• Offer is valid for stays booked and completed between May 18, 2010 and December 31, 2010.
• Guests must be Starwood Preferred Guests in order to receive these exclusive rates. Not an SPG member? Enroll now at SPG.com.
• Advance reservations are required and must be made online or by calling 866-716-8141 and requesting Rate Plan SPG50SPC.
• On Oahu, the 35% dining discount applies to Pikake Terrace at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani; Kai Market and RumFire at the Sheraton Waikiki; Banyan Grill at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa; Surf Lanai, Mai Tai Bar and the Aha Aina Luau at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort. With our “Stay at One, Dine at All” program, the 35% discount applies to all listed outlets when charged to your room, regardless of the Starwood property you are staying at in Waikiki.
• On Kauai, the 35% dining discount applies to lunch at Oasis and dinner at Shells at the Sheraton Kauai; dinner at Nanea Restaurant & Bar at The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas.
• On Maui, the daily breakfast for two at the Sheraton Maui will be at Keka’a Terrace; at The Westin Maui it will be at Ono Bar & Grill; at The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas it will be at Ocean Pool Bar & Grill.
• On the Big Island, the daily breakfast for two will be at Kai.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for more info or to book it.

Enjoy free nights, breakfast, kids stay free and more. Book by 5/2 – 6:00 p.m. CST…

Las Vegas/Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino…

Family activities: Shark Reef Aquarium, Disney’s The Lion King, Mandalay Bay Beach (features a lazy river, 2700 tons of real sand, wave pool and more)…

Fort Lauderdale/Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Beach Hotel

• Up to 3 kids stay free

• Every 4th night free and a $50 resort credit

Hawaii/Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa

• Save an additional 10% on your stay

• Kids Stay and Eat Free

• Stay three nights and receive 3rd night free and daily breakfast for two (category specific)

Riviera Maya/Iberostar Tucan

• Up to 2 kids stay free (ages 12 & under)

Travel 4/11-11/24/10

Aruba/The Westin Aruba Resort (European Plan)

• Kids 12 and under stay and eat free

• Kids 17 and under stay free

• Plus, save up to 50% on your stay

Travel: 4/9-8/19/10

London/Thistle Westminster

• Two kids stay free (through age 16)

• Daily full English breakfast for adults and 2 children (through age 16)

Travel by 10/31/10

Vail/Vail Racquet Club Townhomes & Condo

• Kids Stay Free

Whistler/Delta Whistler Village Suites

• Kids Stay Free

This resort is less than 2 years old and it seems to still be in a shakedown mode…

Here were some of the problems…

-There is a need for more huts on the beach so one can be out of the sun..

-Both wired and wireless Wi-Fi was spotty at times, and wireless was a big problem in villa.

-The pool temperature needs to be hotter (it was chilly with few guests in the pool). Before our arrival we called 2 times and were told the pool was heated ( reviews on tripadvisor.com and tugbbs.com have pointed out the water seems not to be heated much)

-The water leak on to bathroom floor from shower has not been corrected. it is a very dangerous situation.

-The hot water was a problem every day for the shower-/sometimes hot sometimes cold-called front desk they said to run sink hot water at same time-it only worked to make it hot 1/2 of the time

-A number of times the operator took 20-30 rings to answer phone.

-When we entered room dishwasher had dishes and silverware in it.

-The breakfast buffet is a bit overpriced at 280 pesos for the selection of food that is being offered.

-The first 2 days the elevator closest to our room was down- no sign on it to tell you that it’s not working.

We wrote to the hotel to complain and they didn’t please us with their reply which was next time you come -”let us know whenever you have you reservation made so that we can take special care of your room assignment, cleaning and welcome amenity at your arrival”

When you stay at a resort for  8 days/7 nights you expect a better answer than that. Perhaps a refund of monies spent at resort or a complementary stay.

The resort is beautiful but problems like the above take away from the enjoyment of a vacation.

This property is part of Starwood Vacation Ownership (timeshare)but can be booked by anyone thru Westin or if you have a timeshare with Interval International.

added-

comment on this post on timeshareforums.com by GrayFal

“These are the SAME complaints owners have been making since day ONE.

Starwood – put a pool heater in, will ya!

Someone is going to kill themselves falling in the bathroom on those wet floors (at least they will die in a beautful but wet bathroom)

POOL Heater…..it is a no brainer – and you might want to heat the jacuzzi/whirlpool tubs as well.”

W hotels, Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis, Meridien, Luxury Collection, 4Points, aloft, element…

The rates posted are for the next two weekends for hotels and the next eight weeks for resorts and Four Points by Sheraton, element and aloft hotels…

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for Starwood- deals at hotels and resorts – 20% off + Starpoints

The way I see it, owners have three choices…

1. Sell your Starwood units and wipe your hands free of what I think is right now the worst timeshare developer in the country…

2. Do nothing as use the new system to their advantage as best they can. Owners could also use RCI and or rent the unit instead of using II…

3. Continue to fight,writing letters,sending emails, putting up websites and complaining every way possible…

Now – The details of my phone call with Starwood this past Friday…

Starwood is sticking to the belief that they have the right to control owner reservations that are given to II(Interval International)…

They refer to the Floating Use Plan Rules and Regulations as allowing them to do this. I have asked for a copy of this document and was told they will provide it.

Starwood refers to many owners making exchanges under the new system. Many owners may not be getting the same exchanges as in the past but are making exchanges…

There is supposed to be a 30 day preference period in Interval when trading back into your home resort or another SVO(Starwood Vacation Ownership) resort. Another words, for the first 30 days after a Starwood unit is deposited with II, it is only available to other Starwood owners. I explained that many owners are seeing different results and Starwood says they will look into it.

Starwood also thinks that the lack of a true request first really isnt an issue. A good way around this is to plan your requests a year in advance or more. For example, in January 2010, use your 2011 weeks to make a request for 2010.

Then if you dont get the exchange at the point in 2010 when you are one year from the most desirable weeks at your resort in 2011,you are free to cancel your exchange request and make a home resort reservation.

Currently Starwood is working on possibly splitting maintenance fees into more than one payment at some or all resorts to make it easier for owners to afford the fees.

They are also going to implement a rule in which exchange confirmations cannot be made until maintenance fees are paid. Owners will be able to make instant online exchanges and put in requests without advance payments but in order for an exchange to be confirmed, owners will need to pay the fees. For example, when you make an online exchange using II (Interval International), your exchange will be pending until your home resort usage is confirmed. If your fees arent paid your exchange will not be confirmed.

Please let me know your thoughts on this.

George

Pointswizard.com Spin: If you’d like to join the fight against Starwood email   Gcmarine@aol.com

update 1 Nov 4, 2009

original article  Sept. 21, 2009

SPG^® to introduce a new credit card for Canadian residents…

It’s still too early to share the details, but you can expect all the rich benefits you’ve come to appreciate — and a few new ones…

Current SPG MasterCard^® from MBNA cardmembers, please review FAQ for details on the SPG credit card transition…

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for New SPG (Starwood) credit card is on the horizon in Canada

Referrers must be Gold status as of November 13, 2009…

Referrers can earn a maximum of 1,000 bonus

Starpoints per Referee, but there is no limit to the amount of Referees one can enter…

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for details and to get started on the Member Get a Member Bonus – Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG)

Deadline for referrals is February 28, 2010

Now comes the latest couples’ hotel gimmick: the conception vacation…

Inspired by coral spawning season on the island, The Westin Resort on Aruba is offering twosomes a $300 “conception credit” toward their next stay if they conceive a child while staying Sept.1-Dec. 19…” (via www.usatoday.com) by Kitty Bean Yancey

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read the rest of Westin Resorts rewards couples who get away from it all and get pregnant

-Earn up to 6 Free Nights..
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Some of Starwood brands are Sheraton, W Hotels, aloft hotels, The Luxury Collection, Le Méridien, Westin Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts