Starwood Preferred Guest - Is the Voss free?

I'm sitting in my W hotel room. There's a bottle of Voss on the bedside table but no note suggesting it's a gift. I'm Platinum. Is it free?

I'm sitting in my W hotel room. There's a bottle of Voss on the bedside table but no note suggesting it's a gift. I'm Platinum. Is it free?

Which W? In all my W visits I have yet to get a free bottle of Voss. I must be on SPG's "never any complementary water" list.

In my last 3 visits to the W Westwood, I only got free VOSS water on the third stay. The free VOSS is the short/small bottled ones that should have a circle shaped sticker saying it is complimentary. The tall bottled ones.....i stayed away from because i think it was $10 for it...

In my last 3 visits to the W Westwood, I only got free VOSS water on the third stay. The free VOSS is the short/small bottled ones that should have a circle shaped sticker saying it is complimentary. The tall bottled ones.....i stayed away from because i think it was $10 for it...

I agree, which W???

Some have the smaller bottles that are complimentary and that might be in your room upon arrival.

Most VOSS water bottles have a tag, that indicates the price, which obviously are not free.

2 weekends ago, I was at the W Dallas. The Voss bottle in the room had a tag label on it with a price. I left that one alone and drank my own Fiji Water that I bought. When I checked out at the front desk, the agent asked me if I would like a bottle of water for the road. I said, "sure." He gave me a bottle Voss, FREE. It was the same bottle that was in the rooms...
I think the only place that gives free bottled water in rooms is a Four Points.

I have always had a free bottle of water waiting for me at the Westin and Sheraton.

You could always pick up the phone and dial downstairs to ask. They might have a more definitive answer than us.

In my last 3 visits to the W Westwood, I only got free VOSS water on the third stay. The free VOSS is the short/small bottled ones that should have a circle shaped sticker saying it is complimentary. The tall bottled ones.....i stayed away from because i think it was $10 for it...

You are correct. The tall bottles near the minibar are for sale. The short bottles next to the bed are FREE. I have always received free Voss bottles at the W Foshay - Minneapolis.

W Silicon Valley (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1300) leaves one small complementary VOSS bottle in the room, and one large one to buy.

I do my best to avoid W (and Voss). Nonetheless, I did once stay the W Mexico City, on points, and got a complimentary bottle of Voss. I also got a complimentary black teddy bear, which I value much more.

It drives me crazy when they do this - how hard is it to hang a tag saying either the price or "complimentary!"?

It drives me crazy when they do this - how hard is it to hang a tag saying either the price or "complimentary!"?
I'm not sure what you saying? My experience at (Westins, Le Merdien & W's) is that the large bottles of what have a neck tag and a price. It's very obvious to me, there is a charge for the water you consume.

When the W leaves a small bottle of water, its usually on a tray on the bed or on the nightstand, if you're in a suite, they might leave it on the coffee table. Again, it's depends on the property.

I'm sitting in my W hotel room. There's a bottle of Voss on the bedside table but no note suggesting it's a gift. I'm Platinum. Is it free?

No hangtag with price-on bedstand?Free.
And if they charge you for it just ask them to remove it.
The ones in the mini-bar are for sale at an extremely outrageous price.
I had to ask a fellow F'talker about this myself my last visit to a W

my last few visits to the Ws in NYC... i received some cards at check in that said "I love SPG" and was told that each were worth a free Voss...

Several times have had VOSS sitting on the desk at the W Chicago- was never charged for it. I like bottled water, but find the whole VOSS thing a bit much ($10 a bottle or something)...

I almost never touched the VOSS unless they're clearly marked complimentary. I was charged once before when they have a free bottle putting next to a charged one. I don't quite remember which hotel. And it's frustrating.

I almost never touched the VOSS unless they're clearly marked complimentary. I was charged once before when they have a free bottle putting next to a charged one. I don't quite remember which hotel. And it's frustrating.

Did you contest it? That is nonsense.

I stayed in a hotel in Voss once, lovely part of the world. I don't remember getting any free water though. Nor did I see any of the water for sale there. Curious.

I'm not sure what you saying? My experience at (Westins, Le Merdien & W's) is that the large bottles of what have a neck tag and a price. It's very obvious to me, there is a charge for the water you consume.

When the W leaves a small bottle of water, its usually on a tray on the bed or on the nightstand, if you're in a suite, they might leave it on the coffee table. Again, it's depends on the property.

Often I'll see a single bottle of Voss or two on the counter. Case in point the W Maldives last month. Two Voss bottles on the counter, next to an ice cube bin and then a fondue pot. No marking on the Voss at all. However, in the minibar price list, clearly Voss is priced, but I couldn't tell if these were complimentary or for-sale and out of place a bit.

I'm not sure what you saying? My experience at (Westins, Le Merdien & W's) is that the large bottles of what have a neck tag and a price. It's very obvious to me, there is a charge for the water you consume.

Well, some of us have different experiences, perhaps making the situation something less than obvious. @:-)

I've seen this many times -- large bottle only, with no mention of price. I know from experience it's not the free bottle, but it's not obvious and would be easy to misinterpret.

It drives me crazy when they do this - how hard is it to hang a tag saying either the price or "complimentary!"?

+ 1

Well, some of us have different experiences, perhaps making the situation something less than obvious. @:-)

I've seen this many times -- large bottle only, with no mention of price. I know from experience it's not the free bottle, but it's not obvious and would be easy to misinterpret.

I so agree!

Practically speaking, it might be hard to hand a note on the Voss water's since there is no neck. However, I wholly agree that whatever stickers or other indications of price are less obvious than they should be on the Voss waters.

Oh, the struggles we face.

I'm sitting in my W hotel room. There's a bottle of Voss on the bedside table but no note suggesting it's a gift. I'm Platinum. Is it free?

:D :D

...is determined by brand/room type and has nothing to do with being an elite member in SPG, although you may find free water in an SPG room with an SPG tag on it if that is what is determined by the brand in question. Here's the skinny as far as the official brand standards are concerned:

Free bottled water in these guest room types in all regions:

Westin – In SPG rooms, Westin Specialty Room Types (ie. Westin Executive Club, Westin Workout), Luxury Suites

Sheraton – In SPG rooms, Club Level rooms, Premium Guest Suites

Four Points – In all rooms (only the FP water bottle hang tag is used; no SPG version)

aloft - In all rooms (only the aloft water bottle hang tag is used; no SPG version)

Element – Not in the rooms; however all Elements participate in Element H2O where filtered water is plumbed and made available in public spaces through a dispenser unit. Element water bottles are for sale in restore (the pantry).

Le Meridien - In SPG rooms, Specialty Room Types (ie. Le Royal Club Rooms, Suites)

Luxury Collection – All rooms get 1 complimentary bottle of water

St. Regis – All rooms get 1 complimentary bottle of water

W – Only bottled water with a charge; none free

As usual, please note that these are minimum standards and some hotels may choose to go above and beyond the minimum.

Best regards,

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

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Luxury Collection – All rooms get 1 complimentary bottle of water


The Park Tower in Buenos Aires messes with you a bit. The only bottle of water in the room when you arrive is $30-some pesos, but you get a free small bottle with turndown.

So what's the deal with hotels that give water on SPG floors yet, when they're nice enough to upgrade you (not being sarcastic, it really is nice) to a suite that's not on an SPG floor you get nothing. You'd think with a better room you'd at least get the SAME bottle of water.

I know it sounds petty to make such a big deal out of water but after a long day of traveling with the dehydrating conditions on a plane water is important. There are times when you get in late, don't have a car and really have no other option than hotel room water bottles or the sink. And the sink water rarely tastes good.

I know it sounds petty to make such a big deal out of water but after a long day of traveling with the dehydrating conditions on a plane water is important. There are times when you get in late, don't have a car and really have no other option than hotel room water bottles or the sink. And the sink water rarely tastes good.

Completely agree.

And brand standards aside, there is absolutely no consistency in any brand (Sheraton, Westin, W) about whether water in the room is free or not. Some use a hanging tag or sticker to indicate free or fee. Others leave it up to your imagination. And the last thing I want to do is make a late-night call to the front desk and ask.

("Is the water complimentary?" "Which water, sir? The one in the bathroom or the one by the mini-bar?" "The bathroom." "I don't know, sir. We may need to send up a free water instead." - real paraphrased Westin Boston conversation)

It's been my experience that if it's not marked free, you have to assume it's not unless you ask. Or have the hassle of dealing with the front desk at checkout.

I have always had a free bottle of water waiting for me at the Westin and Sheraton.

And at the alofts, too.

W Silicon Valley (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1300) leaves one small complementary VOSS bottle in the room, and one large one to buy.

Yep, just got done with a stay there, and can confirm the same.

You could always pick up the phone and dial downstairs to ask. They might have a more definitive answer than us.

^