Starwood Preferred Guest - Re: New Promotion, Who's Going to do MR's?

Because of the new promotion, many people registered (whether by choice or not) for the double stay option.

I am just curious...

1. If you decided to do a MR, how much are you going to spend to reach Plat?

2. How many more stays do you need to reach Plat?

3. Do you think the money you will spend from #1 is worth being SPG Platinum for another year? (Based on your Platinum experience this year)

I signed up for double points. I presently need 6 more stays to make Plat. I already have 2 prepaid (and long-planned) stays for this weekend in MSY. Am Staying one night at the W FQ and One at the W Poydras. (Used $50 u/g offer from $149 paid rate for upgrade to Spectacular suite at the W Poydras, and am looking forward to it). That will leave me with 4 stays to go. Already have a booking for the 19th of Aug (after promo starts) in MSY, this time at W FQ. Got a great summer special deal, booked on July 28th (last day of the summer rate promo)...$129 for the room, then did a $20 confirmed upgrade to one of the multi-level Carriage House suites with private backyard and jacuzzi. Double Stay credit will make it doubly sweet. As this will leave me only 1 double stay credit away from plat, I've decided to book myself at the W Poydras for the evening of Aug. 18th on a $149 rate to make plat. So, as far as unplanned stays go, looks like I'll be spending $149 to make plat (in addition to the $600 or so I've spent on mattress runs in Houston this year to get to my present level of stays.

I could have opted for the 8K bonus, but wanted to get to plat ASAP before some trips I'll be taking to Europe this autumn, and was getting a bit tired of mattress running at Houston *Woods. I went so far as to splurge a bit and tried out the St. Regis Houston last weekend, simply for variety's sake. At $175, cost only $90 more than my typical runs to the North Houston Sheraton at Bush airport or Sheraton Houston Brookhollow, with a marked improvement in accomodations. However, the St. Regis is a bit tired and faded, and I'm not sure I would rate it as a true 5* property.

I can't say whether the approx. $750 I've spent above and beyond necessary or planned stays will be worth it, as I've never experienced Plat. I am purely a leisure traveler, however, so can choose travel destinations according to airline/hotel upgrade possibilities, and do so often. Am hoping Plat is worth the effort. If not, I think I can handle the $750 loss with a clear conscience, or at least parlay it into HH Diamond :)

I got the double stays promo :confused: I would have preffered bonus points.
I am undecided whether a mattress run is worth it as I need 18 more stays to plat.In Ca *woods are available for under $100-but just barely,so If I figure in gas and time is plat worth $900 out of my own pocket?
I await advice from those wiser than I in the area of Starwood.
PS also trying to reup for MR gold-20 more nights for that.

Altho I'm certainly glad that I was eligible for the 10,000 bonus points (for three stays), the 8,000 points per 4 stays would have been more advantageous for me, based on my current reservations.

Last year, I had to do a MR; I think I was only at 22 stays by November. So, we found a 4 Points near St Louis (visiting family for Thanksgiving) and booked a room on two separate nights.....$64 each. And booked the 4 Points Pleasanton for (I think) about $70 for one night.

This year, I'm already at 32 stays (I think that's what my last statement indicated) and I'll have about 10 more stays this year. No MR for me!

Thanks, *wood, for the 10,000 bonus points. :D

I took the Double Stays. I'm currently at 14 Stays and have 2 stays next week in Florence Italy (not during promo :( ) plus 1 each during promo in TXL, MUC & MAD, so that puts me at 22. So depending upon what my travel plans are for the rest of the year, I may have to do 1 MR to achieve Plat 2007. There's a Sheraton near my home that offers $85 AAA rates which would be an inexpensive way if I needed to go that route.

I have 4 stays in the next week and a bit (just miss the promo...blah!). If I can find a cheapo rate at the local 4 Pts, I might well consider a MR. To add to the OP's question...what would people say would be the maximum amount you would pay per night to get the 10 000 points?

...what would people say would be the maximum amount you would pay per night to get the 10 000 points?

The only time I use 10K points for one night at a Cat. 4 hotel is when the cost is more than $300 (or maybe $350) per night. That's just my rule of thumb. So, in answer to your question, it would depend upon the number of nights needed. If the total of those nights got close to $300, the 10K points wouldn't be worth it to me.

Where that becomes more complicated is in the double stay credit promo, where those "mattress run" nights get you to Platinum for the following year. Valuing those nights are more difficult, given the intangibles over the course of a year that come with Platinum status.

...if not please link...muchos gracias!

...if not please link...muchos gracias!

See this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=586148) for more than you could ever want to know.

I'm confused. Gold and Plat never get more than triple points do they?

Another question >

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/promotions/registration/landing_page.html?promoID=NEB

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/promotions/registration/terms_conditions.html?promoID=NEB

For promotions where you register, you don't have to use that promo code when booking right??

So you can combine the Z2H>Z6H / SPG50 / etc codes with the booking?