I have just checked out of the Prince de Galles this morning. I don't want to get melodramatic, but its rip-off level is laughable. I was staying on points (20K/night) and was upgraded to a very good-sized suite. If size does indeed matter, PdG is okay. If you expect that the room will be well-furnished, stain-free and have functioning airconditioning, you may be disappointed.
Pros: Bed was comfortable, location was good (not brilliant unless you have a Hermes scarf fixation), and as I say, I was readily upgraded to a good-sized suite. The bathroom was very clean and the products were nice.
Cons: Everything else. No other Platinum benefits. Wi-fi is $130/day (!!!!) and breakfast is almost $60. If you felt like you were in the lap of luxury, that might somehow compensate. This is not luxury, however. Stained carpets, chipped sticks of crappy furniture (sorry, flea market Empire furniture is not classy--it's cheap), and marred mirrors (or maybe that was meant to convey olde-world-ness ) await you. Forget about a morning cup of coffee unless you shell out $13. Housekeeping staff were pleasant enough, but reception and concierge were impersonal and not particularly welcoming. The air-conditioning did not work well--we had to open the windows to the noisy street to sleep comfortably. When the repairman came up, he said "the problem, monsieur, is that the windows are open!" -- I explained that he was getting his causes-and-effects backwards, but he shrugged, said there was nothing he could do, and left.
Overall, it's hotels like these that really make me question why I have any loyalty to Starwood. Yes, the location is high-priced, but surely they could afford to give all customers (not just Platinums) some perks (like maybe wi-fi for only $100/day ). This is a hotel for people for whom money is no object and quality is optional. For the money (and the points) it is a truely awful place. For half the money and half the points, it is just a scam. Starwood should be ashamed.