Originally Posted by
Matt4200
Those properties get their Category placement due to location, nothing more. My expectations for Category 3 and 4 are pretty high, 90% of our stays are at Cat 1 and 2 so staying above that they need to really “Wow” us.
First it’s in the middle of nowhere for us to get food or anything it’s about 30 minutes.
Second cash rates are often $120-$150.
Third my standard for 15k (Cat 4) would be somewhere like Manchester Grand Hyatt, and even there I would rarely pay 15k. I have multiple bookings for 2024 and 2025 there for 12k. I wouldn’t even pay 12k to stay at The Welk. I have several stays at HR Mission Bay booked for 9k points a night and I’ve cancelled many of them as I don’t find it to be worth it. So those are my standards.
I’d say use your FNA at HR La Jolla if you’re in SoCal.
So is the biggest issue with the Welk the location or is the property itself kind of bad? I was thinking the rooms in the pictures look pretty nice and being all suites, decent sized. What about Welk fell short of the Manchester? I have been there so I would be able to compare.
For us, the location isn't going to be an issue as we are going to be coming off a week of theme parks in LA so my wife is looking for a place to unwind and just veg. Will probably buy some groceries from Costco to eat. Minimal traveling to sight-see will be required haha, and they seem to have stuff the kids might like to do.
Definitely was thinking of the HR La Jolla, but no award availability for the nights I was looking at in early June. And the rack rate for the Welk was 300+ so I thought that made it worth using points there. Seems like all of San Diego area is filling up for that weekend.