wholeinone04

Staying in Dublin for two nights at the end of April. Trying to narrow it down between the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel or The Westin. Westin appears to be in a better location but Radisson looks like it has nicer rooms and I may be able to score an upgrade/free breakfast there with gold status.

The Westin would cost me 12k pts/night, the cash price would be 219 Euros or $273/night so not a bad redemption for 2 nights at 24k SPG points.

Radisson Blu would be 44k pts/night, the cash price is 143 Euros or $175/night. I don't have any Club carlson points but I could apply for their credit card that would give me gold status and 85k pts plus 3k worth of spend would put me at just enough pts.

Thoughts?

UAPremExecflyer

The two hotels are about 12 mins walk apart - both very central. Dublin city centre is small: the Westin is right beside Trinity College; the Radisson is up behind Dublin Castle and Christchurch Cathedral.
Decision comes down to personal choice in terms of whatever better hotel deal you think you can get.

BearX220

I can report the Westin location is unbeatable, right across the street from Temple Bar and about 60 seconds' walk from the river. There was construction underway on the sidewalk this spring but I expect that's done now. The Radisson I can't place, location-wise, exactly, but other Blus I have visited (Oslo, etc.) are to a nice high standard. I think I would go for the Westin though.

wholeinone04

Thanks guys, leaning towards the Westin. Every review on TA mentions the awesome location first thing, sounds like it can't be beat!

LindaTerrill

I prefer the location of the Westin. Be sure to book it through a Virtuoso agent to receive complimentary Virtuoso benefits, and you don't have to use your points. The service is superb, and a great breakfast. My favorite rooms are on the top floor with a balcony overlooking the city. Don't miss the bar in the basement, which used to be the bank vault.

All Virtuoso Guests Receive:
Daily full breakfast, for up to two in room guests
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Afternoon tea for two once during stay
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability

SanDiego1K

The Westin is lovely. I stayed there this fall.

I have not stayed at the Radisson, but wanted to point out the best benefit of their credit card. You get the last night free on a points redemption. Thus, you would only need 44K points for your two night stay. Whether you get the card for Dublin or not, it's a great card and a keeper for me because of this exceptional benefit.

Raffles

Truly the most useless amenity ever :-)

Nothing like turning up early with all your stuff only to be told you can't check-in early as it is 'subject to availability'. I would also be intrigued as to whether anyone with this in their package is prioritised for early check-in.

On the other hand, it is not as weird as the IC Amstel in Amsterdam who, when I checked in at normal time, gave me a letter to say they have a special benefit for Ambasador members which lets them check in at noon. Which they don't tell you about, until you check-in at 3pm!

Westin is great, by the way. Breakfast is classy but expensive and the base level rooms are often inward facing and not huge so the Virtuoso (or Amex FHR) route may be worth considering unless prices are high.

wholeinone04

Heard of Virtuoso but why would I want to go that option when I could pay only 12k pts? I'm not really familiar with the virtuoso program so maybe I'm missing something, can you book through virtuoso and still use pts?

wholeinone04

Oh wow I thought it was book 2 nights, get the third free. That is a pretty awesome benefit, wow!

LindaTerrill

If you have points, you should book with points. Virtuoso (or FHR if you're Amex Platinum) advisors provide amenities to luxury hotel clients who don't have points to pay for their stay. If someone's booking at best available rates without memberships that provide added benefits, then by all means they should be booking luxury hotels through an agent who provides complimentary Virtuoso or Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits. Virtuoso-member hotels are 5-star properties, so this is not a benefit program for 3- and 4-star hotels.

All Virtuoso Guests at the Westin Dublin receive:
* Daily full breakfast, for up to two in room guests
* Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
* Afternoon tea for two once during stay
* Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability

RichardInSF

I didn't stay at the Westin but I love the location, right in the center of things. I stayed at a hotel not on your list (the Merrion) but next time would go for the Westin instead.

LindaTerrill

The Merrion is also a Virtuoso-member hotel, so added benefits. Great indoor pool. Patrick Guilbaud is a fabulous restaurant (2 Michelin stars)! And the Cellar Bar is great for after-dinner drinks. Here's a link to the other Virtuoso member hotels in Ireland. If you click on the markers, you can see the amenities:

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/ed...U.k4gg0p9qTwLM

While I love the Merrion, and service is second to none, I'm partial to the Westin for its location and sometimes fits my budget better when I need multiple rooms. That said, the Merrion is unquestionably the finest hotel in Dublin and my favorite when it's time to give myself a treat.

BearX220

Do you work for Virtuoso? You're marketing it with a certain vigor here.

LindaTerrill

I don't work for Virtuoso; I'm an independent agent with Brownell Travel, a member of Virtuoso, which gives our clients exclusive and complimentary privileges at luxury hotels. Brownell is also a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Ritz-Carlton STARS, Dorchester Diamond, Rosewood Elite and Starwood Luxury Collection agency; thus, we can extend complimentary benefits to our clients at any of those member hotels when they book through us. So, not marketing Virtuoso -- just giving my opinion of the Merrion and Westin in Dublin (I happen to be an Ireland and U.K. Destination Specialist and travel there at least once a year) and advised that anyone staying at those hotels should book through an authorized Virtuoso agent (if they don't have Starwood points for the Westin)..... either me or other Virtuoso-certified agents you may find in Flyertalk. All of the properties in these programs are 5-star hotels and resorts.

rbwpi

Stayed at the Radisson Blu for two nights in July 2014 having the US Bank/Club Carlson co-branded credit card. Total cost of 44K points and was upgraded to a junior suite. Terrific complimentary breakfast was part of a perfect stay.

Haven't stayed at the Westin, but sense in terms of value it would not be worth the additional cost, in either cash or points, over the Radisson.