Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Discontinued Programs/Partners > Starwood | Starwood Preferred Guest
Reload this Page >

Hall of Shame - Worst SPG experiences (Where would you not stay again?)

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Apr 28, 2015, 12:19 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: margarita girl
The following hotels have been voted as the worst in the Starwood portfolio of hotels.

Hotels with a low number of votes, and there is a majority that only have one vote each, should be taken with a huge grain of salt.

Moreover, several hotels have had significant renovations since the original vote(s) were cast. As a result, negative votes for those properties should be discounted.

This Wiki may be edited by anyone with the requisite number of posts in this forum.

ALOFT LEAWOOD-OVERLAND, KS
ALOFT DALLAS DOWNTOWN, TX
ALOFT FRISCO, TX

FOUR PTS TUCSON UNIVERSITY PLAZA, AZ (Now ALOFT TUCSON UNIVERSITY)
FOUR PTS BAKERSFIELD, CA
FOUR PTS SAN FRANSISCO AIRPORT, CA (x2)
FOUR PTS SAN FRANCISCO BAY BRIDGE, CA (x2)
> June 2014: Bath towels stank. Night staff at front desk were curt and unkempt -- a guy had crooked glasses and dandruff all over his suit jacket. He frowned several times while processing my check in. No smile or welcome, verbally or nonverbally. While I was checking in he received phone calls from several guests, and he refused every request swiftly, firmly, and without apology: "No. What?! No. Housekeeping is closed." I trashed the hotel in a post-stay survey and received an apology from the manager with a vague offer of a future room upgrade. No compensation.

FOUR PTS MIAMI, FL (X3)
FOUR PTS CHICAGO O'HARE AIRPORT, IL (x5)
FOUR PTS LEXINGTON, KY
FOUR PTS NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT, LA (x2) (No longer *W, now a Wyndham)
FOUR PTS ALLENTOWN, PA (No longer a *W, now a Days Inn)
FOUR PTS PHILADELPHIA CITY CENTER, PA
FOUR PTS YORK, PA
FOUR PTS BOSTON LOGAN AIRPORT, MA (x6)
FOUR PTS EASTHAM CAPE COD, MA
FOUR PTS BALTIMORE WASHINGTON INT'L AIRPORT, MD (Now ALOFT BWI)

FOUR PTS GEELONG, GEELONG, AUSTRALIA (No longer *W, now a Novotel)
FOUR PTS LAKESHORE, TORONTO, CANADA (Closed)
FOUR PTS CENTRAL KÖLN, GERMANY (No longer *W, now Wyndham)
FOUR PTS MILAN CENTER, MILAN, ITALY
FOUR PTS LANGKAWI, LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA (No longer *W)


ELEMENT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FL


SHERATON ANCHORAGE HOTEL & SPA, AK (x2)
SHERATON ANAHEIM, CA
SHERATON DELFINA SANTA MONICA HOTEL, CA (x2) (Rebranded as Le Meridien)
SHERATON GATEWAY LOS ANGELES, CA
SHERATON GATEWAY SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT, CA (No longer *W, now a Hilton)
SHERATON MISSION VALLEY SAN DIEGO HOTEL, CA (x2)
SHERATON LA JOLLA HOTEL, CA (x2)
SHERATON UNIVERSAL HOTEL, CA (x2)
SHERATON HARTFORD HOTEL, CT
SHERATON STAMFORD HOTEL, CT
SHERATON WALT DISNEY WORLD DOLPHIN, FL (X2)
SHERATON FORT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT, FL (x2) (Closed to become Le Meridien in 2017)
SHERATON SUITES CYPRESS CREEK FT. LAUDERDALE, FL (X2)
SHERATON TAMPA RIVERWALK HOTEL, FL
SHERATON GATEWAY HOTEL ATLANTA AIRPORT, GA (X2)
SHERATON PRINCESS KAIULANI, HI (x4)
SHERATON MAUI RESORT & SPA, HI
SHERATON CHICAGO HOTEL & TOWERS, IL
SHERATON SPRINGFIELD MONARCH PLACE HOTEL, MA (X2)
SHERATON ANNAPOLIS, MD (No longer *W, now Crowne Plaza)
SHERATON BALTIMORE CITY CENTER, MD (X2) (No longer *W, now a Radisson)
SHERATON COLUMBIA, MD
SHERATON KANSAS CITY SPORTS COMPLEX, MO (Rebranded as FOUR POINTS)
SHERATON CHAPEL HILL, NC
SHERATON CHARLOTTE AIRPORT HOTEL, NC
SHERATON ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (x2)
SHERATON EATONTOWN, NJ
SHERATON MEADOWLANDS HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER, NJ (No longer *W)
SHERATON ALBUQUERQUE UPTOWN, NM
SHERATON JFK AIRPORT HOTEL, NY (x3)
SHERATON NEW YORK HOTEL & TOWERS, NY (x2)
SHERATON OKLAHOMA CITY HOTEL, OK
SHERATON DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA HOTEL, PA (x5)
SHERATON PROVIDENCE AIRPORT HOTEL, RI
SHERATON DALLAS HOTEL, TX
SHERATON RESTON HOTEL, VA


SHERATON MIRAGE PORT DOUGLAS, GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
SHERATON BRUSSELS HOTEL, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (x3)
SHERATON NASSAU BEACH RESORT, NASSAU, BAHAMAS (x2) (No longer *W, now Melia Beach Resort)
SHERATON SAO PAULO WTC HOTEL, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
SHERATON ON THE FALLS HOTEL, ONTARIO, CANADA
SHERATON GREAT WALL, BEIJING, CHINA (x2)
SHERATON SHARM HOTEL, RESORT & SPA, SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT
SHERATON MEDIA HOTEL & TOWERS, JAKARTA, INDONESIA (No longer *W)
SHERATON BUGANVILIAS RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER, PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO
SHERATON OLD SAN JUAN HOTEL & CASINO, PUERTO RICO
SHERATON TOWERS, SINGAPORE (x2)
SHERATON MASLAK HOTEL, ISTANBUL, TURKEY (x2) (No longer *W, now Steinberger)
SHERATON (THE) PARK LANE HOTEL, LONDON, UK (x3)
SHERATON SKYLINE HOTEL HEATHROW, LONDON, UK (x5)
SHERATON JUMEIRAH BEACH, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) (x2)


LE MERIDIEN DALLAS NORTH, TX
LE MERIDIEN HELIOPOLIS, CAIRO, EGYPT (x2)
LE MERIDIEN PYRAMIDS, CAIRO, EGYPT
LE MERIDIEN DEAD SEA, ISRAEL (x3) (No longer *W)
LE MERIDIEN BEACH PLAZA, MONACO
LE MERIDIEN N'Fis, MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
LE MERIDIEN NICE, FRANCE
LE MERIDIEN BARBARONS, MAHE, SEYCHELLES (No longer *W, now Avani Seychelles)


LUXURY COLLECTION - SLS HOTEL AT BEVERLY HILLS, CA
LUXURY COLLECTION - HOTEL NATIONAL, MOSCOW, RUSSIA
LUXURY COLLECTION - PRINCE DES GALLES, PARIS, FRANCE (x2)
*** This hotel has had a full renovation since the negative votes were cast and is now a stellar property.
LUXURY COLLECTION - SHERATON GRANDE LAGUNA, PHUKET, THAILAND (No longer *W, now Angsana)
LUXURY COLLECTION - SHERATON GRANDE SUKHUMVIT, BANGKOK, THAILAND
*** The negative vote was due to the color of the tiles in the bathrooms, which seems a particularly petty reason to categorize it as one of the worst in the Starwood portfolio.


W LOS ANGELES - WESTWOOD, CA
W ATLANTA - MIDTOWN, GA (X2)
W CHICAGO - LAKESHORE, IL (X3)
> May 2013: Sloppy housekeeping; room had trash left behind by previous guest. Broken AC; maintenance fixed for the afternoon, but it broke again overnight. Front desk, upon checkin, claimed no king rooms available (only doubles) despite non-suite king rooms for sale on spg.com. They assigned me a room by the elevator where I could hear nonstop dings and whooshes from the elevator shaft. Front desk was staffed by an uppity fellow who never cracked a smile. What a joke of a 12k points redemption.

W NEW ORLEANS, LA (X2) (Rebranded as Le Meridien)
W NEW ORLEANS - FRENCH QUARTER, LA


WESTIN BONAVENTURE, CA (X2)
WESTIN SAN FRANCISCO MARKET ST., CA (X2) (No longer Westin, still *W
WESTIN SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT, CA
WESTIN ST. FRANCIS, CA (x2)
\WESTIN DIPLOMAT RESORT & SPA, FL (No longer *W)
WESTIN FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH RESORT (No longer *W)
WESTIN PEACHTREE ATLANTA, GA (X2)
WESTIN MAUI, HI (x2)
WESTIN MICHIGAN AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL (x3)
> December 2012: Moldy shower tiles. Some rooms were so tiny you'd think you were in Tokyo. Irritating whoosh-whoosh from elevator shaft if room was close to elevator. Bad insulation of sound from hallways. Low class clientele - loud and boisterous folk who enjoyed bragging at 3 a.m. about sexual conquests. Low class front desk - when I asked for a room change because of noise, they asked me if my room was dirty.

WESTIN NEW ORLEANS CANAL PALACE, FRENCH QUARTER, LA
WESTIN NEW YORK TIMES SQUARE, NY (X2)
WESTIN LAS VEGAS HOTEL, CASINO & SPA, NV (x11)
WESTIN MEMPHIS BEALE ST, TN
WESTIN GALLERIA HOUSTON, TX (X3)
WESTIN OAKS HOUSTON, TX (X3)
WESTIN STONEBRIAR, TX
WESTIN ARLINGTON GATEWAY, VA
WESTIN AT TYSON'S CORNER, VA
WESTIN SEATTLE, WA

WESTIN NOVA SCOTIAN, HALIFAX, CANADA (X2)
WESTIN PARIS, FRANCE
WESTIN PALACE, MILAN, ITALY
WESTIN RESORT & SPA, CANCUN, MEXICO (x2)

ASIA
SHERATON SEOUL PALACE GANGHAM

> December 2014 (Royal Beach Club room): Heavenly bedding in name only, if at all. Mattress lacked the signature plush comfort; linens were thin and scratchy, pillows were flat and unsupportive. I slept on my bended arm and in the fetal position for warmth. Woke up sore and exhausted every morning despite 9-10 hours of sleep. Lounge breakfast was bland; happy hour was a joke -- buffet ran out within minutes of replenishment. If you wanted the hot item you had to keep tabs on the staff and hustle to the front of the line ASAP when a line began to form.
Print Wikipost

Hall of Shame - Worst SPG experiences (Where would you not stay again?)

 
Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 10, 2011, 8:01 pm
  #226  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Amex Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 38
Sheraton Atlantic City

I will never stay at the Sheraton Atlantic City hotel again. The walls are thin so you can hear people talking next to the room. Inside the room smell like mold. I saw several laundry bags in the hallway after 5:00 p.m. It's common in the morning, but late afternoon? Next time i stay in Atlantic City, it will be a different hotel.
BJG22 is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2011, 4:05 am
  #227  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
Posts: 1,168
Updated with:

Sheraton Universal City, LA
Four Points by Sheraton in York, PA
Sheraton Atlantic City

Full List can be found on the 1st post. Safe travels!!
jaejaez is offline  
Old Jun 12, 2011, 12:13 am
  #228  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 346
4pts Milan
Very old rooms and run down building in a bad area.
Got upgraded to smelly smoky jr. suite that was really bad.
charder is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 9:03 am
  #229  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: YYZ/NYC/LHR/MEL
Programs: Marriott -Lifetime Platinum. A3 Gold (ex-Aeroplan-E50), Skymiles Gold, Hertz Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 309
Thumbs down Sheraton Heathrow

Stayed at the Sheraton Heathrow on Sunday for one night. Place is a dump, very old, stained frayed carpets everywhere on the executive floor!! Airconditioning very weak and more like a fan. Checkin was a disaster with about 20-30 people in two lines - they were not providing anybody at the SPG Gold/plat line even when I asked. It took a few angry people shouting to get a manager out to open a third line. Dirty empty minibar fridge not working, keycards (mine and at least two other guests) doa so had to come back AGAIN after the check-in hell to get another key.
Worst *wwod experience to date.
sam33 is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 10:06 am
  #230  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM, HH diamond
Posts: 330
Originally Posted by sam33
Stayed at the Sheraton Heathrow on Sunday for one night. Place is a dump, very old, stained frayed carpets everywhere on the executive floor!!
I agree with you on this one - I stayed here once last year and won't be back. The front desk staff was polite during my stay, but the room was dark, small, and musty smelling and housekeeping was sub-par.
AK-business-traveler is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 10:19 am
  #231  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Four Seasons Contributor BadgeMandarin Oriental Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Just noticed this thread. Here are a few hotels that I don't think should be on this list. I've stayed at this often and do return to these hotels. I think people need to correct their expectations. Some of these hotels are super cheap, and thus you get what you pay for. Some hotels have other restrictions that should be understood. But all of them try hard. To me that is the difference between a good hotel and a bad one. If the owner and the staff have given up, then it's a bad hotel. If they are trying hard, and you understand the environment, then you should probably enjoy your stay.

SHERATON ANAHEIM, CA
SHERATON DELFINA SANTA MONICA HOTEL, CA
SHERATON GATEWAY LOS ANGELES, CA
W LOS ANGELES - WESTWOOD, CA
W CHICAGO - LAKESHORE, IL
WESTIN PALACE, MILAN, ITALY
WESTIN RESORT & SPA, CANCUN, MEXICO
stimpy is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 11:31 am
  #232  
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
Originally Posted by stimpy
I think people need to correct their expectations. Some of these hotels are super cheap, and thus you get what you pay for.
On one hand, I concur with you. On the other hand, however, it's not unreasonable for an average consumer to have certain expections of, say, a resort Westin hotel.

I think many reasonable folks would acknowledge that the Westin Cancun can surely be had for awfully cheap sometimes -- not uncommon to find $99 -- but it's not up to true Westin standards. They do work hard to please and the renovations of 3 years ago certainly helped, but the core infrastructure of this place makes it darn hard to bring it up to what most folks would consider a true resort hotel.

Bottom line for me: if I book a W Hotel or a Westin resort, I should have a solid baseline assumption of what that branding stands for. I really don't want to think that I'll need to lower my expectations since the property falls short.
sbtinme is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 11:37 am
  #233  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Four Seasons Contributor BadgeMandarin Oriental Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Originally Posted by sbtinme
Bottom line for me: if I book a W Hotel or a Westin resort, I should have a solid baseline assumption of what that branding stands for. I really don't want to think that I'll need to lower my expectations since the property falls short.
But there are VAST differences between the luxury levels at various Westins around the world. There always has been. Compare your average US Westin with the Westin Melbourne for instance. Or Beijing? How can they be in the same chain? I don't think Starwood is trying to make them the same.

And as for Cancun, you have to look at the competition. The Ritz Carlton Cancun is quite poor in comparison to other Ritz hotels. Ditto for the IC, Marriott, and all the other chains.
stimpy is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 11:45 am
  #234  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
Originally Posted by stimpy
Just noticed this thread. Here are a few hotels that I don't think should be on this list. I've stayed at this often and do return to these hotels. I think people need to correct their expectations. Some of these hotels are super cheap, and thus you get what you pay for. Some hotels have other restrictions that should be understood. But all of them try hard. To me that is the difference between a good hotel and a bad one. If the owner and the staff have given up, then it's a bad hotel. If they are trying hard, and you understand the environment, then you should probably enjoy your stay.

SHERATON ANAHEIM, CA
SHERATON DELFINA SANTA MONICA HOTEL, CA
SHERATON GATEWAY LOS ANGELES, CA
W LOS ANGELES - WESTWOOD, CA
W CHICAGO - LAKESHORE, IL
WESTIN PALACE, MILAN, ITALY
WESTIN RESORT & SPA, CANCUN, MEXICO
I have not stayed at, and therefore have no opinion on, the properties you cite.

I do, however, totally agree with your comment generically speaking. Some of my favorite properties are on these threads. There are my favorites, not because they are great properties, but because they either exceed my expectations or provide great value under the circumstances.

Cheers,
Flews is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 12:48 pm
  #235  
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
Originally Posted by stimpy
But there are VAST differences between the luxury levels at various Westins around the world. There always has been. Compare your average US Westin with the Westin Melbourne for instance. Or Beijing? How can they be in the same chain? I don't think Starwood is trying to make them the same.

And as for Cancun, you have to look at the competition. The Ritz Carlton Cancun is quite poor in comparison to other Ritz hotels. Ditto for the IC, Marriott, and all the other chains.
I understand your point, but I remain steadfast in my claim that the Westin CUN simply falls below what I think many would consider a reasonable brand expectation for a Westin resort.

You're certainly correct that virtually all hotel brands have a continuum along which each property within the brand will fall (from excellent to marginal), but at some point, there must still be a reasonable minimum standard that a core audience will accept and it's my opinion that the Westin CUN has been below that line now for many years.

The reviews of that location on sites like TA may be largely good, but many are quick to point out that they got a "screaming deal" or found the rooms on priceline @ rock bottom pricing. When the Westin prices out at the same price or less than the Holiday Inn, then a certain consumer group is going to be delighted with their Westin experience. On the other hand, a consumer who is loyal to the Westin brand would find the very same property to be subpar in many significant ways.
sbtinme is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 12:50 pm
  #236  
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
Originally Posted by stimpy
I don't think Starwood is trying to make them the same.
Of course they aren't. I would never make that claim.
sbtinme is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 1:13 pm
  #237  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Four Seasons Contributor BadgeMandarin Oriental Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Originally Posted by sbtinme
I understand your point, but I remain steadfast in my claim that the Westin CUN simply falls below what I think many would consider a reasonable brand expectation for a Westin resort.
OK, well I can't fault your for a specific claim like that based on your own experience. But I can say that my stay there a year or two ago was excellent, and I could only fault the fact that the lounge was closed. But they gave us free breakfast in the restaurant and excellent happy hour service in the bar with nice comped drinks.
stimpy is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 3:10 pm
  #238  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: York, PA
Programs: MRSPG LT Tit, HH Diamond, Hertz Pres.
Posts: 1,737
Originally Posted by jaejaez
Updated with:


Four Points by Sheraton in York, PA
Shocking. I live 2-3 miles from this place. I use it for mattress runs frequently. Other than the location for travelers, never an issue here
etsmyers is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 3:16 pm
  #239  
Company Representative - Starwood
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Originally Posted by etsmyers
Shocking...
Apparently the criteria for being added to this Hall of Shame thread is that just one guest has a poor stay experience.

Best regards,

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

[email protected]
Starwood Lurker is offline  
Old Jul 15, 2011, 3:31 pm
  #240  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: FLL/PBI
Programs: DL Diamond, UA nothing
Posts: 320
Originally Posted by Starwood Lurker
Apparently the criteria for being added to this Hall of Shame thread is that just one guest has a poor stay experience.

Best regards,

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

[email protected]


Interesting post from a "Social Media Specialist" representing Starwood.
1bentley is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.