Converting starpoints at the Dolphin--a royal pain

[Fargoman2]

I've been busy accumulating star points in hopes of converting some of my nights on an existing reservation to "free" nights. I've learned that the hotel is "sold out" for my dates (Aug. 8-16) and that I may not have that option. That is a major bummer on two counts:

1. I was counting on that significant discount.
2. If the Dolphin is "sold out"--just how insane will the parks be? Trust me, I've been there many times before in August and I know the parks are busy that time of year. But the Dolphin hasn't been sold out. Maybe a convention--I hope?

Also, what's the point of having starpoints if you really can't convert them when you really WANT/NEED to? If I've earned them, I want to use them. As I continue to run into these restrictions, I think it's time to shop other card points programs.

Anyone out there with experience in this realm? Thanks in advance.

 

[madge]

we've been at the S/D several times when the resort is sold out. It's always for a convention ~ that translates to a busy resort, but not necessarily busy parks.

I don't have any advice for the points, though... keep calling? surely they'll release some unbooked convention rooms soon?

 

[Loriannf]

I tried for two straight months to get a room at the Swan/Dolphin for August 2-4, only to be told the hotel was sold out. Finally a reservationist took pity on me and told me the convention was prepaid and unlikely to have any cancellations. Since we had to book our airline tickets, I decided we wouldn't add the extra days. I tried even a few days ago, and still sold out.

I should mention that we stayed last year at this same time using Starpoints with no difficulty. I think you only run into a problem with Starpoint stays if there's a convention. I do think Starwood is running a risk selling out the hotel during a time when so many families/Starwood members are trying to vacation. It doesn't promote a lot of goodwill.

Lori

 

[Cinderella21]

I've been busy accumulating star points in hopes of converting some of my nights on an existing reservation to "free" nights. I've learned that the hotel is "sold out" for my dates (Aug. 8-16) and that I may not have that option. That is a major bummer on two counts:

1. I was counting on that significant discount.
2. If the Dolphin is "sold out"--just how insane will the parks be? Trust me, I've been there many times before in August and I know the parks are busy that time of year. But the Dolphin hasn't been sold out. Maybe a convention--I hope?

Also, what's the point of having starpoints if you really can't convert them when you really WANT/NEED to? If I've earned them, I want to use them. As I continue to run into these restrictions, I think it's time to shop other card points programs.

Anyone out there with experience in this realm? Thanks in advance.

I worked for Starwood last year for about a year and I can tell you that you should definently make a reservation pretty far in advance for these hotels. Now with the starwood points you can call the SPG phone line and ask them to make you a temporary reservation with starwood points. Let them know that you will be transferring them or will have enough by the time you go. So you will be gauranteed a room you just need to make sure you get the points in your acct before your stay. Good luck with everything

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

As I continue to run into these restrictions, I think it's time to shop other card points programs.

Almost all airline mileage programs or any type of point programs make it difficult to actually redeem points. You have to plan far in advance and be flexible about dates.

If you are just calling now about a hotel stay at a popular hotel using points in a few weeks, you waited too long to make plans.

 

[4forMe]

I worked for Starwood last year for about a year and I can tell you that you should definently make a reservation pretty far in advance for these hotels. Now with the starwood points you can call the SPG phone line and ask them to make you a temporary reservation with starwood points. Let them know that you will be transferring them or will have enough by the time you go. So you will be gauranteed a room you just need to make sure you get the points in your acct before your stay. Good luck with everything

Do I have to make the reservation through the SPG phone line if I am using points to upgrade the room? Or do I ask at check-in or a couple of days before for a reservation I made directly through the hotel? I am a new starwood member and our trip next year will be the first time we will be using our points.

 

[Fargoman2]

To "Lost in Cyberspace"--FYI I did book well in advance (Dec. 2006), but I did not have the Starpoints accumulated at that time. Give me a little credit--I'm not naive enough to think I can call two weeks in front of a vacation and find a hotel. I was merely looking to "convert" 4 of the EXISTING nights on my current reservation to a Starpoints award, that's all. That just doesn't seem like an unreasonable request in my view.

 

[Connears]

I have stayed on spg points at both Swan and Dolphin and used spg.com and had no problem. It was in June once and in december the other time. I did not ask to change an existing reservation. I have used points for many stays at starwood resorts and have not had a problem with reservations using points ...I think it is a great program and easy to book a rewards stay on points or a points and $$ stay. Sorry you were not able to make your change, but I don't beleive the program is problematic.
Connears

 

[Subrbnmommy]

To "Lost in Cyberspace"--FYI I did book well in advance (Dec. 2006), but I did not have the Starpoints accumulated at that time. Give me a little credit--I'm not naive enough to think I can call two weeks in front of a vacation and find a hotel. I was merely looking to "convert" 4 of the EXISTING nights on my current reservation to a Starpoints award, that's all. That just doesn't seem like an unreasonable request in my view.

So, you already have the nights booked and they won't let you cash in Starwood points?
I hope that's not it, we're plannig on doing the same next year.

 

[Fargoman2]

I have stayed on spg points at both Swan and Dolphin and used spg.com and had no problem. It was in June once and in december the other time. I did not ask to change an existing reservation. I have used points for many stays at starwood resorts and have not had a problem with reservations using points ...I think it is a great program and easy to book a rewards stay on points or a points and $$ stay. Sorry you were not able to make your change, but I don't beleive the program is problematic.
Connears

I am not CHANGING an existing reservation--the dates are IDENTICAL. I'm just asking that instead of cash on four of those nights that I use my Starwood points as "cash" to cover those nights. Again, I stand behind my position that this should be a more than reasonable request.

 

[madge]

To "Lost in Cyberspace"--FYI I did book well in advance (Dec. 2006), but I did not have the Starpoints accumulated at that time. Give me a little credit--I'm not naive enough to think I can call two weeks in front of a vacation and find a hotel. I was merely looking to "convert" 4 of the EXISTING nights on my current reservation to a Starpoints award, that's all. That just doesn't seem like an unreasonable request in my view.

Can you call the SPG line and ask them to make that switch?

The SPG forum on the Flyertalk boards is full of people that are very Starwood-knowledgeable. They might have a solution for you!

 

[ursijam]

I am not CHANGING an existing reservation--the dates are IDENTICAL. I'm just asking that instead of cash on four of those nights that I use my Starwood points as "cash" to cover those nights. Again, I stand behind my position that this should be a more than reasonable request.

Unfortunately, the rooms available for points reservations are extremely limited. It is, in fact, somewhat unreasonable to expect that there would be points rooms available with very short notice.

Now, if you happen to be an elite member of SGP, then you could probably make it happen. All that would really be doing would be for Starwood to pick up your hotel tab to keep you happy and not actually be a points reservation. The hotels themselves see a VERY small amount of money come in with a points reservation. (For Hilton, I know that I have seen values of $35-$40 for a $250 rack rate room.)

 

[Cinderella21]

Do I have to make the reservation through the SPG phone line if I am using points to upgrade the room? Or do I ask at check-in or a couple of days before for a reservation I made directly through the hotel? I am a new starwood member and our trip next year will be the first time we will be using our points.

4forme: yea you definently wanna call the spg phone line so they can upgrade the room. If you wait a couple days before they may not have the upgraded room available. Enjoy your stay!

 

[Subrbnmommy]

Now, if you happen to be an elite member of SGP, then you could probably make it happen. All that would really be doing would be for Starwood to pick up your hotel tab to keep you happy and not actually be a points reservation. The hotels themselves see a VERY small amount of money come in with a points reservation. (For Hilton, I know that I have seen values of $35-$40 for a $250 rack rate room.)

Sorry to hijack but, I thought that the advantage to Starwood from the other point hotels was they if a standard room was available, point users could use points to pay for the room. I thought that they didn't restrict cashing points to only a small # of rooms. That is why we started collecting Starwood.

 

[madge]

Unfortunately, the rooms available for points reservations are extremely limited. It is, in fact, somewhat unreasonable to expect that there would be points rooms available with very short notice.

I think the ease of use of the Starwood program is why it's so popular - if they have a standard room available, then it can be booked on points... any time. I've booked a points reservation at the Dolphin before with just a few days notice, no problem.

And I've never gotten the impression that if I called, as SPG Gold, and there were no rooms available and a Platinum member called after me looking for the same nights, that they'd work to find them a room? I thought if there was a room available, then it was available for any member looking to use points, regardless of status.

To the OP, I'd check Flyertalk. There's a poster over there that works in customer service at Starwood, he answers questions regularly on that forum.

 

[Fargoman2]

I guess it's all about who you talk to. I called back today and successfully cashed in star points for part of my stay--with no issues at all. It's amazing that you can call the same place three different times and get three different answers for a pretty standard issue.

In any event, I am pleased there is no issue with Starwood honoring what I have rightfully earned.

Bottom line: Never accept the first or even second answer you get.

 

[Loriannf]

The whole point with Starwood is that IF there's a room available, you get it with Starpoints. Doesn't matter that it's points instead of cash. Now there are limits on SPG 50 and Cash and Points award rooms, but not basic Starpoint redemptions.

The point here is that there has to be a room available. We ARE SPG Elite (SVO Elite also) and we couldn't get a room for our requested dates because there weren't any available. And yes, I did call, several times a day for almost 2 months.

Lori

 

[madge]

The whole point with Starwood is that IF there's a room available, you get it with Starpoints. Doesn't matter that it's points instead of cash. Now there are limits on SPG 50 and Cash and Points award rooms, but not basic Starpoint redemptions.

The point here is that there has to be a room available. We ARE SPG Elite (SVO Elite also) and we couldn't get a room for our requested dates because there weren't any available. And yes, I did call, several times a day for almost 2 months.

Lori

But the OP was trying to convert a room he(she?) had reserved with cash to paying with points. He already had the room, didn't need there to be one available in the system. I'd think that would be easy to take care of... it should be, LOL.

 

[TTT103]

Starwood does not have blackout dates on rewards; however, rewards are only valid on standard rooms. Regardless of SPG level (basic, gold or platinum), they will not make a reservation using points if a room is not available. The only exception is with SPG Platinum members. If a hotel is full, platinums can still make a reservation at the regular (non-discounted) rate, but they can't use Starpoints. With that said, I've never heard of anyone being able to convert a regular reservation to a reservation using points. If that were the case, many people would book a room (regardless of rate) and then change it over at the last minute.

I would give some serious though to using Starpoints at the Dolphin/Swan anyway, as it is a CAT-4 hotel requring 10K points per night. I personally don't feel it would be worth it unless you have points to burn, or their current rates are extremely high.