Hawaii Starwood Hotels and more add "Resort Fee" as of 15 Aug 2010 on new bookings
Aug 21, 2010, 8:57 pm
#46
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According to spg.com, "As a Platinum member, you have access to our highest level of benefits, which now includes complimentary in-room Internet access.1 Now when you travel with SPG® you'll enjoy in-room Internet access — on us — at any of our more than 940 participating properties worldwide." (Key word: "worldwide")
http://www.spgpromos.com/compnetacce...CESS_PROMOTION
Aug 21, 2010, 9:11 pm
#47
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Aug 21, 2010, 9:12 pm
#48
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I have confirmations from reservations made on Aug 14 that do not have the resort fee listed.
Aug 21, 2010, 9:17 pm
#49
Join Date: Jul 2005
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I stayed at the Princess for a week last October. No such charges were assessed at that time. I did receive a fruit basket welcome, there was free internet service in the lobby, I did not use Waikiki beach. Of course, that particular hotel is the least expensive Starwood and is across from the beach (and I did have a beach view room). It is not as costly as the other ones, so I could maybe understand if they charged a fee per day for the items already enumerated, but when one gets to the expensive hotels in the Waikiki area, I think it is an unjustified charge, especially for a Starwood card holder.
Aug 21, 2010, 9:18 pm
#50
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adult water wings in the Sher Waikiki (ok, it said pool floats, but..), please tell me they will be banned in the infinity pool.
Disappointing to see these surcharges (and lack of uniformity between the hotels), but if I stay in any of these hotels, I will be sure to use one that includes the parking. I have avoided renting a car for the entirety of my stays due to the parking situation, but if I have to cough up a resort fee, I will definitely maximize my benefits. The question is, what happens if all the guests do this and the parking garage gets full? Do we get our resort fee back?
Disappointing to see these surcharges (and lack of uniformity between the hotels), but if I stay in any of these hotels, I will be sure to use one that includes the parking. I have avoided renting a car for the entirety of my stays due to the parking situation, but if I have to cough up a resort fee, I will definitely maximize my benefits. The question is, what happens if all the guests do this and the parking garage gets full? Do we get our resort fee back?
Aug 21, 2010, 10:03 pm
#51
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To be fair, if you refuse the resort fee, you should expect to pay the old parking fee if you will have a car. Parking was $10 at the Sheraton PK, I think.
Aug 21, 2010, 11:00 pm
#52
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I hate "resort fees." I think they should be illegal... just raise the ACTUAL rate.
Aug 21, 2010, 11:16 pm
#53
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Instead of guessing when the fees were added, perhaps the Lurkers can get a definitive answer when they get back to work. I think they would just have to contact a Regional Coordinator and we will probably have our answer in about two seconds.
Aug 22, 2010, 2:18 am
#54
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The 'resort fee' as it is charged acrossthe board, is just a cost of running the hotel, so it is improper and unethical, if not illegal, to charge it. It is , in fact, a way of lying about the cost of the room night.
Aug 22, 2010, 2:23 am
#55
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Aloha
Aug 22, 2010, 3:59 am
#56
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I am also Kamaaina/Platinum member so self parking and internet could be free anyway using the kamaaina rate.
I always carry my Cel so I never use hotel phone.
Do they want to charge us the resort fee for what?
Many overseas/mainland guests do not use rent car while staying in Waikiki, anyway.
Therefore, if guests use parking facility, charge them.
If they want to use hotel phone, charge them.
If they want to have a bottle of water, charge them like regular mini bar.
It is not fair to charge all the fees above to all the guests!
I always carry my Cel so I never use hotel phone.
Do they want to charge us the resort fee for what?
Many overseas/mainland guests do not use rent car while staying in Waikiki, anyway.
Therefore, if guests use parking facility, charge them.
If they want to use hotel phone, charge them.
If they want to have a bottle of water, charge them like regular mini bar.
It is not fair to charge all the fees above to all the guests!
Aug 22, 2010, 8:48 am
#58
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When you voiced your displeasure with SPG Customer Care, what was their response?
Aug 22, 2010, 8:49 am
#59
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Aug 22, 2010, 8:50 am
#60
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Crying about resort fees on Flyertalk is dandy. Voicing your displeasure with Starwood is even better.