Starwood card(s) ?

Steve,

That's a good question. To add to that, Id like to ask:

For people who have experience with both the Hilton and Starwood (aka Sheraton) rewards systems, which one of these do you think is more value for the money (or points)?

I'm just getting started with Hilton, and so far so good. If you stay at a Hilton with a Hilton rewards card, the points *do* add up quite fast. On the other hand, I find the Sheraton family to be a bit more economical than the Hilton family.

Thanks in advance,

 

I'm in both Hilton and Starwood. I find myself staying at more Hiltons than Starwood properties though if there's a W Hotel nearby then I stay there! W is great! I also happen to be Silver HHonors so I tend to favor them a little more--that and the double dipping for points and miles ;-)

I don't have either of the credit cards but I've been considering getting the Citi brand. We'll see.

 

I was just approved for a Gold Points MBNA card. I'll be earning points that can be used at Country Inns and Suites and Radisson.

We've had some bad customer services issues a couple of times at Hilton.

 

I thought so too, at the time. But the Citi USA Starwood card has either never existed, or been discontinued.

All in all, the Starwood Preferred Guest program has won much more Freddie awards than the Hilton HHonors program.


Saar

 

I was a "Diamond" member at Hilton at one point (100 nights/year)... I'm now just a lowly silver.

I've also been a "Gold" with Westin (now Starwood) and was REALLY ticked when they changed over to the Sheraton program. BUT... it's still better than HHonors:

1) Starwood will let you book an award for use TONIGHT if available.

2) W hotels are VERY VERY cool and a great treat to cash in points at. Hilton doesn't have as many truly "upscale" places to cash in points at. Starwood has W, Westin, and some really nice properties like St. Regis, San Francisco's Palace, Hyde Park in London.

3) Starwood seems to be easier to cash in awards (for me, at least). I seem to always have a hard time getting Hiltons on the dates I want (again, for "free" cashing in points).

Hilton has some advantages too, though-

1) Airline & Hotel points (both, not either/or)

2) Lots of properties (Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton)

3) Hilton has point-stretcher rewards "point sales" which can really make the points stretch

So .. if you like to treat yourself to a swank weekend at a really nice resort or classy hotel, go Starwood. If you want more places and don't care so much about the "posh factor" - go with Hilton. ANother consideration may be (for us biz travelers) - who will your company reimburse you for staying at. Hiltons tend to be a little cheaper.

BTW- I did sign-up for (waiting for approval) the Amex Hilton card. It doesn't have BVG, but if you spend $5k in the 1st 6 months, you can get over at least 22k points which is a decent weekend (7500 + 10000 + 5000). Great deal!

 

Thanks, mj and jonesing, for your responses.

I agree that Hilton always seems to be "sold out" when you want to redeem points for free nights. One hotel told me that they only take 7 rewards certificates per night period. But, I should be able to get around that with good plannning.

I am more of the "cheap but long stay" type vacationer, so I think I'll stick with Hilton. Besides, I'm a Gold VIP member now (by a fluke).

MJ- as a Diamond member, was it fairly easy for you to get the best room in the house, or did they try to save that benefit for paying clients?

 

Marci-

I did get better rooms when I was a Diamond, but never huge upgrades like to a corner suite. It all comes down to the front-desk clerk when you check in. If he/she "likes" you, you're "in"

Happy travels-
mj

 

Thanks, mj. I figured as much re the desk clerk's attitude being the gateway to a nice upgrade. I'll just have to put on the charm for my gulf-front room, telling them it's a Mother's Day gift for Mom (true).

 

Sounds like a good plan, Marci. They usually try to go out of their way to make a "special" stay into something really special- especially if you have some status with the hotel.

Never hurts to ask!

-mj

 

I thought I'd update folks on Hilton customer service and my recent reservation fiasco.

I'm vacationing in 10 days at the beach. The town I'm staying in has only two Hilton properties, Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn. I chose to book a reservation at the Hampton Inn (it's cheaper than HGI) and used a 25,000 certificate for a free night. Everything was confirmed online by Hilton. Lo and behold, yesterday I got a call from this Hampton Inn that my reservation was cancelled and that my award would not be honored. Apparently this hotel is no longer Hampton Inn and has seceded (or been kicked out) from the Hilton family. So, 10 days before my beach trip, I have no reservation and forfeited Hhonors points. I was steaming...

I call the Hilton Worldwide Executive office (in California) to complain and the "guest assistance" CSR blew me off, and offered NO help, saying instead I'd have to try to get a new reservation at the more expensive hotel down the street and hope that they'd have a rewards night available (this is for Memorial Day weekend). Basically, I'd have to start all over with a new reservation.

Two of the reps at the Hilton Hhonors program told me the same thing, and then I scaled up to a Redemption supervisor. By this time I was nearly yelling at her, but she called the general manager at the HGI hotel, who agreed to honor the reservation terms at the Hampton Inn and give me a free night for 10,000 points, instead of 25,000. He said that I was the 5th guest calling in with that complaint and that he was almost fully booked b/c of it. I got in just in time.

I can't believe that Hilton allows its hotels to have that much discretion in cancelling reservations. The Hhonors supervisor said that Hilton Worldwide had no control over what this Hampton Inn did with it's reservations. I called the Hampton and they said the owners refused to allow for rewards nights of previously booked guests because Hilton refused to reimburse them. I fault both the hotel owners and Hilton Worldwide. YUCK!!!!!


Had it not been for a nice supervisor and nice general manager at the HGI, I would have had no place to stay. Nevertheless, I am still VERY disappointed with Hilton's Executive Office. I hope that Starwood doesn't operate like this. :-(

 

I once had a problem with a Starwood property honoring my starpoints. I escalated it to Starwood Corporate Services. I was given an apology, a reservation # for the hotel I wanted (booked for points) and a confirmed complimentary room upgrade.

They couldn't have handled my complaint any better


Saar

 

Update, post vacation.

The Hilton "Diamond Desk" (from Dallas, TX) called me 3 days before my trip profusely apologizing for the dropped reservation by the Hampton Inn. They said they just found out and that they still needed to contact folks who were checking in the next day! They confirmed my reservation and said that if I had any problems to call them back.

The praise really goes to the Hilton Garden Inn hotel manager, who hooked me up. Free gulf-front upgrade (at a room rate lower than HGI's cheapest). Breakfast upgrade to the full feast for $2.00 a person (v. $8.00 a person); and the chef could actually cook quite well (as my waist will now testify to...).

Free USA Today delivery (it was supposed to be $.50 a day). Great "concierge" services by the front desk staff. These people did just as well or better than the concierge at the Hilton Atlanta.

The only thing I regret is not asking the Diamond Desk for a "Diamond VIP" upgrade. Since the manager satisfied my needs, I didn't really have the chutpaz to ask...


Hilton came through!

 

The good news: If you have Amex Starwood you can call & get it. The bad news: It's not worth it, since the 50% off applies to the rack rate. Usually there are other rates available which are more than 50% off the rack rate anyway.


Saar

 

Marci-

Glad to hear your vacation turned out OK. Please consider writing a letter to Hilton HQ in Beverly Hills and cc: the general manager. Make sure you say in the letter how many people and sites you've praised Hilton on. Hopefully his boss will get a hold of that letter and at review time ... you get the idea.

I've had several EXCELLENT stays with Hilton and Hampton lately... with the Amex HHonors card, the points are adding up like crazy.

-mj

 

Great advice, mj! Thanks, I'll do it. You are right about the AmEx Hilton points adding up fast. With this stay being charged to my AmEx Hilton card, I've already made up the 10,000 points taken for my free night. Amazing...