Starwood Preferred Guest - Best Resorts in Asia for a Honeymoon *With No Status*

I'm helping to think through a friend's honeymoon on points. Probably going to use some Amex MR points for 2 business class tickets to Asia somewhere...

He also has a stash of Starwood points because, at my urging, he has a Starwood Amex.

I'm looking for thoughts on the best Starwood beach resort properties in Asia for someone who isn't Platinum (he's gold or at least he should be since he has an Amex Plat).

Yes, I know, SEARCH. Heh. I've read all the threads. I even know a decent amount about many of the properties. But this question is a little bit different than most. It isn't "what are the best places to honeymoon?" or "what's the best of Asia?" It's where would you go without Platinum upgrade benefits.

How does status factor into this? Well, I probably wouldn't send him to the Sheraton in Phuket because of poor reports of the standard rooms there. Plenty of great reports on the Villas but he won't get put there as a Gold I imagine.

So I guess I'm wondering what places work on an award without needing an upgrade, or what properties offer pretty good upgrades for additional points?

Really anywhere in Asia should work...

Thanks!

How about the Sheraton Haikou Resort in China? I believe this hotel is brand new and is only a Category 1. I'm sure that spending some extra points would possibly yield an upgrade to a nicer room.

Does it need to be Asia proper, or does South Pacific work? I was in a similar situation - Gold using points for honeymoon - almost did the Bora Bora Nui because it is supposed to be such a great property and all the rooms are the same, just different view (except for a couple suites, which are even better).

Also, whatever hotel you choose, you or your friend could call the Gold desk to see if a better room can be reserved for more points if an upgrade is a priority. Often the starwood.com site will only show the base hotel room type and the points per award night required for it, but sometimes the desk will be able to book an upgraded room type for a few extra thousand points per night.

I would choose the Sheraton Moorea. Moorea is an amazing island, and I believe at the Sheraton you get a garden bungalow with the standard points or you can use extra points for a beach bungalow.

Try the Sheraton Fiji.

The standard rooms are decent and you can get decent upgrades with points.