@CreditScholar wrote:
They are nice, but as a general rule Ritz rooms run $300-600 per night. People who stay there pay a premium for their level of service, in addition to the normal luxury hotel amenities.
I've been to the Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur, didn't like the area or the hotel or the room. So we checked out about an hour after arriving and booked the Mandarin Oriental, which was much more luxurious. I like RC but much prefer Peninsula in cities with one. Even the Conrad's can be much more deluxe than RC.
@enharu wrote:How does the Ritz compare to W hotels or St. Regis in general?
Depends on the property. Some are nice and others are just not as luxurious. I didn't really like the W Mexico City, the bathroom situation isn't ideal with a guest. It was just a curtain. St. Regis are very old world for me. I prefer modern luxury like Peninsula, Raffles, Mandarin Oriental and the newer Conrad properties. The Luxury Collection by Starwood has some gems too, love the Park Tower Buenos Aires for example much more than the RC or JW Marriott.
The RC in Abu Dhabi is amazing, so that's one RC you def want to stay at 
Thought all or which part of what I said? lol
@enharu wrote:Starwood points are redeemable across all Starwood properties (including luxury collection), right?
Is that the case for Ritz / Marriot and Hilton / Conrad as well?Is Mandarin Oriental / Penisula affliated with any of those groups?
Does Hyatt have any "better" hotels like Starwood / Marriot / Hilton does?
Thanks a lot! This info is helping me out a lot!
Yes on both. Man/Pen are independent afaik and no programs however select properties offer VIP status, one of the best things about VIP designated is the private entrance, check-in lounges and elevators. I think Hyatt's top brand is Park Hyatt, which are really nice and contemporary.
@TM82 wrote:Program loyalty is big in the hotel/airline industry. While the vast majority of travelers will most likely use Orbitz or Expedia to book their weekend getaway to Miami or Hotels.com for a one night stay when they visit family in Buffalo, there are some dedicated traveler's who remain brand loyal. The extent of their loyalty is another thing. Some will 'prefer' to stay at their favored chain, while others will go out of their way to stay at their preferred place.
I live in a UA hub area so I'm very loyal to UA. Hence the Club card makes a ton of sense to me. It offers great benefits, is a great card for everyday spend, and while the $395 fee isn't for everyone, it makes sense for me. For hotels, I've had great experiences with Hyatt, so while I dont have the Hyatt card, having the CSP and the ability to transfer into the Hyatt program and having the Club card and immediate Platinum status, it makes sense for me to put both togehter. And while I've stayed at high end hotels before (The W, Fairmount, Mandarin Oriental, etc), I've never stayed at a Ritz. So while the Ritz card has great benefits, it's high on my list of cards to get.
Yeah good points, some will even pay extra to stay at their preferred place or fly a specific carrier. I have done that, unless the savings is too significant.
@mxp114 wrote:
@enharu wrote:Starwood points are redeemable across all Starwood properties (including luxury collection), right?
Is that the case for Ritz / Marriot and Hilton / Conrad as well?Is Mandarin Oriental / Penisula affliated with any of those groups?
Does Hyatt have any "better" hotels like Starwood / Marriot / Hilton does?
Thanks a lot! This info is helping me out a lot!
Yes on both. Man/Pen are independent afaik and no programs however select properties offer VIP status, one of the best things about VIP designated is the private entrance, check-in lounges and elevators. I think Hyatt's top brand is Park Hyatt, which are really nice and contemporary.
@TM82 wrote:Program loyalty is big in the hotel/airline industry. While the vast majority of travelers will most likely use Orbitz or Expedia to book their weekend getaway to Miami or Hotels.com for a one night stay when they visit family in Buffalo, there are some dedicated traveler's who remain brand loyal. The extent of their loyalty is another thing. Some will 'prefer' to stay at their favored chain, while others will go out of their way to stay at their preferred place.
I live in a UA hub area so I'm very loyal to UA. Hence the Club card makes a ton of sense to me. It offers great benefits, is a great card for everyday spend, and while the $395 fee isn't for everyone, it makes sense for me. For hotels, I've had great experiences with Hyatt, so while I dont have the Hyatt card, having the CSP and the ability to transfer into the Hyatt program and having the Club card and immediate Platinum status, it makes sense for me to put both togehter. And while I've stayed at high end hotels before (The W, Fairmount, Mandarin Oriental, etc), I've never stayed at a Ritz. So while the Ritz card has great benefits, it's high on my list of cards to get.
Yeah good points, some will even pay extra to stay at their preferred place or fly a specific carrier. I have done that, unless the savings is too significant.
Some employers specifically tell their employees to stick with one airline or one hotel specifically to take advantage of loyalty programs. Loyal members usually don't get bumped onto later flights, and a hotel keeps a stash of rooms for the "diamond" or "platinum" members.
In the long run, delays are costly to business, and loyalty to one airline or hotel chain can save the company money in the long run. Especially if the production unit is down and the specialty process engineer needs to get on a flight from South Carolina to Northern Canada in a hurry.
Loyalty status can make the airline or hotel go to measures and pull some strings that otherwise wouldn't have been pulled.
FICO 9: 
Filed Chapter 13 on 6/1/2017 after job loss. Discharged 6/1/2022.
Goal: Gardening!
Filed Chapter 13 on 6/1/2017 after job loss. Discharged 6/1/2022.
Goal: Gardening!
@webhopper wrote:Some employers specifically tell their employees to stick with one airline or one hotel specifically to take advantage of loyalty programs. Loyal members usually don't get bumped onto later flights, and a hotel keeps a stash of rooms for the "diamond" or "platinum" members.
In the long run, delays are costly to business, and loyalty to one airline or hotel chain can save the company money in the long run. Especially if the production unit is down and the specialty process engineer needs to get on a flight from South Carolina to Northern Canada in a hurry.
Loyalty status can make the airline or hotel go to measures and pull some strings that otherwise wouldn't have been pulled.
Agree but there is something that can get even more done than merely being a loyal flyer/guest and that is simply paying for those things. While a Diamond member is high-value, nothing beats a full fare first class pax or full rate hotel suite guest. I love the programs and am loyal to specific brands but you can get those treatments and more just by paying the full price. Full fare pax + Diamond = sky high value and priority 