Always ask. Write or fax (preferable method) Starwood with your request that they match your Marriott Rewards status. Generally, if you staying that frequently, they will match.

Another way to obtain Starwood Gold is the AA PLT deal. Check the 2003 AA PLT offers and they were offering Starwood Gold through 2/05.

While I have stayed at many great Marriott properties, I agree that some are slipping or just plain average. I redeemed the vacation reward from Marriott in 1999 and used the free week at Milan Marriott. For a 5 star rating, the rooms were extremely small, even by Euro standards, and the bed and pillows were rocks.

Fortunately, after much correspondance with hotel managers and Marriott HQ, they returned the 100,000 points to my account and offered to let me use a 7 night reward for those points at their Rome Marriott, which was great, especially since they were blacked out or no availability for that time. Also, the next trip to Milan, the manager upgraded us to a suite on the top floor even though we were paying a rediculously low weekend rate.

I have stayed at some Starwood properties that I did not feel were worth the extra cost-especially some of their Sheraton and Four Points.