Starwood Preferred Guest - Is a FREE room really free?

Hi,

when book an award room, will I have to pay for taxes and resort fee or is it really free?

Hi,

when book an award room, will I have to pay for taxes and resort fee or is it really free?
It is, for the most part, really free. The following are exceptions that I've seen:
- parking fees (for big city locations)
- meals (for locations that include free food in paid stays)
- resort fee (I've heard talk about this, but I've never had to pay it myself)

In the US, I've never had to pay any taxes or other fees on my stays. In fact, I've had parking fees comp'd where they were within their right to charge them.

Extra

I have had a mysterious charge around $40 appear on my statement in the morning. I had to call and they said it was a computer error. This has happened to me several times but always removed without issue save the need to call the front desk.

I think there could be tax charges depending on the tax structure -- if it's a % of the room rate, obviously then the tax is zero on an award stay. If there is a flat fee tax (e.g., $2) then it's possible you may be charged. I don't think these are that common though.

Awards are supposed to include all room taxes.

-David

Never had to pay taxes on an award stay, in the U.S. or in Europe. It's usually confirmed in your confirmation letter, where it can say that the "rate is inclusive of all taxes" or something similar.

Resort fees are another matter and probably vary.

In my experience, they are absolutely free. Of course, that doesn't include renting movies, room service, etc.!

I just redeemed six award nights, two in Sheraton Lima, probably the most ugly hotel building I have ever seen (and no, you won't find a photo of the hotel on their website - I wonder why?), and four in San Salvador. I didn't pay any taxes or fees

Fees are only for some of the more "resorty" places. Isn't generally too much..

I have redeemed at resorts with resort fees and, yes, you have to pay it. It covers the little extras you get by staying at a high-end resort like parking, telephone service, and sometimes even a newspaper. :D
I've never had to pay taxes on a redemption.

Nothing is free! Even if there are no fees you still paid with points which cost you in the form of higher rates on your other stays. Theoretically, if *Wood didn't have a loyalty program they could lower there rates, you are paying for your award stays with all of your other stays.

Hi,

when book an award room, will I have to pay for taxes and resort fee or is it really free?

Well, it's never free...you've prepaid the award stay in the form of prior paid stays and Amex usage, but I know that wasn't your point. ;)

But in most cases, your bill at checkout on a Starpoints stay should read $0.00, plus incidentals. I have stayed in locales that I know include a per-night fixed fee on revenue rooms (right here in Kansas City, for one), and the bill was still zero on the award stay.

"Resort fees"... :mad: :mad: :mad: ...don't get me started on that topic. Thankfully, I've never seen Starwood slap one of these on me. I think some of the other chains are bigger abusers of this kind of deceitful practice than Starwood. I just finished an award stay at Westin PVR, clearly a property that meets any reasonable definition of the term "resort", and there were no bogus fees on my bill.

Nothing is free! Even if there are no fees you still paid with points which cost you in the form of higher rates on your other stays. Theoretically, if *Wood didn't have a loyalty program they could lower there rates, you are paying for your award stays with all of your other stays.

I've considered this, but:

I figure that many Starwood guests don't really max out their earnings, or ever bother earning/redeeming at all! I'm sure that this is factored in, but as far as I'm concerned, their loss is my gain in added value.

their loss is my gain in added value.

This should be the motto of FT. ;) It's very true in any airline or hotel program.

This should be the motto of FT. ;) It's very true in any airline or hotel program.

And, quite frankly, I can't understand why anyone WOULD stay (retail) at a chain with loyalty programmes like SPG without being a member - Priceline all the way, in that case!

I've considered this, but:

I figure that many Starwood guests don't really max out their earnings, or ever bother earning/redeeming at all! I'm sure that this is factored in, but as far as I'm concerned, their loss is my gain in added value.


You have a point, in which case, travelers who don't participate in SPG, and to a lesser extent you, are paying for your award stays. In any case, its still not free. ;)

"Resort fees"... :mad: :mad: :mad: ...don't get me started on that topic. Thankfully, I've never seen Starwood slap one of these on me. I think some of the other chains are bigger abusers of this kind of deceitful practice than Starwood. I just finished an award stay at Westin PVR, clearly a property that meets any reasonable definition of the term "resort", and there were no bogus fees on my bill.

I think I read somewhere (InsideFlyer Magazine?) that *wood just settled a class action suit re resort fees...