NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[Mouseteacher]

I just checked the spg site and if I am reading this right a Speciality 1 upgrade for a category 4 resort which is S/D is 1000. The description for this includes Club Level room or concirege services. A category 5 and 6 resort would require the 1500 points.
So... ozzie I think you are right in your previous post. The only thing I can think of is that the CM at S/D think they sre a category 5 or 6 resort when indeed they are listed as a category 4.

I know they are cat. 4 b/c I have been chacking availability with cash and points. S/D is a cat. 4 requiring 4000 points per night + $60 for the cash and points.

Perhaps they need to be told this and see if that makes a difference.

Excuse my spelling errors - I am the world's worst typist! I am a good speller though, trust me!

 

[disnurse]

beader7 was told 1250/night at the swan and that was what i was quoted at the dolphin as well. Mine didn't include 10 resort fee and when i checked i was told everyone must pay that fee now.

 

[The Pluto People]

We are staying at the Dolphin in June and I, too, have had problems with points - SPG and the Dolphin have different ideas on how many points for a suite free night! Do all suites at the S/D "cost" 20,000 points per night? Do the bigger suites "cost" more points (seems like they should)? Thanks to anyone who has any info on this...

 

[mom23guys2]

I just returned from the Dophin. I paid 1200 in points for the CL upgrade. I told the person at check in that the upgrade was only 1000 points for a category 4 hotel on the web site. He called someone else over, she said 1200. He then went in the back and when he came out he said that was it, 1200 points. I had enough points for my room, and was able to upgrade my friends room for 3 nights also. If it had been 1000 I would have been able to do both rooms for all of the nights. Just a suggestion. Ask for a better room somewhere else and get CL priveges. The CL floor was not that nice.

 

[disnurse]

We were originally on CL and I asked about the views and was told only standard views were available and then she found us a great view room as she called it on a different floor. Great view is an understatement, it was breathtaking culd see mgm and epcot. CL is great for breakfast.

 

[Beader7]

Val - we just returnef from the SWAN last week. We upgraded w/points to CL. We has a noon on the 10th floor. View of MGM. Could not see EPCOT. We felt the VALUE of the breakfast daily, and afternoon snacks were "WELL worth the points. I wasnot impressed with Tubbys Bufeteria, so I am glad we had the CL option every day. They had fresh bagels, toast, english muffins, breads, pastries, very fresh fruit, cereal and beverages. For 4 persons that would have been an easy $20-25 a day. Afternoon they had fruit, a hot item, great cookies, bakery items and sodas, all free. So, yes, I think we saved a great deal of money. We did not have a balcony, but we were just a few steps from the elevator that took us to the CL.

Sandy

 

[valvzb]

Thanks for the info on CL. It does sound like it would be worth it but with the points continually going up I don't think I'll be able to swing it anyway.

Does the $10.00 resort fee get waived for Gold members?

 

[Caren90]

Mouseteacher, I am reading it the same the way, specialty 1 upgrade is for club and specialty 2 is view. We upgraded to club for 750 a night last August. I am going to be calling to upgrade soon and will let you know how it goes.

 

[Mouseteacher]

Caren ~ I will be very interested to see what they say to you. May I be so bold as to make a suggestion when you do call? Try reminding them of what it says on the website and that they are a Category 4 resort speciality 1 upgrade - print out the description and read it to them when you call. Thanks for keeping us updated.

 

[Caren90]

Mouseteacher,
That is a great suggestion I think I will do just that. I just have to wait until my American exp. points are credited to my SPG account and then I will be calling, hopefully within a day or two. Wish me luck!
Caren

 

[Mouseteacher]

Good Luck and PD **********************************

 

[Roxie A]

Ok, I got my Starwood card upgraded to Gold! I'm booked in the Sheraton Safari for 6/1-6/6. Should I call Starwood and have them add my #, Call the Safari directly or just wait until I get there? What can I expect for Gold and is there anything to trade points for there? Sorry very new to this.

 

[Shelly]

Hi! I stayed at the safari first week of April. If they already have your card number I would just show it when you arrive, if not I would call and ask them to add your number.
I don't know what room you got. but when I arrived they honored my room requests. I had a kidsuite, I asked if they had a bigger room and yes they did but they only had six of them and I could only get it for two days of my stay, it would have been a comp upgrade as I kept politely
pointing out my SPG status. I said no thankyou because I didn't want to keep switching rooms, I don't enjoy that on vacation.
You could use points in there restaurant, but I wouldn't not the best use of points and we were unhappy with the place. There are so many better places around there within walking distance. Good Luck.

 

[Roxie A]

Oh forgot to add, my reservations are thru Priceline.
Shelly, What is the kidsuite???

 

[Shelly]

Kid suite is as you walk in you see a living room area with pull out sofa bed, there is a little kitchen with microwave sink and fridge.
Then a door to the bathroom big sink area etc.,
if you continue straight thru the bathroom there's another door that opens to a room with two double beds, desk chair and balcony/patio(depending on your floor) overlooking the pool.
If you've ever stayed at the polynesian the safari is very much like that. It have four long buildings that form a big square on the inside of the square the patios and balconys of all the rooms overlook the pool area, with a great big snake water slide.
The outside of the square are the entrances and parking all around the outer square.
Hope this makes sense. We really liked it there and it only cost me 3,000 spg points per night.
Across the street there is a Chilis and macaroni grill, Steak and Shake, a very short drive (2min) or long walk there is a little shopping area called cross roads with gooding grocery store, Mcdonalds and a yummy fun Jungle Jims restaurant(might have the name wrong, but I think I'm close.
The hotel has a little game room and a nice laundry room on the first floor right near the pool. I did some laundry while I sat by the pool.

 

[Caren90]

Well, I called today to upgrade to club as my amx points were credited today. Unfortunately I could not because it is not 5 days before (I don't go until June). However the woman on the phone said without me asking that I should call back 5 days before and upgrade for 1000 point per night per room.(I have two rooms) She also reminded me that it is based on availabilty. So I did find out it is 1000 points but was unable to book and I sure hope I get the same person when I call back in June. LOL

 

[marymrg]

CSMOMMY - it took me exactly 12 weeks from my first purchase to get my bonus points credited. I was part of the January promotion though........for 4000 points. I faxed in a copy of my "offer" to Amex 2 weeks before receiving the points......I never heard directly from Amex about it so I am assuming that it ended up coming directly from SPG. (not to mention at least 5 phone calls)
I hope you get them soon! I was at the point of saying forget it, went away and when I came back -- they appeared.

MaryG

 

[disnurse]

caren90 get the 1000 pts in writing if possible. A couple of us just got back and were charged 1200 pts , I had the cm call to double check and that was the answer, also had to pay 10$ resort charge even though that was suppose to be included in CL.

 

[disneyNJ]

Caren90 & Others,

Just thought I would share our Swan Club Level "points" experience. We stayed at the Swan in Feb 2003 (and had a great time, by the way).

5 days prior to our arrival, I called the Starwood number and asked to be upgraded to Club Level using points. It was a bit confusing for them to find our reservations, since we had booked with DreamsUnlimited in order to get the government discount, but I knew that might be the case since we have done this exact thing before (used Dreams and then upgraded with points).

Eventually our reservation was located and I was told we had been upgraded for 4 nights and 6,000 points had been deducted from my account (that's 1,500 points per night).

I immediately questioned the charge, saying it should be 1,000 poinst per night. They put me on hold, came back on the line, told me the points had been raised in Jan 2003. I told them that yes, the points had been raised from 750 to 1,000. The 1,500 per night point charge is for a "better view."

I also said that I had JUST checked the point charges on the Starwood site and it said 1,000 per night for a category 1 upgrade (which is what Club Level is at the Swan - and Dolphin).

Back on hold for me - this took a fairly long time, but the Starwood rep finally returned and told me I was right - it was 1,000 points per night. So I was set.

When I checked my Starwood account a few days later, I found that 6,000 points had been deducted, then put back in my account and then the correct amount of 4,000 points had been deducted.

So, I would strongly encourage anyone using Starwood points for Club Level to be very polite - and very firm - and insist that the Internet site posts this as a 1,000 point per night charge and thus that is what we should all be "paying."

As for the resort fee - I inquired at check-in and was told by the Swan front desk the fee is not waived - so we paid it. In fact, we had one night "free" with 10,000 points and I was charged $10 for that night (no taxes, which I thought was odd, just the resort fee). They did however upgrade us to Club Level for free that first night, so I felt we came out far ahead in the deal!

Finally, I'd like to add that for our family of 4 - with two teenage sons - the quick and delicious breakfast, plus water bottles, evening snacks and sodas is a fantastic perk and a real time and money saver. I don't think we can ever stay at the Swan without being able to use Club Level!

Disney NJ

 

[Caren90]

Today when I called I had printed out the page from the SPG site (recommended by Mouseteacher) so I was armed ready to back up the 1000 points, however before I had the chance to ask because I could not upgrade today (have to wait til 5 days before) the starwood person said that if was just a club upgrade I was looking for than to please call back 5 days prior and it would be 1000 points per night IF there is availability. ( I have that to worry about now, LOL).
When I hung up I thought I really should have at least got her name for when I call back. Oh well, I will be polite and firm when I call in June.

disnurse, did you upgrade at checkin or before you left?

Thanks for everyones help and input.

Caren