Starwood Preferred Guest - spg50 - is it ever honoured?

Apologies if this has been asked and answered ... I'm trying to book hotel in NYC from 12/31-01/06 using an spg50 certificate - but with no success. So I tried a few different cities (will be travelling for about one month) with different dates of course, but no luck anywhere ... has anyone had any luck? (FYI I'm spg gold ... maybe it only works for plat?)

Thanks in advance ...

Availability is restricted, and some destinations (Hawaii, for one) are excluded. No way are you going to be using a discount cert in NYC at a good hotel over New Year's Eve.

I think I have about 5 of these half off certs. Never have even tried to use them cause the government rate is usually less than half the rack rate anyway.

I'm sure a search will reveal LOTS of people's experiences with these certificates.
The upshot? They generally seem to be more useful in Europe. The savings vs. a discounted rate isn't always that great, but over a multi-night stay can add up.

I have great luck in the New England area.

i'm one of them in Thailand. For me, I find the greatest benefit is to be able to get one of the much higher priced nicer rooms (like a Villa) at a much more reasonable rate that is closer to a regular room rate.

Thanks for all your responses ... guess it's really the luck of the draw! I've tried SYD, MEL, NYC, MIA, MSY between now and end January 09 ... all no luck ... oh well, back to Priceline I guess!

Thanks again.

I always get lucky using the SPG 50 % off in London myself....with no problems which is perfect as the rate of the British Pounds is high

As indicated----seems to have best useability in Europe

Thanks for all your responses ... guess it's really the luck of the draw! I've tried SYD, MEL, NYC, MIA, MSY between now and end January 09 ... all no luck ... oh well, back to Priceline I guess!

Thanks again.

Nothing personal, but I think you must be trying to book this online or something. I say that because your original request in NYC for SPG50 from 12/31/08 - 01/06/2009 can be booked at the W New York Times Square.*

I also checked your other options from December 31, 2008 through January 31, 2009 and this is what I found:

SYD
The Westin Sydney available for SPG50 from 1/11/09 - 1/31/09*

MEL
The Westin Melbourne available for SPG50 from 1/2/09 - 1/31/09*

MIA
The Westin Diplomat available for SPG50 from 12/31/08 - 1/5/09 then again from 1/11/09 - 1/31/09*

MSY
Sheraton Metairie - New Orleans available for SPG50 from 12/31/08 - 1/31/09*

But you are aware you have to call the Customer Contact Center in order to check for this availability, right?

Best regards,

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

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

*reflects status as of 1PM, October 29, 2008

How's this for a brilliant idea?:D

Next time I (we) are unable to find a hotel to use our SPG50s at .. just start a thread here complaining "how useless they are" and William will just look them up and post them here ;)

mike

How's this for a brilliant idea?:D

Next time I (we) are unable to find a hotel to use our SPG50s at .. just start a thread here complaining "how useless they are" and William will just look them up and post them here ;)

mike

LOL. Just be sure to include the travel dates and where you want to go. :D

Best regards,

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

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

I'll bite.

Can it be used anywhere in Puerto Rico on December 31-January 5?

LOL. Just be sure to include the travel dates and where you want to go. :D

Best regards,

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

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

I'll bite.

Can it be used anywhere in Puerto Rico on December 31-January 5?

For the time being, your choices in Puerto Rico are a bit limited seeing as the Sheraton Old San Juan does not participate in offering SPG50.

But, it is not available at either Four Points for that arrival date. I can't check beyond December 31st, however, because the rate plan's sell date at both properties have been end-dated for December 31, 2008.

Best regards,

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

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Nothing personal, but I think you must be trying to book this online or something. I say that because your original request in NYC for SPG50 from 12/31/08 - 01/06/2009 can be booked at the W New York Times Square.*

OK ... so here's one of the many great benefits of FT! Yes indeed I have been trying to book online ... I gather from your email that I need to book by phone ... thank you so much for this ... I feel a total dummy :confused:

Shall now try phoning to make my bookings ... thanks again for your help and advice.

OK ... so here's one of the many great benefits of FT! Yes indeed I have been trying to book online ... I gather from your email that I need to book by phone ... thank you so much for this ... I feel a total dummy :confused:

Shall now try phoning to make my bookings ... thanks again for your help and advice.

It is actually stated on the SPG50 certificate itself that you have to phone to reserve. @:-)

Also, it is stated on the SPG website that you have to phone "your nearest customer contact center" to redeem an SPG50 ("50% off regular rack rates"). @:-) @:-)

Also, there are a number of existing threads on the SPG50. I suggest doing "search this forum," "advanced," "titles-only" search on the search term SPG50 to see how often this subject has been discussed. There's more info on those threads that will probably be helpful to you. @:-) @:-) @:-)

I am using it at the Royal Orchid in Bangkok for mid November. It beats the senior rate (piddling discount) and any other SPG has. However, no luck with Sydney in Dec and I had a really great rate at Le Meridien in Chiang Mai, adv purchase senior, that beat spg50 altogether. So still have two certs expiring Dec 31. I had hoped to use them up in Asia.