Vistana Villages and Starwood Points

[Jaynerita]

I was surprised to book four night at Vistana Villages through the Starwood Web site and then get no points for any of my stay!!!! When I asked I got 2 answers from 2 different people. The first one told me that it's a timeshare rental and therefore I get no points and the other person told me it was because I got a special rate.(179.00 for a 2 bedroom non housekeeping unit. It did not specify that it was a special rate on the web site. I think it should specify somewhere on the web site that points are not awarded for this place. Has anyone been awarded points for their stay?

 

[maggiew]

On Jan. 1 of this year, Starwood changed their policy on awarding points and I think they have become stingy. Here is one part of their terms of service:

"Starpoints can not be earned or accrued for charges master-billed or paid by wholesale rates including WFNR, and all other rates from pre-paid channels, such as but not limited to, priceline.com, expedia.com, hotels.com, hrn.com, hotwire.com, lastminute.com, site59.com, etc. tour or tour operator or other vouchers or for certain other discounted rates including, without limit, airline vouchers or for certain other discounted rates. Other rates not eligible to earn Starpoints include: tour operator rates; wholesaler rates; stays longer than 30 days, Free Night Awards, TAED rates; room rates billed to master account, crew room rates, and employee rates. "

I recently stayed at the Westin Chicago River North. I booked THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE at a $99 internet only rate. I could have pricelined this hotel stay as we weren't particular where we stayed (just wanted to stay downtown for my DH's birthday). Anyway, I was trying to be a loyal Starwood member and earn some points and work my way towards a gold status, so I paid more by booking online through their website.

Anyway, I never received my Starpoints for this stay and it did not count as a "stay" towards gold status. When I called to ask why, they told me that it was because I had an internet pre-paid rate. And I said but I booked through the Starwood site and not through priceline or hotwire etc. She refers me back to the quote above that says "rates through all prepaid channels". I guess this includes their own website! To me the quote above is implying that if you book through one of these other sites like priceline that you wouldn't get points. I was very mad and I have since stopped trying to get gold status at Starwood and will be trying to accumulate points through Marriott from now on.

So, to make a long story short (too late ), I would doubt they will give you the points.

Maggie

 

[Red-Snapper]

When we stayed at Vistana Villages a couple of years ago we didnt get any points then.

It was because they are vacation rental properties - no points are awarded and it is in the small print when you apply for your Starwood awards membership.