I guess my question would be this: do all people staying on this floor get complimentary drinks? AAEXP's experience seems to indicate otherwise.

I can send this thread to the SPG hotel coordinator for the property, but if it turns out no one gets free drinks, then that's the way it is. Some lounges just don't offer this benefit.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

Cast your vote! Visit www.freddieawards.com and choose your favorite frequent travel programs today.

Yes, here is a copy of an e-mail sent to me by the hotel before my arrival:

AAEXP seemed to indicate that the lounge hostess requested payment in error.
Staff on both morning and evening shifts actually had a list of guests allowed access to the Lounge, and next to their names an indication of whether they were to be charged or not. This in itself is a glaring indication that there are guests who are withheld the benefits that Lounge access itself would seem to grant. I really can't see the value of being allowed access to a Lounge whose sole benefit is to be able to watch others enjoy perks I am asked to pay for. Would it be considered a benefit to be allowed access to the other F & B outlets located in the hotel where I, or anyone walking through the venue's door, can pay for a meal or beverage?

My purpose in writing these comments is not to gain any type of compensation from the hotel or Starwood. In fact, I will gladly return the 1,000 points I was promised, but never asked for. My intent is simply to disclose this situation to future Platinum guests and to hope that Starwood will one day be able to make management fall into line with the majority of other fine Starwood properties that seem to be able to interpret the T & C as they were intended.

Okay, that's all I needed. The SPG hotel coordinator will be contacting the hotel. The 2005 SPG Program Guide is specific in stating, "Platinum members should receive the same services as a paying Executive Floor or Club Level Lounge guest receives during his/her stay."

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

Cast your vote! Visit www.freddieawards.com and choose your favorite frequent travel programs today.

I admit I was surprised to be charged, but did not think any more of it. But if you are PLT and PAID for the Executive Floor and still had to pay for drinks (gin & tonic and beer to be specific), I think the case is clear: Either they charged in error or this is standard policy, i.e. no one gets free drinks in the lounge.

BTW William, what has happened to the Platinum Amenity in LA? At my three most recent stays at the Sheraton Barra in Rio (June 2004 and February 2005 (twice)), no amenity was offered at check-in such as for instance the 500 miles and no amenity in room (February 2005). Has this been abolished or is this hotel just consistently not following policy?

The hotel is consistently not following policy apparently. I've had a rash of missing Platinum welcome amenity problems in LAD recently. I have the SPG hotel coordinator for the region working on it.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

Cast your vote! Visit www.freddieawards.com and choose your favorite frequent travel programs today.

Sheraton Montevideo - info please!
 

Considering a quasi mileage run with an e-fare in the next week. Would be staying here for 3 nights. Am SPG platinum. Interested in hotel info esp treatment of platinum.

Things to do would be helpful, safety for single woman, and transport from airport all would be helpful.

This is a very frustrating hotel. Despite platinum desk calling for me and asking the hotel directly I was given wrong info about the 2 things I asked about (transport from the airport and charge to internet).

Upon arrival when I asked about room was told I was given room I had purchased - asked about ug as Plat. "we have a new system and it's not linked with Starwood" - this despite a comment in the comment field that I receive a plat ug to suite if available. Surprise none available.

Room okay - told there is plat lounge and as I had not found this thread while search was down go there to find empty lounge, no canapes and a price list for drinks - NOTHING free not coffee, not water, well....except for welcome drink for coupon given at registration.

Go to breakfast in lounge next day - at end presented with a bill. Point out that my rate included breakfast (but confused that breakfast would be charged for anyway in the exec. lounge - and I was on an executive floor. Asked why there would not be a sign if breakfast wasn't free as there had been a sign about drinks - still not clear if I would have been charged if rate didn't include breakfast).

Ask next day about ug to suite (as I had been instructed to by check in agent) - conversation in Spanish btwn 2 agents - I get the feeling one is trying to ug me but the other one is nixing it - could be wrong but isn't it rude to speak in a language that I don't speak when they are quite fluent in English? Okay ug are a privlege not a right - go about my busines - get back to room late afternoon - hasn't been cleaned. At this point I ask to speak to a manager. Surprise - not only is a suite found (actually there were at least 2 b/c when I asked to make sure it was ns was told there were 2 and would have to check about ns). I had only asked that the various problems I had were corrected (eg room cleaned, etc.) but manager DID try to make it right.

So - this is a strange hotel. Staff is among the friendliest and most helpful I have experienced - bell boy, service in lounge, maid, but seems to be no quality control (eg no turn down no room made up).
Suites are nice but oddly located directly accross from the elevators so one hears the bells ringing, people talking... and often smoke coming in under the door as people apparently are smoking while waiting. (to be fair the bedroom is far enough away that the noise doesn't seem to get that far).

Prices for some things are in US dollars - which is odd (but found outside the hotel as well) and could lead to some confusion as the sign is the same - yes most of the time it is clear b/c the peso is 25 to the dollar - but the mini bar price was 5 dollars for a bag of chips I would have paid 20 US cents for so I could have thought 5 pesos was the actual price.

Discovered (outside the hotel) that Uruguay makes some VERY nice VERY inexpensive wines :)

The hotel is next to a big mall - and you can access it directly w/o going outside if the weather is bad. Best part of this is a supermarket (sort of hidden) where you could get wine or...... for good prices, but mostly that there is a food court including one with the typical wood fire barbeque which has nice food and a choice of eating in a serve yourself (no cover charge) or in a sit down restaurant - but the food is the same. (The last day I had some great fish - fresh and well done with chips, wine and wonderful tomatoe and onion salad all for less than US 6).

Oh....another good thing -even though spg.com says there is a tax of 14% it turns out that if you have foreign documents you don't have to pay it. A VERY pleasant surprise.

Updated Report
 

I'm just finishing up a one night stay at this hotel and was a bit apprehensive to book it based on the previous posts in the thread. Apparently SPG put some pressure to clean things up as we had a wonderful stay.

Upon check in we were informed that we were upgraded to a club suite, which ended up being a corner suite on the 20th floor. I was offered Plat Benefit of points without prompting and was told about evening canapes and breakfast and their hours.

The room has a wonderful view of the river and is quite spacious with a beautiful and large jacuzzi tub. There was also comp water in the room and as plat wifi or wired internet is free.

The club lounge is on the 23rd floor and juts out from the building giving a really great view of the river. The evening canape spread had a great selection and lasted from 6-10pm. It included red and white wine and sparkling wine.

Breakfast was also very good and included fruit, cheese and cold meats, smoked salmon, cereal and a variety of juices. They also had hot food: sausage, bacon, quiche and scrambled eggs.

I would have no hesitation recommending this hotel, the concerns of the previous posts seem to have all been corrected.

Any recent updates on this property? Also what is the best way to get to this hotel from MVD and what is the best way to get to Buquebus bus service from this hotel?

Recent update
 

While not that recent, I was there in January of this year with my family. I quite like the hotel and found it to be better than you average US Sheraton, but below your Asian Sheraton. We stayed in a regular club room, which was fairly large -- club lounge is actually pretty decent for breakfast.

Best way to get to the hotel is by taxi. And best way to return to the Buquebus terminal is by taxi. I do not recall the exact price, but it was not expensive ---

Enjoy Montevideo, it is a nice place for a few days.

Thanks for the update.

I have checked Taxi rates form MVD and it is about $50 USD. I think it is very expensive, unless the hotel website is incorrect.

This is probably too late to help you, but here are my two cents...

It's not a short distance to the hotel from the airport, and US$50 is the going rate. Unless you take a bus, which I have never looked into, I don't think there's much better.

I had a club level corner suite last time I was there - a quick weekend mileage/mattress run from SCL - and I was very impressed. Wrap-around view of the coast, comfortable sitting area, standard king bed but with a great view, and a very well-appointed and luxurious bathroom. I feel it was a good value for what I paid.

The hotel is very nice, and the lounge has a spectacular view, and is well attended. The breakfast is very good and more complete than I have found in other club lounges.

When there was no way I was going out in public after a night out on the town (which in Montevideo means ending at 6:00am or later), room service came through with one of the most complete in-room breakfasts I have ever seen.

The lobby bar is a bit uncomfortable - feels like a bit of an afterthought, but the service is excellent. The hotel is connected to a mall, which is quite convenient if you need anything, and the Movistar booth is obviously well-acquainted with foreigners buying cheap pre-paid phones, as they have all of the necessary information printed out and ready to hand over.

The staff were all very professional and very friendly, to the point of walking me down the block to show me where I could buy shaving cream instead of just pulling out a map and circling locations. I felt very welcomed and comfortable there.

Just completed a one night stay here on Sunday 11 August. Gold status recognized at check in and choice given of free Internet or 250 SPG points. Was given room on the 18th floor which is the designated SPG floor and with good views of the river. Very good water pressure/hot water availability. Ate at the Las Carretas hotel restaurant for dinner and was happy with the offerings. As mentioned earlier, the hotel is at attached to the Punta Carretas mall, which is probably the high end mall in town (Rolex dealer, other jeweler, Gap, Zara, etc etc). Note that chauffeur car to airport is $48 USD whereas regular taxi is $27 USD. I was in Montevideo for business and this place is well located for that purpose. Internet speed was acceptable.

I have walked thru this hotel and it appears to be fine. However, I have stayed a couple of times at the Four Points in the center of MVD. I find the center more convenient for sight-seeing. And it a nice hotel. Staff are great, rooms fine, etc. And within walking distance of many attractions.

Hi guys,

Will be here in a few days. Is the going rate for taxi from MVD to hotel still approx. 50$? Or is there a cheaper alternative?

Thanks!