We have stayed at Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront for the three-day weekend for the Rock-n-Roll Half-Marathon on 9/1/07-9/3/07. Booking it back in June, rates were quoted at $272 plus tax with a 3-night minimum. We were able to get a very helpful Scotland-based SPG rep who did her magic not only to overrule the 3-night minimum but also book it for points.

As others pointed out, the hotel is average but I disagree with it being old and tired. You could definitely see newer furniture, room upgrades, Sweet Sleeper beds and overall sprucing up that I think was done a year or so ago. As Gold, I was given breakfast coupons for each night (without prompting or asking) and a room upgrade to a partial ocean view (room on a side of the building where you could see the ocean from the balcony). The breakfast buffet was fairly average but one could order from the menu too.

The hotel is right on the beach and has two outdoor swimming pools (one with a kiddie area and a bar) and indoor pool with Jacuzzi. Also, you can rent bicycles, roller blades or beach umbrellas/chairs. Being located at 35th street, it is pretty much at the end of the “beach strip” and is about 2 miles from the 5th street location where the major events were held during the race weekend. Most of the time we walked but also took a trolley or a bus #30 ($1 each way) to get down there, which took a long time in very slow evening traffic.

Staff was very friendly and efficient. However, we had a surprise when we got home. We had two separate reservations - I had paid with points for the first night and my GF paid with points for the second night. What happened is “for our convenience” the hotel cancelled second reservation, changed the first reservation to two nights and charged me extra 7,000 points. None of this was communicated to us and when presenting two reservations, the front desk assured us that everything was “taken care of with points”. Two calls to SPG Customer service later, the point withdrawal was rectified. Otherwise, the stay was pleasant (we got to frolic with the dolphins one morning) and I might stay there again if in VA Beach.