Triangle Trip

Furthering my previous post regarding hotel best practices when you’re staying at a hotel for an extended period of time, here are a few more tips:

1.  Feel free to leave a bag at the bell desk or concierge. If you don’t want to carry your toiletry going through TSA, just bring an extra duffle bag and leave the bag with the front desk or bell hop when you check out. Not only should you leave your toiletry, you should look to leave your workout gear, or any outfit for the climate. This works well if you are traveling to a different climate, you should always leave a jacket, sweater, fleece, etc. that you may not need at home.  You’ll be lighten your load on your weekly commute and the people behind you at the security checkpoints will thank you for it!

2.  Always tip the bell hop or concierge if you’re asking them for a favor like holding your bag over the weekend. A good suggestion is $2-5 per bag (adjusting to locale and inflation), depending on your relationship. This goes along way with the staff – these guys are the heart and soul of the hotel. I typically tip on drop off and pick up.

Sometimes a souvenir from your home has more mileage. For example, bring the hotel staff “I Love NY” t-shirts if you’re from NYC or some Ghirardelli chocolate if you’re from San Francisco.

As the year comes to an end, many Starwood Preferred Guest (“SPG”) faithfuls are probably looking for ways to retain their status for next year — including me. Since SPG offers two redemption options for its rooms, you’re probably wondering:

Does using SPG Starpoints (to redeem a free room) or the Cash & Points (a combination of SPG Starpoints and cash to book a room) redemption option to reserve a room before the end of the year count toward one’s “number of stays” or “number of nights”?

The answer to both questions is:  No.

SPG treats Starpoint AND Cash & Points redemptions as “Reward” reservations. Hence both redemption options will not help you with your required “stays” or “nights” required to retain your SPG elite status. However, you can still earn Starpoints on other eligible incidental charges during a Cash & Points stay. Below is a quote from SPG’s Terms and Conditions for Cash & Points redemption:

Guest will not receive Starpoints or airline miles for their reservation; therefore, a Cash & Points stay does not qualify as an eligible stay toward earning elite level or toward any promotions requiring nights or stays.

You can also click on this picture to be linked to SPG’s FAQ site regarding this matter.

Don’t be afraid to ask for the services that you’d normally have to earn or pay for at the hotel. Below are the things that you should ask for and would most likely get:

1.  Ask for an upgraded room or simply a better room (like closer to the elevator or away from the ice machine, etc.). There’s no reason why your request wouldn’t be met.

2.  Ask for a discounted or client rate by letting the staff know that you’ll be there for an extended period of time for a client. This works especially well if you are in a group (i.e., traveling with team members)!

3.  Ask the hotel staff to book your future reservations so you don’t have to call or reserve online every week (don’t worry, you have up to the previous day of arrival or 6pm on the date of arrival to cancel for each reservation).

4.  If the hotel charges for Internet, ask for the service to be complementary or get the hotel manager to get your hotel status to a level where it is free (see previous post). You may not get platinum status day one but it will help in the long run.

5. If you do not have hotel status, ask the manager to make it happen. We have gotten entry level silver and gold status at Hilton and SPG (Four Points, Sheraton, etc.) when we were rookies. Hotels still honor loyalty unlike airlines.

The Coach ft. Captain G