nas6034

I'm not a platinum. I'm asking how it works, if it works, with the SPG AMEX BIZ that provides Sheraton lounge access.

ralphs

Is the standard room at JW really cheaper than Sheraton Towers rooms? It looks like an implicit assumption in your post, but I just want to double check that this is actually the case.

I don't know if they actually recognize this benefit at Sheraton HK. Should they? Probably. But I don't really know if they do.

TennisNoob

@Check-in simply present the card to show proof they should give you lounge access. If they don't give SPG an call and it'll be fixed.

It's amazing whenever I'm at sheratons I over hear the person checking in next to me arguing about this policy w/ the FD agent. I feel SPG should be better informing there properties about this as it's been quite some time now.

machineblue

Planning a 3 day stay here in March and am looking for a little guidance on the best/cheapest upgrade path to a nice tower room. We are bringing a friend and showing her HK for the first time, so we want to try for a view room if possible.

Correct me if i am wrong, but it is my understanding that we can book a basic "Superior room" in the main hotel and then upgrade to the "Tower Deluxe" via Pts/HK$. Once that paid upgrade is processed are we precluded from further Platinum upgrades from there, i.e. for a "harbor view"?

We have SNA's as well, but it seems like probably not the best property to spend those.

SHLTP

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machineblue

Thanks. This is pretty much what i thought. I was just curious if i should proactively reach out to the hotel prior to the 5 day timeframe and see if they will offer a tower room for pts (2500) and then hope for a Plat upgrade to a better view room at check in.

SHLTP

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Happy

Unless you need the stay credit at SPG otherwise I would suggest you book the standard, double-bedded room at JWM instead. The double-bedded room is sold as standard room like the king bed room but the size of double-bedded room is 4 to 5 sq meters bigger and they are all corner rooms. Each floor has 2 such rooms at 2 corners and 2 twice as big suites on the remaining 2 corners of the floor.

We just finished a 5th night free redemption in JW by transferring 60K SPG pts over to Marriott. Based on the suggestion on Marriott forum (someone even dug up a floor plan to show me), I specified double-bedded room in my booking. At Marriott bed types are guaranteed even for gold, as well as lounge access. We got a room on the 34th floor the same floor of the 2nd level of the 2-level lounge, facing the ocean with the opening between buildings, that we can see IC HKG on the Kowloon side. It also allowed us watching the CNY firework display shot up from 2 out of the 3 barges. In the lounge dining area you can also see 2 out of the 3, such as if the barges are numbered as 1, 2, 3, we see 1 and 2, and from lounge dining area you can see 2 and 3. In the TV viewing room of the lounge you can see all 3 barges.

Lounge offers breakfast, afternoon tea and evening drinks with substantial foods. Much better than the Conrad lounge.

There is no construction anywhere near the JW. So I gather the other poster refers to the construction by Renaissance which is in Marriott family but it is not named Marriott. People in Marriott forum tend to call Ren for Renaissonce brand. Rooms in Ren are much smaller though.

Admiralty location is super convenient as it is the hub for metro system. For native HKGers we much prefer the Island side than the Kowloon side for the quality of living. With the metro it takes no time for you from Admiralty to get to TST if that is your preferred location.

Personally I think the SPG to Marriott transfer ratio has open up some great opp to redeem premium Marriott properties.

kamchatsky

I am looking at staying 5 nights at Hong Kong. Last time I stayed at Sheraton Towers Room using 58000 points, and paid cash upgrade to Towers Suite, which was fantastic, as I enjoyed the breakfast at Oyster Bar as well as Cafe downstairs.

However, with the merger with Marriott, I can use 60000 SPG points to stay 5 nights at JW Marriott. I am Gold for both of SPG and Marriott now.

Can anyone advise whether JW Marriott is much better than Sheraton HK Towers? I am tempted to try it out as I have never tried a JW before. I will be travelling with myself, wife, and 2 small kids (age 5 and 2).

ironmanjt

Ambassador here, have been staying the last 4 years at the W, but considering branching out for an upcoming 3 night stay.

Typically, Ambassador at the W gets me a slightly larger room, a free welcome drink and....it's on top of the mall. That's about it.

Can I expect more from the Sheraton? It's also 12,000 points instead of 20,000 points, so that's a huge sell to me...

SHLTP

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ironmanjt

Perfect, this really helps. To save 24,000 SPG points, and see a part of the city that I usually don't spend much time in, I think I may go with the Sheraton this time. Any Ambassadors have experience with "above platinum" treatment?

ralphs

TST is definitely more interesting (to me) than the Elements/West Kowloon area. I would call your Plat Concierge to see if you can book directly into a towers room. (I'm not familiar with Ambassador so I can't advise there)

I'm still dreaming about the sheng jian bao (pan fried soup buns) I had around the corner over there:
https://wongeatshongkong.wordpress.c...eung-hing-kee/
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-china-blog-35259633 (note the move to TST has been completed)

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Happy

Someone posted in Marriott Hong Kong Properties thread, said when he booked a Tower Room even on points, he was guaranteed breakfast at the cafe at the lobby or the restaurant, plus Tower lounge access. Hence he was debating whether he should spend 60K SPG pts for 5th night free at JWM where as a gold lounge access is guaranteed, but 58K SPG pts for 5th night free at Sheraton for the Tower Room as he said last time his family had free breakfast at the Cafe and restaurant and access to lounge even though he was just SPG Gold - all because he booked Tower Room. The poster did not mention about additional cash upgrade.

I found this a bit too good to be true based on what have been discussed on this thread. I must have missed the bit about Tower Room guaranteed free breakfast even you are non-status guest, let along lounge access. This property has never been known to be generous...

I also suspect the AMEX Biz Card benefit would only get you to the poor lounge, not the nice lounge at this property.