New to Marriott Rewards Card

[Corky]

While I've owned two Marriott weeks, gold and platinum, for several years, I never applied for the Marriott VISA card.

Last week, while vacationing at a Marriott, another owner urged me to take advantage of the many rewards the card has to offer. He charges EVERYTHING to his Marriott card and has earned enough reward points to fly free to all his vacations.

Is this possible? I do not fly for business and would use my card for daily expenses. Would it be worth the annual $65 fee?

Any tips or special deals available?

Thank you for your input.

 

[thinze3]

For starters you get a certificate each year tha is good for one night stay at any Marriott branded hotel, category 1-4. That is more than enough to cover the annual fee.

I mainly use my Marriott credit card for Marriott purposes. But, yes, it is possible to get many free stays and even free air travel if you use the card often enough.

Similarly, I used an Amex card to pay for my oldest daughter's college tuition. I recently rolled 100K Amex points over to an airline to use for free travel. I still have many more left over. Marriott's card is slightly different. The best use of Marriott points is for travel packages which include air and hotel.

 

[laurac260]

There is a previous thread about this..see earning and using points. But the gist is, if you can get a black card (Visa Premier Marriott Reward Card), the current promo is 30,000 points awarded after the 1st 1000$ spent (I think you have 3 months to spend the $1,000), plus a certificate for a free night at a category 1-4 hotel, and then one on your anniv date every year. We just got our card, and we use it for EVERY purchase we can now. If you figure you get a free night every year, that alone pays for your $65 fee, if you use it of course. (it expires in 6 mos).

Of course the kicker is, you have to pay off the balance in full every month. We use ours like it is a debit card, in that we only purchase things we were going to purchase anyway (groceries, gas, the usual day to day stuff). As long as you do that, and pay it off every month, it is a win win. If you fall into the typical credit card trap, well then, you know how that plays out.

You get 1 pt for every dollar spent, except for some select restaurants that give 2 pts per dollar. You earn 5pts per dollar for marriott purchases. I think Marriott is offering bonus points at a few of their hotels right now. I understand you can also pay your MF's with it as well.

 

[Corky]

Thank you both for that information.

I decided to apply and I believe it is for the black card. Knowing I can pay my maintenance fees with it will assure me of spending $1,000 within the 6 months.

Did I understand correctly - that I'll get one free night just for signing up for the card, plus another free night?

 

[laurac260]

Thank you both for that information.

I decided to apply and I believe it is for the black card. Knowing I can pay my maintenance fees with it will assure me of spending $1,000 within the 6 months.

Did I understand correctly - that I'll get one free night just for signing up for the card, plus another free night?

current promo is 30,000 points awarded after the 1st 1000$ spent (I think you have 3 months to spend the $1,000), plus a certificate for a free night at a category 1-4 hotel, and then one on your anniv date every year...so, one freebie every year.

 

[RandR]

The free cat 1 - 4 is for the first year only. Then you get a cat 1 - 5 the rest of the time. Not only do you use it to pay your MF but also any bill you run up when at your ts. You get 10 points for every $, but 5 pts/$ for using the card. I think you also get 5 pts/$ for airline purchases.

 

[aka Julie]

You get 2 points for all air, rental car, and dining purchases.

In addition you are automatically a Silver Elite member in the Marriott Rewards program with 15 nights nights credit. By being Silver you get a 20% bonus on base points earned during your stays at all participating Marriott hotel locations (this includes Marriott timeshares).

 

[Corky]

Thank you for that additional info.

I stayed at the Marriott in New Jersey last week, and, thanks to something I read on TUG, asked that my rewards number be attached to my reservation so that I could earn points. However, no points were awarded for simply staying at the resort for 7 days. I had to spend money and charge expenses to my account.

AmI ever able to gain points just for staying at other Marriotts? It's a bit confusing.

 

[LAX Mom]

Thank you for that additional info.

I stayed at the Marriott in New Jersey last week, and, thanks to something I read on TUG, asked that my rewards number be attached to my reservation so that I could earn points. However, no points were awarded for simply staying at the resort for 7 days. I had to spend money and charge expenses to my account.

AmI ever able to gain points just for staying at other Marriotts? It's a bit confusing.

If you were staying at a Marriott Vacation Club property on an exchange, you will earn points for charges to your room. You only earn points on money you spend at a Marriott. If you are there on an owner week or exchanged week there aren't any points credited for the stay, you have to spend some $$.

I'm not sure why you would think you should be awarded points for simpy staying at the resort for 7 days? Are you confusing this with receiving 7 nights credit towards elite statue?

 

[kmij]

visa premier card

if you upgrade from the "silver" visa card to the "black" visa card do you get the same benefits/perks?? or do you have to open a new acct and then cancel the old one??
thanks

 

[LAX Mom]

if you upgrade from the "silver" visa card to the "black" visa card do you get the same benefits/perks?? or do you have to open a new acct and then cancel the old one??
thanks

I'd call and ask about the benefits. I recall the policy used to be that you had to open a new account. However at that time many reported they were getting the perks with an upgrade to the black card. I think Chase/Marriott have tightened up on this policy in the current economic climate.

If you have received MR points (10,000, 15,000 or any lump sum amount) for a VISA card promo in the past you won't get points on a new card. This perk is for first time Marriott Reward member VISA cardholders.

 

[LisaRex]

if you upgrade from the "silver" visa card to the "black" visa card do you get the same benefits/perks?? or do you have to open a new acct and then cancel the old one??
thanks

You won't get the bonus miles if you do this, so I'd close the one and open a new one.

 

[laurac260]

In addition you are automatically a Silver Elite member in the Marriott Rewards program with 15 nights nights credit. ).

Can you explain what this means?

 

[laurac260]

The free cat 1 - 4 is for the first year only. Then you get a cat 1 - 5 the rest of the time. Not only do you use it to pay your MF but also any bill you run up when at your ts. You get 10 points for every $, but 5 pts/$ for using the card. I think you also get 5 pts/$ for airline purchases.

I am assuming you meant ONE point for every dollar spent, and not TEN points?

 

[LisaRex]

Can you explain what this means?

Hotel loyalty programs have tiered elite levels, based on how many nights you stay. The more nights you stay, the higher your elite tier. For Marriott, it goes like this:

Basic (0-9 nights)
Silver (10-49 nights)
Gold (50-74 nights)
Platinum (75+ nights)

A lot of branded cards, such as Hilton HHonors AMEX, give an automatic boost to the second elite tier as one of their perks. The Marriott premiere card not only gives you complimentary silver status, but they also "give" you 15 nights. That means that instead of having to stay 50 nights in order to achieve gold status, you only need to stay 35 nights.

If you won't ever achieve gold, the silver tier will still get you a 20% bonus on points earned per dollar spent, and a slightly better chance of getting an upgrade than a basic or non-MR member.

 

[LisaRex]

I am assuming you meant ONE point for every dollar spent, and not TEN points?

Ten is correct. If you use your MR number when you make your reservations, you'll earn 10 points per dollar spent at all Marriotts except TownePlace Suites and Residence Inns, where you'll earn 5 points per dollar spent.

Additionally, if you pay with a Marriott Premiere card, you'll earn an additional 5 points per dollar spent. This card also boosts you to silver status. Silver MR members receive a 20% MR bonus.

So if you stay at, say, a Fairfield Inn and spend $100 on the room (excluding taxes),which you pay for with your Premiere card, you'll earn the following:

$100 x 10 points per dollar spent = 1000 points (MR)
$100 x 5 points per dollar spent = 500 points (MR credit card)
1000 points x 20% silver bonus = 200 points

$100 spending = 1700 MRs

 

[laurac260]

Ten is correct. If you use your MR number when you make your reservations, you'll earn 10 points per dollar spent at all Marriotts except TownePlace Suites and Residence Inns, where you'll earn 5 points per dollar spent.

Additionally, if you pay with a Marriott Premiere card, you'll earn an additional 5 points per dollar spent. This card also boosts you to silver status. Silver MR members receive a 20% MR bonus.

So if you stay at, say, a Fairfield Inn and spend $100 on the room (excluding taxes),which you pay for with your Premiere card, you'll earn the following:

$100 x 10 points per dollar spent = 1000 points (MR)
$100 x 5 points per dollar spent = 500 points (MR credit card)
1000 points x 20% silver bonus = 200 points



$100 spending = 1700 MRs

Ok, I will never pretend to know more about MR's than ANYBODY on Tugs, but here's what I JUST RECEIVED from Marriott (and this is for my Marriott Rewards Premier Black Visa Card):

"Every purchase you make, no matter where you are or what you spend on, earns valuable rewards points

--5 points for every $1 in net card purchases at marriott hotels and resorts
--2 points for every $1 charged to your card for eligible dining, airline and rental card purchases
--1 point for every $1 in net card purchases anywhere else"

This is word for word in the mailer I just received a few days ago.

Nowhere in this is 10 points mentioned for anything.


Perhaps the info you have is for a different tier than silver??

 

[thinze3]

You get 10 Marriott Rewards points for every dollar you spend at Marriott just for being a Marriott Rewards member. This has nothing to do with the card. The card offers the additional 5 points. The card also makes you automatically a Silver Elite member, and being a Silver Elite member gives you 2 more points.


.

 

[laurac260]

You get 10 Marriott Rewards points for every dollar you spend at Marriott just for being a Marriott Rewards member. This has nothing to do with the card. The card offers the additional 5 points. The card also makes you automatically a Silver Elite member, and being a Silver Elite member gives you 2 more points.


.

ok, I called Marriott to confirm, mostly because I was just very, very confused (every time I have read online, or asked this question, or read my mail, I am left with a different points #). You are exactly correct. For any full service Marriott we stay at, we get 17pts per dollar spent on EVERYTHING (excluding tax). Awesome!

 

[LAX Mom]

ok, I called Marriott to confirm, mostly because I was just very, very confused (every time I have read online, or asked this question, or read my mail, I am left with a different points #). You are exactly correct. For any full service Marriott we stay at, we get 17pts per dollar spent on EVERYTHING (excluding tax). Awesome!

You will notice these amounts post at different times. When you return from a Marriott hotel stay, the 10+2 points per dollar spent will post in a couple of days. Anything (room rate, tax, restaurant & other amounts) charged to your Marriott VISA will receive 5 points per dollar, but these points won't post until your VISA statement is billed to you.

 

[Big Matt]

The 15 nights alone is a lot for me. I get either 14 or 21 nights from staying in my timeshare(s) and with my other Marriott stays, promotions, etc. I'm able to get gold status. I've had it for two years and should be able to get lifetime gold status if I keep it up.

In addition you are automatically a Silver Elite member in the Marriott Rewards program with 15 nights nights credit. (this includes Marriott timeshares).

 

[Bill4728]

OK, I've looked but can't find the answer:

If I charge my TS MFs to my Marriott VISA do I get the extra marriott points for it?

 

[Dave M]

Yes, you do.

 

[LisaRex]

If I charge my TS MFs to my Marriott VISA do I get the extra marriott points for it?

And be sure to charge your room for incidentals (e.g. Kid's Club, in-house grocery store, activities at the resort) and Marriott restaurants vs. paying cash so that you can earn the extra points on those, too.

 

[jimf41]

This is really pretty easy to understand and it has been explained in a roundabout way several times correctly. Lisarex did a good job so lets use her example.

So if you stay at, say, a Fairfield Inn and spend $100 on the room (excluding taxes),which you pay for with your Premiere card, you'll earn the following:

$100 x 10 points per dollar spent = 1000 points (MR)
$100 x 5 points per dollar spent = 500 points (MR credit card)
1000 points x 20% silver bonus = 200 points

$100 spending = 1700 MRs

I'm going to show you how to get 2700 points using her numbers and where the points come from and how they post to your account. If you stay at a Fairfield for $100 a night and pay cash, check or with some other CC other than Marriott you will get 10 points per $ spent plus a 20% silver elite bonus. This will total 1200 pts. It will show up on your MR account as

+ Fairfield Inn Newark Liberty 1200 points

If you click on the little + sign it will give you the detail. It will look like this.

Base Points 1000 points
20% elite bonus 200 points

As long as you are silver Elite you will get these points no matter what your method of payment is.

If you pay with the Marriott Signature Premiere card (black) you will earn an additional 500 points. these points will be posted to your MR account on or about the closing date of your CC billing statement. It will look like tis on your MR account.

PREMIER VISA - MARRIOTT SPEND 500 points.

OK, so now you've got a total of 1700 points as in Lisarex's example. I said I was going to show you how to get 2700 points. Here's how you get the extra 1000 points. Go to your MR account and buy a $100 gift card. You will get the 500 points for making a Marriott purchase and if you buy the gift card by December 31 2009 you will get a 1000 point bonus that is an ongoing promotion.

When you pay at the Fairfield Inn with your gift card you still get your 1200 points as described above and the additional 1500 points for buying the gift card will post on your next billing statement. You can buy $2500 worth of gift cards. If you do this understand that the gift cards are like cash. If you lose one it's like losing a $100 bill.

If you get to be a Gold Elite the deal will net you 2800 points and a Platinum Elite will net 3000 points due to the 30% and 50% elite bonuses.