Starwood Luxury Privileges: Top Hotels to Book

Starwood Luxury Privileges is Starwood's new preferred partner program, offering value added amenities when booking through select luxury travel agents (TravelSort is one of them). While this is new for Starwood, it is similar to existing preferred partner programs, such as Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Ritz-Carlton STARS, Mandarin Oriental FAN Club, etc. (all of which TravelSort can also book).

I've had a few questions about the program, so I'll address them here in this FAQ, then note some of the key hotels where Starwood Luxury Privileges could be useful, because the properties are not covered by other special amenity rates.

What Amenities Does Starwood Luxury Privileges Provide?

• Upgrade based on availability
• Daily breakfast (typically full American or buffet breakfast, but occasionally continental)
• Early check-in if available
• Late check-out if available
• Hotel-specific welcome amenity or hotel credit, up to $100 or so in value, once per stay

Aren't These Properties Already Covered by Virtuoso and Fine Hotels & Resorts?

For the most part, yes; except:

• All W Hotels and Resorts 
• Several Luxury Collection properties
• Westin Paris

Are Other Starwood Brands, Such as Westin, Sheraton and Aloft Offered?

No–a few Westins are included, such as the Westin Excelsior Florence; Westin Excelsior Rome; Westin Europa & Regina, Venice; The Westin Palace, Madrid and The Westin Paris-Vendome, but other Westins are not included. A few Sheratons are included. Most Westins, most Sheratons, and Alofts or other lower category Starwood brands are *not* included in Starwood Luxury Privileges.

Can Starwood Luxury Privileges Apply to Any Published Rate?

No; unlike some other preferred partner programs, Starwood Luxury Privileges only apply to the best available flexible rate. You'll need to choose between any local promotions a hotel may be running and the Starwood Luxury Privileges rate. Similarly, if your travel agent has negotiated a special unpublished rate, you won't be able to combine that with Starwood Luxury Privileges. You'll need to choose which offer is best for you.

Do Starwood Luxury Privileges Bookings Count for Elite Stays and Night Credits?

Yes–all Starwood Luxury Privileges bookings count toward elite status.

Can Starwood Luxury Privileges Apply to Free Nights or Cash & Points Awards?

No, as noted above, Starwood Luxury Privileges apply to paid best available flexible rates only. They may *not* be used for any award bookings, such as free nights or cash & points.

When Does it Make Most Sense to Book a Starwood Luxury Privileges Rate?

It makes most sense when one or more of these is true:

• The hotel's best available flexible rate for your dates is the same or not much more than the lowest discount or promotional rate you qualify for. 
• The hotel isn't offered by any similar programs, such as Virtuoso or AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts, or you prefer the amenities offered by the Starwood Luxury Privileges program.
• You don't have Starwood elite status but are staying at a hotel offered by Starwood Luxury Privileges and would like the included perks and amenities: complimentary upgrade if available, breakfast for two, early check-in/late check-out if available, and a welcome amenity or hotel credit.

How Do I Book a Starwood Luxury Privileges Rate?

Contact TravelSort, at concierge [at] travelsort.com. We will provide you a new client form that needs to be completed (including your credit card details) so that we can secure your reservation with the Starwood Luxury Privileges amenities.

Top Starwood Luxury Privileges Hotels to Book

Keep in mind, these are only a few of the hotels that are covered by Starwood Luxury Privileges that are either not offered by Virtuoso and AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts, or offer a different amenities package. I've selected them based on:

• Unique to Starwood Luxury Privileges or different amenities package
• Greater value of amenities package
• Luxury and desirability of property

1. Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa

Starwood Luxury Privileges Amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival if available
• Daily full breakfast for two guests
• Early check-in/late check-out if available
• One $45 spa service credit per room per stay
• One $45 food and beverage credit per room per stay
• Guest will also receive daily lunch and dinner for up to 2 guests

2. The Laguna Resort & Spa, Bali

Starwood Luxury Privileges Amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival if available
• Daily full breakfast for two guests
• Early check-in/late check-out if available
• One 60 minute Balinese massage per guest, per stay

3. Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit

• Upgrade on arrival if available
• Daily full breakfast for two guests
• Early check-in/late check-out if available
• One $50 spa service credit per room per stay
• One $50 food credit for lunch or dinner per room per stay

4. W St Petersburg, Russia

Starwood Luxury Privileges Amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival if available
• Daily full breakfast for two guests
• Early check-in/late check-out if available
• One $100 food and beverage credit per room per stay

5. W Bangkok

Starwood Luxury Privileges Amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival if available
• Daily full breakfast for two guests
• Early check-in/late check-out if available
• One massage per stay (value up to 3000 THB, ~$97)

6. W Paris Opera

Starwood Luxury Privileges Amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival if available
• Daily full breakfast for two guests
• Early check-in/late check-out if available
• One 50 EUR food and beverage credit per room per stay

7. Hotel Pulitzer (Luxury Collection), Amsterdam

While Hotel Pulitzer is also a Virtuoso hotel, the Starwood Luxury Privileges rate also includes welcome drinks and complimentary Internet access.

Starwood Luxury Privileges Amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival if available
• Welcome drink for two guests
• Daily full breakfast for two guests
• Early check-in/late check-out if available
• One complimentary lunch per room per stay (up to $100, excludes gratuity)
• Complimentary Internet access

Virtuoso Amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests
• Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability
• A complimentary three-course lunch for up to two people per room, once during stay, excluding alcohol, taxes and gratuities

8. The Andaman, Langkawi

Starwood Luxury Privileges Amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival if available
• Daily full breakfast for two guests
• Early check-in/late check-out if available
• Daily 50 MYR (~$15) food and beverage credit per room

9. Grosvenor House Dubai

Starwood Luxury Privileges Amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival if available
• Welcome amenity: Box of dates
• Daily full breakfast for two guests
• Early check-in/late check-out if available

10. Hotel National, Moscow

Starwood Luxury Privileges Amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival if available
• Welcome amenity: bottle of wine and cheese plate
• Daily full breakfast for two guests
• Early check-in/late check-out if available

11. Park Tower, Buenos Aires

Starwood Luxury Privileges Amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival if available
• Daily buffet breakfast for two guests
• Early check-in/late check-out if available
• One $25 food and beverage credit per room per stay
• Access to health club