donotblink

One other thing I forgot to mention is that the Royal Palm charges a $30 resort fee per night, which does not include tax, so it's almost $35.

The W does not charge a resort fee.

The Royal Palm charges $20 per day for a beach umbrella, while the W does not have a surcharge.

donotblink

I was just making some bookings using my company's SET code (rates as low as $325 in December) when I noticed this:

RESORT CHARGE BEGINNING APRIL 1, 2016
Beginning April 1, 2016, a daily Resort Charge of 28 USD per room plus tax will be assessed. The Resort Charge includes:

High Speed Internet Access in the guest room
Unlimited local calls
Use of one beach umbrella
Access to FIT
Access to Swish and Swing (basketball and tennis courts)
Hotel bicycles
2 beach chairs
A coffee maker with Starbucks drip coffee
2 bottles of water in the guest room.
Please contact the resort for additional information.

Pretty unhappy about this considering their rates are usually already so high.

William/other lurkers: Can you ask the property if this will be waived for:
1) People who had reservations where this wasn't disclosed
2) Platinum Preferred Guests
3) People on a corporate, AAA rate, or people who book through American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts

UKTraveller4Fun

Have stayed here many times and really like the property but considering the rates and style of this place all I can say is..

How cheap and another example of a bad practice becoming more common and a good reason not to visit this part of the world!

Very disappointing and in my view discredits the brand and Starwood, as do the other properties already doing this, specially ones that charge upwards of $500 per night and sit in spg top tiers!

ajamieson

The resort fee is a bargain when you consider the price of most things at this place

From Day One this property has been ripping off guests, so this shouldn't be a big surprise.

donotblink

Because the resort fee includes "High Speed Internet Access in the guest room" I think that it will be compulsory for the property to provide an alternate benefit to Platinum Preferred Guests, or waive the fee.

CLEguy

Booking through SPG channels entitles anyone to free in-room internet, not just Plats. Though I can't remember if this property has low/high-speed options. Plats are entitled to water, though, which is another "amenity" so helpfully afforded us by paying the fee.

UA-NYC

Sure but that's irrelevant to the previous point.

IF a facility charges a resort fee, and IF HSIA is part of that resort fee...then Plats are guaranteed an alternative amenity (sometimes which are good, sometimes which are weak).

donotblink

Interestingly, the W South Beach has removed the special conditions from their website indicating that they will be charging a resort fee.

I did reach out to William last week to inquire who would need to pay the resort fee and what sort of alternative benefits would be provided if a guest is SPG platinum.

Maybe they decided that charging the fee wasn't the best idea or maybe they decided to work on changing the verbiage of the benefits so they don't include anything that is already include by FHR or Platinum benefits.

Either way, I'll be looking at my folios with a fine tooth comb on checkout.

RZR

It would be nice if Resort fees would be waived for Plats. It would be a good benefit.

If not for plats, atleast for Lifetime plats

stimpy

I'm staying here this month so before this new charge goes into effect. If it goes into effect. But are all these things currently free for Platinum members? Do I have to pay to use the basketball court or beach chairs or FIT? I hope there are water bottles in the room?

And what is the latest with 4pm check out? Is there an exception for this property or do normal Platinum benefits all apply?

fryguy89

I stayed in the property last week and did not have a resort fee and was able to get a 2p check out (all I needed). Still do love this property, always enjoy my stays here, just be sure to get a room on the south side of the building and I have had crazy music coming from the resort just north of the W until 2a - 3a. The South side is much quieter!

Starwood Lurker

These items are not listed as published benefits for Platinum members:

Unlimited local calls
Use of one beach umbrella
Access to Swish and Swing (basketball and tennis courts)
Hotel bicycles
2 beach chairs
A coffee maker with Starbucks drip coffee

This one might be if the resort owns the facility:

Access to FIT

These are published Platinum member benefits:

High Speed Internet Access in the guest room
2 bottles of water in the guest room


This is a resort, so 4 PM late check-out would be based upon availability.

Best regards,

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

[email protected]

stimpy

Well I got the Internet and the water bottles, but that was it. I pushed and the best I could do for check out was 12:30. However they did give me access to a shared hospitality suite after check out. So I spent the afternoon at the pool then went up to the suite to shower and change and now I'm at MIA.

All in all an excellent hotel and a fun time especially with the big music festival going on. But I won't count on any SPG benefits if I return.

CLEguy

You did better than me! All I could get was 11:30 after an SNA into an oasis suite. Was able to hang out by the pool for a few hours afterwards anyway. And they gave me all the water I could ask for. In the past I've been successful in getting a later checkout.

Breakfast in the room continues to be a pretty good value in my estimation.

Elusive

I booked a Oasis Ocean View Suite. Does anyone have experience being upgraded beyond this? I am a regular platinum.

I think the Oasis Ocean View Suite is the highest comp upgrade so not sure they'll do anything beyond that.