How does Marriott treat you as an elite?

[NinnyPoo]

Status: Life Time Platinum
Property: W Brisbane
Date: Nov 2023
Booked: Wonderful (base room)
Received: Spectacular (Suite)
Late Check Out: Granted for 4pm


Booked the W Brisbane as a wedding anniversary for two nights. I let the hotel know before and the upgrade was massive (I estimate total size at around 60-70 sq m) as well as cake and balloons for the anniversary.

The included breakfast was one of the better ones in Australia (Includes buffet or nice a la carte) I have stayed at the W in Melbourne and this I find a far superior hotel. The colours are bright and reflect the Brisbane aspect as well as having a great location by the river. Note current road works do make access a little complicated.

 

[QF_Flyer]

??, This is not the case since you can register with any card.. Where did you get this info? Pls go to Hyatt web and register.. Misinformation does not help. Amex , Visa, MC are all international networks.

I have a Hyatt account, that's not the issue, it's earning any significant amount of points, other than by staying in Hyatt hotels or buying them - they don't partner with any of the flexible programs in Australia and don't have a dedicated earn card. It would be great if we could somehow get access to an easier way to earn WoH points.

 

[dajop]

Status; Titanium
Property: JW Marriott Singapore South Beach
Date: Dec 2023
Booked: Premier Twin
Received: Deluxe Twin (category below Premier)
Late Checkout: 4pm granted
Rate: free night certificate + 4000 pts

This was a staycation. We last stayed here mid-Covid on another staycation.

Lounge is great, nice afternoon tea and really good happy hour.

A couple of things we noticed, room was smaller than last time (and checked on the app that we were in a different room type to the one booked and subsequently confirmed with front desk that we were only in a deluxe room, one level down from the room booked). However noted we are on higher floor.

Also this time round they have introduced a small fee ($20SGD++) for use of the jacuzzi/steam room/sauna whereas free last time.

 

[Daver6]

Status; Titanium
Property: JW Marriott Singapore South Beach
Date: Dec 2023
Booked: Premier Twin
Received: Deluxe Twin (category below Premier)
Late Checkout: 4pm granted
Rate: free night certificate + 4000 pts

This was a staycation. We last stayed here mid-Covid on another staycation.

Lounge is great, nice afternoon tea and really good happy hour.

A couple of things we noticed, room was smaller than last time (and checked on the app that we were in a different room type to the one booked and subsequently confirmed with front desk that we were only in a deluxe room, one level down from the room booked). However noted we are on higher floor.

Also this time round they have introduced a small fee ($20SGD++) for use of the jacuzzi/steam room/sauna whereas free last time.

Any sort of compensation for the room downgrade?

The rooms there are really pretty small to start with. I find it a rather over-rated hotel. Pool views are amazing though.

 

[dajop]

Any sort of compensation for the room downgrade?

The rooms there are really pretty small to start with. I find it a rather over-rated hotel. Pool views are amazing though.

Yes compensation was paid in line with Marriott Bonvoy policy. They had a form to complete for this, so I expect this wasn't the first time this has happened.

The lounge offer is great, enjoyed way too many coughtails and a couple of afternoon teas, but the hotel itself not quite right. We stayed in the Westin not so long back, prefer the hotel, room, pool and (complementary) sauna/jacuzzi facilities there, although the lounge offer is fairly basic in comparison (particularly the beverages). Combine the JW lounge offer with the Westin hotel and it would be great.

Still it was nice to go there for 26 hrs and have a retreat without having to deal with the hassle of airport, flights, transfers etc just to use the free night certificate somewhere else like Bali or Bangkok

 

[Gold Member]

Yes compensation was paid in line with Marriott Bonvoy policy. They had a form to complete for this, so I expect this wasn't the first time this has happened.

How many points/cash? Did you have to ask for it after alerting them to the downgrade after you checked in?

 

[mini2]

Status: Gold
Property: W Macau
Date: Dec 2023
Booked: Wonderful (base room)
Received: Wonderful (base room)
Late Check Out: Granted for 12pm

Based on Google reviews, I knew the check-in would be bad, but I certainly didn't expect to wait in the queue for well over an hour before checking in. No upgrades were offered, and I only got an hour extension to the checkout time.

So I arrived 30 minutes before check-in time, and there were 5 people manning the front desk, and it was reduced to 2 at 3 pm when 3 pm was the check-in time. I dunno; common sense would've suggested you put on more staff when there are more guests arriving. The only saving grace is, the hotel was opened for a month or three so everything's still nice and fresh.

 

[Daver6]

Status: Gold
Property: W Macau
Date: Dec 2023
Booked: Wonderful (base room)
Received: Wonderful (base room)
Late Check Out: Granted for 12pm

Based on Google reviews, I knew the check-in would be bad, but I certainly didn't expect to wait in the queue for well over an hour before checking in. No upgrades were offered, and I only got an hour extension to the checkout time.

So I arrived 30 minutes before check-in time, and there were 5 people manning the front desk, and it was reduced to 2 at 3 pm when 3 pm was the check-in time. I dunno; common sense would've suggested you put on more staff when there are more guests arriving. The only saving grace is, the hotel was opened for a month or three so everything's still nice and fresh.

Was there no Bonvoy elite check-in counters? At there Sheraton Macao there is actually a completely different section for elite check-in. It was still incredibly slow too.

Bonvoy really is quite poor at gold level. Incredibly stingy with upgrades and other than earning bonus points, there is little value at gold.

 

[Kscf]

Status: Lifetime Platinum
Property: JW Hanoi
Date: Dec 24-26 2023
Booked: City view room (base room)
Received: Chambers suite (second best suite)

Landed in HAN on Dec 25 at 6 30 AM and booked the hotel from the previous night as I wanted guaranteed confirmation of the room availability upon arrival.

Used SNA and it cleared to 1 bedroom suite but they further upgraded to the second best suite at the hotel - this suite is bigger than the presidential suite at the Sheraton Port douglas.

Only complaint about this suite is the distance from the lifts - its abt 300 steps as this is a very wide hotel and this suite was at the absolute corner.

We completed the check in at the lounge - this was completed as we had breakfast. My wife had placed an order for a special meal at Vietnam airlines and they conveniently forgot and she had nothing but fruits to eat during the flight from MEL.

The lounge is outstanding with so many options - we had breakfast at the restaurant the next morning and the spread was wonderful.

The hotel has a taxi service to the city centre thrice a day for free which we took to explore the city.

The location is not at all convenient as its very far from the city centre - other than that this is an outstanding hotel.

 

[Kscf]

Status: Lifetime Platinum
Property: Sheraton Hanoi
Date: Dec 28-29 2023
Booked: City view room (base room)
Received: Higher floor club room (not really an upgrade)

We checked in for a night on the way from Ninh Binh to Sapa. They apologized for the lack of upgrade as they were sold out.

Its a nice hotel with a good lounge where we had dinner.

Didnt really explore much as we got in late night and left early next morning.

Location wise its a bit better than JW as its closer to the city but I would recommend staying at Hilton if you need to explore the city as Hanoi has horrible traffic.

 

[Kscf]

Status: Lifetime Platinum
Property: Le Meridien Saigon
Date: Dec 31 2023 - Jan 2 2024
Booked: City view room (base room)
Received: City view room (same room as booked)
Checkout: 5 PM

We checked in to the hotel on NYE. We picked this over Sheraton as the sheraton rooftop was closed for a private event.

The check in agent apologized like 10 times for not upgrading as the hotel was booked out solid because of NYE.

This hotel has a pool in the 9th floor with a view of the river and the fireworks. Granted this is no Sydney fireworks but this was great as well.

There were a lot of people out in the streets and having this vantage point is definitely better than being on the street.

The lounge here sucked in comparison to JW and Sheraton - no real options.

For arrival gift they gave us an option for breakfast in restaurant - this has been offered for free im other hotels but I am glad we picked this option as the lounge kind of sucked.

The breakfast in the restaurant was very good and although the spread was not as good as JW Hanoi it was comparable.

This hotel is in a good location - nice river view and walk to the bazaar.

They gave us a checkout at 5 PM as we had a 9 30 PM flight which was greatly appreciated.

 

[Mattg]

Well after being generally underwhelmed with Marriott Gold status, I decided to give them one last chance before my status lapses.

Just checked into a Sheraton hotel in Ireland where they did at least have my membership on file, but they refused the only request I had which was a late checkout.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

What’s the general feeling re Moxy Hotels? Or is that Q way too general and big variations property to property?

 

[Mattg]

What’s the general feeling re Moxy Hotels? Or is that Q way too general and big variations property to property?

My personal view is that they're the Ibis of Marriott, except that the hotels look a bit nicer, you get a free welcome drink and it's double the price.

The rooms themselves are quite small and often don't have a desk or table.

 

[Sprucegoose]

What’s the general feeling re Moxy Hotels? Or is that Q way too general and big variations property to property?

I have only ever stayed at a Moxy due to circumstances such as location, e.g. Edinburgh airport - not being too comfortable,

if time and money allow - avoid them.

 

[dajop]

You'd be used to the size of the room - about the same size as an A380 Suite on SQ

In seriousness they tend to be fairly consistent in room fit out from property to property - very minimal. No cupboards, they have hanging frames on the wall, no desk, and very compact bathrooms. Perhaps more aimed at 20 somethings than those in older age groups.

Having said that, I've stayed for various reasons at about half a dozen Moxy's. Probably most AFF'ers would turn their nose up them, but I thought fine for short stays. For example at Frankfurt we've stayed a couple of times - reaching the hotel at 7-8pm after arriving from SIN and leaving at 6am, and about 1/3-1/2 the price of other nearby hotels, but I balk at paying $600-700 if I'm going to be in the hotel for only 10 hrs. YMMV.

Also, in the one longer stay I had, I actually didn't mind not having a desk in the room, the lobby is well equipped with work spaces and nice to go there and have a drink or two whilst tapping away on the laptop.

Definitely not for most people though, you need to stay there with your eyes wide open, otherwise could disappoint.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Probably most AFF'ers would turn their nose up them

We are a practical mob, so if it's just a bed and shower you need, and that's what you get - that's a big tick, especially when you are totally buggered or have a late-night early start deal that you alluded to.

I drove into Stuttgart early one morning and could only find an Ibis (I did book at a Hilton Garden View or something like that, but the lady said she couldn't check me in as she was doing a night audit - I am a Diamond, so would have expected a set of keys and to sort the paperwork out in the morning. Such inflexibility from the Germans - has cost them a few wins previously. Thanks to the Hilton group, I rediscovered the practicality of Ibis, and the stay exceeded my expectations. They poured me a welcome pint at 3 am and extended my stay to 5 pm, so I have no complaints. Ibis worked well, and I expect the same from diligently-minded Moxy staff.

I usually dont stay at Moxy's or Ibis hotels but have been pleasantly surprised.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

For example at Frankfurt we've stayed a couple of times

Funny you should mention FRA - I was contemplating a location very close by - but decided to book Marriott Frankfurt instead - tks to all who responded

 

[drross]

Funny you should mention FRA - I was contemplating a location very close by - but decided to book Marriott Frankfurt instead - tks to all who responded

Having our first stay in FRA in July at the Westin and looking forward to it

 

[slowbro]

Status: Gold
Property: Ritz-Carlton Bali Nusa Dua
Date: Feb 24
Booked: Suite
Received: Suite
Late Check Out: Granted for 4pm due to Amex

Eligible for early check in from Amex but when arrived at 3pm to check in the room is not ready until +5pm, so a bit disappointing