Westin Desert Willows sales promo--ripoff

[Cathyb]

Received email (and phone call) for a special 4 day/3night promo pkg at the Westin Hotel for $249 which included a $100 resort cert or 7500 Starpoints.

When you read the small print, there is also a charge of $25 PER DAY for additional amenities. What are 'additional amenities' that would cost that much? Pretty soon we will be doing our own housekeeping!

 

[Pedro]

Received email (and phone call) for a special 4 day/3night promo pkg at the Westin Hotel for $249 which included a $100 resort cert or 7500 Starpoints.

When you read the small print, there is also a charge of $25 PER DAY for additional amenities. What are 'additional amenities' that would cost that much? Pretty soon we will be doing our own housekeeping!

How is that a ripoff? $249 or 4 days/3 nights doesn't look like a bad deal to me.

 

[Cathyb]

pedro -- you have to fork out $25/day ($75) for things you may not even want -- to me that is a ripoff.

 

[SDKath]

Wow, is that for current owners too? That hotel is SUPER nice. $25 in amenities (parking, pool, etc I am guessing) is still a fantastic deal.

If I didn't have so many SOs to use up without paying the $250 and sitting through a painful presentation, I would go in a heartbeat. $100 credit for a massage... Mmmmmmmmmmmm.

Katherine

 

[Ken555]

Received email (and phone call) for a special 4 day/3night promo pkg at the Westin Hotel for $249 which included a $100 resort cert or 7500 Starpoints.

When you read the small print, there is also a charge of $25 PER DAY for additional amenities. What are 'additional amenities' that would cost that much? Pretty soon we will be doing our own housekeeping!

Huh? This is a GREAT deal. All (or almost all) Westin resorts charge $25/day beyond room price, which typically include parking, Internet access, gym access, etc. I would prefer they include this charge in their daily rate, as I've been surprised to find it on my bill at times, but this is not a ripoff by any means.

 

[DeniseM]

When you add the $25 a day and subtract the $100 GC that works out to $74.66 a day - Wow! Great price! But I don't think I can stomach a sales presentation.... :annoyed:

 

[Scott & Laura]

Westin Desert Willow

After reading comments, I am wondering;

Taxes, are these additional.
If I understand correctly, these things always are seperate.

The room seems to be given at a really reduced cost, did the offer say soaps, towels and laundering etc. were also included?

or - Did you just assume they would have included that?

The offer seems to be good, and I would enjoy it.
I wonder if Westin accounting classifies room costs one way, and they give these deals to pay overhead.

Another accounting may be done for supplies and amenities, so Westin would not have included it.

I'm not an Accountant, I am wondeering only.

I would go

Scott

 

[Cathyb]

Guess I am just 'cheap' If I were to have to sit 2 hours in a sale presentation for this package it just doesn't seem right to be subject to $25 extra 'amenities' costs per day. Sales should pick this tab up.

 

[grgs]

While I dislike resort fees, they are fairly common. Personally, I wish they would just build it into the rate. However, I can see it allows hotels to market their rooms at a lower rate, while protecting their revenue stream.

Kind of like airlines charging baggage fees, etc. The only problem is that with the resort fee you still be charged even if you use the pool, gym, parking, etc.

In any case, this charge is coming from the hotel, not SVO. It would be nice if SVO picked it, but probably not realistic. As others have said, just add it in to the total cost of the package, and see if you still consider it a good deal or not.

Glorian

 

[Kildahl]

I stayed there about 3 weeks ago. No one likes fees but I recall it covered internet ( wired and wifi)and fitness center which I used daily. I hate to be nickled and dimed for these kind of items.

I think I already reported that I really liked the resort.

 

[chalucky]

Westin Rancho Mirage workout facility is really crummy...machines are outside and old. Some treadmills inside but a Westin should do better....especially charging "resort fees".

 

[Troopers]

This offer is to stay at the Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa, right?

How can I get this offer?

I'm thinking about buying at Desert Willow.

 

[thomasro3]

This offer is to stay at the Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa, right?

How can I get this offer?

I'm thinking about buying at Desert Willow.

you should be able to call and request this. 1-800-601-8699. Depending on the time you could also request this from the sales office located onsite at the Westin Mission Hills. You can call the resort and ask to be transferred to Vacation Ownership.

 

[BradC]

Guess I am just 'cheap' If I were to have to sit 2 hours in a sale presentation for this package it just doesn't seem right to be subject to $25 extra 'amenities' costs per day. Sales should pick this tab up.

Think of it this way: they were going to offer the deal for $324 for three nights (which is still a fantastic deal), but discounted it to $249 to offset the resort fee!