Originally Posted by pgary
Our real difference is in how much we will pay for lodging. If I were to stay in Phonix, I would look for a Motel 6 or similar. If I am staying in a foreign country, I prefer guest houses or local family run hotels. I understand that business travelers may need they type of room offered by Starwood, Hilton, and the like. But I am not a business traveler. I travel to experience local cultures when they are different than mine, and local scenery and places of interest outside of my lodging. The only thing I do in my lodgings is sleep and bathe.
And how much do you think the Motel 6 in Phoenix would cost? Next weekend it's $63.99 plus tax. Three nights would cost you $215. That is still $40 more than the cost of the SGP points to get a free room at the Sheraton. I think I would rather stay at the Sheraton for $40 less.
I do agree, though, that if you don't mind staying in a concrete block room the size of a jail cell (my last and only experience at a Motel 6), you aren't an SPG person and shouldn't bother staying there.