Westin Market San Francisco - up to 7,500 bonus points

Westin San Francisco Market Street (on right); Four Seasons (left) and floors 30-36 of the Grand Hyatt hotel near Union Square can be seen in the center of this photo.

Starwood Preferred Guest is giving travelers a great deal for a weekend stay in San Francisco at the Westin San Francisco Market Street.

SPG Promotion Offer for weekend stays Thursday - Sunday through August 31, 2008:
2,500 points for a 1-night stay
5,000 points for a 2-night stay
7,500 points for a 3-night stay

The Westin San Francisco Market Street is located at 50 Third Street, adjacent to Market Street, in the SoMa district on the same street as the W Hotel and St. Regis. This is the newest Starwood property in San Francisco and was rebranded from the Argent Hotel a couple of years ago. The design of the hotel is such that a variety of room sizes exist and the building has high floors with good unobstructed views towards the west and south from high floors. Large flat screen TVs are in the rooms.

By the Numbers:
San Francisco hotel rates are almost always higher on Thursday nights in the Central Business District than Friday or Saturday. Fisherman's Wharf tourist hotels tend to be opposite. In summer everything can be high priced most of the week.

I found availability for the Westin Market Street for this Friday, May 9 for $149/night using the SUMNTS special rate plan link. After 14% tax the total hotel room rate is $170/night.

As a SPG platinum member I could receive $149 x 3 Starpoints = 447 points + 500 Starpoints platinum elite amenity gift + 2,500 Summer1 bonus points = 3,447 Starpoints.

Assume Starpoints can be redeemed on a future Starwood Hotels stay at the rate of $35/1,000 points hotel value and these points are potentially a $120 rebate value.

Net cost for Westin San Francisco Market Street hotel room = $50.

My recent stays using Cash & Points awards in Starwood Palm Springs (Westin Mission Hills Rancho Mirage) and Scottsdale (Westin Kierland) resorts had a Starpoints redemption value of about $520 for 9,000 points ($57/1,000 Starpoints). This rate of redemption value would make points earned worth more than cost of the Westin Market Street hotel room.

SPG Gold elite will not get the 500 Starpoints platinum amenity and the points earned will be 2,947 Starpoints per night. These have a potential redemption value of $103 at $35/1,000 points.

Net cost of hotel night for SPG Gold member = $67.

SPG Blue members (non-elites) will only receive 2 Starpoints per $1 hotel spending.
$149 x 2 = 298 Starpoints + 2,500 bonus points = 2,798 Starpoints for $170 room.
2,798 Starpoints at $35/1,000 has a potential value of $98 rebate on future Starwood Hotels stay.

Net cost for the Westin Market Street is $72/night for the SPG member with no elite status.

The real value of the Starpoints, even for an infrequent hotel traveler, is the opportunity to book Cash & Points awards using your Starpoints. A Category 3 hotel will cost 2,800 Starpoints + $45. There are many instances where the 2,800 Starpoints will save a guest $200 on a hotel reservation.



The Westin San Francisco Market Street has a wonderful outdoor sidewalk patio for Ducca Restaurant dining and drinks.

This is a great deal for San Francisco hotel travel.

Stay a weekend in the city and earn enough Starpoints to book another weekend Starwood getaway this summer at a great discount.

Westin San Francisco Market Street
SPG Category 4 Hotel = 10,000 points/free night

TripAdvisor Ranking = #49 of all 238 San Francisco Hotels
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