Just got back from a Hawaii trip where I got to stay two nights, a week apart, at the Sheraton PK in Honolulu. Here is a quick report.

First stay: There was a long line at check in. However, about 10 feet to the right of the line, there was a "Starwood Preferred Guest" sign. As a SPG member (Starwood Platinum), I went to the desk and stood by the sign. An agent told me to join the long line. I said I was Starwood Platinum, and that's why I was where I was. She said it did not matter, everyone had to stand in the same line. At this point, just having arrived after a long flight, I said rather irritably that they should remove the SPG sign then. She said that was a good idea, but did nothing. It was back to the long line for me.

At check-in, I was upgraded to a Deluxe Ocean on the 10th floor of the main building (the building that fronts the pool and sits across from the Moana). The room as small, but looked very neat and fresh -- I think it was recently renovated. Good views. Rest of the stay was fine. I realized I had not been offered a Platinum amenity, so I stopped by the desk later and asked for the "bottle of water and fruit" amenity. What appeared in the room was much nicer -- it was a full gift basket containing chocolates, fruit, etc -- very nice. Again at turn-down, we got another box of chocolates. Made me forget about the unpleasant check-in experience. Rest of the staff were all very nice.

A week later, I was back at the PK. This time I called the Platinum Concierge line in the morning and asked them if they could request the hotel to block a suite, which they did. Good! Check-in this time was much more pleasant -- I was given the "Palm Suite" on the 29th floor (top floor) of the tower building which is to the left of the main building. I again asked for the water and fruit amenity. The check-in agent was very pleasant and friendly.

Stepping into the room was like stepping back in time to 1970 or thereabouts. Typical 70's era colors, carpeting, and furnishings, which in today's world would be considered somewhat "tacky". A bit like how you would imagine Austin Powers's bedroom. But the views were to die for. A huge balcony, fantastic views. Made up for the room itself. It was a suite in that the wall between two standard rooms had been knocked down so there was one big room with a TV and dresser separating the sleeping area from the sitting area. As Austin Powers would say, the overall effect was "Groovy". This will be a really nice suite once Starwood upgrades the interiors like they appear to have done in the main building. Note that the Platinum amenity delivered this time was just a bottle of water and a piece of fruit. I guess the fancy gift basket we got the previous week was either a mistake, or an attempt to make-up for the unpleasant check-in experience!

Overall, I would stay at the PK again. Rates are very reasonable, especially if you use cash and points. You get to use all of the facilities at the Moana across the street if you want, so it is like a very cost-effective was of experiencing the Moana, and with much better views. The view of the Moana itself from the PK makes the view so much nicer! But Starwood really needs to figure out the purpose behind putting up the "SPG" signs at check-in, and then ignoring them.

[This message has been edited by Montys_Mayhem (edited 12-07-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Montys_Mayhem (edited 12-07-2002).]