Best Western Rewards - Newbee to BW - Usually stay@HH, Hyatt as Diamond

Well one of my clients has confirmed that all of their conventions will be at BW hotels throughout 2009/10.

About 15-25 nights/yr.

I am used to staying @ HH(Gold) & Hyatt(Diamond).

Since I do not have much choice I have been looking into the BW program.

Basically please confirm if I am correct:

#1 Do NOT expect anything like the rooms or hotels that most of my clients use.

#2 The elite program is a joke for upgrades (don't expect any)

#3 BW does not rate to high on Webflyer

#4 Looks like I would be better off selecting Airline miles for each stay, and not reaching out for any point accrual. (I will continue to try for the other programs.)


My interest is your thoughts on #4. Miles Of course I know to each his/her own goals, but really I do not want more hotels points of a brand of lesser value.

But since I do not know the program like you folks, maybe there is a hidden twist I am missing.

Any airline program earn MORE than the standard 250 pts per stay?
How strict are they about te "qualifing rate" earning the 250 pts?

Thanks

Well one of my clients has confirmed that all of their conventions will be at BW hotels throughout 2009/10.

About 15-25 nights/yr.

I am used to staying @ HH(Gold) & Hyatt(Diamond).

Since I do not have much choice I have been looking into the BW program.

Basically please confirm if I am correct:

#1 Do NOT expect anything like the rooms or hotels that most of my clients use.

#2 The elite program is a joke for upgrades (don't expect any)

#3 BW does not rate to high on Webflyer

#4 Looks like I would be better off selecting Airline miles for each stay, and not reaching out for any point accrual. (I will continue to try for the other programs.)


My interest is your thoughts on #4. Miles Of course I know to each his/her own goals, but really I do not want more hotels points of a brand of lesser value.

But since I do not know the program like you folks, maybe there is a hidden twist I am missing.

Any airline program earn MORE than the standard 250 pts per stay?
How strict are they about te "qualifing rate" earning the 250 pts?

Thanks

I am now BW diamond but never, ever got upgraded or received any kind of perks or better treatment. I would therefore highly recommend you choose the 250 miles. You should check for offers from your ff programme as you may have good surprises (for example, AF FB had a x2 bonus on BW properties in Asia in Q2, India in Q3...)

I am a HH Gold and I just stayed at my first Best Western (LAS Airport).

I found the front desk staff very helpful and friendly. The bed in the room was great but the room smelled smoked in (even though it was listed as nonsmoking). The bathroom was tiny and they gave me "conditioning shampoo" instead of seperate conditioner and shampoo. The TV was old but worked and had no options to order movies. However, it had a lot of channels.

I left too early for breakfast the next day. I'd say it was worse than any Hampton I've ever stayed at but better than any Ramada/most Choice Properties.

The quality of BW hotels varies vastly.

I always adjust my points/miles selection according to my expected eligible spend during my next stay. BW points convert to airline miles at 5000 points to 1000 miles as one of the rewards options. Collect 250 miles per stay regardless of the number of nights or 10 points (+ any elite bonus) per $1 spent. 4 stays at the miles setting gets you 1000 miles. Or a total of $500 spent gets you 5000 points which can be cashed in for an airline miles reward of 1000 miles. So if my spend is going to be over $125 (usually just takes more than 1 night), I opt for points. If only one night at less than $125 eligible spend, I change to miles.

Do you have to stay at the venue where the conventions are being held?

Most US properties leave something to be desired. I have had good luck with BW properties outside the US. Like many FTers who turn their domestic airmiles into international awards, I do the same with my BW points. The downside is you have to stay at US Best Westerns. No perks, no upgrades and the points accrue slowly. Keep your eye on the website for promos. Also, they have been good about extending elite status even though you might not have enough nights in a given year - so at least the bonus points continued.

I frequently stay in the same couple of (US) BW hotels for my leasure trips. I always get some perks, upgrades. Even if there is nothing else, I get the quietest room available.

We definitely enjoy the 10-20% AAA discount too. While the low internet-only rate does not qualify for points, but the same AAA price does.

(San Diego, Boulder, Palm Springs, SF, etc - all are realatively small hotels.)

BWs in Europe are much better than in the US, and they value your status more. Sometimes you will have to fight to get stays credited, but generally they're OK. (I did get food poisoning at one hotel in France!:)) The Italian ones seem better than most.

As a Gold in Europe, I've gotten good service. BW have just bumped me up to Platinum, even though I don't think I stayed enough nights in a year, so I'm waiting to see what happens next.

I travel in a lot of rural/small towns for work and often one of the better places to stay in the BW. Previous posters are correct, quality varies widely. I always check the photos and location to make sure that this is a place I want to stay or otherwise go to another hotel. If the front desk and breakfast area look small and the pool is outside, probably best to move along.

BW in Europe is GREAT! Often if the hotels are poor, they are at least right in the center of town but often, they are some of the nicer midrange hotels similar to a good Hampton/Fairfield. Plus, your points work there at a lower range than with Hilton or Marriott. The Hilton/Marriotts are filled with American tourists where as BW's are usually European business travelers or families. The Hilton/Marriotts are very nice but often just in big cities which limits you somewhat as some of the best off-the-beaten-path places are an hour or two away from the nearest major city.