Marriott 5 night cat4 travel package

[alexb]

Are you able to use points to upgrade room to bigger room.
Travel package is worth 100k Marriott points room that is available on our dates is 150k
Can we use 50k points to upgrade

 

[Steve Fatula]

You can, with varying success (took me around a dozen calls to get the right person), able to upgrade your certificate to a cat 5 or whatever category is needed for that hotel.

 

[kds4]

If you plan to use a travel package to stay at an MVC resort and you have an accommodation certificate for the category of MVC property you want to stay at (MVC properties range between Category 4 and Category 7), your travel package accommodation certificate entitles you to a studio. However, you can upgrade to a larger unit for 5k points per night per category upgrade (meaning for a 5 night reservation, you can upgrade from a studio to a 1BR for 25k, to a 2BR for 50k, or to a 3BR for 75k points) all depending on space available.

 

[alexb]

I was looking at staying at Marriott village near Disney in Paris it only showed 2 bedroom available which said 150k points I asked if I could use points to upgrade but was told no.
It is a cat 4 resort.

 

[ljmiii]

I was looking at staying at Marriott village near Disney in Paris it only showed 2 bedroom available which said 150k points I asked if I could use points to upgrade but was told no.
It is a cat 4 resort.

Just to clarify...there are two different 'upgrades' being discussed. The first is the one Steve Fatula mentioned where you use MRPs (I mean BPs ;-) to upgrade the category of your 5 (or 7 night) certificate. Marriott used to grant upgrades (and one extension) routinely before the Starwood merger. After the introduction of Bonvoy and the new hotel+air certificates many people have reported being told Marriott would do neither for the new certificates. That said, if they have continued to upgrade 'old' certificates if you find the right person. There are also rumors of people getting 'new' certificates upgraded - I don't know if Steve's experience was with a 'new' one or an 'old' one.

The other is to upgrade your room at a hotel for which you have the right category certificate. Some Marriott hotels allow you to upgrade certs using points, some with cash, and some not at all. On recent trips to Europe I was able to upgrade in Paris and London with cash and in Copenhagen with points. Obviously, YMWV.

 

[mdurette]

I was looking at staying at Marriott village near Disney in Paris it only showed 2 bedroom available which said 150k points I asked if I could use points to upgrade but was told no.
It is a cat 4 resort.

When do you plan to go....off season, you can find this resort with II... even with ACs.

 

[alexb]

I am looking to go beginning of may

 

[mdurette]

I am looking to go beginning of may

Nothing with AC or getaways...but there is exchange availability.

 

[alexb]

Thanks I have now booked an exchange was trying to use my certificate before it runs out in July.

 

[jin]

You can, with varying success (took me around a dozen calls to get the right person), able to upgrade your certificate to a cat 5 or whatever category is needed for that hotel.

Did you upgrade an old certificate or one that had already been converted after Starwood merger?

 

[Steve Fatula]

Upgraded an already converted one, so, new.

 

[TXTortoise]

Just a recent data point from this week.

I attached an old Cat 4, expiring on 20 July 2020, to a reservation starting 28 July. I called and just asked for it to be attached, without mentioning dates. The rep got with the supervisor and got it done, all without messing up my points account. Apparently they take points out, apply the cert, then put points back.

After it was confirmed I asked her about extending my other certificate. She said they can't, "as a rule", but insinuated it depends on the circumstances. My assumption is it's probably somewhat easier to get an old cert attached to a reservation after July 2020, than just asking for an extension. One to go, so we'll see.

I did not ask about a pure conversion, but assume that's what happens if they just do a date extension for another year.