Was looking for something for next week, and prices were just silly. Ended up using points at the Westin.

Westin New York Times Square [Master Thread]
 

Hey Everyone. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on this:

I booked a family vacation for 8 of us to go to NYC for a few days in December. Unfortunately, 2 of our members backed out leaving us with an extra room at the Westin Times Square on the nights of the 18th and 19th.

Since I was on a special Buy 1 Get 1 Free rate, the cost of the room was $369 + Taxes for the two nights TOTAL. Considering this and most every other hotel in NYC is sold out for this time, this nets out to about $200 per night including taxes.

Because it was a Buy 1 get 1 free rate, it was fully prepaid. Is there any way I can get them to refund the room or give me a voucher for a future stay? Or, perhaps, is there anyone interested in taking over this room for me? I am SPG Plat, so can get the room upgraded to at least club or a suite.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

There's only one way to find out about a refund or a voucher - give the hotel a call and find out. Good luck. ^

Regarding your offer of someone taking over the room, I'm not sure that this is the proper forum for that - but I'd be surprised if you could get a suite for your own room even as a Platinum at the Westin, muchless for the other members of your party or a stranger who might take over your room. Club Level Room Availability is also hit or miss - I actually prefer the higher floors - I'd be surprised if they give you club access for any of the rooms except for your own personal room.

Thanks very much for the advice!
I called and had no luck cancelling the room. Since all members of my family are SPG Plat, there is one Plat # for each room, so all roomsbe upgraded. I think that even if there is no available suite, we are guaranteed club access at the very least. I obviously don't want to get in trouble for trying to cheat anyone, I just figured I could fill an empty room at a pretty good rate if it worked out that way. Thanks!

This sounds like something for Coupon Connection and not *wood Forum. For housekeeping purposes I'm closing this thread.

ldsant
*wood Moderator

Westin New York Times Square [Master Thread]
 

ok -after the pricing mistake on the web site :), i have finally agreed to a deal with the westin at times sq - its for a junior suite

anyone have opinions of this room? they say it will be on the club level and free gym access.

thank you!

Hi Allen, I just checked into the Westin Time Square.... and as a platinum got upgraded to a junior suites... All of the junior suites are located in room numbered XX10 of each floor...There's one suite per floor.

Basically, the room is divided into two - with a television cabinet separating the two sides of the room righ down the middle. On one side of the room is one sofa and 2 side/arm chairs. There is large tv facing the sofa. - This part of the room has no windows. One the other side of the room is the Bed, work table, and a large window. The entire room is about 40% larger than the regular room (which I have also stayed in).

The bathroom is about twice as large as the regular room . however, it doesnt include anymore amenities...

It's an ok room, nothing special about it. i prefer the corner rooms at this hotel..

As for access to lounge on the 8th floor and gym, I dont know if it pertains to suites... As a platinum, I get access.

Westin New York Times Square [Master Thread]
 

Tried to book Westin TS room online using points for one night in May whle it's still listed as Category 4, but it said no rooms available. However, traditional (standard) rooms are available at an internet prepaid rate. Called SPG and was told these rooms are not in their inventory, so they cannot book it. Told me to call hotel directly, who also said they have no rooms left to book, for pay or for points. Here's the kicker - if I extended my stay to 2 nights, website says there are rooms that can be booked regularly, without using a prepaid rate. This sounds like someone is not following the rules. Any ideas as to what might have happened? I am new to this forum.
Thanks.

It sounds as if there might be a minimum length of stay requirement, which would apply as equally to award rooms as it would paid rooms.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

I agree with the previous poster.

The junior suites are not that impressive at Westin TS. The entertainment center that divides the room in half holds 2 tv. However, because the TVs are literally opposite of each other, the remote controls both TV. It is quite ANNOYING. For instance, I tried to turn on one of the TVs close to bed by hand, then I watch it from bed. When I pressed the power button to turn it off, it turned off, but the TV facing the sofa turned on. Then I pressed the button again, and the TV facing the soda turned off, but the TV facing me turned on! I WAS SO ANNOYED!!!!

Anyway, the sofa also doubles as a pull out sofa bed.

Quite honestly, the junior suites are not on the good side of the building. It is away from the sun so the rooms are dark and depressing. Also, the JS only have 2 small windows like regular rooms but you have a lot of extra space (bad design).

SPG website shows the WRONG picture of the junior suites. They show it as a corner room having panoramic view - WRONG!! Those suites with many windows are the presential/renewal suites showed on the Apprentice. Also, the JS's do NOT have panoramic view. I remember I was SO upset when I arrived at the hotel to find out that was the JS I was getting. :td: :td:

Anyway, I think a standard wonderful corner room at W Times Square beats Westin TS JS hands down.

Also, the club floors are 8-11? or something like that. They are located at the lower half of the hotel. The lower floor rooms can get VERY noisy because of Times Square. I would ask for a high floor

No minimum stay for Internet prepaid rate
 

Thanks for the quick response, William. But if there were a minimum stay, which seems highly unlikely as every other night that week is available on a single-night basis, it still wouldn't explain how I can book a traditional room for Tuesday, May 16 using the Internet prepaid rate, but not using award points. Is it permissable to book two nights using points, then call up and cancel the second night, and just be charged points for the first night?

a room with a view
 

Last year As a plantinum, I remember being upgraded to a corner JS on very high floor. It's so high you can see as far as the statue of liberty over the Hudson river and downtown..

Don't remember the floor or the room number. If I find the folio. I'll post it here.

A very few of the Junior Suites have windows in both parts. But I couldn't figure out which ones (I did see one once though).

Why don't you just call SPG and ask them to book the night for you? Then, they'll be able to tell you what's going on.

Did you try calling and asking if you could use points for an upgraded room? We stayed there two weeks ago, on our first call the only rooms we could get were at the Sheraton Manhattan and one of the W's, can't remember which but the reviews were not that great. We called back and specifically asked about upgraded room at the Westin and got one for 11k which was better than 16k for W.