Starwood Preferred Guest - Best Value in the SW

Greetings -

I'll be heading from MCO to LAX/ONT/SNA in a few weeks for work and am planning to make a stop on the way... somewhere...

Just wondering what everyone favorite *Woods in the SW were - both from a $$ value or a points redemption value. I'll be traveling solo, so I don't want to break the bank (or the SPG points) but still want something I can enjoy for two nights.

So far my thoughts for cities were:
- San Diego
- Pheonix
- Las Vegas
- San Fran (yeah yeah, not SW ;)

Any thoughts on specific hotels in any of these cities? Or other cities I should be considering?

Thanks for any ideas!

T.

Rates are relatively low in PHX during the summer, so check out pricing at Westin Kierland and Phoenician, both highly regarded Starwood properties that will be far more expensive at any other time of year. (In contrast, since rates will be relatively low, they'll make for poor redemption values.)

When the goal is 'not breaking the bank' cash & points represents a pretty good value, and Sheraton Wild Horse Pass is available on cash & points... but I'd still probably pick up the Phoenician, you can probably find rates ~ $179.