Step-By-Step Best Rate Guarantee Process

I try and book all of my hotel rooms through finding a Best Rate Guarantee through the major chain hotels such as Hyatt, Marriott, Starwood and Hilton.  The exception would be if I was booking a room through Virtuoso, in which the benefits can far outweigh the savings by finding a better rate elsewhere.

Virtuoso benefits typically include a one level upgrade upon availability, breakfast for two and a 4 PM late check-out.  Other benefits include lunch or dinner for two, or a $100 Food and Beverage, or Spa credit though this last benefit varies by property.

I have found that utilizing the Best Rate Guarantee program from each of the major chains is easiest with Starwood and Marriott.

I will start my search in the city or area that I am staying.  If loyal to one hotel chain, go to their website as a starting point.  I then go to one of my go to websites as referenced below.  Obviously if you are more flexibly in the properties you are willing to stay at dramatically increases your chances of finding a successful Best Rate Guarantee candidate.

With Starwood you don't even have to make a reservation to file a claim, which makes it especially powerful on pre-paid non-refundable rates.  Simply fill out the claim form with the required information of your name, email address, SPG number, and property information.  You will also be asked for the rate on the SPG site, as well as the better rate found and the website where it can be found.  Lastly, you will be asked for whether you wish to have an additional 10% off, or an extra 2,000 Starpoints.

With Marriott, you must book your room first using the Marriott website and then file you claim.  This can be risky on a pre-paid non-refundable rate as you will have no recourse if your claim is denied.  It has been my experience that Marriott is very fair in the claim review process, and I have only been denied on claims less than 10% of the time.

Marriott's Website

On a recent search, I found the JW Marriott Jakarta for $150 on their website.  In doing a search, which usually starts with either www.kayak.com, www.hotelscombined.com, www.otel.com, www.otels.com and www.olotels.com

Kayak's Website

I was able to find a lower rate on Kayak using www.booking.com.  When you click on the www.booking.com site however, you will notice that the rate is not displayed as the advertised $148 per night, but rather jumps up to $181.  This is due to the fact that the tax has now been included in the rate, whereas the $150 advertised on Marriott's website does not.  In looking at this property several days earlier, the rate was $146 on Kayak's own website.  I filed a claim, which was successful, and my rate was lowered to $109.76 before tax.

Here is part of the email you will receive after making a successful claim.

">> Thank you for submitting a claim for Marriott's Look No Further(SM) Best Rate Guarantee.  We received a claim from you for the following reservation:
>>
>> Hotel:  JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta
>> Arrival Date:  November 15, 2013
>>
>>
>> We have reviewed your claim and have made the following modification to your reservation:
>>
>> Rate:  $109.76
>> >>
>> The room rate listed above reflects your nightly room rate, before tax, and an additional 25% discount for submitting a successful claim according to the terms of Marriott's Look No Further(SM) Best Rate Guarantee.
>>
>> Thank you for choosing Marriott."

Good luck in your search.

If anybody has any requests or needs help in finding a Best Rate Guarantee property I will be happy to help.  I will try to post a sample on a weekly basis.

Riverside Marriott at the Convention Center - Riverside, CA

The RiversideMarriott at the Convention Center is located in downtown Riverside, about 15 minutes away from the University of California Riverside.

Although okay during the day, the area seems a little seedy at night.

The parking garage is a respectable $8 night.  As you enter the hotel from the parking garage, the front desk is to the left.  Although somewhat small, the lobby seems fairly spacious due to the high ceilings.  The lobby is brightly decorated with seating throughout and a “fireplace” to give a more homely feel.

Check-in was efficient.  I was given a room on one of the Concierge Levels right across from the lounge, which is unfortunately closed on the weekends as is the case with most Marriotts.

Bathroom

Shower/Tub Combo

Bath Amenities

Upon entering the room, the bathroom is to the right.  The bathroom is somewhat small but clean with a fair amount of counter space.  Bath & Body Works amenities are provided.

Dresser/TV

The dresser and TV are situated along the left side of the room.  There is also a small refrigerator in the cabinet on the left.

Desk

The desk is next to the dresser and TV.  One thing I don’t like about Marriott is that there are usually two parts to the desk.  The main desk is “fixed” but there is usually another section of the desk underneath which needs to be pulled out in order to do any type of computer work.  Unless you are Shaq, typing on the main part of the desk would be quite a task as it is very high.  Fortunately, there was a side drawer that provided extra work space that made working much easier.

Sitting Area

There is a chair with a small table in the corner which I would imagine goes largely unused.

Bed

Chocolates

The bed is very comfortable, as are the pillows.  As I arrived late, turn down service must have been provided as there were two chocolates on the bed.

Unfortunately there was some type of convention going on in the hotel.  There were hundreds of teenagers running around and screaming throughout most of the stay.    Although the hotel could not control that many kids, I did appreciate being placed on a higher level with no kids on the floor so it made the stay more pleasant.

As the lounge is closed on the weekends, Marriott Gold & Platinum members will get access to the full breakfast buffet in the restaurant which includes an omelet station.  The buffet contains the usual suspects such as eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and oatmeal as hot options.  Cold options include cereals, breads, pastries, yogurt and fruit.

The Riverside Marriott at the Convention Center is centrally located if being downtown is important.  Service was pleasant and friendly, and being provided the full breakfast buffet rather than having an upcharge was a nice touch.

Ritz Carlton Los Angeles

The Ritz Carlton Los Angeles is attached to the JW Marriott, and is located in the LALive complex.

The lobby of the Ritz Carlton is very small, and feels somewhat claustrophobic.  High ceilings definitely helped.

There were two front desk agents who were each helping customers when I arrived at the hotel.  One was very apologetic for the wait, while appreciated the first time became kind of redundant after the fourth or fifth time.

When I arrived at the front desk, I was greeted warmly.  I was asked to confirm my bed preference and rate.  I was then told that my room might not be ready yet, even though I arrived at the hotel after the official check-in time.  It was acknowledged that I had booked a package that included valet parking, a $50 credit and what was supposed to be a choice of two of the following three:  2 movie tickets, 2 tickets to the Grammy Museum or some type of discount at Lucky Strike bowling alley.  The front desk agent only offered me the movie tickets or the Grammy Museum tickets.  When I inquired about the package that I had booked he ignored me.

He then took off towards the back, in what I thought was to get the movie tickets.  I thought it somewhat odd that they would have the movie tickets in the back rather than the front desk.  He came back with an envelope and presented it to me.  I didn’t bother to open it at that time as I figured the movie tickets were in there.

Things certainly weren’t getting off to a good start to make this a good stay.

Executive King Room

I was upgraded to an Executive King Room, which measures approximately 550 square feet, on the 24^th floor.  Wolfgang Puck’s WP24 is also located on this floor.

Upon entering the room, there is a large entryway with a sideboard to place your keys, wallet, purse, etc.  There was a welcome amenity of cookies, chocolates and two bottles of water, but at looking at the name on the card, it wasn’t mine.

Things seemed to be going from bad to worse.

I called down to the front desk to let them know about the error.  I was given an apology and told that things would be cleared up shortly.  An employee came several minutes later to take away the mistaken amenity.

Welcome Amenity of 3 Cookies

About 30 minutes later, another employee arrived to give me an amenity with a hand written note addressed to me.

After the short hallway, the rest of the room is located to the left.  The bathroom is to the immediate right and is fairly spacious.  There is an enclosed tub and shower area.

Shower/Tub Area

Double Sinks

Toilet

There are two double sinks, which unfortunately does not do a good job of keeping water contained since the faucets are located about 1 ½ feet over the sink.  The usual Asprey Purple Water bath amenities are strewn throughout the bathroom.  There is a magnifying mirror, plus a TV inside of the main mirror.  The toilet is in its own little enclosure.

View To Entry Hallway

Upon exiting the bathroom, the rest of the room is to the right.  There is a small enclave within the side wall in which I suppose one could place their suitcase, however the area doesn’t seem that sturdy.

The dresser and TV stand is rather long and takes up half of the wall.  There is a Nespresso coffee maker in the room, with two small complimentary bottles of water to make coffee.

Desk

The desk is almost ridiculously small, and being able to do much work there would be a chore considering the lack of desk space.

Sofa

View of 110 Freeway

JW Marriott Marquee

There is a sofa by one of the two windows in the room.  Unfortunately the view from one of the windows was the 110 freeway, while the view from the other window was of the JW Marriott marquee.

King Bed

The king bed is somewhat soft but very comfortable.  The linens are high quality, which is what you would expect from the Ritz Carlton.

Upon opening the envelope I was presented at check-in, it was a form letter from the General Manager welcoming me to the property.  Sadly, there were no movie tickets in the envelope which meant that I had to make a stop by the front desk on my way to dinner.

JW Lobby Bar

Breakfast at LA Market by Kerry Simon was another adventure.  We were seated but weren’t given any menus.  After waiting for almost 10 minutes we were finally able to flag down a server.  We told her that we hadn’t received any menus, and nobody had come by.  She apologized profusely and promptly got our drinks.  Service from that point on was great, and she even comped one of the meals.

This stay at the Ritz Carlton was less than stellar with many service blunders.  I received an email from one of the managers to inquire about my stay the following day.  I outlined the many service mishaps that happened during my stay.  She apologized profusely and indicated that each department would be addressed so that service areas in the future could be avoided.  She also offered an invitation for a return one night stay, which I thought went above and beyond the call of duty.

I am hopeful that things will improve during my next stay at the Ritz Carlton Los Angeles.

Courtyard Los Angeles Hacienda Heights/Orange County

The Courtyard Los Angeles Hacienda Heights/Orange County may have the longest name of any hotel that I have stayed at.  The hotel is in a somewhat hidden location, as it is not visible from any landmark in the surrounding area.

Located above a shopping center that includes an 85C Bakery, Guppy House and Daiso to name a few, the hotel is not even visible from the shopping center.  Other close landmarks include SchabarumRegional Park and the Puente Hills Mall.

Upon entering the hotel, the front desk is located to the left.  My Ritz Carlton Rewards Platinum status was recognized and all benefits were clearly explained.  I inquired about an upgrade since the hotel seemed fairly empty.  After some searching, the front desk agent placed me into a King Bed Suite.

Finding the elevators in this hotel requires a tour guide, map and GPS just in case you get lost.  The hallways are a true maze that seems to zig-zag around the property.

After finally locating the elevator and making it up to the fourth floor, I made my way to the room.

Bathroom Sink

Upon entering the suite, the bathroom is located to the left.  The sink is separated from the shower/tub combo and toilet.  The counter space is tiny with barely enough room for one person, let alone two.

Bathroom

The bathroom is also very small, with barely enough room to maneuver.

Bar Area

The room then opens up to the living room, which includes a bar area with mini-fridge and microwave oven.

Desk

The desk provides a very large work surface with a TV right next to it.

Sitting Area

There are two chairs, a small sofa and small coffee table.

Bed

Sitting Area in Bedroom

Sofa in Bedroom

The bedroom is separated from the living room, and the door provides surprisingly excellent noise insulation.

The bedroom is large but sparsely furnished.  There is a small sofa, a lounge chair with the dresser and TV being located far away from the bed.

The bed is on the firmer side, and I found it somewhat uncomfortable.

There are two air conditioning units, one in the living room and one in the bedroom which does help to keep the entire suite at a comfortable temperature.

The hotel is located to plenty of dining options in the nearby area, as well as a movie theater with easy freeway access.  This Courtyard is a good business hotels and perfect for a short stay.

The Phoenician - Scottsdale, AZ

ThePhoenician, a Luxury Collection Hotel in the Starwood family, is somewhat oddly located in the Scottsdale area.  Fairly close to Old Town Scottsdale and the Scottsdale Fashion Square.

The Phoenician is away from many other resorts in Scottsdale, but does have a great location in that it hugs the south side of Camelback Mountain.

As you enter the property, you will encounter a guard gate.  You will merely be asked if you are checking into the hotel, there for dinner, to play golf, etc. and pointed towards the appropriate parking area.

The Phoenician offers valet parking, of course, or complimentary covered self-parking.  If entering through the self-parking garage, you will take the elevator or escalator to the third floor in order to check-in.

Check-in was smooth, and all SPG Gold amenities were explained.  Since there is a resort fee of $29 per day, which includes internet, I chose the extra 250 points as my amenity.

Although the hotel was probably not more than 30% occupied, I did not get an upgrade.  I was able to book my room by finding a Better Rate Guarantee, which netted me an extra 2,000 Starpoints so all was not lost.

View of Pool

Balcony

Rooms at The Phoenician are fairly large by most standards, measuring approximately 600 square feet.  The Grand Deluxe King Room overlooks the pool areas.  There is a balcony with patio furniture, but when its nearly 110 degrees sitting outside doesn’t sound like an appealing proposition.

Keurig Coffee Maker

Upon entering the room, there is a small bar area with a Keurig coffee maker to the right.

Bathroom

Bathroom

Tub

Shower

Toilet

The bathroom is located to the left, and is very spacious.  There is a large soaking tub, shower and separate toilet.  There are double sinks with ample counter space, however three large cactus insprired vases take up some valuable counter space, although it is located over the tub.

Bath Amenities

There are Laboratoire Remede branded bath amenities which have a menthol/minty scent.

Bedroom

Bed

The bedroom is very spacious with ample room to roam around without running into furniture.  The bed is very comfortable, with super soft pillows.  There is a bed bench at the foot of the bed.

Sitting Area

There is a large sofa and lounge chair with coffee table in which to unwind, relax and watch TV or have a conversation.

Desk

The desk area although fairly large, was lacking in outlets that were convenient to plug in your computer or to charge your phone or gadgets.

The Phoenician boasts 9 swimming pools, 27 holes of golf and tennis courts, in addition to a somewhat small gym and full spa.

Although a Five Diamond AAA hotel, service was professional but somewhat impersonal.  All employees were polite but not overly friendly.

The hotel also boasts J&G Steakhouse, a Jean George Vongerichten restaurant.  Although I did not get a chance to eat here on this visit, it is definitely on my list.  If anything close to my past visit at Prime at the Bellagio this is a sure hit.

The property is also starting to show its age, and could use an update in the near future.

I would definitely stay here again if I can find a good rate, otherwise there are other properties in the Scottsdale area worth checking out.