thaliajen

I'm going to try this out, but have questions. I want to book a TR Vegas hotel that will give me star points. Do I book on TR site or Starwood, bc I don't see Paris or the other hotels I see on TR, on the SPG page.

As a Lifetime Plat, do I get perks, like some of the discussion here? What about upgrades, late check-outs? Or are those only for the Vegas hotels on the SPG site?

I've always been an M Life member and stayed there, and Caesar's Windsor doesn't participate in the program. I'm headed to Vegas next month and want to book my room, but have no idea how. Is this something we do on the phone, or on one of the pages? I did connect the accounts when it came out last year, but I've never stayed at one of the participating hotels. I'd like to get some ideas of rates for Vegas hotels for my trip, but I AM confused as to where I should book it. I'm used to the SPG page but as I mentioned, none of the TR hotel/casinos are listed. Any ideas?

Thanks!

iflyjetz

If you've already got the two accounts linked, just book it on the TR webpage. You'll get the points. I don't think that there are any perks you get - upgrades are at the hotel's discretion and no free breakfast. Late checkout is also going to depend on the hotel.

You get up to 10 nights' SPG credit per year at TR properties, but no stay credits.

thaliajen

Thanks! I don't see any SPG info on my TR page, though. I linked the accounts last year but I'm not seeing it. I'm also not seeing anything different on my TR page. I wonder if I need to link them again, if perhaps, it didn't work last time. Hoping I can still link them!

controller1

It appears one must have faith that their TR and SPG accounts are linked. On the SPG account overview page one may see that their Delta Airlines and Uber accounts are linked, but Starwood has never shown Total Rewards.

With that said, I've always received night credits for those TR properties that participate in the program.

controller1

After some digging, I was able to find a SPG page that confirmed the linking of the accounts:

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefer...ars/index.html

iflyjetz

^ Nice find. I've always had blind faith in the accounts being linked, although I normally ask at check in if they have my SPG number.

I got the following in the top left quadrant once I logged into the page you linked: You’re all in. Your registration has been confirmed.


I've never had an issue with TR and SPG becoming separated, unlike my MLife and HGP accounts. Since thaliajen mentioned MLife, I can understand his/her concern about ensuring TR and SPG accounts are linked.

thaliajen

Well, we'll see. The hotel page for Planet Hollywood was such a mess (too many types of rooms, none available to the naked eye for my dates) that I called TR. I'm booked for PH next week, and my accounts are linked. I was hoping for some sort of perk, like check-in in at the VIP line, but I got a good deal so I'll take it. I'll miss the extras I got with M Life, but it makes more sense to earn points with TR. For the 1st time in years I have NO idea what to expect regarding my room, etc. But I'm trying to replenish the points I took out for my upcoming Greece trip. Hopefully, all will go smoothly.

thaliajen

Can anyone explain what exactly the VIP card is, and how I would get it? As mentioned above, I'm a Lifetime Plat but only Gold with TR. I'm staying at PH Sunday for 4 nights, and if I'm entitled to ANY extras, I'd sure like to get them. So if I take my Lifetime Plat card to the TR desk, am I going to get some perks? I can't figure out from the posts I've read, just what the VIP card is or how I qualify. Even if it lets me check in at VIP area, it sounds like a nice perk. Thanks!

controller1

Not sure why you are unsure as to how to receive the card or the benefits as this thread has quite a bit of excellent information and one only has to go back a few posts but here is some information for you.

It's too bad that you will not already have the VIP card when you arrive at Planet Hollywood since, depending on when you arrive, access to the Diamond check-in line could be a big benefit. Enjoy Vega$....

flys2much

I stayed at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas the last week of February. Prior to checking in I went to the Total Rewards desk and showed my SPG Platinum membership card and they gave me a Total Rewards card that indicated Platinum status in that program. There was a "Platinum" check in line but none of the other SPG published VIP benefits (dedicated taxi, restaurant and club lines etc) are available to Total Rewards Platinum members. One needs to be a Diamond member to get that treatment. Nobody at Caesar's had any idea that SPG Platinum members should receive additional benefits and multiple trips to the Total Rewards desk did nothing to resolve this. Prior to my trip, all my SPG Ambassador was able to do was quote what is already on the website.

As a nice touch though, on my last night at Caesar's Palace someone kindly entered my room the evening while I was out and rummaged through our belongings looking for valuables. Fortunately everything valuable was in the safe or with us.

thaliajen

Hmm. Thanks for the info. And for the earlier reply, the reason I didn't understand the VIP info was bc it went back so far that my one working eye was blurred. I could NOT find the 1st mention of it, and thought perhaps the members were already higher level with TR, but thank-you.

I just checked in 2 hours ago and paid 100/more a night to get a suite. Turns out the "suite" is the same junior suite I stayed in when this was a Starwood Property and I got it free. At least Starwood called it a "junior" suite. TR/PH calls it a Strip Suite. Thing is, it's older, the AC doesn't go near the "living area" and it is just a large room. The bathroom IS nice. Same round tub overlooking the strip. But it overlooks Aria, not Bellagio. So no dancing waters. But it IS a jacuzzi tub so I'll make use of that. I'm glad I grabbed some shower gel and shampoo from Westin last night. I'd read that PH had Gilcrest and Soames but their bathroom amenities are generic.

I can't believe I paid 100/more a night PLUS 30/night resort fee that only covers 2 devices. I hooked up laptop (work) and iPad. That leaves iPhone w/o wifi. I did get a fridge thrown in, which is important for my meds. I have eye medication that can't get warm. There's an AC vent in the bathroom and one pointing away from the bed. The bathroom is nice and cold, but the bedroom is not yet close. And the living area I paid so much for? No vent so no AC. And the vent by the bed faces away from the bed and the chairs. Maybe by tomorrow.

I should've gone for the junior suite at only 60/more per night. It's funny- so many people think Luxor is a bad hotel. But i got their tower suites which are MUCH nicer for average 40-50 more a night at check in. But I need the Starpoints so I'll be making the rounds of TR properties this year. And I'll definitely hit the TR desk tomorrow.

Thanks again for the help!

For this price I could've had a tower suite at Luxor that is 3 times as big. If I were in another country, someplace special, I wouldn't mind paying for view. But this Strip View is just the Aria sign.

On the positive side, I have the "Get Shorty" room with Bette Midler's costume. (Huge fan.) But there is no light switch to turn it off! LMAO! I guess it is kind of like a night light?

Oh well, I'll earn points and I'll definitely take my Lifetime Plat card (the check-in guy was impressed by it) to Total Rewards booth for Plat status or VIP or whatever we get. And yes, it would've been nice to have that status when waiting in line.

controller1

I stopped staying at Planet Hollywood several years ago and now stay at Caesars Palace. The reason I stopped staying at PH was that the gambling crowd seemed to be much younger than I. I love your statement about the "no light switch"! I remember that every time I stayed there seemed to be a display in the room that I could either not turn the light on or not turn the light off!

thaliajen

LOL- yes, the display has been an annoying nightlight during this stay. Other than that, the damned "suite" is too warm, all except for the bathroom which has its own AC. Like we need to be cold when we're bathing? I've finally found that by sleeping at the foot of the bed, I get a bit of the bathroom AC which is much stronger than the bedroom AC. I can't use the living area I paid for bc there is NO AC in that area. It's not even 70 right now outside but it's SO warm in here. And the casino is ridiculously warm- it's only in low 70's here this week, what will they do when the real heat hits?

The room service is the worst I've ever had in Vegas, and the room is old, worn, etc. And why pay for a view when they have this black web-like stuff covering all the windows? I can't even take a picture bc of it. IMO, this place is overpriced for what you get, and really a let-down.

For what I paid here, I could've got a suite at the Luxor tower, newer, nicer, and truly a suite. It even had a DVR. I just need to find an affordable TR property that is nice. I'm so used to M Life that I expect the same level of quality with TR. There outta be a law that prohibits hotels from advertising a room as a "suite" unless it has a separate living room with a door between that and the bedroom. I better get some good points out of this. It's 1:30am and the damned display light is keeping me awake!

VCURamFan

Can anyone confirm if SPG Platinum gets you into Omnia or not?

fryguy89

It has been 8 weeks since my stay at Caesar's and the points have hit my Total Rewards account but no nights or anything else have hit my SPG account. I have confirmed that the accounts are linked. Should I still wait or has it been long enough that I should escalate and figure out what the problem is. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks in advance.