Need help with 5 night marriott rewards vacation package

[vacationlover2]

On the MVC website, it's not very clear. What is the top mileage amount you can get for Southwest airlines? Is it 120,000 miles?

Thanks!

 

[Fasttr]

I agree, its not very clear as the 7 night packages per Marriott.com has 4 categories, plus United, where the 5 night category on the MVC site has 3 categories plus United. That said, since 2 of the categories on the 7 night packages (one being Southwest) can get you 120K miles, I think you are correct, the max for Southwest is 120K.

 

[Mr. Vker]

SWA goes by points not by miles. I have not used a travel package for SWA, but there is a long thread on Flyertalk.

Go to this thread and seach "southwest". tons of info. You can even earn an instant companion pass if you get a TP with enough points.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-ritz-carlton-rewards/1403715-marriott-travel-packages.html

 

[Mr. Vker]

I agree, its not very clear as the 7 night packages per Marriott.com has 4 categories, plus United, where the 5 night category on the MVC site has 3 categories plus United. That said, since 2 of the categories on the 7 night packages (one being Southwest) can get you 120K miles, I think you are correct, the max for Southwest is 120K.

For some reason, the 5 night packages doesn't show group 4. That is Jet Blue and Virgin America. I imagine they exist but have to be requested.

 

[Fasttr]

For some reason, the 5 night packages doesn't show group 4. That is Jet Blue and Virgin America. I imagine they exist but have to be requested.

I think Group 4 from the 7 night package is Group 3 for the 5 night packages as that would be the 60,000 point package which is Jet Blue and Virgin.

I think you were correct in your post above that its a miles vs points issue. Since on the 7 night, they differentiate between miles and points, they show the 120K miles as a different category from the 120K points....but for the 5 night packages, they show it as Miles/Points in the header, so they basically eliminated a need for 1 of the categories....but they should have stayed with 4 to keep both listings consistent.

Bottom line is that in my opinion, I think Southwest, which is Group 3 in the 7 night is equal to Group 1 in the 5 night packages.

 

[Mr. Vker]

I think Group 4 from the 7 night package is Group 3 for the 5 night packages as that would be the 60,000 point package which is Jet Blue and Virgin.

I think you were correct in your post above that its a miles vs points issue. Since on the 7 night, they differentiate between miles and points, they show the 120K miles as a different category from the 120K points....but for the 5 night packages, they show it as Miles/Points in the header, so they basically eliminated a need for 1 of the categories....but they should have stayed with 4 to keep both listings consistent.

Bottom line is that in my opinion, I think Southwest, which is Group 3 in the 7 night is equal to Group 1 in the 5 night packages.

Ahhh my mistake. Thanks for clarifying. The SWA deal is supposedly pretty good with the companion pass.

 

[vacationlover2]

Thanks all. So is it 120,000 southwest points for the max package? I am going for the companion pass.

 

[Old Hickory]

I've done a search and cannot find this:

What are the steps I need to take to book a 5 Night Travel Package? I'm not an airline frequent flier so those programs are totally foreign to me.

Can someone help me? I called the MVC desk and the agent was not experienced in the MR 5-day travel packages. He fumbled his way to confusing me... even more. But he told I can go anywhere and stay anywhere! Yay!

Also, what if I want to stay more than 5 days? Can I book a flight for 7 days and stay 5 nights in one hotel and another 2 nights elsewhere?

Thanks.

 

[Mr. Vker]

I've done a search and cannot find this:

What are the steps I need to take to book a 5 Night Travel Package? I'm not an airline frequent flier so those programs are totally foreign to me.

Can someone help me? I called the MVC desk and the agent was not experienced in the MR 5-day travel packages. He fumbled his way to confusing me... even more. But he told I can go anywhere and stay anywhere! Yay!

Also, what if I want to stay more than 5 days? Can I book a flight for 7 days and stay 5 nights in one hotel and another 2 nights elsewhere?

Thanks.

First, don't call MVCI. Call Marriott Rewards. Regular hotel reservations will connect you when you ask for Marriott Rewards. They are open M-F morning into evening. They are experts. They will process the 5 night package for you.

You have to select a category for the 5 night certificate and number of miles. That will determine the total number MR points needed.

The 5 night cert has to be used all at once at one property. Other than that, you can have a second reservation adding 2 nights etc. (5 night cert is good for one year. Can be extended)

The airline miles are totally separate. They simply are deposited into your frequent flyer account to use as you please. Then you use those miles as you would any other FF miles.

Does this help?

 

[bazzap]

Also, although you need to select a hotel category for the 5 night certificate, you don't have to make the reservation at the same time as ordering the MR Travel Package so if you do subsequently find you want to stay at a higher category hotel you can just use extra MR Points to do so.

 

[Old Hickory]

First, don't call MVCI. Call Marriott Rewards. Regular hotel reservations will connect you when you ask for Marriott Rewards. They are open M-F morning into evening. They are experts. They will process the 5 night package for you.

You have to select a category for the 5 night certificate and number of miles. That will determine the total number MR points needed.

The 5 night cert has to be used all at once at one property. Other than that, you can have a second reservation adding 2 nights etc. (5 night cert is good for one year. Can be extended)

The airline miles are totally separate. They simply are deposited into your frequent flyer account to use as you please. Then you use those miles as you would any other FF miles.

Does this help?

I'm not an airline FF. Do I need to determine who I want to fly with then set-up a FF account and know *about* how many miles/points I'll need to cover the trip?

Example: I've found a flight on Delta and it requires 100,000 miles. Is it as easy as requesting a deposit of 100,000 miles?

The hotel part seems easy. Cat 7, check!

 

[bazzap]

When we very first bought into MVC, our sales rep advised signing up to all major FF programmes in preparation for using the best options with MR Travel Packages.
We did and although it may well be best to try to focus on one and we primarily use BA we have since benefited from most of them.
The only thing I would add is to look out for FF sign up bonuses/benefits, which may influence the best time to sign up.

 

[SueDonJ]

First, don't call MVCI. Call Marriott Rewards. ...

You're much more experienced with this than me but I've always gone through Owner Services for the 5-Night packages. I thought that was how they had to be done? Next time I'll do it your way. Thanks!

 

[Mr. Vker]

I'm not an airline FF. Do I need to determine who I want to fly with then set-up a FF account and know *about* how many miles/points I'll need to cover the trip?

Example: I've found a flight on Delta and it requires 100,000 miles. Is it as easy as requesting a deposit of 100,000 miles?

The hotel part seems easy. Cat 7, check!

Take a look at this I wrote for Marriott insiders. I think this will help step by step. Its a few years old, but still correct for all steps. (This was written and links are for 7 night travel packages.)

Read from the bottom up...
https://www.rewards-insiders.marriott.com/people/tker/blog

 

[Mr. Vker]

You're much more experienced with this than me but I've always gone through Owner Services for the 5-Night packages. I thought that was how they had to be done? Next time I'll do it your way. Thanks!

Yes, this is much easier and more successful for me. They will see you are a MVCI owner and process without difficulty. They just know what they are doing. After ordering the TP, I use them to upgrade there certificate, downgrade it, extend it. They are awesome.

 

[Old Hickory]

Take a look at this I wrote for Marriott insiders. I think this will help step by step. Its a few years old, but still correct for all steps. (This was written and links are for 7 night travel packages.)

Read from the bottom up...
https://www.rewards-insiders.marriott.com/people/tker/blog

This is perfect. Thanks for your efforts!

 

[Mr. Vker]

This is perfect. Thanks for your efforts!

Surely. The US Air info is out of date. They have been gobbled up by AA now and are part of Oneworld....

 

[Old Hickory]

Yes, this is much easier and more successful for me. They will see you are a MVCI owner and process without difficulty. They just know what they are doing. After ordering the TP, I use them to upgrade there certificate, downgrade it, extend it. They are awesome.

Wanted to give you an update and ask a question.

I've had no issues ordering the MR reward package (5-night travel package, Cat. 9 reward) and getting reward miles transferred to Delta Sky Miles - using the MR rewards agent. Miles transferred in two days. This morning, I booked the flights.

Called Marriott Plat desk to book the 5-nights and was told the resort is book solid. Plat agent called the resort. I really want into this resort (Lodge at Sonoma) so I'll wait and keep trying. Going ahead and book paid nights at a Fairfield Sabastopol and others, as well.

My question: if the Cat. 9 resort remains booked, can I downgrade the reward to a lower Cat. property?

 

[hhoope01]

I've heard of some successfully downgrading their 7 night hotel cert from a TP award. I've also heard of some not being able to. So it probably depends on the agent you get. Not heard anything on whether downgrading a 5 night package would be easier, the same, or not as likely.

 

[Mr. Vker]

I just successfully downgraded two cat 8's to cat 7's. In effect, they return the certificate portion of the cat 8 to your account and then pull the points needed for the cert portion for the cat 7. You are left with the net point savings AND the new cert is good for a year!

You have to ask them to specifically take these steps-very nicely-and they will in most cases.

I really enjoy the flexibility of the program. I have been told no on things before though. I just accept those times and enjoy the times I am told yes.

Tip: You can always book the hotel award before ordering the travel package. Do it over the phone and tell them not to pull the points. That way you will know if they have availability. After you get the TP, you can apply the certificate to that reservation with a phone call.

 

[KathyPet]

Once you have found the airline and flight you want you must set up a FF account with that airline. Marriott needs that number to deposit the miles/points to that account. You make your reservation with the airline completely independently from Marriott and the hotel package. You can book any departure and return dates and make whatever other hotel reservations you want to extend your stay at another hotel besides Marriott if you want. All Marriott is going to do is deposit the miles/points to the FF account number you give them. They could care less how and when you use them. The only thing that can get a little tricky is that you cannot actually reserve the flights you want until the points/miles are in your FF account. Marriott is pretty quick about depositing the miles but if FF seats are limited on the flights you want there is always the possibility that the FF seats on the flight you want could be gone by the time you can actually make the reservation. Some airlines will allow a "hold" on a reservation but usually only for 24 hours and then it would be cancelled if you do not complete the reservation by using your FF miles/points within that time period. Someone may be able to say how long it takes Marriott to deposit the miles/points to a FF program.

 

[bazzap]

As MR Platinum, I have always had FF Points/Miles deposited within 24 hours.
I believe anyone can pay a small amount to "express" the deposit to achieve the same result?

 

[Safti]

Wanted to give you an update and ask a question.

I've had no issues ordering the MR reward package (5-night travel package, Cat. 9 reward) and getting reward miles transferred to Delta Sky Miles - using the MR rewards agent. Miles transferred in two days. This morning, I booked the flights.

Called Marriott Plat desk to book the 5-nights and was told the resort is book solid. Plat agent called the resort. I really want into this resort (Lodge at Sonoma) so I'll wait and keep trying. Going ahead and book paid nights at a Fairfield Sabastopol and others, as well.

My question: if the Cat. 9 resort remains booked, can I downgrade the reward to a lower Cat. property?

When are you going to the Lodge at Sonoma? I was booked on points at the end of Sept. and I just cancelled my booking.

 

[Old Hickory]

When are you going to the Lodge at Sonoma? I was booked on points at the end of Sept. and I just cancelled my booking.

What? Sept. 30 for 5 nights...