NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[disnurse]

my post from yesterday has vanished. Anyways I have 2 free fridays to use. Thinking of using one at the newly renovated sheraton in boston and prehaps one in NYC. any thoughts on these places

 

[MOM POPPINS]

I am using my Starwood Points to upgrade to Club level. My reservation already states "Club Level Room" they said they would deduct the points when the date is closer. Has anyone ever stayed at this resort. The Westin web-site says cont. breakfast, and evening cocktails, Does this mean NO snacks in the afternoon. Any experience with other Westin resorts on what to expect. This is our first time to be upgraded to club level! Thanks for any comments!

 

[Muffy]

We want to redeem our points for a stay at the Dolphin (52,000 pts). We will be at WDW 1/2 - 1/13. I just called starpoints and they said i had enough points for 6 nights at the dolphin. I am all ready to lock in but wanted to check with you guys to see if this is the best way to go with my hard earned points. I really wanted to get in on the deal (60.00 nt and 4000 pts) but that expires before our vacation. Do you folks think i should just take the 6 nights and use all my points or is there a better deal? thanks in advance for any guidance and or help making this big decision!

Muffy

 

[ILUVWDWTOO]

Originally posted by Muffy
We want to redeem our points for a stay at the Dolphin (52,000 pts). We will be at WDW 1/2 - 1/13. I just called starpoints and they said i had enough points for 6 nights at the dolphin. I am all ready to lock in but wanted to check with you guys to see if this is the best way to go with my hard earned points. I really wanted to get in on the deal (60.00 nt and 4000 pts) but that expires before our vacation. Do you folks think i should just take the 6 nights and use all my points or is there a better deal? thanks in advance for any guidance and or help making this big decision!

Muffy

Muffy,

If you have any more Starwood stays planned, or have any other ways to accumulate points, hold off a while! If you reach 70,000 you will get 5 nights free and 50,000 airmiles on the airline of your choice!

 

[Jen80370]

ILUVWDWTOO...good idea! I would hold off too! Imagine not having to pay for airfare either! How great! Good luck!

hightown, I would call Dolphin directly ASAP. I was a few months out when I got my upgrade. It can't hurt to ask. Starwood will tell you only at the 5 days mark, but I've hadmuch better luck dealing with the Dolphin directly.

 

[Debbie7452]

Hyatt actually gave me Diamond Status even though I only asked for Platinum (their middle tier level)! Wow...I owe it all to Starwood and the DIS boards!

Debbie

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Wow what a thread! It took all day but I read it all. I am using 2 free nights at the Sheraton Suites Galleria in Atlanta, GA. Has anyone been there? If my DH is platinum will we be given Club Level or is this something I need to request ? I know with Hilton we are always given Club but this is our first trip at this level with Starwood. Thanks for all the information, I have learned so much today!

 

[gm]

yes if you are platinum and a suite is available you get it. I have never had a problem getting one except once but they gave me a club room instead. Be sure to call the platinum desk to add your # to the ressie.

To someone who had posted about the westin riverwalk: it is a beautiful hotel with the heavenly beds and the best hotel on the riverwalk. It is so beautiful. The bathrooms are huge too with marble flooring and the service is the best. If you get a chance use your free fridays or weekends to take a vacation in san antonio my next fav after disney.

 

[gm]

yes if you are platinum and a suite is available you get it. I have never had a problem getting one except once but they gave me a club room instead. Be sure to call the platinum desk to add your # to the ressie.

To someone who had posted about the westin riverwalk: it is a beautiful hotel with the heavenly beds and the best hotel on the riverwalk. It is so beautiful. The bathrooms are huge too with marble flooring and the service is the best. If you get a chance use your free fridays or weekends to take a vacation in san antonio my next fav after disney.

 

[Muffy]

How do you get plantinum status? Right now i am gold. thanks in advance.

 

[Jen80370]

Thanks for the update on the Riverwalk...it is next on my mile saving agenda.

 

[gottgotowdw]

Just a little FYI for all you nurse's out there using the 129 rate.

Yes, it is back to 129/night...Yeah!!
Have had several conversations with Starwood about booking this rate on line. Not to be greedy or anything but ....I am dying to get those 500 bonus star points for booking online. ( This originalyy became an obsession when they offerred double points for booking online on 6/7 I think.) You can enter the AAA, govt employee rate, or promo rate while booking online but not the nurse/teacher rate They said they offer the most frequently used rates for booking online and I couldnt do it that way without taking a large risk of booking and trying to hacve them change it when I got there. Not interested in doing that.

Any of you starwood gurus have any timely advice for me?? Just figured it doesnt hurt to ask, nothing ventured nothing gained, etc, etc...

P.S. Does it lessen your chn=ance for an upgrade if you have no points on your starwood card?? (A girl's gotta start somewhere!!)
I do have gold status

Thanks for all of your advice. Couldnt have done it without ya!!

Laura

 

[Jen80370]

gottgowdw...I got my first upgrade with no points....big cheesy smiles help.

 

[disnurse]

would like to upgrade to a suite our next stay. Whats the best proceedure to follow. I will be booking a standard govt rate so who do i call starwoods, dolphin ??? also how many points per night is it to go up to a suite?

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Muffy, We were given Platinum Status because DH has Diamond Status with Hilton. If you ask they will match your level at another chain. To reach Diamond status DH had about 40 - 50 stays within a year. As you may have guessed he is on the road every week for work. The vacation perks help a little to make up for his being gone so much. There are some very nice perks that come with the high status, but we miss him too! Enjoy your trip!

 

[lvinay]

Hi all,
Hoping for some advice, I have read through most of the posts here, but have gotten confused about what to do to get "the best deal".
I am an SPG Gold member, with 500 points right now (I used a bunch for airline tickets before).
My family has reservations for Swan in Dec. using the teacher's rate $129.00. When we made the reservations I gave my SPG #, and was told I'd be upgraded to a preferred room if one is available. I reserved 2 rooms, will both be upgraded? Also, if I am gold level, do we automatically get club privaleges, or do we have to trade in points? I know I have time to earn enough points for club level (I have the Starwood AMEx card and a few trips coming up). Is it worth doing this? Do I need enough points for one room (about 5000 for 8 nights) or will I need enough to upgrade 2 rooms (10 k). Also, if I have an automatic upgrade to a preferred room, and club privaleges, what would I get with another level upgrade?
Thanks for any advice you have. Linda

P.S. - I mistakenly posted this question on the general Disney Resorts page, but could not delete it after I realized the error. Sorry for the double post. Linda

 

[Jen80370]

Linda,

Welcome! First of all, the only ones guaranteed club with availability are platinum members. To upgrade to club is 750 per room per night. Yes you would need to pay with points. Balcony rooms are 1250 per room per night. No upgrades are automatic. The question is, which is more important to you?

They will upgrade both if available if they told you you might be upgraded. They wouldn't only do it for one.

Hopefully DF99 can answer any other questions you have. I'm off to the Dolphin.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Enjoy your King corner room Jen! Have a wonderful vacation.

 

[dreamflight99]

JEN is RIGHT as always! Have fun Jen...miss you already!

Linda: HELLO! Plat. spg members are guaranteed the CL, upgrades (even to suites), and other perks. Club level is nice, and I have always enjoyed the convenience & availability. Recently, I was informed by a mgr. @ the WDW Dolphin that Gold SPG is upgraded to a "preferred view" (such as epcot, etc.). So the CL is extra. ONE SPG member was recently upgraded to a CORNER KING with a PREFERRED VIEW (Ahem!!), & others have received balcony rooms overlooking the pool/MGM/Epcot, etc.~having experienced great fortune with the GOLD SPG card. Good luck in your planning.

 

[ctkmom3kidz]

Greetings everyone,
We just returned from our "magical vacation" abroad the Magic for 7 days-Eastern and 4 nights at the Swan Club Level- If anyone has any questions re that level please ask... I want everyone to know that the Swan Club Level has upgraded their Club offerings.... They are now open again in the afternoon for cookies and drinks and late evening for cordials and cookies. They have also added a hot selection in the evening. I am looking thru my papers to see if I can find the exact times of service.
My question for all the SPG experts....
We have going to NYC in July and staying at the W hotel in 2 rooms. We have booked one room on the Free Fri/Sat promotion and the other on the points/dollar promotion. We are Gold SPG members-is there a chance that we would be upgraded on our room??? Also can we use points to upgrade to a club level room??
Thanks
Maureen