factory81

Hardlyyyyy.

kymbakitty

I was kind of looking forward to the Exec Lounge at the Hilton, but we aren't going to have any lounges at any of the hotels in Venice, Bologna, CT, or San Gimi, so it's obviously not that important. But for 3 nights, and the last leg of our trip, I think location is more important. And I do not have enough points for St. Regis. I am trading 156,000 Marriott Points just to get 52,000, so my 3rd night will have to be C&P.

Do you know if we have to decide between internet and the breakfast? You get both as Platinum Marriott, but from what I can tell, I think I have to pick one. Still learning the ropes for Starwood properties.

Can someone confirm?

Thank you!

Starwood Lurker

Platinum members get the highest speed internet as a part of their published benefits.

While you will find many permutations of how complimentary breakfast is delivered over the brands, the published benefit says that you can chose Continental breakfast as one of your welcome amenity choices in lieu of Starpoints or a local amenity.

kymbakitty

The breakfast option is quite diversified throughout the Marriott properties as well. I just know them like the back of my hand. SPG is new to me.

I just turned 190,000 Marriott Points into 60,000 SPG. Ouch. That hurt. I hope the 3 nights at the Westin Florence is worth forfeiting 190k Marriott points....I do not think I have ever "spent" 190k Marriott points on an entire week worldwide, let alone 3 nights.

Fingers crossed....

Thanks again.

Starwood Lurker

No worries. SPG members in this forum try to keep a wiki on what specific properties are doing. You will find it in this thread.

I found this there as related to this property:

"Italy
Florence - Westin Excelsior, Florence: Full buffet, including made-to-order eggs, pancakes and waffles, as well as sausages, potatoes, cold meats, cheeses, fruits, pastries and breads. Reported that it was extended to a child (third person) in the same room. Also Prosecco/Sparkling wine included."


This is above and beyond what is expected of them, so keep in mind that this information can be subject to change.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

pwrshift

Unless my calculation of $0.0125 per MR point (value when purchasing) is wrong, the nights should be worth more than the total of $2,375 USD. (190,000 x .0125) to justify use of points. I've found many cases where it's cheaper than this analysis to pay cash and earn points.

kymbakitty

Yeah, I realize that I am "spending" way more points than I would normally. For Marriott/Hilton, my cut off is typically around $250.

This late in the game, the rooms are upwards of 377 Euro per night, so while it is not even almost close to a decent swap, we are not prepared to pay over $1,250 for these last 3 nights of our trip. Also, I am surprised that they even had inventory available for points! I was using points at the Hilton in Florence, but opted to try the Westin given the ability to transfer Marriott points. I just think it would be a great place to end our holiday in Florence.

Not the best use of points, but I think I would regret not staying there. Plus I do want to see what it's like to be Platinum with Starwood before I lose it in 2017. I am bordering on Gold/Platinum with Marriott in 2017. Probably like the other programs...Gold/Platinum are pretty interchangeable (with Gold's walking in moments before you and snagging awesome upgrades).

Fingers crossed....

5DMarkIIguy

Have you checked out the nights & flight with Marriott? The 5 nights option will work great with the 190k Marriott points.

If you do the 3rd night free at westin florence, it's usually under 300/night. 190k for 3 nights at westin is a really bad value.

spellbound2

We stayed here recently here and loved the Platinum breakfast amenity. You can have eggs any way you like cooked to order and they have endless drinks, fruit, pastries, etc. One thing you should be aware of is the renovation did not include carpeting in the 5th floor rooms so if you are staying on the 4th floor and the guest above you is loud with furniture or up at all hours it is very loud and noisy. The location is great though and I hope you have a good stay.

margarita girl

I stayed at this hotel last week for one night (second night was at the St Regis across the piazza) to celebrate crossing my LT Plat status the previous week. Stunning hotel and I was lucky to be able to check in at 10 am. I applied a SNA but hotel was very full so it did not clear. However, I was upgraded to a penthouse room with foyer, dressing area, huge bathroom and large outdoor terrace overlooking the Arno. Weather was perfect to enjoy the complimentary bottle of red while enjoying the sunshine and the view of the river.

Buffet breakfast with made to order eggs was very good, typical European buffet.

Even though the hotel is historic, the room décor was very nice and modern.

slidergirl

Ignore this.

Go for the Westin. You are paying partly for it's location, right on the Arno River in the historical part of Florence. 2 bridges up from the Ponte Vecchio. A very short walk to the Academia, the Ufizzi. A very nice and safe area to walk around at night. Sesto at the Westin is a great place to have an evening drink - a rooftop bar overlooking Florence.

The Hilton is out in the boonies and i've never heard a good thing about it. I even bypassed staying there on an employee discount.

The only Marriott property is the AC, I believe. It's on the wrong side of Florence past the train station, so you'd have more real estate to travel to get to the historical district.

If your only concern is money and points, if it adds up, do the Marriott. But, if you want a classic hotel with a gorgeous location, take the Westin.

deac83

Agree with all of the positive posts on this property. We had a 2 night award stay and were lucky enough to get 2 suite nights applied to them. Service is great, front desk staff escorted us to our room for example.

Location is hard to beat. Great breakfast. It was nice to have high expectations and have the hotel exceed them.

merrickdb

I'm currently in-house at this property. I've been shocked to find service among the worst I've ever encountered at a Starwood property, and I don't say that lightly. In addition to not getting an upgrade above a standard room, I've been outright lied to and made to feel somewhat like a criminal.

I booked a single deluxe room on a fairly good (and legitimately-used) corporate rate. SPG.com and the Platinum call center showed Deluxe (the standard room at the property), premium deluxe, premium deluxe river view, and junior suites available before and after I checked in.

At check-in, I asked about an upgrade and the agent said she only had interior view rooms available, but she'd moved things around and give me a view of the square. I asked if that was a deluxe or premium deluxe and she said deluxe. After getting drinks (and before getting the keys), I mentioned seeing more availability and really wanting a larger room. The said the manager was moving rooms around to get me a larger room. She came back and handed me what she claimed was keys for my new room, 246. I mentioned this was the same room number she'd given me before. She insisted I had 248 before and claimed the doorman was moving my bags as we spoke. I assured her I had previously been assigned 246, as I'd already charged F&B to the room. She called the F&B outlet in front of me to check what room I'd charged to, and they advised her it was 246. I've also since learned the hotel doesn't even have a room 248. She continued to insist she'd moved me to a better room and that 246 was a premium room despite it being the very room number in the photos of a standard room on SPG.com (nevermind that SPG showed premium river view rooms and junior suites available too).

An SPG Platinum reservation agent was super helpful and spoke to the property, but wasn't able to get anywhere (other than the offer that they'd look for another room tomorrow).

After SPG called the front desk agent, the agent adopted an incredibly negative attitude, saying I should be thankful to have been upgraded from a single room to a king room and asking if I wanted her to show me the single room I booked. She did offer to try move me tomorrow, however.

In addition to the room allocation issue, I was at the check-in desk with an American friend, who's staying at a different hotel. The front desk agent was very insistent on getting a copy of my friend's passport, which my friend wasn't carrying with her. I tried to explain that my friend wasn't staying with me, and the agent said it didn't matter and snidely added that, "there are rules you need to follow, thankfully."

Upon my return to the hotel, before even entering the hotel, the doorman told me I had to accompany him to reception immediately. He walked me to the agent who advised him she'd already spoken to me about the passport issue and I was allowed to go to my room.

Between the agent's comments and the doorman escort, I felt like I was being treated like I was a criminal and that the hotel was (very wrongly) assuming I was trying to bring a prostitute into my room or something of the sort. Far from the treatment you'd expect for what's supposed to be a five-star hotel!

Forstbetrieb

strange...

dingo

Agree, strange. This hotel typically excels, both here and in all of my personal stays. I have had similar situations to the one you describe in which rooms appear to be bookable online but no upgrade is extended either using SNA's or just at the desk. When I've raised it, the lurkers and others have defended it as actually being possible. I don't buy it personally, but...