Starwood Preferred Guest - Can i leave early without a fee?

i have an upcoming stay in jan, i made a 2 nite resv. but may have to leave after only 1 day, can i do that

thanks

Is it an non-refundable (advanced purchase) rate? If so, you can't change it.

Once even a refundable stay starts it cant be canceled, everything has its own T&Cs, so I suggest the OP either calls into SPG or the Hotel itself to get the low down.

Thats why at times I will book a different res for each night, thats as long as the Cancelation period is Day of Arrival say at 6pm, if Im in doubt if I will need the extra night Ill pretty much know sometime before the 2nd or 3rd night cancelation period hits. that is also for a non-reg Hotel, usually my reg Hotel no matter which Chain will work with me so need for Muliple res

Some (many?) Starwood properties also have early departure fees, even if one is staying on a changeable, non-prepaid rate. There's often a little note asking one to confirm length of stay at check-in; a decision to shorten the stay after that brings a charge.

From my own experience, I've cut short 2 or three stays this year and I just told them when I checked in and I received no penalty or fee.

In other words, the stay didn't technically "start" yet. But I agree with the above posters: if you're already in the room and want to leave, there will likely be an early departure fee.

Has anyone actually been charged an early departure charge?

I'm staying at the Sheraton Milpitas and decided to check out a day early. When I called down to the front next (the day before of my new planned checkout) and told them I was planning on leaving early, I was told there would be a $100 early depature fee added to my bill. I had never heard of such a thing as I've done this a number of times and asked to see where this was listed in the T&Cs. I was then told they would waive this fee this one time.

Has anyone else heard of this?

That's been discussed occasionally here. From Dec 07:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=767967

At the top of the "overview" page for a hotel you should see a link labeled Announcements. When you go there, you sometimes see an "Early Departure Policy", for example:

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/announcements.html?propertyID=1189

But note that when you go to Announcements for the hotel you were staying at, there is no mention of early departure. So I don't know how you could tell dependably, by looking at the website, whether a particular hotel will actually try to impose it.

The fees themselves seem to date back to the 1990s:
"Published: October 25, 1995
CORPORATE travel departments are not going to like it, but Westin and Hyatt hotels have decided to charge guests who check out one or more days ahead of schedule."
full article:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CEFDE1F3FF936A15753C1A9639582 60&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

In my experience, lots of hotels have such a fee, but I rarely see them enforced. In India, however, all bets are off, and hotels have often tried to bill me for the full length of the rest of my stay - even if leaving a week early. :eek:

Has anyone else heard of this?

Yes, I have heard of this. It's at the bottom of every booking confirmation I receive. Here is the wording:

Early Departure
Many Starwood hotels have an early departure fee. When you check-in, you will be asked to confirm your departure date. You may be able to change your departure date without a penalty if your rate plan permits and if you do so before the end of your arrival day. After reconfirming your departure date, if you decide to leave earlier, you may be charged the early departure fee. Please contact the hotel if you have any questions.

The early departure fee is not uncommon. In the one instance I needed to leave early, I simply left, then called the front desk around noon of my scheduled check out day to say I left early that morning and forgot to drop my key/check out. I had no problems checking out over the phone and had them e-mail me an update folio.

I knew that some hotels have this fee, but I never been charged. ^_^

Welcome to FlyerTalk and the Starwood forum, guffaw. That's a very helpful and informative first post.

I knew that some hotels have this fee, but I never been charged. ^_^

I had never been charged doing this in the past, never even was brought up to me, that is why I was so shocked when I heard it.

Learn something new everyday