Why am I staying in a Westin? Benefit desert...
#16
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Interesting experience - I stayed at the per diem government rate, though, of course, no breakfast other than the continental. Yes, you can't beat the location for easy evening dining.
#17
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We will just have to disagree. By my reckoning, my total Titanium Elite benefits at this property was access to a muffin cabinet. I can beat that at a Fairfield Inn. Your point that other hotels or stays might be better is fair, that was indeed the whole point of the thread, to learn if this were the case. Rant? Yes, at least one in this thread.
#18
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I agree with the OP. As a former 100+ night spger and then a Marriot person, the failure to manage Westins and Sheratons was a huge failure by spg. Westin was hit or miss in the US, some good, some atrocious. Sheratons in the US pretty consistently sucked with a few exceptions.
Elite benefits were also inconsistent at these chains.
The W, LM and StR were the high points of the spg life, but beyond that it was the wild west. (And dont get me started on US Four Points )
Elite benefits were also inconsistent at these chains.
The W, LM and StR were the high points of the spg life, but beyond that it was the wild west. (And dont get me started on US Four Points )
#19
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Cheers.
#21
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Hotel excluding suites from upgrades (JW Guanacasta Costa Rica)
Man - based on that thread, apparently every single JW in the chain must exclude Titaniums from upgrades!!!
SMH at the logic in this thread
Man - based on that thread, apparently every single JW in the chain must exclude Titaniums from upgrades!!!
SMH at the logic in this thread
#22
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Hotel excluding suites from upgrades (JW Guanacasta Costa Rica)
Man - based on that thread, apparently every single JW in the chain must exclude Titaniums from upgrades!!!
SMH at the logic in this thread
Man - based on that thread, apparently every single JW in the chain must exclude Titaniums from upgrades!!!
SMH at the logic in this thread
it doesn't need to be a spg vs Marriott argument to recognize the shortcomings of each brand.
#23
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Sheraton was pretty inconsistent. The stepchild of Starwood esp in the US. But no more than a Marriott to me. Either nice and renovated with M Clubs or something straight out of the 1980s. Legacy or new Marriott branding. And yes breakfast in lounges on weekends...except for the growing exception list.
Having stayed at more Westins than any other Starwood brand, 60-70, yes they were consistent with a common brand identity and aesthetic. Focus on wellness and fitness. Contemporary but not too trendy. Etc. I always sought them out and was rarely disappointed.
Having stayed at more Westins than any other Starwood brand, 60-70, yes they were consistent with a common brand identity and aesthetic. Focus on wellness and fitness. Contemporary but not too trendy. Etc. I always sought them out and was rarely disappointed.
#24
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Cheers.
#25
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"New" Marriott is worse than either program was before. Can we move on now, and stop rehashing an argument that's been beaten beyond death in literally dozens (hundreds?) of threads before?
#26
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
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I was naively swayed toward the breakfast by the idea that I could trade points for breakfast, which made me assume (incorrectly) that breakfast would be better than a lounge, Otherwise, as I said, what's the point? Turned out there was, indeed, no point - if they have a lounge, take the points and go to it. I know that now.
For 2 people over 2 nights we saved USD $120/$140 in exchange for $5-$10 dollars worth of points! The breakfast buffet at the St. Regis Bora Bora made the USD $169 lunch for 2 a little easier to swallow. The Marriott Santiago provided an upgrade to a full suite, great breakfast in the Restaurant AND points on a 6 night stay, 4+1 nights on points and 1 paid night.
Don't discount the value of restaurant breakfast. It will almost always be better value than taking the points, and you can still use the lounge!
James
#27
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This picture is off topic for Westin, but this was my St. Regis Titanium Appreciation Gift.
James
#28
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Thanks, FfF, that's a good tip. I mostly just show up except on those rare occasions I have the SO along, then I try harder (with decent success).
This was not my experience at the two properties I mention, Sheraton LAX and HSV Westin - the "elite" breakfast was the pastry cabinet, with an upcharge for the buffet breakfast. I assumed it would be as you describe but was told otherwise when I arrived at the restaurant. I suppose the difference in full price buffet and upcharge buffet would have amounted to a decent return on the points, to be fair--but nothing like the $120 you cite, more like $10 a day.
This was not my experience at the two properties I mention, Sheraton LAX and HSV Westin - the "elite" breakfast was the pastry cabinet, with an upcharge for the buffet breakfast. I assumed it would be as you describe but was told otherwise when I arrived at the restaurant. I suppose the difference in full price buffet and upcharge buffet would have amounted to a decent return on the points, to be fair--but nothing like the $120 you cite, more like $10 a day.
#29
Join Date: Nov 2001
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#30
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
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Thanks! I still got 33K points for 2 nights, breakfast buffet included. The complimentary Champagne was USD $43.50 a GLASs in the restaurant. Cocktail of the day $29.00. Definitely expensive, but a nice finish to an 8-day cruise through French Polynesia. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.
Ok, back to the thread topic....
James
Ok, back to the thread topic....
James