Starwood Preferred Guest - Starwood Cash & Points

When making hotel reservations using the Cash & Points program, do you pay the cash portion upfront or when at the hotel? If you cancel the reservation are there any consequences? Thanks

When making hotel reservations using the Cash & Points program, do you pay the cash portion upfront or when at the hotel?

At the hotel.

If you cancel the reservation are there any consequences? Thanks

Only if you cancel outside the time for when there is a penalty assessed. The cancel policy will be noted on your email confirmation.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

To avoid too much clutter, I am piggybacking on the OP's thread. Is cash & points availability similar to airline reward seats in that some properties may not ever have availability on certain dates?

The NYC hotels seem esp difficult to find C&P availability. In the past, I've tried booking far in advance or waiting until closer in without success.

To avoid too much clutter, I am piggybacking on the OP's thread. Is cash & points availability similar to airline reward seats in that some properties may not ever have availability on certain dates?

The NYC hotels seem esp difficult to find C&P availability. In the past, I've tried booking far in advance or waiting until closer in without success.

There is a master thread for C & P in the FAQ sticky but to answer your question, yes, C & P is not like free night awards with no blackouts. Some properties will have extremely limited amounts offered throughout the year.

Do hotels ever add more C+P inventory? Or are you out of luck once it's gone? I'm looking at a two-night stay at the Westin Melbourne - C+P is available the first day but not the second.

In regards to the capacity controls, yes they are pretty tight!

About a month ago I booked a C&P night at the LC Imperial in Vienna and when I checked availability the next day, there was none! Lucky Me!:p

Another good example is the Sheraton Park Tower in London, hats off to you if you manage to get a C&P room there!

The NYC hotels seem esp difficult to find C&P availability. In the past, I've tried booking far in advance or waiting until closer in without success.

Well, it is possible, as you can see below, but you usually have to books months in advance:

Reservations: Rate Details
Hotel & Room Information
The Westin New York at Times Square
270 West 43rd Street
New York , New York 10036
United States
(212) 201-2700 Check-in Check-out
07/15/2008 - 03:00 PM 07/16/2008 - 12:00 PM

1 Room , 2 Adults per room , 1 King

Room Features : Traditional Non-smoking, Heavenly Bed And Bath, 32 Inch Flat Panel Lcd Tv, Ipod Clock Radio, High-speed Internet For A Fee

Terms & Details

Daily Rate per Room USD 150.00

Total Starpoints Redeemed 8000.0

Taxes Occupancy Tax of USD 2.00 Per Room / Per Night is included in the rate.
Hotel Unit Fee of USD 1.50 Per Room / Per Night is included in the rate.
City Tax of 5.00% Per Room / Per Night is included in the rate.
State Tax of 8.36% Per Room / Per Night is included in the rate.

Additional charges
Extra rollaway: 0.00
Child rollaway: 0.00
Crib: 0.00
Please note that in addition to the room rate, certain Preferred Guest properties may impose additional charges for requested services. Please contact the property directly for specific information regarding any additional charges.

Rate Plan Description

Award Stay That Allows Guests To Pay For Hotel Stay With Part.Points And Cash. For This Hotel Gst Need 8000 Points And $150.(Catergory 6 Hotel).Must Be Spg Member

So am I wasting my time checking back every day for C+P inventory? Or is there a chance they'll open up some more?

So am I wasting my time checking back every day for C+P inventory? Or is there a chance they'll open up some more?
It might be worth your while to call Starwood, or even (if you can phone internationally cheaply), the hotel itself. Other FTers have reported finding C&P inventory magically available by phone even though it isn't showing on the SPG website. Good luck!

The Westin Melbourne is a very nice hotel -- enjoy your stay!

So am I wasting my time checking back every day for C+P inventory? Or is there a chance they'll open up some more?

i am posting from the w seattle. last week i had a room booked at $229 and i have been checking everyday and on thursday (before a saturday check in) they opened up cash and points- 4000 points and $60. so i believe it pays to keep checking.

i am posting from the w seattle. last week i had a room booked at $229 and i have been checking everyday and on thursday (before a saturday check in) they opened up cash and points- 4000 points and $60. so i believe it pays to keep checking.

Good news, I've been hoping to snag a room at the W Seattle on C+P but only the Sheraton and Westin are available.

Slight variant to the OPs initial question : is it possible to book multiple C+P rooms at the same time (& same hotel)

... considering this for a weekend out with a whole bunch of friends (read : 10 to 12 rooms !).
From searching FT, already found that bookings would need to be made 1-by-1, but if doing so is there any restriction that would stop me going up to 10 or 12 rooms ?

Slight variant to the OPs initial question : is it possible to book multiple C+P rooms at the same time (& same hotel)

... considering this for a weekend out with a whole bunch of friends (read : 10 to 12 rooms !).
From searching FT, already found that bookings would need to be made 1-by-1, but if doing so is there any restriction that would stop me going up to 10 or 12 rooms ?

This information is in the FAQ thread.

You have to either a) book multiple bookings online or b) call starwood to book multiples.

I would also be VERY surprised to find out that there are 12 rooms available at the same property/same date for C&P (although this is property dependent of course).

I was able to book 4 C&P rooms (for the same dates) a few weeks ago for a property. I had to book them one at a time. I was hoping to book a 5th one yesterday, but it was no longer available. I'll be checking back and perhaps calling to try.

I now have a cron job running once an hour to check on cash+points availablity for the Westin Melbourne. We'll see what happens...

When making hotel reservations using the Cash & Points program, do you pay the cash portion upfront or when at the hotel?

Also be aware that you will be charged tax by the hotel on the cash portion. I have read previous threads where people have been surprised upon receiving their bill before checkout.

Slight variant to the OPs initial question : is it possible to book multiple C+P rooms at the same time (& same hotel)

... considering this for a weekend out with a whole bunch of friends (read : 10 to 12 rooms !).
From searching FT, already found that bookings would need to be made 1-by-1, but if doing so is there any restriction that would stop me going up to 10 or 12 rooms ?

It would seem, that from reading the T&C's at spg.com, the maximum number of Cash & Points award rooms that a single member might be able to redeem at a single property for the same stay dates would be nine. Of course, YMMV.

Best regards,

William

Another question about cash & points:
I was checking availibility for C&P for the Grand Hotel in Florence, Italy and it would only allow me to book for C&P if I stayed for 5 nights. I only need to be there for 4 nights, but then it won't allow me to book for cash and points. I must check in a day earlier or check out a day later in order to redeem for C&P. Why is this so? Any "enlightment" would be greatly appreciated. (If I want all points, then it's possible to book for the 4 nights.)

Another question about cash & points:
I was checking availibility for C&P for the Grand Hotel in Florence, Italy and it would only allow me to book for C&P if I stayed for 5 nights. I only need to be there for 4 nights, but then it won't allow me to book for cash and points. I must check in a day earlier or check out a day later in order to redeem for C&P. Why is this so? Any "enlightment" would be greatly appreciated. (If I want all points, then it's possible to book for the 4 nights.)

Without knowing the exact dates, it is hard to say why. If you want me to check, then send me an email with the details on Monday. If you want to try any earlier than that, then contact the Customer Contact Center and see what they are able to tell you.

Best regards,

William

Okay, I sent you an e-mail earlier today - I hope you see it on Monday; if not let me know and I'll resend it. I'll wait to hear back from you regarding the cash & points for the Grand Hotel Florence.

Thanks in advance!

I suppose things change over time. I originally booked a cash and points stay @ the Europa and Regina in Venice for three nights. Plans changed a couple of weeks later and I tried to add another night but no availability. Checked a couple of weeks later and there was now availability but for more cash and more points than my original reservations.

I gave up and just booked a night at a "pure cash" rate. Emailed the property to alert them of the two linked reservations and I hope I don't have to move rooms.:)

Cheers

I would also be VERY surprised to find out that there are 12 rooms available at the same property/same date for C&P (although this is property dependent of course).

I have 9 rooms reserved at the W New Orleans - so some hotels are wide open....

I have another question about cash & points redemption. In the beginning of this thread it is stated that the cash part is payed at the hotel. A category 6 hotel requires 8k points plus $150 per night. I am looking to stay at the Grand Hotel in Florence - are they going to charge me in dollars or euros? If it's euros at what exchange do they do it?

I have another question about cash & points redemption. In the beginning of this thread it is stated that the cash part is payed at the hotel. A category 6 hotel requires 8k points plus $150 per night. I am looking to stay at the Grand Hotel in Florence - are they going to charge me in dollars or euros? If it's euros at what exchange do they do it?

The charge of $150 is US dollars. The hotel will convert this at a rate of their choosing (which may not be to your advantage but shouldn't be too out to lunch).

I had four rooms booked C & P at the Sheraton Old San Juan for November. Then had to arrange an extra night prior for my daughter. It cost me 11,000 points but I was able to get her a deluxe room. It was all a huge bargain in my opinion. I love Starwood!!!!^

I now have a cron job running once an hour to check on cash+points availablity for the Westin Melbourne. We'll see what happens...

Score! My cron job just notified me that they opened up more C&P inventory. I guess that answers my original question as well...

What is a cron job?

What is a cron job?

mahasamatman is clearly a pretty skilled programmer. A cron job is a program on Linux (or other Unix-based operating systems) that wakes up at a specified time and runs a particular program. You can set it, for example, to run every hour, as mahasamatman clearly did.

It's easy to write a cron job that does simple tasks, such as copying a file to a known location. To automatically navigate to the right page at SPG.com, generate the right query, and then parse the answers, is not at all trivial. There are programs like wget that will help, but I'm impressed that mahasamatman managed to do this!

I'm quickly growing to appreciate Cash & Points as one of the best (but hardest to get) benefits of SPG.

Does anyone know of any other hotel programs (with a related credit card to earn points on) that has a similar deal?

mahasamatman is clearly a pretty skilled programmer.
Thanks. After 25+ years of doing it, I like to think so.

To automatically navigate to the right page at SPG.com, generate the right query, and then parse the answers, is not at all trivial.
In this case, it's actually quite simple. I've had a few people ask for the script, so here it is. I got the URL directly from doing a search manually, and all I do is look for the string "4800" since that's the cost of the award I care about.

#!/bin/sh

set x `curl -s "https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/search/results/simple.html?localeCode=en_US&iATANumber=&complexSearchField=Melbourne%2C+Australia&arrivalDate=11%2F24%2F2008&departureDate=11%2F25%2F2008" | grep -w 4800`

if [ $# -ne 1 ]
then
echo Found Cash+Points award availability.
fi

Thanks. After 25+ years of doing it, I like to think so.

In this case, it's actually quite simple. I've had a few people ask for the script, so here it is. I got the URL directly from doing a search manually, and all I do is look for the string "4800" since that's the cost of the award I care about.

I'm one of those people who asked about his script. Since spg.com refuses to allow you to search multiple rate types at once (AAA, GOV, DAILY, PROMO, etc.), I then built scripts to search them all at once. I even have a fairly decent front end interface for the less technically inclined to simply enter their dates of stay and the desired hotel. Unfortunately, some people believe that this is something to keep to ourselves. I really don't think that it causes notable problems for the hotels. This is functionality that spg.com ought to provide anyway.

Thanks, mahasamatman! And congrats on it all paying off to find you that C&P!

These scripts seem like a really nice idea. Thanks, mahasamatman, for providing your code. I had thought that it required logging into the site, which would have made the process much more painful. scflier, a nice front end for this would be great!

I recall once discovering that C&P availability was "non-monotonic", in that there could be availability for a 3-day stay for a period, but not for a 2-day stay for a subset of that period. Does this match anyone else's experience?