Quick Poll: Starwood’s Compromise Option In Jerusalem.

Never Miss Another Deal - Follow DansDeals on Facebook

Related and continued from article: Starwood Boots 4 Israeli Sheratons Out Of Their Program

I’ve been dealing extensively with Starwood concerning my reservations at the category 4 Sheraton Plaza in Jerusalem, which is unfortunately no longer a Starwood property.

I had 4 reservations there for cash and points (4,000 points and $60 per night) and received 4 emails each saying that I could move my stays to the luxury Mamilla Hotel at the same rate or if I would cancel my stay I would receive 10,000 Starpoints.

So I requested that all 4 be canceled in exchange for 40,000 Starpoints.  In response Starwood said they are only giving 10,000 Starpoints per member and my stays have been canceled.  Of course I had only asked to cancel them under the assumption that each canceled stay would receive 10,000 Starpoints as was implied in each email. (Was I being presumptuous or is Starwood wrong? Read the email massage from Starwood in the related link above and comment!)

After much negotiation and attempting to reinstate my reservations Starwood has given me 2 options.  Unfortunately they are not offering any cash and points options which is one of my favorite uses of Starpoints. (At the time of booking the Sheraton Jerusalem cost $375/night to book. At 10,000 Starpoints/night that’s a return of 3.75 cents per Starpoint.  But the Cash and points option at 4,000 Starpoints +$60 per night is a return of 7.9 cents per Starpoint.  Of course the other good redemption option is 5th night free which reduces the effective rate on a category 4 hotel to 8,000 Starpoints/night or a return of 4.7 cents per Starpoint.)

1: Stay for 2 nights from Sunday-Tuesday (08/30-09/01) at the Mamilla Hotel at the regular category 4 rate (10,000 points/night) and still receive a 10,000 Starpoint bonus effectively making the cost 5,000 Starpoints/night.

2: Stay for 4 nights from Friday -Tuesday (08/28-09/01) at the Mamilla Hotel at the regular category 4 rate (10,000 points/night) but I would not receive the bonus Starwood point, so the cost would be 40,000 Starpoints.

FYI: The paid rate for the cheapest room at the Mamilla for 2 guests is $293/night so 5,000 Starpoints a night would be a return of 5.86 cents per Starpoint and 10,000 Starpoints a night would be a return of 2.93 cents per Starpoint.

I do still need a place for that weekend, but is it worth 30,000 more Starpoints for the 2 extra nights? Vote what you would do now!