Starwood Preferred Guest - OK, So I've Made Plat for 2005 - Now what?

Here's one for the group:

I cruised past the Plat qualifiying mark in early June. I'll rack up another 10-15 stays by the middle of July and have so many SPG points I can't use them all. Other than the upgraded room, why should I keep staying at Starwood properties? Would iit be better for me to try to up my Hilton status by hitting some Hiltons for a while?

BTW - my usual stay at a *wood goes like this: check in at or after 11 PM, check out at 7 AM - need nothing more than a clean secure room at a good price.

Thoughts?

Here's one for the group:

I cruised past the Plat qualifiying mark in early June. I'll rack up another 10-15 stays by the middle of July and have so many SPG points I can't use them all. Other than the upgraded room, why should I keep staying at Starwood properties? Would iit be better for me to try to up my Hilton status by hitting some Hiltons for a while?

BTW - my usual stay at a *wood goes like this: check in at or after 11 PM, check out at 7 AM - need nothing more than a clean secure room at a good price.

Thoughts?


Totally up to you and is wholly dependent on a number of factors. Would HH offer you better (nicer/newer/closer) properties than *Wood? Does HH have some award opps that you'd like to try that *Wood doesn't? Is it important to you to maintain super elite status with more than one global hotel organization? etc etc etc etc etc HH offers vastly better mid-range and lower-range brands than does *Wood, but then *wood offers Castles in Europe and truly spectacular Luxury Collection properties that HH can't approach.......

Impossible for us to offer you guidance. You're on your own!

Hyatt has the FFN promo now thru 8/31 and with all those stays coming up you can rack up some great free nights

The assumption here is that you are going to Hyatt cities

have so many SPG points I can't use them all.


Two thoughts:
1. fireworksboy would be happy to help spend those excess points. :D
2. Think Bora Bora Nui. At a minimum of 20,000 points per night (OTW Bungalows available at a much higher rate) could burn thru some points! :cool:

Yeah, I haven't met anyone that wasn't able to use all of their Starwood points fairly easily. But I'm sure that any of us would be glad to give you our vacation itineraries if you'd like to burn some points on our behalf. :D

If you could reach a higher tier with another hotel chain, it might be worthwhile depending on your own personal factors if points truly aren't a concern.

Personally, those 500 point platinum amenities are pretty nice and the triple points are pretty cool. Plus, I don't mind an upgraded room every now and again - especially if it's a great vacation instead of a business trip.

I do have Platinum with Starwood and Diamond with Hilton because Starwood doesn't service a lot of the cities that I travel in.

HH is pretty good. I agree its no SPG. The Diamond free continental breakfast, free gym and upgrades are nice. Hiltons range of prperties is also great. From Hampton to Conrad and many in between. I'd go for Diamond HH. I'd love to make SPG plat along with HH Diamond but I dont it'll happen.

I've made Platinum for 2005 and made a similar decision the following way:

* If it was more convenient (from a location standpoint) and the hotel was as nice, if not nicer, than the corresponding *Wood, I would stay there.

* Otherwise, I will stay at the *Wood and rack up those points.

For me, after looking at all the other programs, it still pays to continue to stay at *Wood rather than anywhere else (points, upgrades, service, etc.)

I'm on the same 'program' I was on in 2003: I hit Starwood Platinum in late-Feb/early March, Hilton Diamond around June and Hyatt Diamond by early Autumn. Picked and chose for the rest of the year. I don't really advocate this, but it did keep me amused.

Frankly, I don't think the Hilton or Hyatt programs are nearly as good as Starwood. I'd really rather keep racking up the Starwood points and promos. But it's also nice to have a few Hilton (i.e., Hampton Inn) points in reserve for the assignments in Smallsville, USA.

Starwood points are so easy to use and so valuable. Hilton points are tougher to use and, man, they really go quickly when you can use them.

From another FlyerTalk thread...
<<I've got a heap of HHonors points. About 400,000. Was thinking about using them for a stay in a Hilton property in Europe. It's a category 3, which apparently means 25,000 points per night. Starwood has a property in town - looks roughly comparable - at just 3,000 points a night. (I've got about 300,000 points with Starwood.). I know points aren't directly comparable, but can someone help me deal with the notion of spending 125,000 points for five nights?

The Intercontinental, by way of perspective, is US$150 per night.
>>

The Hyatt promo seems to require the use of a MasterCard credit card. I don't have one of them. I haven't read the promo details closely, so I could be wrong on this.

I still think there ought to be a Super Diamond/Super Platinum category for REAL frequent hotel guests. If I set my mind to it, I'm pretty sure I could do 300 nights a year with Starwood. (But Starwood isn't everywhere...like here in downtown Minneapolis.)

I don't know if any of you were on the Starwoods chat forum this last week (you would have received a questionaire and if you qualified, you had to spend a few minutes every night contributing and they give you $100.), but this was a hot topic. Starwoods is keenly aware of people reaching platinum and then chasing down high status at other hotels. They specifically asked what they could do to prevent this from happening. The most popular idea was to run targeted promotions to members who have already qualified for platinum for free weekend nights, similar to what Hyatt is doing.
If any of you have the chance, I would highly recommend signing up for that chat forum, it was pretty enlightening.

Here's one for the group:

I cruised past the Plat qualifiying mark in early June. I'll rack up another 10-15 stays by the middle of July and have so many SPG points I can't use them all. Other than the upgraded room, why should I keep staying at Starwood properties? Would iit be better for me to try to up my Hilton status by hitting some Hiltons for a while?

BTW - my usual stay at a *wood goes like this: check in at or after 11 PM, check out at 7 AM - need nothing more than a clean secure room at a good price.

Thoughts?
BHF,

As much as I want to eliminate the competition (another platinum to compete with) :) stay with plat and rack up the pts! I just returned this morning from St. John! I flew myself and six family members first class there and enjoyed two 2 bedroom suites for 6 nights all on pts! The leisure travel is the true reward! Long live those SPG's :cool:

That sounds like a great trip. Did you get upgraded to the suite or did you buy the suite in advance with points? Will you be giving a full review of this hotel?

I am always amazed people get to SPG Plat.

I would go hilton, as you stated. Plat in SPG is very costly conpared to Hilton, ifll you want is a bed rack up Hilton. They are more Hiltons in more cities. I like SPG but they are rarely in cities I travel but will get to Gold this year.

I don't know if any of you were on the Starwoods chat forum this last week (you would have received a questionaire and if you qualified, you had to spend a few minutes every night contributing and they give you $100.), but this was a hot topic. Starwoods is keenly aware of people reaching platinum and then chasing down high status at other hotels. They specifically asked what they could do to prevent this from happening. The most popular idea was to run targeted promotions to members who have already qualified for platinum for free weekend nights, similar to what Hyatt is doing.
If any of you have the chance, I would highly recommend signing up for that chat forum, it was pretty enlightening.

Where is the "Starwood Chat Forum"

If asked, my preference would be to give some credit for any stays over 25 in 2004, towards 2006 status, for instance, everything over 25 stays in 2004 yeilds a 1/2 stay credit for 2006 status. This would keep both me and my wife (both have already acheived 2005 Plat status) staying at SPG properties. As it is now, we stay at more convenient non-spg ones.

Becoming top tier in three programmes has required some time and some organization. But given my travel patterns (mostly European capitals - especially London & Athens - and German cities) it certainly pays off in terms of having both good service and the best value for price.

The best example is Athens where I usually stay at the GB, the IC or the Hilton. Of course, they have different flavors, and the IC is a bit farther away from the city centre. I always get a suite at the GB or the IC and an executive room at the Hilton. But the price hierarchy changes each time I come to Athens, so I usually manage to get the lowest price for very good accomodation.

I don't see any reason, in my particular case, to refocus on a smaller number of programmes, except if one of the programmes, like SW last year, were to raise the qualification tresholds. I have access to good accomodation, with different flavors, at a good price, and I am not "prisoner" of one brand. O course, travel patterns as well as mileage may vary :)

The starwoods chat was sent out to any number of people who were selected...it is not a public chat forum.

I am always amazed people get to SPG Plat.

I would go hilton, as you stated. Plat in SPG is very costly conpared to Hilton, ifll you want is a bed rack up Hilton. They are more Hiltons in more cities. I like SPG but they are rarely in cities I travel but will get to Gold this year.

Is this a joke? Hilton upscale properties don't even compare to the SPG Resorts and high end properties....and good luck finding a room with the standard or "saver" Hilton points.

The starwoods chat was sent out to any number of people who were selected...it is not a public chat forum.


No problem. I guess they did not need my input. :) While this therad may serve as a surrogate, it would probaby be good for William to start a thread similar to the "Tell us your platinum upgrade problems" in this forum. For a few minutes of typing, he just might get some interesting suggestions.

That sounds like a great trip. Did you get upgraded to the suite or did you buy the suite in advance with points? Will you be giving a full review of this hotel?


Dingo,

It was a wonderful trip! I was not planning doing a full review however, if what I don't cover here is not enough feel free to reach out ok!

First thing first...I used 100k pts to book 2 rooms. Three weeks before our travel I called the hotel directly and was upgraded to 2 ocean front rooms. A couple of days before I left I again called the hotel and they upgraded one of the rooms to the 2 bedroom suites. Upon arrival the 2 bedroom suite was not ready so they comped lunch for the 7 of us in the party. We were starved so that worked out nicely. The manager stop by while we were having lunch and communicated she would work on upgrading the 2nd room. Shortly after arriving to the room the manager called and said they would be upgrading the 2nd room on the 3rd day of our stay and they did! We stayed six nights so 4 nights on the 2nd room was upgraded!

St. John the island is incrediable! Most of it is histortically preserved. It has some of the most incredible beaches for snorkling and they really never get over crouded-we went over to St. Thomas Megan beach and had to swim through the people to get to the beach...we could not wait to get back to the unspoiled St. John. If you go take a tour of the island...we hired a taxi ($140.00 for 7 people) and had him split the tour up by droping us off at Cinnamon beach for a 1 1/2 hours for some swimming and snorkeling after which we continued the tour. In all the tour itself lasted 2 hours. Trunk beach is also a do not miss for snorkeling...by taxi $14 pp r/t and Cinnamon is $18 pp r/t. Trunk charges a fee (think is $4pp). The town is very pleasant and you just feel safe. There are people walking around both day and night all just getting along. In town is where you want to eat...the hotel has the info. For a great burger go to Woody's, for a great pizza go to Ronnie's (who will deliver for $3 which is a steal because it cost you $6pp r/t to go into town) and hear him tell you why he got into the pizza business. There is a grocery store (Star Fish Market) that the hotel will tell you about but there is another one just down the street from Star Fish (across from the Texaco) that is cheaper. It's also across the street from Subway sandwiches which was a life saver for our salads. There is some night life in St. John...it maybe small but they do party...just ask Kenny up at the front where you get your shuttles and taxi's.

The hotel is the big fish on the island. In town everybody (it's like Cheers) knows it, you don't have to worry about giving directions. We were told on several occassion, no other hotel like *wood* could be built on St. John again! Although the hotel is a good sizes it really does have a quaint feel to it! We stayed in bldg 23 and 26. Building 23 is going up the hill and 26 is all the way up. I would strongly recommend if you are traveling with ederly or someone needing help getting around stay away from these building. They also have stairs. The 2 bedroom suites were nice...you know the tropical look. I would suspect some renovations to be taking place soon ( I know they will be updating their vacation ownership villa's to standardize the Westin look) because some of the bamboo furniture is showing some wear. The bedrooms are both upstairs-one to the left and the other to the right. The master in both 23 and 26 had views to the ocean from the bed. Each room has a full bathroom with the master having a spa tub in the room. I was told all the suites had ocean views. The living room down stairs has a glass dining table for six and a living area with tv and honor bar. Refigerator was not standard so we had one delivered for a nominal charge. The couch let's out to a ( don't know how it slept...hey this is the heavenly bed hotel) bed. The living room also had a wonderful view of the ocean. The hotel really is not a ocean front property...I know they have one but it's more Westin made and the boats (and their own ferry) has murkied it. Don't waste your time...go to the real beaches. The pool is excellent for kids and adult, I think the deepest end is 4ft so the kids can really play. The food at the resort we found to be soso and found much better value and better tasting food in town.

Westin St. John is a great place to visit and we will return. The island really is unspoiled and they plan to keep it that way! Visit St. Thomas and St. Croix but stay in St. John ;)

Is this a joke? Hilton upscale properties don't even compare to the SPG Resorts and high end properties....and good luck finding a room with the standard or "saver" Hilton points.

I typically do not stay in high end SPG – they are very expensive and usually not in an area I work. They are very nice. God, I hope you would expect better service for the price differences in the high end.

There are more Hilton Hotels where I travel so SPG is not usually an option and the places where there are Hiltons and SPG - SPG is usually $30-50 a night more - plus other fees. The one thing Hilton does not do that you find at SPG is the nickel and diming. No free phone calls or internet access at SPG and the room service is 2-3 percent higher. Everything extra costs extra. I almost always get free internet at Hilton properties and no cost gym.

Interestingly, I have used my Hilton points a number of times, in fact this fall I am going to England and Scotland and am using Hilton and SPG points.

One of my SPG stops is 2 nights at Turnberry (on my way to Orkney). Without the spg points I would not stay here, but here again - it does provide lots of stuff but everything is extra. Where is the SPG place in Liverpool, Aberdeen, or Glasgow?

Where is the SPG place in Oregon (outside of Portland).

For me it would be hard and expensive to get to SPG Plat. More power to those who can.