kevbot

New to the forums here. Glad to find this great resource.

I have a stay at the Royal in Oct. and was hoping someone would be able to help clear up the platinum alternative amenity offered in place of the internet included in the resort charge. I contacted the Royal about the details and the following was the response...

Thank you for your email. Actually, both the lunch and the 500 points would be one time only. Neither one is daily.

To further clarify … the lunch would be for the member only, not his guests.

These are very good questions. Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Mahalo,

I have read differing reports on this. Is it one cert per day or one cert per stay? Any clarification would be appreciated!

Starwood Lurker

Already been clarified in the thread dedicated to this subject.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...amenities.html

Clarification on your question begins at about post #441, if not before.

Welcome to Flyertalk, by the way. ^

Best regards,

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

[email protected]

kevbot

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction William. I thought I had done my due diligence. Guess I will learn to dig deeper around here.

momof4kids1dog1guineapig

We are staying in the RH in January with party of 7 - 3 adults & 4 kids (17, 13, 9, 7). We were going to book the Moana, but after lots of reading, decided to splurge with points on the RH. We have 2 standard garden view rooms for 4 nights. That's a lot of points.

We are gold, not platinum, and wondering if we have any chance of an upgrade?

We will also be staying up on the north shore at Turtle Bay for 3 nights where we will have ocean front rooms.

Then on to the Big Island for 3 nights. Don't know yet where we'll stay, but looking at VRBO since there aren't many hotels on the Hilo side, where we plan to spend most of our time.

HNLbasedFlyer

Never say never for an upgrade as a gold - but not likely. Property likely to be busy/booked in January for multiple reasons, people staying post New Year's, people staying before the pro bowl Jan 29, and January is big for corporate reward type of events and a lot of corporations book the RH. Also, tourism is way up this year.

When I go to Hilo for work, I usually stay at the Hilo Hawaiian, its ok - you aren't going to find luxury hotels in Hilo - and by the way, make sure you bring umbrellas for Hilo - it rains constantly.

RLG

I assume you have a reason for choosing the Hilo side (e.g. friends and family there)? Most of the resorts and good beaches are on the other side.

momof4kids1dog1guineapig

Yes, we chose Hilo because we are pretty adventurous and not looking for a resort experience like we'll have on Oaho. For Hilo, we want volcano, black beach, sea turtles, hiking through waterfalls, ziplining for the big kids.

tigerwong

Stayed at the RH for the first time this past week using FRN awards. At check in I was informed that as a Platinum member, I was "upgraded" to room 2001. Having never been to the hotel I figured I was on the 20th floor. I was shocked to see I was placed on 2nd floor with a handicap shower. For the first time ever, I went back to front desk to voice my displeasure. Initially front desk said they couldn't find anything else. As I reached for my iPad to search room availability a room on 4th floor surfaced, then 8th where we were eventually placed. Suites were also available according to the website, but since I had to rush to a luau I let it be. While the room wasn't a suite, we still found the view and room to be more than sufficient. My wife and I enjoyed the fruit plate and free daily lunch (wish I could use multiple coupons per day instead of being restricted to 1 coupon). Outside of initial check-in, the staff were all very helpful. Free beach chairs for guests were very convenient as I recall the Westin charging for chairs. Overall great stay and hopefully I get upgraded to a suite next time.

cawhite

I had another fantastic stay (2 nights - one FRN and one revenue) at this property a few weeks ago. As a PLT was upgraded to a Royal Ocean Jr. Suite. Waiting for me in the room was the expected banana bread as well as a fruit plate and very nice welcome back letter (thank you -- you know who you are!).

IME the team that Kelly has working at this property is what really makes it a polished gem. They all (again IME) seem to want to make sure their guests are having an enjoyable stay.

Some will complain about the lunch as the PLT alternative amenity (for the resort fee) and say they'd prefer it be breakfast or something else, but this is a benefit that I appreciate (I/we usually run next door to Duke's for breakfast before heading out on the island or to the beach).

clublounger

How on earth did your iPad tell you the floor on which rooms were available?

TravelingGnome

20th floor would have been in the Tower which you probably didn't want anyway. There are very few suites at this hotel. I've stayed at the hotel twice and have a 3rd trip on FRNs booked in early December. For Plats considering a stay here, I'd caution you to not have your vacation satisfaction hinging on an upgrade. The first stay I got 2 standard rooms both with very mediocre views/no view and I was not a happy camper. I had at least expected an ocean view and those rooms are truly few and far between. I fell in love with the resort anyway, but on trip 2 I learned my lesson and booked a Garden Junior suite on points and was fortunate to be upgraded to a full Garden Suite that was just to die for. Any time on points I'm going for the junior suite, BUT I'm rolling the dice with the FRNs, using my points for resort credit, and if I get the upgrade I'm stoked and if not I'll hit the surf, get my rides, and enjoy it for what it is - paradise.

Also, last trip I went to the manager's reception and met several people who either come 4 to 6 times per year to the hotel or stay in the hotel for weeks at a time. I didn't get a sense money was an issue with them and I'd hazard to guess that these folks buy-out the premium rooms on a fairly regular basis.

ikonos

I have a stay at RH in 10 days but I have not heard from the concierge yet. How far before the stay do you typically hear from them? Or where can I find their email address? Any idea if the hotel has a shuttle from the HNL airport? I am staying 2 nights at RH and 2 nights at Sheraton next door. Any thing I should keep in mind to ask for? Thanks in Advance.

LIH Prem

They don't have an airport shuttle. I don't think any Waikiki hotel has a free airport shuttle. (at least not that I know about.)

-David

1K_From_SNA

I agree it is free and it is what it is, but they give you one per day (dated) and only good for the Plat member. I am here for two days with my wife and said hey there is two of us. So they made it clear she can't use it, we can't both go and use the two coupons on the same day, etc. It is me on those days, and that's it. The repsonse was most Plat's are here on business alone so it isn't a problem. Really, in Hawaii? So let's assume that is true then what is the incremental cost if we are not the norm? Technically nothing if they still only give you the two, but obviously they are counting on the breakage (or revenue for the second) which if you ask me defeats the purpose of the intent. If my wife eats it she is pleased, if she is pleased it keep me loyal, etc...

But I got an ocean view suite with my Free Resorts nights so I'll forego the lunch.

tigerwong

Sorry for the slow reply. I meant the FD all of a sudden starting seeing availability on his computer. Initially, he said it was really busy and likely booked up. That's when I reached for my iPad (I was going to show him that better rooms and suites were on the spg site) and next thing you know...