beone

I am currently looking to book 2 nights in SF via points and SNA. As almost all of them are Cat6/Cat7, I don't mind which one to go to point-wise. Which one would you guys recommend in terms of Benefits for a Titanium Elite (regarding Breakfast, Lounge, etc.), and for SNA awards? Are any Spa's included in any of them?

yyzflyer

We recently vacationed in San Francisco, spread over 5 different Marriott properties. SNA's were requested, but denied at all. The only full Titanium recognition was at the Marquis - a wonderful hotel with a great lounge that I would gladly stay at again. No upgrades at any other and only token recognition, including breakfast vouchers at one, $20 daily food credit at another and the ubiquitous 1000 points at another. Our final stay included lounge access, but evening food and beverage service was "pay-as-you-go" at prices higher than the hotel bar next to the lounge for the same items in a much more pleasant environment. Effectively only breakfast was actually included.

Kacee

Not sure I've ever seen those words together in a single sentence.

flyingeph12

As far as I know, the only Marriott hotels in SF with spas are the St. Regis and Ritz—coincidentally, the two Cat 7 properties. Between those two, elite recognition will almost certainly be better at the St. Regis, given that there is limited elite recognition at Ritz Carlton's. With regards to the St. Regis, you might want to look into a Luxury Privileges rate (booked through an affiliated agent). The rate is equal to the BAR but usually comes with some sort of credit—a lot of times it's a F&B credit, but sometimes it's a spa credit. (Nvm, you're using points.)

With regards to the Cat 6 properties, if you absolutely want a lounge, one of the Marriotts (Marquis, Union Square, or JWM) will probably the way to go (although I think the JWM's lounge is closed on weekends). Of those three, I might actually choose the Marquis for the location, and the lounge at the Marquis is probably the best of the three. Personally, I would probably go with either the Meridien or the Palace. The elite recognition at the Meridien is usually quite good (I usually get at least a studio suite), and breakfast in the restaurant is good (it's a continental breakfast or $16 towards anything on the menu). The elite recognition at the Palace is probably not as great in terms of getting room upgrades, although I don't know if using an SNA will change things. In my opinion, breakfast in Palm Court is a treat (and you can upgrade from the continental to the full buffet for a few dollars); you can also use the breakfast benefit for in-room dining in my experience.

yyzflyer

I know there were mixed reviews on this place and was hesitant to book. However, treatment from check-in to check-out - where a manager shook my hand and thanked me for staying, was second to none. Upgraded to a large, newly renovated "view" room without SNA clearing and the M-Lounge was the best I've encountered to date in North America. Full dinner was served, top-shelf wine was reasonably priced and seating layout was excellent given it being quite full. Breakfast also very complete and high quality. We stayed one night, but wished it had been longer. They even sent us back to our airport hotel in their limo for less than we'd paid for Supershuttle to get into town in the first place.

Of the five properties we used in SF this was the only one that didn't "nickel-and-dime" on elite benefits. YMMV.

WillBarrett_68

I've stayed at nearly every bonvoy property in SF, and I've honestly never felt nickled-and-dimed though admittedly I'm not trying to max out every benefit so I may have been squeezed on something I haven't realized. The lounge at the Marquis is definitely nice and easily the best in SF. But I still dislike the property overall. It's just soooooo big. It feels like being lost in a warehouse.

Kacee

The demand for hotel rooms is so high in SF these days, the properties have little need to go the extra mile for elites. I also think that, much like NYC, the properties are simply overwhelmed by the number of elites. I saw a lounge access list at JW on a Saturday morning that was two pages long in tiny print. (JW btw was a property that I felt made little effort. The property has great bones (originally Pan Pacific) and it's a shame it's now run as a convention mill.)

That said, I've felt LM and W have treated me well in recent stays.

And points are a great value when the room rates climb above $600 a night, as they frequently do these days.

andrewstahl

HookEm

rickg523

If it's not otherwise occupied, why wouldn't they accept payment for a ride to the airport?

flyingeph12

I need to learn what you're doing—I guess it's because you're an Ambassador and I'm only Titanium. I usually get upgraded to a deluxe or grand deluxe, and once to a junior suite.

bhrubin

Repeat guests have a lot of value to any hotel; repeat Ambassador guests have probably the highest priority value to any hotel short of a true celebrity guest.

Ambassador status alone usually means I'm treated like a VIP guest at almost every luxury brand hotel where I stay. Premium brands do it almost as well, but (not surprisingly) not as well as the luxury brand hotels on average.

yyzflyer

I don't make mistakes like that. It was definitely the Marquis; they had two SUV limos - a Caddy and a Suburban parked curbside. I asked the bellman to summon a taxi for the ride to the Airport Marriott and he said "why not take our limo for the same price?". We did and it was very nice. It was not free, but only slightly more than the SuperShuttle we'd used to get downtown at the start of the trip - so very comparable to a taxi for the same distance.

Adelphos

Kacee

Demolition would be nice