Marriott Gift Cards

[KCI]

I just had an unpleasant experience with a Marriott Rewards rep. We stayed at the Residence Inn in Tampa on Tuesday night and used our gift card to pay for the room. The room was $89 but with taxes, etc it amounted to $99.68. I checked on our Marriott account online and they only gave us 868 points when I expected 10 points for each dollar spent. The rep said you don't get the points for the taxes, etc...only the room cost and because the it was a Residence Inn you only get 5 pts not 10. When I bought the gift card last year the website stated:
- 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.
I asked to speak to someone with more authority but was told that that person would say the same. Has anyone ever run into this before...another way for Marriott to rip us off.

 

[jimf41]

I buy them every if they have the 10 point bonus for just purchasing the card. It's my understanding that the only benefit to the card is the 10 point bonus. Every other point you derive from it depends on what card you use to buy it and where you stay with it and what your elite status is.

 

[Love2TS]

As far as I am aware we do not get reward points for taxes and long term stay properties such as Residence Inn give only 5 instead of usual 10 MR points per dollar spent.

 

[LAX Mom]

The information you were given by the Marriott rewards rep is correct. Residence Inns only offer 5 points per dollar. Not all Marriott properties give 10 points per dollar. There is more info on the Marriott rewards site:

"Earn 5 Marriott Rewards points or 1 air mile* per US dollar spent on room rate only at participating Residence Inn by Marriott® locations, made for extended stays. We help guests keep a balance between work and life. Spacious suites with full kitchens combine the comforts of home with functionality and hotel amenities and services like complimentary hot breakfast and evening social hours."

The same applies at TownePlace Suites.

Also, you almost never get points for the $$ paid for taxes. The points are awarded on the room rate (and at some properties incidentals).

 

[BocaBoy]

They did it correctly. Can't see how this is Marriott "ripping us off."

 

[dioxide45]

They did it correctly. Can't see how this is Marriott "ripping us off."

Not necessarily "ripping us off", but a problem with how the gift card promo was advertised.

 

[Quilter]

The trick is understanding the fine print of the program you belong to.

A "Marriott" stay is not a "Residence Inn" stay. It is "Residence Inn by Marriott", but not a full service Marriott. They are definitely different brands. You will even find a list of "brands" when you are looking for a room. A JW Marriott is obviously a different level of service than a Fairfield Inn. The same applies to a Marriott/Residence Inn comparison.

 

[Quilter]

It stinks when we miss something in the fine print and don't get the bonus we were expecting. Unfulfilled expectations are such a bother with the whole traveling experience.

Since the quote you took was from the promotion last year:

"- 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. " I would suspect there is an asterisk or some sort of clarification in the terms and conditions leading to an "up to 10 points per dollar".

Can you find something like that in last year's promo?

 

[nygiants11991]

I buy them every if they have the 10 point bonus for just purchasing the card. It's my understanding that the only benefit to the card is the 10 point bonus. Every other point you derive from it depends on what card you use to buy it and where you stay with it and what your elite status is.

Have you heard anything on this offer for this year? I too try to buy them whenever they are available.

 

[jimf41]

Have you heard anything on this offer for this year? I too try to buy them whenever they are available.

Not yet. I keep looking at this thread and checking the website but nothing yet. If I recall correctly they usually announce it in late November early December. With the changes to the MRP program this year I don't know if they'll do it again or not.

I guess we were watching the same TV program last night. Go GIANTS!!!

 

[BocaBoy]

With the changes to the MRP program this year I don't know if they'll do it again or not.

What changes are you referring to? Did I miss something big?

 

[jimf41]

Nothing big as far as I'm concerned. They stopped the BOGO, EEO offers for the remainder of 2012. They discontinued the AI package in the Caribbean resorts. The business travelers are pretty upset. Flyertalk has a good thread on it. Some folks were perturbed about the AI being discontinued but according to Marriott only 10% took advantage of it and it was costly to the hotels. I never thought the cuisine at Marriott's was worth the price so I never used them.

 

[jtp1947]

I believe Marriott said only .001% of MRP members took advantage of the AI award.

 

[OldPantry]

I believe Marriott said only .001% of MRP members took advantage of the AI award.

Well, I looked into the AI package for our trip to Costa Rica next April. At first, I was psyched, until I realized that the hefty point cost was on top of points needed for the hotel itself. At that point, I decided they were a very poor deal, and opted to save my points for higher-value exchanges.

 

[Love2TS]

The promotion is on for this year for GCs purchased through Jan 8 2012. Wonder whether this year too we will be able to use these to pay the MFs?

 

[jimf41]

Looks like they sweetened the pot this year with a $50 Hertz certificate. Just to go over it again you get per dollar spent..

10 MRPs for buying
5 MRPs for using the Marriott Premiere card when buying
12, 13 or 15 MRPs depending on your elite level when you use it at the upper end brands
Total MRPs per dollar could be 27, 28 or 30 if you are Silver, Gold or Plat elite.

If I've made a mistake someone please jump in.

 

[wvacations]

Reading the fine print on the gifts.Marriott.com site it looks like it is NOT both 10 points for purchasing AND Hertz $50 coupon. Both offers say they cannot be combined with any other promotion/offer. The Hertz promotion says enter "HERTZ" in the promotion box at check out. The way I read the small print, if you select the Hertz coupon you are not going to get the promotional points. I could wrong, but that is how the fine print reads.

 

[FlyerBobcat]

I didn't read it that way... but I see what you mean.

If it's one or the other, they should have made separate offers....

 

[jimf41]

I didn't read it that way... but I see what you mean.

If it's one or the other, they should have made separate offers....

I didn't either but I think wvacations is right. I hate fine print.

 

[thinze3]

On another note. Anytime you book a stay look for cost effective ways to maximize MR points - meals, gas golf, spas, etc.. Obviously the perks need to be for something you will use.

Example: You may pay $10 per night more to get a $25 card card per night. You also get to earn 170-200 points on that $10 - and I value points at about $.016 each.

 

[wvacations]

On another note. Anytime you book a stay look for cost effective ways to maximize MR points - meals, gas golf, spas, etc.. Obviously the perks need to be for something you will use.

Example: You may pay $10 per night more to get a $25 card card per night. You also get to earn 170-200 points on that $10 - and I value points at about $.016 each.

Good point but remember not all brands give you 10 points pee dollar on all charges. Courtyard for example gives points only for the room rate charges. Charging meals at Courtyards yields no extra points.

 

[dioxide45]

The promotion is on for this year for GCs purchased through Jan 8 2012. Wonder whether this year too we will be able to use these to pay the MFs?

Consensus this year is that they won't be able to be used to pay MFs since the new gift cards are not Visa based cards.

 

[lll1929]

Speaking of Gift Cards, I wonder if Marriott will have the same sale this year as the last 2 years?

Found the info:
Offer valid on purchases of GiftCards made online at gifts.marriott.com now through January 8, 2012. Offer not valid on Marriott GIftCards purchased via Marriott properties, 3rd parties or 1 800 813 GIFT and cannot be combined with any other offer/promotion. Marriott Rewards members earn 10 points per dollar for each GiftCard purchase made online at gifts.marriott.com and by entering their valid Marriott Rewards number. A maximum of 25,000 Marriott Rewards points* may be earned per member. Points will be posted to your Marriott Rewards account within six weeks after the promotion ends on January 8, 2012. Shipping and handling fees apply. $1 shipping option available to U.S. addresses only. For Marriott Rewards Terms and Conditions, visit marriottrewards.com. For Marriott Gift Cards Terms and Conditions, visit gifts.marriott.com.

 

[nygiants11991]

The promotion is on for this year for GCs purchased through Jan 8 2012. Wonder whether this year too we will be able to use these to pay the MFs?

I know there have been posts saying you cannot use the card as a visa, but has anyone tried to pay MF with one yet?

 

[Quilter]

On another note. Anytime you book a stay look for cost effective ways to maximize MR points - meals, gas golf, spas, etc.. Obviously the perks need to be for something you will use.

Example: You may pay $10 per night more to get a $25 card card per night. You also get to earn 170-200 points on that $10 - and I value points at about $.016 each.

thinze3,

I'm having difficulty catching what you're saying. Could you please explain it a bit more for me?

Thanks,
Quilter