Dave M
TUG Lifetime Member
Marriott promised no hotel blackouts after the new point structure takes effect on January 15. The problem with waiting is that it will cost more points under the new structure to book Reward stays.
I suggest that, even if you have recently tried unsuccessfully to book Reward stays for this year with "Standard Rewards", that you try again now. I have been able to book Standard Reward prime-time Reward stays today for two hotels, one of which as recently as yesterday had no Reward availability and another which had only "Anytime” Reward availability.
A third hotel that I have been trying to get for the past four months, for dates when there is a major event that will fill every room in the city, doesn't have Standard space, but it does have Anytime space, where none was previously available.
I tested what's going on with some other hotels, and generally found Standard Reward space where I would not have expected it. As just one example, the Paris Marriott Hotel Champs-Elysees has Standard Reward space for various weeks in July!
So give it a try. If Marriott has opened up the blackouts as much as it's going to do, now is the time to book - before the points cost goes up!
I suggest that, even if you have recently tried unsuccessfully to book Reward stays for this year with "Standard Rewards", that you try again now. I have been able to book Standard Reward prime-time Reward stays today for two hotels, one of which as recently as yesterday had no Reward availability and another which had only "Anytime” Reward availability.
A third hotel that I have been trying to get for the past four months, for dates when there is a major event that will fill every room in the city, doesn't have Standard space, but it does have Anytime space, where none was previously available.
I tested what's going on with some other hotels, and generally found Standard Reward space where I would not have expected it. As just one example, the Paris Marriott Hotel Champs-Elysees has Standard Reward space for various weeks in July!
So give it a try. If Marriott has opened up the blackouts as much as it's going to do, now is the time to book - before the points cost goes up!