[QUOTE=andrewpartyman;13763085]
Originally Posted by
andrewpartyman
1. I stayed at a Westin for two nights. My total expenditure was $623.24. For that, I received 623 base points, plus a 50% elite bonus, and since I am enrolled in the double points promo, another 623. Grand total = 1,557 points. What can I use 1,557 points for with Starwood? Not much. To stay in a Four Points by Sheraton costs at the VERY MINIMAL 3,000 points on average. Had I stayed with Marriott Rewards, I would have earned 6,224 points and been very close to a free room at a decent hotel, if not earned a stay at a Courtyard, etc. (Yes, I know points are handed out at different "exchange rates" but my point is Marriott Rewards gives you more for the dollar spent in terms of reward redemption.)
As other have mentioned, you don't seem to know how the SPG program works. You get 3 points per $ when having SPG status. So for a stay like this I would normally expect to get about 3000 points or even more depending on the promotion. As
mahasamatman said, at the moment you would get more than 4500 points. If you booked at the right time you can get another 500 points on top of this. So those two nights can get you very close to getting two free weekend nights at a Cat 2 hotel.
Originally Posted by
andrewpartyman
2. Starwood Platinum really means nothing and Starwood Gold is absolutely worthless and seems to be handed out like water. Platinum members receive the same bonus as Gold, so what is the incentive to earn Platinum? Check cashing privileges of $300/hotel? Does anyone even use a check anymore, much less need to cash one? Free internet access as a Platinum? To me this is a joke. I can stay at any Holiday Inn Express in America and have free internet access, if I spend to stay in a premium luxury hotel, it just enrages me when they try to charge you for internet access if you're paying $400+/night.
I agree with the internet access. But this is not a Starwood specific thing. The rule of thumb seems to be that the more expensive the hotel, the less likely it is that internet is included. And as a Platinum you get internet for free anyway.
But the statement that Platinum means nothing is just not true. Suite upgrades, club access, late check out might be meaningless for you but they are valuable for most of us.
Originally Posted by
andrewpartyman
3. SPG promotes dishonesty in my opinion; The road to elite status is quicker obtained through stays not total nights. So what do I do? If I am staying two nights at a hotel for work, I will make two separate reservations.
This doesn't work. If you make two separate reservations at the same hotel for consecutive nights you will only get one stay credit and two nights. So I am not sure what you are referring to.
Starwood allows qualification based on nights and stays and in this forum you will find people who prefer one or the other but both avenues are fine.
Originally Posted by
andrewpartyman
4. Disparity between level of hotel stayed in; I hardly ever stay in a Sheraton much less their lower-tiered hotels. Since I travel internationally, I tend to be in Le Meridien, W Hotels, or a high-priced Westin. Why should someone who spends $70/night at Four Points get elite status (for total stays) quicker than someone who has easily spent $15,000 on hotels around the world? Starwood doesn't reward total expenditures in my opinion.
Actually they do, indirectly. The likelihood of a Platinum getting an upgrade is based on a proprietary formula and we are almost certain that spend goes into the mix.
Also most loyalty programs work this way, not just in the hotel industry.
Originally Posted by
andrewpartyman
5. Upgrades as a Gold tend to suck (if at all) and as a Platinum are hardly anything. Yes, occasionally I have received an awesome upgrade (thank you Le Meridien Vienna, Austria) but I have come to realize that "upgrade" means different things in many countries and there is no universal standard. When staying recently at the W Mexico City, I was given a higher floor as an "upgrade" (which really is no favor). To me an upgrade means a higher-priced room not a better view, higher floor, or being away from the elevator. SPG needs to set this in concrete.
Rooms close to an elevator are often sold as a special feature so you don't have to walk too far. So what you perceive as positive might be negative to others. And if a hotel is full, then it is difficult to upgrade you to anything.
Originally Posted by
andrewpartyman
If it weren't for the Starwood AMEX points and good will SPG points given to me by various hotels to right a wrong, I would literally have only about 22,000 points this past year for about $15,000 spent at SPG properties--enough for ONE free night at a St. Regis or maybe two free nights at an average Westin.
How can this be? At the very least you will get $3 per point, the platinum 500 points and usually some promotions.
So with 25 stays you will get at least 57500 points plus promotions. So usually you will be north of 70000 points.
Originally Posted by
andrewpartyman
Does anyone else generally feel the same about SPG?
Actually no.