Again, free bottled water is not a benefit. Yes, club/executive level rooms often have them complimentary, but it is only because they are club/executive level rooms. Often, rooms on the SPG preferred floors also have them for free. As a gold/plat, the chances of being upgraded to these rooms are much higher and therefore, one may think that free bottled water is a benefit, but it is not.

Sure, one may call and ask for "platinum/gold" water :rolleyes:, but that's just something I refuse to do, but that's a whole new topic

I was told by someone at the hotel there are just to many of you elites all seeking an upgrade or VIP treatment. What would you like us to do?
I do repect their position and I did manage to find other branded hotels who didn't think there were to many of us ;) Even if there are to many of us :D
The same could be said for the Westin TS
The smaller Ws probably do a better job like Tuscany and Court and you may end up with a bigger room

Other than the bonus points what benefits are offered to Golds in regards to rooms? I have never gotten an upgrade other as a Gold. Well, I was usually put on the SPG floor at hotels.......

I was upgraded at least 50% of the time as a gold, it's just that it's not to a suite but still an upgrade none the less. Here are the gold benefits as per SPG.com:

The fact of the matter is there are too many elites. SPG has done a horrible job handing out status to anyone. Let's face it, even if you earn it you can achieve Gold with as few as 10 nights a year. What do you expect for as few as 10 nights a year???

@:-) I propose a sticky thread listing the "Whiney Post of the Day". I will assure you it will always go to the initiator of the daily thread titled "I Just Stayed At The ____________ As A Gold And They Didn't Give Me A Ticker Tape Parade And Roll Out A Red Carpet Upon My Arrival."

i've never had an issue with gold acknowledgment... never been given a water at W.... Westin's Yes... W's no.

W times square wireless
 

It's free in the lobby, yet pay in the room. However, if you get it free on your laptop in the lobby and then take it up to your room, it should last 24 hours still on free. Then when it wants you to pay, just go back down to the lobby, refresh the connection with "turbonet" and back to free again.

It really would be nice to just make it a free perk rather than having to do a workaround to save $16.95 a day.

Don't you lose the connection in the elevator?

Really cool tip! I'll have to see if it works at other properties as well.

I've had the same experience at the W in Montreal. Seems that once you get the free access in the lobby, when you then log in again in your room it is still free.

I may have lost the wireless in the elevator, but if so, it connected right up when I opened up the laptop in the room (it went into sleep mode), 41st floor at W times sq for me.

Trip Report: W Times Square
 

W Times Square has always been one of my favorite hotels in the world. I've always had great rooms/upgrades and the staffs are amazing.

Location
47th and Broadway. 'nuf said. Right in the smack of times square. Hectic? Perhaps, but that's what I go to NYC for. Too many tourists? Not a problem as I don't ever set foot on Broadway or anywhere near 42nd St. 8th Ave it is. Duane Reade, kabobs, nuts 4 nuts, Famous Famiglia‎ calzone with marinara, all I need. A C E train on 50th, N W R Q train on 49th. No toursits.

Check in
It was a beautiful day in New York City. I walked to the entrance, was greeted by the doormen. I took the elevator to the 7th floor lobby and was immediately greeted by a cheerful agent M. Before I could get my wallet out to retrieve my ID, M said to me "Mr. BlissWorld, right?" :eek: How did you know?? She told me she's been expecting me. She got my credit card, checked her computer and told me they had a fantastic suite for me on the 25th floor. Before I could even open my mouth, she said, "25th floor? For Mr. BlissWorld? That won't do. Let me see here....4611. I've got a fantastic suite for you on the 46th floor Mr. BlissWorld" Uhmm, I hadn't really even said a word at the point :eek: ^ (How did she know I prefer higher floor?)

She asked me if I wanted points as my Platinum Amenity. I accepted. She then prepared the keys and handed them to me. Again, before I could open my mouth, she said "Mr BlissWorld, I've already programed your keys to work until 4PM on the day of your departure, now please enjoy your W experience with us and if there's anything at all I can personally do for you, and I mean, anything, give me a call at the front desk. My name is M"

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Rooms/Suite
I'd stayed at their fantastic suite a couple of times before so I knew exactly what to expect: Large living room with comfortable chairs, spacious master bedroom with awesome illuminated nightstands, 1 1/2 baths with amazing water pressure, bonus goodies/amenities for suites, 2 plasma TVs, awesome bang and Olufsen stereo system with sirius and fantastic view of Times Square. Just as I arrived, the housekeeping staff was just exiting the door telling me they left me my flowers :confused: My flowers? Eh? It turned out, they left me some wonderful Hawaiian orchids on the desk ^

I called Whatever/Whenever and asked for some shaving cream and a disposable razor. Within 2 minutes (literally), the W/W agent personally came to my suite to give me a very nice Schick Quattro blade (retail $15) and a large bottle of bliss Homme shaving cream. And, she brought along a few extra sets of bliss (they sure know how much I love my bliss ;) ) ^

I returned to my suite later the evening after a show to find some soothing music playing in the background, more bliss sets, 2 bottles of voss, some chocolate and a welcome card sent by the manager waiting for me on the nightstand ^ A very nice touch. They know what I like. I made sure to put the chocolate wrappers and the welcome card in the recycle bin to save a tree :rolleyes:

Room Service
W Times Square has my favorite in-room dining menu. I ordered my usual: fresh oysters, lobster sandwich, and caramel apple bread pudding. They came within 25 minutes and quality was superb as always.

Staffs
Next to W Montreal, Times Square has the best/superbly trained staff in the entire Starwood system. ^

Some pictures for your enjoyment here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunkind...150325/detail/

Exceptional amenities, treatment, and service. W Times Square is now #1 on my list.

We may have been there at the same time BlissWorld. I just got back from a 5 night stay and had my first ever upgrade to a fantastic suite. Mine was on the 15th floor with a very limited view and did not have any extra amenities (eg, no mouthwash, no slippers) but it was still a suite and made me very happy! Like yours it had a living room and bedroom, 1 1/2 baths, 2 plasma tv's (with real HD channels), Bang & Olufson stereo with Sirius Satellite... I would take this any day over the high floor corner view rooms as the bedroom was absolutely 100% quite and peaceful. This was a really great upgrade for me and cemented this location as my favorite (with the Court a close second).

Suite aside, I think the "talent" (staff) here are very friendly and professional. I also love the room service and my order arrived in less than 30 minutes and was perfect, more than I could eat actually (and it was cool to order it via the TV). The concierge talent were very helpful and everyone I encountered always took the time to say hello.

Thanks W Times Square!

ROFL! Bliss, is this a pre-emptive strike against other SPG Platinum members who also happen to be tree hugers? :D I mean, are you afraid they might come after you again here after your much publicsed "el cheapo envelope" thread? :)