I could see on the front deck screen a note at the bottom of the screen "double bed, lower floor." Now, I know that this is not my preference and I don't think this is my SPG profile, so I figured that Priceline guests were automatically routed to the basement rooms.
The check in agent was very professional as she explained the new Platinum Amenity program (so far so good as even with my Priceline reservation I was still recognized as a SPG Platinum guest) and explained my choice of amenities, 500 SPG points (which she was pushing really really heavily), a free in-room $9.95 movie (I thought it was a bit odd that she was emphasizing the price) or a bottle of water and a bag of chestnuts. She kept on pushing the SPG points, and since it was way too late to watch a movie, and I'm generally not a fan of chestnuts, I chose the 500 SPG points.
Now, since I usually stay on el cheapo rates, 500 points is more than I would usually earn per night anyway, so IMHO, not a bad amenity.
Expecting a room in the basement, I was pleasantly surprised when the agent gave me my key card to a room on the 2nd to the top floor. I was given a corner mini-suite sort of room (the top floor is a smoking floor). When I exited the elevator onto my floor, I immediately noticed the Starwood Preferred Guest sign in big gold lettering. Still not knowing what to expect, I took the sign as a positive omen that I was on a "special SPG" floor. Turning left from the elevators, I went in search of my room. I noticed a loud machine sort of noise and the sign for the nearby ice machine as I put the key card into the door of my room. I immediately thought to myself that I was given the "noisy" room next to the ice machine since I was a Priceline guest, but I kind of put that at the back of my mind.
When I opened the door to my room and turned on the lights I was pleasantly surprised. My room had been renovated to include new dark wood furnishings and I was soon to be able to experience the much anticipated "Heavenly Shower." The outward curving shower curtain was pretty neat and the new toiletries were in kind of cool looking bottles. The bathroom counter was done in an attractive granite and the floor was a light marble looking tile. The bathroom was a bit smaller than average and would have been a bit cozy if two people were trying to brush their teeth at the same time. I could tell that the bathroom had been renovated, but you could still see remnants of the old design such as the dirty and worn shower exhaust vent. There were dual shower heads in the bath and I looked forward to experienceing them in the morning.
Being on a corner of the hotel, I had one of the 4 rooms on the floor that had a real balcony, complete with teak looking patio furniture. My view was out over the front parking lot towards Great American Parkway and the coast mountains. Since I was in a trianglish shaped corner room, my room was kind of shaped really odd, with the desk sort of hidden behind a pillar. I thought it was ok though as it made my desk area a bit separate from the rest of the room. Not exactly a spacious room, but more than adequate, considering the price I paid.
Being a bit hungry, my thoughts turned to the following morning's breakfast. Having never stayed at the Westin Santa Clara before and not knowing what to expect food wise and not having been offered breakfast on a concierge type of floor, I made my way back down to the front desk to inquire about any sort of free food option for the morning. Alas, I was told that the hotel did not offer a free concierge floor style breakfast, but that the lobby restaurant opened for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. Oh well, I guess I was on my own for breakfast.
Back to my room, I prepared for a good night's rest. Brushed and flossed my teeth, washed my face and changed out of my clothes. The bed was furninshed with very soft white linens and a comfortable down comforter. The mattress was a pillow top but my bed was not the famous Heavenly Bed (unless the label was just missing) as I purposefully looked for the Heavenly Bed label.
I watched a bit of Everybody Loves Raymond, read a bit of Stephen Coonts' Cuba (I just finished the book on my flight home and I was a bit disappointed in the whole book) and turned off the lights. I could hear a few loud guests as they ambled their way to their rooms, but overall, the room was nice and quiet. The comforter and sheets had a slightly room freshened perfumed smell to them which was barely noticeable. Nice touch if done on purpose, terrible housekeeping oversigh if just a remnant from the previous guest. I chose to give the hotel the benefit of the doubt and nodded quickly off to sleep.
Fast forward 8 very peaceful sleep hours later and it was time to get out of bed and ready for another day's work. The dual shower heads produced a very nice stream of warm water, although since they were both feeding from the same 1/2 inch pipe, the water pressure left a bit to be desired. Drying off, I noticed that the towels were very fluffy and didn't have that industrial laundry type of hotel towel smell. I couldn't figure out how to work the aircondition so I just opened the window to my balcony and let the crisp morning air into my room. Since it was a nice clear morning, I was able to see much of the Santa Clara area all the from Moffets Field in the north to the coast mountains directly in front of me.
I watched a bit of CNN as I ironed my shirt for the day. The iron and ironing board were of the cheaper models I have come across during my numerous hotel stays this year, but they accomplished their job nicely. I soon had a crisp fresh shirt ready to wear.
Packing up the last of my stuff into my wheely bag, I left a gratuity for the housekeeper on the ironing board, checked around the room one more time and made my way to the elevators. There weren't any newspapers outside my door (I was offered the WSJ and USA Today at check-in), but I picked up a WSJ near the elevators so no big loss.
At the desk, the check-in agent greeted my good morning and I was asked if I wanted to put the $1.10 energy surcharge on my AMEX (I thought that Starwood got rid of those annoying energy surcharges?). I signed the bill and bid the Westin Santa Clara goodbye until the next time.
Overall, not a bad night's stay. Had I been paying a "regular" rate I would have been pleased with my stay and my treatment as a SPG Platinum member. Nonetheless, having paid a very very favorable Priceline rate, I was very pleased with my stay and my overall treatment as a SPG Platinum. I would give the stay a 3.5-4.0/5.0 and am looking forward to my next stay.
[This message has been edited by onedog (edited 10-09-2001).]
Not really knowing what to expect, I called Westin reservations the day before my stay to confirm my upcoming stay and to try and have my Starwood Platinum number entered into my reservation locater. The agent at Westin reservations informed me that she couldn't enter anything into my reservation since it was a Priceline reservation, but she recommended that I try calling the front desk directly. I took her recommendation and called the front desk. The helpful agent who answered my call was able to enter my SPG number with no problems.
I'll skip my flights and the airport information other than to say that the lines at the airport were really long and the National Guard were there.
Luck would have it that I would spill food on my shirt while eating dinner that night. Not wanting to look like too much of a klutz when I checked in, I decided to take off my now visibly soiled shirt and just wear my white Hanes undershirt. Since I was wearing blue jeans, I was basically dressed very casually in a James Deanish kind of way (if you really used your imagination that is) and I didn't really look like a goof who had just spilled food on his shirt.
Not wanting to park in the structure way at the back of the hotel, and also not wanting to fork over $11 for valet parking, I drove around the front parking lot a couple of times until I found a very nice close-in spot to park the rental car. I checked in late Monday night around 9 p.m. Since I had a choice of a non-SPG check-in desk and a SPG check-in desk, I figured "why not" and I rolled my luggage right up to the separate SPG desk. The desk agent greeted me and was very professional. While she was checking me in, I was chatting with her and was trying to look at the information displayed on the check in monitor, all the while trying not to look like I was trying to look at the check in monitor (was that understandable?). I could see on the front deck screen a note at the bottom of the screen "double bed, lower floor." Now, I know that this is not my preference and I don't think this is my SPG profile, so I figured that Priceline guests were automatically routed to the basement rooms.
The check in agent was very professional as she explained the new Platinum Amenity program (so far so good as even with my Priceline reservation I was still recognized as a SPG Platinum guest) and explained my choice of amenities, 500 SPG points (which she was pushing really really heavily), a free in-room $9.95 movie (I thought it was a bit odd that she was emphasizing the price) or a bottle of water and a bag of chestnuts. She kept on pushing the SPG points, and since it was way too late to watch a movie, and I'm generally not a fan of chestnuts, I chose the 500 SPG points.
Now, since I usually stay on el cheapo rates, 500 points is more than I would usually earn per night anyway, so IMHO, not a bad amenity.
Expecting a room in the basement, I was pleasantly surprised when the agent gave me my key card to a room on the 2nd to the top floor. I was given a corner mini-suite sort of room (the top floor is a smoking floor). When I exited the elevator onto my floor, I immediately noticed the Starwood Preferred Guest sign in big gold lettering. Still not knowing what to expect, I took the sign as a positive omen that I was on a "special SPG" floor. Turning left from the elevators, I went in search of my room. I noticed a loud machine sort of noise and the sign for the nearby ice machine as I put the key card into the door of my room. I immediately thought to myself that I was given the "noisy" room next to the ice machine since I was a Priceline guest, but I kind of put that at the back of my mind.
When I opened the door to my room and turned on the lights I was pleasantly surprised. My room had been renovated to include new dark wood furnishings and I was soon to be able to experience the much anticipated "Heavenly Shower." The outward curving shower curtain was pretty neat and the new toiletries were in kind of cool looking bottles. The bathroom counter was done in an attractive granite and the floor was a light marble looking tile. The bathroom was a bit smaller than average and would have been a bit cozy if two people were trying to brush their teeth at the same time. I could tell that the bathroom had been renovated, but you could still see remnants of the old design such as the dirty and worn shower exhaust vent. There were dual shower heads in the bath and I looked forward to experienceing them in the morning.
Being on a corner of the hotel, I had one of the 4 rooms on the floor that had a real balcony, complete with teak looking patio furniture. My view was out over the front parking lot towards Great American Parkway and the coast mountains. Since I was in a trianglish shaped corner room, my room was kind of shaped really odd, with the desk sort of hidden behind a pillar. I thought it was ok though as it made my desk area a bit separate from the rest of the room. Not exactly a spacious room, but more than adequate, considering the price I paid.
Being a bit hungry, my thoughts turned to the following morning's breakfast. Having never stayed at the Westin Santa Clara before and not knowing what to expect food wise and not having been offered breakfast on a concierge type of floor, I made my way back down to the front desk to inquire about any sort of free food option for the morning. Alas, I was told that the hotel did not offer a free concierge floor style breakfast, but that the lobby restaurant opened for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. Oh well, I guess I was on my own for breakfast.
Back to my room, I prepared for a good night's rest. Brushed and flossed my teeth, washed my face and changed out of my clothes. The bed was furninshed with very soft white linens and a comfortable down comforter. The mattress was a pillow top but my bed was not the famous Heavenly Bed (unless the label was just missing) as I purposefully looked for the Heavenly Bed label.
I watched a bit of Everybody Loves Raymond, read a bit of Stephen Coonts' Cuba (I just finished the book on my flight home and I was a bit disappointed in the whole book) and turned off the lights. I could hear a few loud guests as they ambled their way to their rooms, but overall, the room was nice and quiet. The comforter and sheets had a slightly room freshened perfumed smell to them which was barely noticeable. Nice touch if done on purpose, terrible housekeeping oversigh if just a remnant from the previous guest. I chose to give the hotel the benefit of the doubt and nodded quickly off to sleep.
Fast forward 8 very peaceful sleep hours later and it was time to get out of bed and ready for another day's work. The dual shower heads produced a very nice stream of warm water, although since they were both feeding from the same 1/2 inch pipe, the water pressure left a bit to be desired. Drying off, I noticed that the towels were very fluffy and didn't have that industrial laundry type of hotel towel smell. I couldn't figure out how to work the aircondition so I just opened the window to my balcony and let the crisp morning air into my room. Since it was a nice clear morning, I was able to see much of the Santa Clara area all the from Moffets Field in the north to the coast mountains directly in front of me.
I watched a bit of CNN as I ironed my shirt for the day. The iron and ironing board were of the cheaper models I have come across during my numerous hotel stays this year, but they accomplished their job nicely. I soon had a crisp fresh shirt ready to wear.
Packing up the last of my stuff into my wheely bag, I left a gratuity for the housekeeper on the ironing board, checked around the room one more time and made my way to the elevators. There weren't any newspapers outside my door (I was offered the WSJ and USA Today at check-in), but I picked up a WSJ near the elevators so no big loss.
At the desk, the check-in agent greeted my good morning and I was asked if I wanted to put the $1.10 energy surcharge on my AMEX (I thought that Starwood got rid of those annoying energy surcharges?). I signed the bill and bid the Westin Santa Clara goodbye until the next time.
Overall, not a bad night's stay. Had I been paying a "regular" rate I would have been pleased with my stay and my treatment as a SPG Platinum member. Nonetheless, having paid a very very favorable Priceline rate, I was very pleased with my stay and my overall treatment as a SPG Platinum. I would give the stay a 3.5-4.0/5.0 and am looking forward to my next stay.
[This message has been edited by onedog (edited 10-09-2001).]