ISO Best Marriotts for 5 or 7 night travel packages

[capjak]

Did you ask since what part of the resort service fee covers is likely included for upper level VIP rewards members?

I did not ask I am Gold Only. But I Will


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[Tucsonadventurer]

We used points to purchase the Marriott 7 day travel package. The problem is many of the U.S. Marriott's in resort destinations such as Hawaii and ski areas added significant resort fees and upgrade fees to get anything beyond a small studio garden view for two. MVC availability was also non-existent. 7 nights in a business park Marriott hotel? Yuck! - with business traveling, that is not considered fun.

Some of these hotels tack on as much as $200 a night when you add in parking (which negates the notion of "free" when they want $1,400 in "resort fees and parking" for a seven night stay.)

Perhaps there are some gems in the Marriott Hotel portfolio that I have not found. What have been your best Marriott hotel uses for these 5/7 night travel packages? We have plenty of points to upgrade to Cat 8 or 9.

We stayed for our week in Maui at the Wailea beach resort. They waived the parking fee and upgraded us to ocean view. We had an amazing room on the 1st floor ocean side between 2 pools. The room was plenty big and comfortable for the 2 of us . Its a category 8. Great week. We would return in a heartbeat but this yr only have enough points for a category 5 . We have a SW companion pass so the 120,000 airline points was our main goal.

 

[Dean]

I did not ask I am Gold Only. But I Will


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I don't have a ton of data, maybe 6-8 opportunities over the past 3-4 years but I've always got something extra when I asked and pointed out that the internet was part of the rewards benefit (esp for Gold/Platinum) and a large part of the resort fee and that breakfast was normally included if there was no lounge or it was closed. I know there are exceptions but again, I've always gotten something even when they said technically they didn't honor the benefit. Sawgrass gave a credit toward the fee as did another location but I can't recall which one. Autographs have tended to not be as cooperative starting about 3 years ago but again, some flexibility but always something. As a minimum I've gotten them to expand the options on the welcome gifts/drinks at the Autographs after the change.

 

[Superchief]

My favorite point redemption stay is for the Renaissance Club Sport in Walnut Creek, CA. It has a fantastic Health Club onsite, is across the street from BART (30 minutes from downtown SF), has a great buffet breakfast for Plat., and is lower category redemption than any SF hotel. We also typically go to Sonoma or Napa from there. It was cat 6 during our last visit.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Thanks now I understand. Are you getting 2 BDRM OF for $3,400 + points? FYI...You can rent a 2BDRM OF timeshare at MOC or Westin from Redweek on Maui for about $4,800 high season. If you want a 1 Bdrm it appears you can rent OF for approx $2800 - $3000 no points required.

Not likely OF but yes $3400 + 560k points package for a big 2BDRM residential suite with kitchen and living room that normally rents for $1200/night. Kitchen has stove top and may have oven as it seems so of them do. I'm hoping for the wow factor with the RC but again will see how things plays out. I don't think my trade will come through outside of 60 days but I can wait until 21 days before check-in to cancel the cert so maybe I get lucky there.

I wouldn't pay more than $3500 for OV at the MOC and I think getting the trade is more likely than seeing a July 2BDRM OV rent for $3500 but I'm open to a few different outcomes but if RC and MOC are the same price we're going to try the RC to see how nice it is.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Not likely OF but yes $3400 + 560k points package for a big 2BDRM residential suite with kitchen and living room that normally rents for $1200/night. Kitchen has stove top and may have oven as it seems so of them do. I'm hoping for the wow factor with the RC but again will see how things plays out. I don't think my trade will come through outside of 60 days but I can wait until 21 days before check-in to cancel the cert so maybe I get lucky there.

I wouldn't pay more than $3500 for OV at the MOC and I think getting the trade is more likely than seeing a July 2BDRM OV rent for $3500 but I'm open to a few different outcomes but if RC and MOC are the same price we're going to try the RC to see how nice it is.

This is interesting. I suspect that this is a Montage timeshare unit which is supposed to be luxurious. This might be a great value. Please let us know what you find out.

P.S. I do like how Marriott allows us to make the booking before attaching the points/certificate. It enabled me to reserve several options to explore without fully committing.

 

[VacationForever]

P.S. I do like how Marriott allows us to make the booking before attaching the points/certificate. It enabled me to reserve several options to explore without fully committing.

Do you book it as a regular cash booking before calling Marriott desk to switch it to rewards reservation before attaching the certificate? I know booking as "rewards" will pull points again.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Do you book it as a regular cash booking before calling Marriott desk to switch it to rewards reservation before attaching the certificate? I know booking as "rewards" will pull points again.

I call it in and book it as a points reservation. IDK perhaps because I am gold elite?

 

[VacationForever]

I call it in and book it as a points reservation. IDK perhaps because I am gold elite?

??? not sure what you meant. You said "Marriott allows us to make booking before attaching points/certificate." Do you make a cash booking before calling Marriott to attach the certificate?

As you know, cash booking and reward booking are different. There are only X number of rooms that are available for rewards booking. If you use cash booking first and call to attach, I want to know if the Marriott person first cancels your cash booking and rebook it as rewards booking or can they make whatever changes necessary to turn the cash booking to a rewards booking.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

No I just call and make a points booking. I started calling because sometimes they see availability that I don't see online. I have never encountered any issues and thought this was policy. You need to attach the cert within 10 days of check-in. If rep is unfamiliar HUCA.

 

[VacationForever]

No I just call and make a points booking. I started calling because sometimes they see availability that I don't see online. I have never encountered any issues and thought this was policy. You need to attach the cert within 10 days of check-in. If rep is unfamiliar HUCA.

I hate to call and have to talk to someone. Some agents are more knowledgeable than others, some are friendly and some are rather curt. I wish they would make it possible to link the travel package certificate online. It is on my Christmas wish list.

 

[Squan66]

We have only used the 5-night travel package twice for US stays (NYC - Cat 8, Sacramento - Cat 5). When using it for US hotel stays, it is almost never worth it except for the value of the airline miles. The rest of the time, where we still value the miles more than the stays, they have all been in Europe or Asia and have worked well (Rome - Cat 9, Singapore (x2 - Cat 8), Hong Kong - Cat 9, and Copenhagen - Cat 8 or 9).

Before we did the math on 5-night travel packages, we did many 5-night hotel redemptions, and that was certainly not as worthwhile than using the travel packages.

Don't forget you can also use your MRP at SPG hotels and you can convert 3:1 using their portal/link. We have used alot of SPG stays (Napa Valley, Florence, Sillion Valley area, Rome, Venice, Singapore, etc...) and also direct airline miles conversion.

We use the 5 night certificates at the Marriott Aruba. It is a level 9 and during the winter is often between $600-$700 a night. We feel the points are well spent. We are platinum and they often upgrade us.

 

[sueoz]

We have done many 7 night travel packages over the years in the Caribbean. Twice in st. Thomas, twice on St. Croix, 4 Times on Grand Cayman and about to do our 2nd on Curacao. These all have a lot of snorkeling from shore, which is what we like. We’ve never had extra fees. Of course, it takes a lot more points now than years ago. The only place so far that I felt I needed to do an upgrade is this time on Curacao. The rewards room at the Renaissance is an interior room!
Sue

 

[BocaBoy]

No I just call and make a points booking......... I have never encountered any issues and thought this was policy. You need to attach the cert within 10 days of check-in.

It is policy and is not limited to elites, but it has to be done online because the online system will pull the points immediately.