I don´t stay in hotels much so always get confused. With titanium elite status do I automatically get breakfast & lounge access if they have them? Or I need to book the rooms that offer that? My thinking is I should book the basic room as this is a perk I get anyway but really not sure!!
The complimentary daily breakfast benefit for Platinum Elite and above varies by hotel brand. Marriott has 30 or more brands, depending on which list you use.
Some Marriott Bonvoy brands are excluded from the complimentary daily breakfast benefit: Design Hotels, Edition, Fairfield Asia Pacific hotels, Gaylord Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Vacation Club, and other timeshares.
At some brands, you can choose complimentary daily breakfast in the restaurant for member + 1 as a Welcome Gift.
At some brands, complimentary breakfast is not a Welcome Gift choice, but you are guaranteed executive lounge access. If the lounge is closed or there is no lounge, you get complimentary daily breakfast in the restaurant for member + 1. Technically, it's continental breakfast, but most hotels allow you to have eggs and breakfast meats too.
At some brands, you can choose a daily $10 food & beverage credit for member and an additional a daily $10 food & beverage credit for one additional guest as a Welcome Gift. But that's usually not enough to pay for breakfast.
Other brands provide daily breakfast to all guests, regardless of Marriott Bonvoy membership.
It's even more complicated during the pandemic, with some hotels using the pandemic to limit or eliminate breakfast benefits, apparently with the blessing of Marriott International for the time being.
The important thing is to book your reservation at Marriott.com or by phone with Marriott or directly with the hotel. Provide your Marriott Bonvoy number. Pay for your room yourself with a credit card, cash, Marriott Bonvoy points, or Marriott Bonvoy e-certifcates. If you book through a vacation package provider or through companies like Expedia, you won't get your benefits.
You must book with a qualifying rate. Most public rates qualify, including standard rates, advance purchase rates, AAA rates, senior rates, Marriott Bonvoy member rates, readily available promotional rates, and many (but not all) corporate rates. Some rates don't qualify, including Marriott employee/family rates and negotiated rates that specifically exclude benefits.
As long as you're using a qualifying rate, the type of room does not matter (except that you might get a better upgrade at hotels that try to move you up one category). You get elite benefits in any case. You might be upgraded, but don't count on it. Never book a room that you would not want. "Upgrade" does not necessarily mean a suite. It could also be a better view, or a larger room, or a room with a balcony. In any case, as an elite member, you're unlikely to get the worst room in the hotel, but you're also extremely unlikely to be upgraded to the presidential suite.
Being a Marriott Bonvoy member at the Platinum Elite tier and above is better than not being one. Your benefits tend to be better as you move up the brand structure from the lower-end brands to the higher-end brands. But if complimentary breakfast is important, keep in mind that some brands don't offer this benefit.
Google "Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions" for all details and exceptions.
. At least you got the ocean view upgrade and some extras to boot (Leis, free drinks, etc)!