Originally Posted by
cooltraveler
Is 41,764 points worth spending $1,676? Or should I just drop down to Gold level since it earns the same amount of elite bonus points and still a room upgrade?
As an aside, will they be okay with me checking in and then not being in my room for the rest of the stay? I'll be staying 3 nights out of the 15 nights but won't be coming back to the hotel to check out. In other words, will I be safe to earn my qualifying nights/stays by just checking in?
Officially, no, the unoccupied nights would not qualify for night credit according to SPG T&Cs. Unofficially, the hotel manager might allow it. I wouldn't risk that much money with the possibility that the hotel might decide to check you out early.
Whether its worth spending so much money to requalify is not something that we can answer for you very well. It depends on what you're planning to do with that status next year and what you're planning to do with the Starpoints that you'd earn. As
BlissWorld said, if you'd just be staying in alofts and elements next year, then I don't see much point in going for Plat. The same could be said of certain other properties within the other brands -- such as most 4P properties in the US.
If all you want is the
chance of a "room upgrade," gold may be fine. If you feel that you must be officially qualified for the
chance of
suite upgrades, the story changes.