I believe there is a new St. Regis resort close to the RC Laguna Niguel but I can't tell you anything about it. I do highly recommend the RC there.

The Park Hyatts will also track your loyalty to a given hotel. At the one in Tokyo (where I have stayed a number of times) I always get a "Welcome Back" gift of some kind, be it some candy or chocolates, plus recognition from the check-in staff. Have used AMEX Platinum FHR program a number of times to land some niiice corner rooms at reasonable (for the Park Hyatt Tokyo, that is) rates.

The St. Regis Monarch Beach is across the street from the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel (about a five minute walk).

[This message has been edited by J0HN (edited 01-18-2002).]

I have also stay at Park Tokyo for about ten times in the last three years but did not get upgrade to corner room. I have candy only once, all other times were chocolates, actually I like the chocolates better. I am staying there in mid Feb. after visiting the snow festival up in Sapporo. How much did you pay for the regular/corner room? Or did you pay for the regular/Park rooms and upgraded to corner room? I always do my booking through Hyatt, may need to dig up the AE Plat. booklet for the PTS number.

The Four Seasons is my favorite of all the chain hotels. The services I get usually outdo any benefits gained by earning points. I have posted some trip reports about my stays at FS.

[This message has been edited by amazing nj (edited 01-18-2002).]

I've gotten chocolates, candy, sembei, otsumame, and crackers as welcome gifts. I go through PTS for this one. Last time was over Christmas break, where I paid 45,000 Yen per night. For that, they gave me a corner room, the bathroom facing Mt. Fuji, and the bedroom facing Yoyogi and inside the Yamanote loop. The best rate Hyatt had quoted me 52,000 for the same (and not for all the nights I wanted), and did not include breakfast for two (about 3,000 x 2 Yen or so), which the PTS rate did. I've paid as little as 35,000 Yen for the same room when not during vacations.

My Park Hyatt experience at the Stanhope in New York did not do anything for me.

I am a Platinum in the Hyatt program and stayed at the Park Hyatt for one week out of every month for almost 9 months and nada.

The concierge staff always remembered me and took really good care of me but hotel management could care less.

Out of frustration I finally quite staying there. You spend $25k in one hotel you would expect something. Alfred--

Overall, I love FS. I am only now drifting into hotel points. Previously always just stayed at properties I liked. That said, I am not impressed with either the FS in PHL or DCA, but that could be because in my opinion they look like 5 star dormitories.

I have found this to be true as well.

For example, just staying in the FS in Vegas gets you to the top of the building (which it shares with some other hotel - forgot the name), affording the best views, and entry to a special area by the pool, and, best of all, concierge services such as last minute tickets to (supposedly) sold out concerts in the showroom (like The Three Tenors).

And, I have stayed at the Laguna Niguel RC property over Xmas and it was very well decorated, just delightful. It is very comfortable and nice, both upstairs and downstairs.

I hate having to stay in a hotel, doing my best to stay with friends, or in B&Bs, anything to avoid a hotel stay, but an opportunity to stay in a FS (or RC) always makes me break this rule.

[This message has been edited by lisamcgu (edited 01-19-2002).]

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[This message has been edited by Marin 1K (edited 01-19-2002).]

I too like to stay at places that award points. I have stayed at a number of Four Seasons though. I stay at the Las Vegas FS on about 80% of trips to LV. Sometimes they offer rates of only $150 during the week. That is a lot in LV standards, but not FS. They sometimes will give an upgrade to a higher level room (Not a suite) Also once I stayed at FS Maui, and was upgraded to the FS club floor (Their standard rooms cost more than suites!) Also in Singapore they have a nice place (I like Ritz better, but want to stay with FS) For about $160 USD you get a room and buffet breakfast. I believe the breakfast is valued at $60 SGD! Whether you stay once or 20 times you must experience FS service once in your life. For Laguna Niguel if you have time check out the FS Newport beach, the outside is not much to see, but inside and the pool is awesome. But at the prices I normally stay at the Westin..

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[This message has been edited by ryan754 (edited 01-19-2002).]

FS is among my favorite chains, but not in the US. I never avoid an opportunity to stay in the FS, Kuda Huraa, Maldives.

I don't mind not getting miles for stays at 4S. It's like not getting miles for stays at Amankila, Amanpulo, Amanpuri, The Mansion on Turtle Creek or any of the Orient-Express properties in Italy.

However, it is interesting that Mandarin Oriental has ties with UA Mileage Plus and Peninsula Group has ties with AsiaMiles.