Interesting Speculation about Upcoming Changes to Marriott Rewards

[dioxide45]

Edited: What Sue said...

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

How does one find out how many total points they've earned so far? I don't see it anywhere when I log into my MR account.

If you log into Marriott.com, sign into your account and look on the upper right hand corner.

That is where mine is listed so hopefully yours will be also.

Edited to add: This is where your actual point balance is; you will have to call in order to obtain your lifetime balance.



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[dioxide45]

If you log into Marriott.com, sign into your account and look on the upper right hand corner.

That is where mine is listed so hopefully yours will be also.



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That only shows your current points, not your total lifetime points.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

That only shows your current points, not your total lifetime points.

Correct!




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[mav]

Agreed. I have been using Hilton almost exclusively in the U.S. My comments were more based on the devaluation of points than on the perks provided to elites. Although it was a real takeaway when Hilton started giving lounge access only to those upgraded to the concierge floor.

I forgot to mention that I book the entry level rooms and am consistantly upgraded to VERY LARGE 1 bedroom rooms. REALLY nice! And the staff in the hotels are incredible .

 

[dualrated2]

You may also email customer support for your lifetime total.

 

[MichaelColey]

Wracking up Elite Nights and MRP by using the credit card and staying in the timeshares is something we'd be doing anyway, so the way I figure, whatever they're giving us is free because we're not doing anything proactively to earn them.

There is a cost to using a credit card, and that cost is what you could have earned by using other cards.

For instance, spending $2 million to earn 2 million MR points costs you the $20,000 that you could have earned on a 1% cash back card, or whatever you value 2 million StarPoints or 2.5 million airline miles at, if you use a Starwood AmEx (my favorite card).

That said, I do have and use a Marriott Visa as a secondary card for places that don't accept my primary (SPG AmEx) or that give 2x or more points (Marriott, restaurants). Also, overseas where my Visa has no forex fees.

 

[Big Matt]

I have 1.2 million points just sitting there. I have almost 2.5 million points over my time with the program. I need the nights to get lifetime platinum.

You must be planning a big year. You need 2 million points for lifetime Platinum.

 

[Big Matt]

Your argument makes sense on the surface, but you don't need to spend anywhere near $20,000 to get 2 million Marriott points. When you take into account your spending on Marriott (5 points per dollar) and airlines and restaurants (2 points per dollar) you can get to 2 million with a lot fewer dollars (as few as $4000).

Now, ask how much 2 million points are worth. They are worth a LOT if you use them wisely with travel packages.

The key for me is to double down with whatever loyalty card you use. Only use one where you are going to spend it in a way that multiplies your benefits quickly.

There is a cost to using a credit card, and that cost is what you could have earned by using other cards.

For instance, spending $2 million to earn 2 million MR points costs you the $20,000 that you could have earned on a 1% cash back card, or whatever you value 2 million StarPoints or 2.5 million airline miles at, if you use a Starwood AmEx (my favorite card).

That said, I do have and use a Marriott Visa as a secondary card for places that don't accept my primary (SPG AmEx) or that give 2x or more points (Marriott, restaurants). Also, overseas where my Visa has no forex fees.

 

[Mr. Vker]

I have 1.2 million points just sitting there. I have almost 2.5 million points over my time with the program. I need the nights to get lifetime platinum.

You have them then. You don't need 2mm points at one time. Now you need 750 nights.

 

[Beaglemom3]

As much as I love the Marriotts, they are not the only hotels around. I also truly enjoy the IHG properties, Club Carlson, Hilton, and many of the Best Westerns in EUROPE. Many of them are in old Manor Houses seeped in history, castles, a few purchased from Grand Hotels, etc. I spread it all around and have top or VERY high status in all and get excellent benefits and upgrades, especially in Europe and the Middle East. I am Platinum on Marriott again this year but next year who knows...

You know, I appreciate this advice as it makes sense for me, so I applied for a Carlson Card (having 18,000 pts. languishing unused since 2011) and got one.
I get 250,000 MRPs from my auction score of 2 CH Plats and my DF gets 75000, so we are all set with MRPs.
We enjoy the Marriotts, but want to be able to book elsewhere, too.

Thanks, Mav. Great idea.

 

[mlester35]

I really have to disagree with you here. I am Hilton Gold and Marriott Platinum and to me there is no comparison--MR wins hands down. Hilton has devalued its program so badly over the past two or three years that I am considering whether to even try to accrue any more Hilton points. I have never been a heavy Starwood user so I can't really compare that program with any authority, but from what I know it seems better today than Hilton's.

Also, I find Marriott's Platinum and Gold elite benefits to be of great value--lounge access/free breakfasts, bonus points, room upgrades, and much more.

I agree with you Boca the Hilton brand has gotten to diluted over the last few years or so and I have switched to Hyatt this year. I will continue to hit my Plat with Marriott each year but my Diamond status with Hilton is a thing of the past unless they change.

 

[MichaelColey]

I think it depends on where you stay and what you're looking for, and whether you're paying with your own money or someone else's. Also, a huge difference (for all programs) domestically vs. internationally. All of them seem to do a great program overseas, but only marginal here in the US.

From everything I've seen, Starwood is probably the best program. Very nice properties. Good treatment of Platinums. But they don't work for me. Most places I travel don't have Starwood hotels, and the ones that do are usually more expensive than I want to pay. Breakfasts are all over the board, with continental (which I can't stand) the most common.

Marriott can be pretty nice. I honestly don't see much difference between Gold and Platinum in the places I stay. They have really good coverage (mainly with their lower end properties), but they're also usually more expensive (often 20-50% more than comparable hotels) so I seldom choose them. Breakfasts are generally only marginally better the continental.

Hilton has been my "go to" chain for about 5 years now, primarily because of Hilton Garden Inn. I'm usually able to find an HGI (and sometimes an Embassy Suites or Doubltree, or almost always a Hampton if not one of the others) at a rate that's one of the lowest in the area. As a Diamond, I get a free hot cooked breakfast at HGI (Gold's do, too).

When it comes to point earning for stays vs. point redemption, Hilton seems to beat out Starwood slightly and Marriott comes out last.

When it comes to point earning from credit card spending, Starwood is the clear winner (other than categories where you earn 2X or more with Hilton), with Marriott being last again. I have such a hard time getting good value out of my Marriott points.

Starwood and Hilton also have the advantage (for those of us who spend a lot on credit cards) that you can get status through CC spend ($30k on the SPG AmEx gets you Gold, $40k on the HH Surpass AmEx gets you Diamond). I guess technically Marriott does, too, since you get 1 night toward elite credit for $3k, but that's a LOT of spend (that you don't get very valuable points for) to get status.

Starwood points are extra valuable because of the ability to transfer them at ratios up to 1.25 to 1 to airline miles. I get really good value out of hotel stays, but also out of airline miles. Hilton and Marriott (other than through packages, and even that is diluted because a large part of your points go to hotels) are poor values when transferring to miles.

 

[mav]

You know, I appreciate this advice as it makes sense for me, so I applied for a Carlson Card (having 18,000 pts. languishing unused since 2011) and got one.
I get 250,000 MRPs from my auction score of 2 CH Plats and my DF gets 75000, so we are all set with MRPs.
We enjoy the Marriotts, but want to be able to book elsewhere, too.

Thanks, Mav. Great idea.

Hi Beaglemom,
I hope it works well for you! When we fly into Istanbul we like to stay at the Radisson Blu aiport for 1 night to recover from the jet lag. they have a free shuttle to and from the airport. There is a mall you can walk to in about 15 min. from the hotel and we like to go shopping there and have dinner at the mall. We are the only Westerners I have seen at this mall. On the walk back there is a nut shop that has the best nuts I have ever tasted. The next day we have a drop dead fantastic breakfast buffet at the hotel and check out, call a cab and head to old town Istanbul. It is one of our favorite cities.
IHG is another great hotel chain and European Best Westerns are very nice. I ALWAYS read reviews before booking anything, however.
Don't forget to check independant hotels also! In the Middle East I have received tremendous upgrades at various hotels. When I was in Abu Dhabi in last year when I went to check into a Millenium Hotel I was actually embarrassed to check in! The place was opulent and I looked NOT so . My hair was literally standing on end from the dry heat, and I had on my capri leggings and a top. The lobby was amazing, and the sheiks and other guests "gracing" the lobby area were literally dripping money. I will admit I looked every bit the Target shopper. I expected to be tossed from the hotel, when the gentleman who was the greeter at the door showed me to the check in desk. I mean they were beautiful and ornate desks and you were seated in lovely chairs while you were checked in. A EXTREMELY nice man checked me in and seemed to find it very funny that I told him I had never been checked into a hotel in such style. He told me I was being upgraded to a I can't even remember what room type. I told him that sounded wonderful. My husband came into the hotel at that time and the gentleman at the desk welcomed him and told him he hoped we enjoyed our stay. We almost fainted when we saw the room. It would have rivaled a Ritz or a Four Seasons , and a top floor with an incredible view! A few minutes later a fruit platter was delivered to our room. FANTASTIC 3 night stay with a fabulous buffet breakfast included. And I had booked the entry level room thru lateroom.com
Needless to say at check out we tipped the guy who checked us in quite well!

 

[dannybaker]

Marriott platinum no real value to my family

Let me first say we love Marriott, we have been a fan and happy customer for the last twenty years. We own several timeshares with Marriott and we spend 35 plus nights annually with Marriott. We only stay at Marriott hotels occasionally, we rely on priceline and other hotels for our stays. We have realized a large decrease in the over all Marriott Value both with points for stays and actual rewards for platinum status. Sadly we are ready to move on from Marriott hotel chains. We stayed at a Embassy Suites in Anaheim for $56 a night for six nights. They provided free snacks and drinks from 5:30-7:30, and a full breakfast with fresh fruit and omelette made to order. We looked at the local Marriott's and they wanted 25,000 points or $179 a night and no breakfast or drinks. We travel frequently on weekends and most Marriott's have their concierge lounges closed on weekends. We love Marriott timeshares and always look forward to spending family vacation time at Marriott's.

As Mike stated earlier not a real big deal to my family. :whoopie:

 

[MichaelColey]

$56 a night for an Embassy Suites in Anaheim? That must have been through Priceline. That's an incredible price.

Searching on a randomly picked (but non-holiday) 5-night stay in Anaheim, the lowest prices I see for my three favorite chains are $89 for a Hampton, $98 for a Fairfield, $106 for a Sheraton, $106 for a Hilton Garden Inn, $109 for a Doubletree, $109 for a Marriott Suites, $116 for an Embassy Suites, $121 for a Residence Inn, $132 for a Marriott, and $194 for a Westin.

Out of that batch of choices, I would almost definitely pick the Hilton Garden Inn for $106 (as long as I have Gold or higher status for free breakfast), $116 for Embassy Suites (if I had no status, since everyone gets free breakfast) or possibly the Residence Inn for $121 (if with family and we wanted the ability to cook).

If I could get the Embassy Suites for $56 (even if I didn't earn elite credits, points, or get perks from my status), I would jump on that. But with my luck, I would get an awful hotel with just one bed (Priceline only guarantees accommodations for 2), a lousy breakfast, and a high "resort fee".

 

[MickyTT]

I am 30 nights from LT Plat. Should have it by June……. I hope there's time for me to make it.

Unfortunately, lifetime Platinum require a a combo of 750 nights plus 2 million reward points earned. I've got the nights but am 600k points short so I only get gold.

 

[FractionalTraveler]

Unfortunately, lifetime Platinum require a a combo of 750 nights plus 2 million reward points earned. I've got the nights but am 600k points short so I only get gold.

Easy to chip away at those 600K points with some activities:

1. Have meetings at Marriott Hotels (can usually get between 50-100K)
2. Host a wedding (F&B spends with a minimum of 10 rooms gets you around 500K - 750K points depending on property used)
3. Buy a car on the MR Visa Card or just pay the deposit
4. Pay your timeshare MF using the MR Visa Card
5. Get yearly Mega Bonuses (100K)
6. Book a holiday trip Using Marriott Vacations and pay with the MR Visa card including cruises.

FT