Best 25k (Category 4) and 35k (Category 5) Hotels (General Discussion)
Feb 17, 2020, 10:45 pm
#76
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Platinum, IHG Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 81
One of my favorite category 4 Hotels is the Springhill Suites Laguardia -- I am usually traveling to NYC to visit family and the hotel is usually $150-$250 a night (unless there is a nearby concert, in which case teh rates go through the roof). Parking is $20/day; the rooms are generally larger then anything you can find in Manhattan and driving into the city on the weekend is no big deal and street parking isn't as hard to find as you'd imagine. It's a great base to visit family in the city and out in Long Island and there are some fantastic restaurants in Queens too.
I'll hang onto my old marriott card as long as this hotel stays a Category 4 because I'm usually doubling the value of my annual fee. Also, one silver lining for me with the category changes is that Fairfield Inn and Suites Laguardia is shifting DOWN from Category 5 to Category 4, so I now have even MORE options to use it in the area.
That hotel is also reasonable. Rooms are smaller compared to Springhill Suites, but in line with what I've seen in other NYC hotels. Also, parking is free there.
I'll hang onto my old marriott card as long as this hotel stays a Category 4 because I'm usually doubling the value of my annual fee. Also, one silver lining for me with the category changes is that Fairfield Inn and Suites Laguardia is shifting DOWN from Category 5 to Category 4, so I now have even MORE options to use it in the area.
That hotel is also reasonable. Rooms are smaller compared to Springhill Suites, but in line with what I've seen in other NYC hotels. Also, parking is free there.
Feb 18, 2020, 5:10 am
#77
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
We spent five days and wished we had spent more. The breakfast is superb and the location hard to beat.
If you add in day trips - any of Bruges, Liege, Ypres/Flanders, Antwerp, Brussels (which also has some good Cat5s) to name a few - you could spend a magnificent seven days.
If you add in day trips - any of Bruges, Liege, Ypres/Flanders, Antwerp, Brussels (which also has some good Cat5s) to name a few - you could spend a magnificent seven days.
Feb 18, 2020, 8:18 am
#78
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,657
Looking forward to your report. We saw the property when we were in the area in October but I felt like it had an odd location right across the street from the El Paseo shopping center parking garage and it seemed more business oriented than touristy....building looked like it could have been planned as a FI but just with a different logo on the building.
Feb 18, 2020, 8:43 am
#79
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,864
Feb 18, 2020, 9:11 am
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,898
Just used a 1-4 TP for a week at the Four Points, Central Park in Sydney, Australia in January. There's only 2 options for a Cat. 1-4 in Sydney, and this location turned out to be great.
Note that the restaurant serves breakfast, but dinner is really limited to the bar. Happy hour with $1AUD oysters and cheap cocktails was a good choice before eating somewhere nearby.
- 3 stops from the airport on the train.
- Near University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), so dozens of affordable food options, but also a quick walk to higher end shops and restaurants.
- 30 minute walk to the Harbour and Quay, or 10 minutes on train from nearby station.
- Public transport to Bondi or Coogee for the walk between the two was easy as well.
Note that the restaurant serves breakfast, but dinner is really limited to the bar. Happy hour with $1AUD oysters and cheap cocktails was a good choice before eating somewhere nearby.
Feb 18, 2020, 9:39 am
#81
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
Feb 18, 2020, 10:01 am
#82
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: PHX, ICN
Programs: OZ Diamond Plus, Marriott Gold
Posts: 502
Feb 18, 2020, 1:13 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Mar 12, 2021, 4:33 pm
#84
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
Hey everyone, we have 2 cat 1-4 one-week partial packages left that we need to use (could use both together for 4 adults). We will be vaccinated by the time we use these, but given covid restrictions currently, we are having a hard time trying to find a good place to go for a solid week. I don't trust Marriott to extend these past 8/1/21, so just need to get something booked. We're based in DFW so always enjoy getting away to mountains, beach, or water. We've been to most major/large cities in the US and don't need to go back for a whole week. Always prefer international travel but seems iffy at best except a few nearby spots, which is really disappointing because that was our plan to get good value out of these packages. If US travel, prefer West coast to East coast.
Any suggestions from previous TP bookings you all have done? Reading through this whole thread, many of the places listed are off-limits for now.
Some ideas so far:
Any suggestions from previous TP bookings you all have done? Reading through this whole thread, many of the places listed are off-limits for now.
Some ideas so far:
- Colorado Springs - Mountains & Breweries. Colorado Springs Marriott looks like best property.
- Mendoza - No idea if Argentina will open up, but Sheraton Mendoza would be great for wining & dining for a week.
- Bali - Many great cat 3 & 4 properties, but seems very unlikely that Indonesia borders will be open.
- Florida - Many places, don't know where to begin. Surely there a decent beach location.
Mar 13, 2021, 11:09 am
#85
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Marriott Titanium -> United Silver
Posts: 937
Does anyone have any opinions on using certs at Sheraton Princess Kaiulani in Honolulu? I'm a Platinum, so not sure what kind of upgrade I could expect since the property doesn't have suites but appears to have several room types.
Mar 15, 2021, 1:25 pm
#87
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 1,982
I enjoy the Hotel Straf in Milan. I believe they are a category 5. The breakfast isn't bad, and the location in my opinion cannot be beat. You are close to the Duomo, the contemporary art museum, la scala is walking distance, and also, if you or your travel companion love shopping, La Rinascente cannot be beat. Just typing this makes me want to go back to Milano....
Mar 15, 2021, 1:56 pm
#88
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
I enjoy the Hotel Straf in Milan. I believe they are a category 5. The breakfast isn't bad, and the location in my opinion cannot be beat. You are close to the Duomo, the contemporary art museum, la scala is walking distance, and also, if you or your travel companion love shopping, La Rinascente cannot be beat. Just typing this makes me want to go back to Milano....