Samson7256

I apologize if you're seeing this twice, I accidentally posted it on the main US board the 1st time instead on in the hawaii section.

Thinking about doing a honeymoon in Maui next June but money is tight...I wanted to run my idea by and get some opinions as to whether or not I'm crazy Anyway, I thought I would try to use priceline or hotwire for 5 or 6 nights (assuming I get the Sheraton which I know is never a sure thing)..anyway..if I received the Sheraton, then I would use my Starwood points and book the 1st night (1 night prior to when my priceline/.hotwire reservation would be) with the starwood preferred card and also use the leftover points to upgrade my room to a partial ocean view..assuming there's some still available. Anyway, my hope is that by staying in a nice partial ocean view room the first night the hotel wouldn't make me check in again and switch my room for the next 6 days when my priceline reservation became effective. Do you think the Sheraton would actually make me switch rooms ? Does this plan make any sense and is it worth trying ? Any responses/opinions would be appreciated

travleis

In almost any other location I'd say the odds would be highly likely (almost guranteed) that you'd be required to change rooms. But in Hawaii, on your honeymoon, they MIGHT give you a break (especially if they're not booked).

In general, remember that the hotel sells those rooms to Priceline at a deep discount, so they're making comparatively little money on your Priceline-booked stay. To give out upgrades on top of that would be asking for a lot IMO. But Hawaii is sometimes different for many reasons.

pb_and_j

A lot of this depends on the mood of your check-in agent, unfortunately. Also, what are your options if you don't get the Sheraton?
My own experience at a Sheraton in Waikiki was very good. I handed my SPG card with my ID when I checked in and my priceline room was bumped up to a partial oceanview without even asking. I suggest going to biddingfortravel.com into the Maui section, Hotel list, and read the hotel reviews. THose are by priceline users and are a grat insight on how the hotel treats priceline guests, which rooms they received, who got bumped up, etc.

Samson7256

I was hoping that by going about it this way, I wouldn't have to worry as much about the persons mood during my checkin, since by booking my 1st night conventionally with 10,000 starwood points and using an additional 2,500 pts to get an upgrade to a partial ocean view, I would be guaranteed to have a nice room my first night, and I would only have to then worry about convincing them to not "inconvenience me" and force me to switch rooms the next day when my priceline/hotwire reservation kicks in. I realize my priceline reservation entitles me to only a standard room but I just thought I'd be tipping the odds in my favor by guaranteing myself a partial ocean view the first night. I don't mean to come across as some kind of greedy customer that expects a great room when I realize I'm getting a steep discount when I book via priceline, I would certainly never feel slighted or cheated if I was assigned a garden view room, but it doesn't hurt to increase my chances. If I wasn't able to get the Sheraton, then this idea isn't even an option, but seeing how the Sheraton is the most frequent resort coming up (according to bidding for travel) and since the Weston is a starwood property as well...I think my chances are pretty good that I'll be able to utilize my starwood points if I went through with a priceline reservation.

Carol47

Good idea, and I hope it works for you, but Starwood came out recently with a new policy that they would not upgrade any priceline/hotwire discounted rooms. You may get lucky, and if not, what have you lost? You have to do it knowing that they may not honor it and you will be happy with what you get. I currently have two ressies, one for 6 nights with Starwood points and one for 3 nights with credit card! Will be interesting to see what I get.