Originally Posted by
robertw477
I was just at this hotel last night. As a plat I was not thrilled with the hotel charging me a $22 resort fee either. I wonder who are the people in management that think something like this makes sense. I had a pretty mediocre meal in the cafe at night. When I went for my continental breakfast I founf out that I was charged $4.00 for my orange juice which is not incouded since I had coffee. You must be kidding me. One thing that makes me unhappy is getting ripped off. I often go to pricey places but I always seem to find value in my travels. When I see things like this, they dont make sense. Plat is the highest status at SPG. I did not get any room upgrade and the rooms are pretty ordinary there. The property is nicer looking than the rooms. The internet works very poor as noted by others.
Either it was a bad few days at this hotel, or they have it in for folks from Florida!
I wrote SPG about the upgrade and resort fee. Regarding the upgrade, I was told that:
"As a Platinum member you are entitled to an upgrade to the best available room at check-in, including Standard Suites. Each hotel has a right to determine their Standard Suites. Upgraded Suites are not included."
I can understand why the Presidential Suite and Villas would not be available for upgrades, but I would think the Grand and Executive Suites would be. Apparently the hotel decided that the Junior Suite was the highest upgrade possible for Platinums. Or maybe it depends?
With respect to the resort fee:
"Resort fees are not complimentary and are paid by everyone regardless of their status level in the Starwood Preferred Guest program. Platinum member [sic] do receive free internet but if it is packaged in a resort fee the members are required to pay for it."
Interpretation: Internet is free for Platinums unless we're required to pay for it.
I don't mind paying a resort fee if I am actually getting something for it (for example, at the
W Retreat and Spa, Vieques). However, when it covers things like "golf bag storage" and "intra-resort transportation," it is, in my opinion, nothing more than a way for a hotel to pad its rates.