Marriott Gift Cards & Certificates - Holiday Bonus

[FlyerBobcat]

So I notice at this link: https://gifts.marriott.com/giftCertificate.aspx?type=giftCard

it is stated that 10 MR points will be earned per dollar. What is the "normal" earning for these type of giftcards? TIA

Earn 10 Marriott Rewards points for every gift dollar you spend!

Offer valid on purchases of GiftCards and Certificates made online at gifts.marriott.com and Marriott reservations from October 25 - December 31, 2010. Offer not valid on Marriott GiftCards and/or Certificates purchased via other channels (IE: cards purchased at a hotel or third party channels.) Marriott Rewards members earn 10 point per dollar for each GiftCard and/or Certificate purchase made online at gifts.marriott.com.

 

[SueDonJ]

Here's the flyertalk thread about this year's Gift Card promotion; check out Post #30 (from Counsellor) to see how buying/using these can earn you up to 30 MRP per dollar:

... In summary, this is a great way to get 25 points (30 if you're Platinum) per dollar for stays at Marriott properties:

- 10 points per dollar when you use this promo to buy the Gift Card;
- 5 points per dollar when you charge the purchase of the Gift Card to your MR VISA;
- 10 points per dollar when you use the Gift Card to pay for your Marriott stay; and
- up to 5 points per dollar (50% bonus) elite bonus.

And the purchase would seem to count toward the $3,000 charge to get an additional night's credit through the MR VISA.

I haven't bought any yet this year but did buy the year that we went to Hawaii, and the MRP's worked out just like the flyertalk gurus said they would. Good deal if you're looking forward to a hotel stay on cash, or a timeshare stay where you know you'll be accumulating charges on the room (as we did with several of the expensive Kauai excursions from Waiohai.)

 

[FlyerBobcat]

Thanks Susan,

So if I figure this right, it's an extra 10 point/dollar earned buying the giftcard (with MR Visa) to use for a hotel charge... vs using the MR Visa card directly for that same hotel payment. Correct?

 

[dioxide45]

Thanks Susan,

So if I figure this right, it's an extra 10 point/dollar earned buying the giftcard (with MR Visa) to use for a hotel charge... vs using the MR Visa card directly for that same hotel payment. Correct?

You are earning the 5 points per dollar no matter what, buying the cards from Marriott on the Visa or charging the actual room to the Visa. So it is an extra 10 points per $.

 

[scrapngen]

Wow! Thanks for posting this and also adding the flyertalk link, Tom and Sue!

Love TUG!

This will really benefit us this winter in HI...

 

[dima]

Didn't find the answer if I can pay MF for my weeks with this Gift Card?

 

[Dave M]

Not unless something has changed in the past year. You can pay with a check or with a credit card.

The gift card doesn't have a credit card number, which you need to enter in order enter it online. To use the card, the hotel or restaurant swipes the card through the credit card reader - just as for a normal credit card.

 

[jtp1947]

I believe the Gift Card is a prepaid VISA card. What I have done in the past when making a prepaid stay through Marriott is put a 4 in front of the numbers on the GC and that works. As far as paying MF's with a GC, not sure if that works. I pay with my Marriott VISA for the triple points.

 

[Dave M]

I pay with my Marriott VISA for the triple points.

Those who use the Premier (black) Marriott VISA get 5 X points.

 

[dioxide45]

I believe the Gift Card is a prepaid VISA card. What I have done in the past when making a prepaid stay through Marriott is put a 4 in front of the numbers on the GC and that works. As far as paying MF's with a GC, not sure if that works. I pay with my Marriott VISA for the triple points.

This is interesting. If it acts like a Visa, one should be able to use it to pay MF and just about anything else. I would be willing to test it out, though not wanting to gamble putting $1000 on a GC only for it not to work. I could buy a small denomination card, but does anyone know if you can make a partial MF payment online?

If so, I could test it out by buying a small denomination card and using that to pay $50 of our MF. If all goes as planned, then buy a large amount on a gift card and pay the remainder of the MF.

 

[californiagirl]

You can make a partial payment online. Last year my husband entered the wrong amount when paying online. (He transposed two numbers.) It went through just fine. We didn't realize it was wrong until we got a late payment notice. We ended up paying a late fee on just a few dollars. (And no, Marriott would not credit the late fee when the situation was explained. I think they want every penny they can get right now.)

 

[dioxide45]

You can make a partial payment online. Last year my husband entered the wrong amount when paying online. (He transposed two numbers.) It went through just fine. We didn't realize it was wrong until we got a late payment notice. We ended up paying a late fee on just a few dollars. (And no, Marriott would not credit the late fee when the situation was explained. I think they want every penny they can get right now.)

Thanks. Then I may give it a try, of course the online system doesn't seem like it is working all that great at this point in time.

 

[jtp1947]

This is interesting. If it acts like a Visa, one should be able to use it to pay MF and just about anything else. I would be willing to test it out, though not wanting to gamble putting $1000 on a GC only for it not to work. I could buy a small denomination card, but does anyone know if you can make a partial MF payment online?

If so, I could test it out by buying a small denomination card and using that to pay $50 of our MF. If all goes as planned, then buy a large amount on a gift card and pay the remainder of the MF.

I tried using two $100 GC's as a deposit for a $150 room and received a call from the hotel's reservation staff saying it was not possible to do it that way. The GC must have the full amount of the amount due to go through. So if MF's are $950 you would have to use a $1000 GC. Hope this makes sense.

 

[suenmike32]

I tried using two $100 GC's as a deposit for a $150 room and received a call from the hotel's reservation staff saying it was not possible to do it that way. The GC must have the full amount of the amount due to go through. So if MF's are $950 you would have to use a $1000 GC. Hope this makes sense.

I guess I'm a bit dense...that's why this doesn't seem to make sense to me.
I thought that the GC's carried a balance that could be used later.
However, even if you had to use the full GC, why would you not use (9) $100.00 GC's and put the remaining $50.00 on your Marriott VISA?
It makes no sense to blow away the $50.00 by using (10) GC's to pay a $950.00 MF
Mike

 

[dioxide45]

I guess I'm a bit dense...that's why this doesn't seem to make sense to me.
I thought that the GC's carried a balance that could be used later.
However, even if you had to use the full GC, why would you not use (9) $100.00 GC's and put the remaining $50.00 on your Marriott VISA?
It makes no sense to blow away the $50.00 by using (10) GC's to pay a $950.00 MF
Mike

When trying to make a charge to the gift card, you have to have the full amount available. So if you are trying to cover a $150 room charge on only a $100 card, it will be declined. Two $100 cards won't help either because when they swipe the first one it will try to authorize $150 and of course be declined.

 

[Dave M]

...and you don't "blow away" the remaining $50. The balance can be used later. I buy cards with $1,000 balances. I use the gift card just like a credit card when I check out of a Marriott property - until the balance is exhausted.

 

[DebbieF]

Can these be used at any international Marriott's as well?

 

[jtp1947]

When trying to make a charge to the gift card, you have to have the full amount available. So if you are trying to cover a $150 room charge on only a $100 card, it will be declined. Two $100 cards won't help either because when they swipe the first one it will try to authorize $150 and of course be declined.

You did a better job of describing the transaction than I did. Thanks!

 

[ral]

Gift Cards

When trying to make a charge to the gift card, you have to have the full amount available. So if you are trying to cover a $150 room charge on only a $100 card, it will be declined. Two $100 cards won't help either because when they swipe the first one it will try to authorize $150 and of course be declined.

Whenever I use an AE Gift Card, I simply keep track of the amount remaining on the gift card, and if the amount needed is greater than that on the gift card, I tell the vendor to authorize only the amount that I know is left on the gift card and to use my credit card for the remaining amount. This has worked without a problem from WalMarts to fine dining restaurants. Does the Marriott Gift Card not work the same way?

 

[Dave M]

Yes, it works the same way - at least when staying at a Marriott property. Several times when checking out, I have used a Marriott gift card that had a smaller remaining blance than what I owed. They scanned the gift card for what was left on the card and my Marriott VISA for the remainder.

 

[suenmike32]

Dave,
that brings us back to the original question by Dima...
Can I buy 4k work of GC's and pay my MF with them?
Thanks in advance,
Mike

 

[SueDonJ]

When trying to make a charge to the gift card, you have to have the full amount available. So if you are trying to cover a $150 room charge on only a $100 card, it will be declined. Two $100 cards won't help either because when they swipe the first one it will try to authorize $150 and of course be declined.

Yes, it works the same way - at least when staying at a Marriott property. Several times when checking out, I have used a Marriott gift card that had a smaller remaining blance than what I owed. They scanned the gift card for what was left on the card and my Marriott VISA for the remainder.

This is very confusing - aren't you two saying two different things?

 

[mjkkb2]

This is very confusing - aren't you two saying two different things?

I'm not sure if these gift card are the same, but we got (3) $100 gift cards for attending a presentation this year at Ocen Pointe. WE have used them to pay for the room, restaurnats on site, gift shop etc. I tried once to buy something i the marketplace which cost more than 10 bucks knowing that I had less than 10 bucks left on the card. The transaction was declined numerous times while clerk was trying to authorize it for 1 dollar less each time untill the price he set was lower than what was left on the gift card.

 

[dima]

What I understood from all this discussion is that MF should be paid from VISA card. Other payments can be made with Gift Card.
To clear out question if MF can be paid with Gift Card someone just should try. Maybe I will try, but I am planning to get Gift card next week and pay my MF in December.

 

[scrapngen]

Dave,
that brings us back to the original question by Dima...
Can I buy 4k work of GC's and pay my MF with them?
Thanks in advance,
Mike

I thought there was a limit of $2500. Doesn't it say you can only earn up to 25,000 points per Marriott Rewards number??