How does Marriott treat you as an elite?

[leadman]

For many years I thought I had made the wrong decision of joining the Marriott programme over the others, but when they merged with Sheraton all my Christmases came all at once. On top of Ti life, it was one worry of not trying to retain status I didn't have during Covid. Now if QF gave us a bit of slack on the 75,000 SC barrier for Pt life I'd be even happier!

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Very welcome news! Hoping they reduce requal requirements for next year, or, as dairyfloss mentioned, a rollover program.

I envisage getting back on the road domestically mid Jan but doubt I'd hit over 100 nights with spend next year.

 

[redwoodw]

Marriott's move to dynamic award pricing is bad. No award chart post March 2022.

Not a coincidence they're announcing the two together.

https://help.marriott.com/s/article/Article-33250

 

[dajop]

Marriott's move to dynamic award pricing is bad. No award chart post March 2022.

From Marriott:

That means the amount of Marriott Bonvoy® Points needed to redeem a Stay will be more flexible and will more closely align with Hotel Rates — based on availability, seasonality, etc.

So basically reducing the potential for aspirational rewards. This is what is happening the world over with loyalty programs, they're basically morphing into % rebate programs.

 

[dairyfloss]

more 'Flexible'... because Flexible in travel terms never means totally exorbitant, right?

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[drron]

Being LTP with no chance of lifetime platinum and dynamic pricing coming in there is no point seeking out Marriott properties.I will still use those that I enjoy such as the SGS in Bangkok but otherwise share the love around.

So for next years trip the Tokyo Hilton for an executive room is cheaper than a standard room at any comparable Marriott properties.Similarly for a stay at FRA just a handful of euros more for an executive room at the hilton than the marriott and sheraton which we would not stopat again anyway.

 

[Stevo.1702]

Status: Titanium
Property: Midnight Hotel Canberra
Date: 06/11/2021
Booked: Midnight Classic
Price Paid: $141 per night
Received: Midnight Lounge

On date of check-in the room I booked was $215 and the room I received was $245. No other rooms (junior suite or suites) available.

I have been overseas + WA Quarantine for the last month and decided to surprise my partner to a staycation in our hometown.

This is the first time I've visited this hotel and for what I paid I am happily surprised (pre pay "member escapes deal").

Reception staff were fantastic and had a range of food, beverage and pts options for a welcome gift. I opted for a bottle of red and breakfast in-house.

Room has a well stocked mini bar which I only learnt after choosing my bottle of red that it is complimentary.

All simple requests on my Bonvoy profile were accommodated and I received a notification at 10.30am that my room was ready. Check-in staff said a 4pm checkout was applied in case we wanted it.

If the price is right I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone passing through Canberra.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Am I reading this correctly? You celebrated being released from hotel quarantine by......staying in a hotel?

 

[Stevo.1702]

Am I reading this correctly? You celebrated being released from hotel quarantine by......staying in a hotel?

..... Yes.

To try and provide some evidence of my sanity I was at home for a week first.
My partner also has the travel bug but has been working from home the last 6 months and hasn't left Canberra since December last year.

My work travel hasn't stopped so the night out was a treat for her more than a treat for me. That's my story at least.

*edit - it's also a much more enjoyable experience with your partner and you can come and go as you please

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Great to be back at Westin Melbourne! I spend over 100 nights a year here so get looked after very well. Excellent to see the same faces after the extended lockdown and catchups with staff.

On weekends they are busier than pre-Covid so perhaps limit expectations for weekend stays.

 

[albyd]

Status: Gold
Property: Sheraton Melbourne
Date: 11/01/2022
Booked: Traditional King Room
Received: Grand deluxe king room

Was pleasantly surprised when I got the upgrade. Guess checking in on a Tuesday and during COVID when they’ve likely had reduced occupancy. I’m not looking a gift horse in the mouth.

Pretty good result given I used 2 ‘free’ up to 35,000 point value room night certificates in my booking so I wasn’t exactly a premium customer.

Amenities great as usual. Will stay here again next time I’m in MEL.

 

[Stevo.1702]

Status: Titanium
Property: W Brisbane
Date: 11-14/01/2022
Booked: Wonderful Guest Room ($340/night)
Received: Marvelous Suite ($700/night -3 days before check-in)

Check-in was smooth and we were met by the manager on duty who took our bags. He gave us his business card and was very genuine in insisting we contact him anytime during our stay if there was anything we needed.

I asked if the hotel was particularly busy and the manager said no very quiet with very few rooms booked. - incidentally, we saw no one else on our floor of 7 rooms the 3 nights we stayed. Interestingly through, no rooms were for sale from roughly 48hrs prior to checkin.


We selected the breakfast option as our welcome gift. The only exclusions from the Three Blue Ducks breakfast menu that I recall were milkshakes and the morning coughtails (all nonalcoholic)

The room was great. A well-stocked minibar ($$$) and a good coffee machine. The room felt very much like it was designed to host groups of people which goes with the vibe of it being a 'party hotel'. We had an amazing-looking dessert awaiting us which was very delicious.



For housekeeping we found it to be a little below expectations. Not all towels were replaced on the second-night meaning we had to ask for a second towel, and the welcome dessert which we placed 3/4 eaten in an open space next to the coffee machine was still sitting there on the day of our departure.



The 'Feelin' fine time' replaces lounge access. Normally 2hrs of drinks and canapes in the Living Room Bar but as this was closed it was relocated to the Wet Deck Bar (pool level)

The staff were friendly, although quite slow in checking in on guests (when you approach the bar they say please take a seat and I'll be right with you (~15mins later)).



Canapes were the same each night. One beetroot-based, another spinach, and the third was bacon and cheese. They were always offering more with each drinks order.



We ate at the Wet Deck one night. Crispy pork bao buns. I misunderstood and it turned out the buns were crispy, not the pork (wouldn't personally recommend it).



In summary, we had a great stay and we feel incredibly lucky that we were upgraded to such a nice room. We were also lucky that the hotel was very quiet. I can imagine it would be buzzing late into the night in non-covid times.

 

[sudoer]

Crispy pork bao buns. I misunderstood and it turned out the buns were crispy, not the pork (wouldn't personally recommend it).

Best laugh I've had today. It feels like there's a good chance the chef saw "crispy pork bao buns" on another restaurant's menu and misinterpreted the dish when 'taking inspiration' for their own menu?

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Brisbane prices have been a bit peculiar of late. I note the Westin will be coming back online shortly and it's pricing is far higher than pre pandemic around $300. Marriott still looks ok.

 

[Kscf]

I am a marriott loyalist and used to go out of my way to stay at marriotts and earn the marriott points as I see very good value in moments, have redeemed close to a million points in moments till now.

My stay experiences since I loved to AU 2 years ago:

1. Four points by sheraton Sydney - 15 nights stay as part of quarantine(had to pay myself as it was in the first week of border being shutdown ), all points - upgraded to 1 bedroom suite for the entire stay, the hotel was essentially empty but the service was impeccable. They gave us everything we asked for as we did not leave the room for 15 days.

2. Four points by sheraton Brisbane - 15 nights again as part of second round of quarantine again paid by points. No upgrade this time as this was a quarantine hotel and the blame is on me as I missed their email which said its a quarantine hotel and if I needed to change my stay. Should have picked the W instead.

Horrible service as they would not give us even water bottles - we ended up getting a case delivered from Dan Murphys. Considering it was a quarantine hotel I am giving them a pass.

3. W brisbane - one night stay when we were in the city for a job interview for my wife(lived in Toowoomba and didnt want to drive in early morning). Paid $300 I think for the standard room and upgraded to Marvelous suite.

This is an amazing hotel and they graciously gave a 5 PM checkout as I had a meeting till 4 30.

4. Sheraton Port douglas - 5 nights points stay, booked base room but upgraded to Presidential suite by manager when I said we were there to celebrate my wife's birthday.

Fantastic hotel, loved the service, we did a private dinner by the pool and although expensive the food and service was very good.

5. Marriott vacation club Surfers Paradise - 2 nights timeshare package booked @$200 for 2 nights. U have to attend a presentation.

Hands down the worst marriott I have stayed in and I have been close to 75 properties world wide.

The mold smell was nauseating, we asked to change rooms and even the new room had the same smell and the sheets and pillow covers reeked of bleach.

This was around midnight, we were to celebrate our anniversary but decided to cut our losses and head back home to Brisbane.

2 days later the manager called and I reamed him out about the status of the room, he refunded the $200, offered back at regular rate, I almost told him he would have to pay me to stay there.

Asked for some points compensation but none given, would never return to this hotel even if there is no other option.

6. Pier one Autograph collection Sydney - 5 nights over NYE, booked by points.

Used SNA and was upgraded to water view suite but asked them to downgrade to a bridge view room as we thought we can see fireworks from the room.

Its a nice hotel with good service and excellent location if u want to see fireworks.

We stepped out of the hotel at 8 45 PM to see the 9 PM fireworks and again at 11 45 to see midnight one. That convenience was amazing.

I am currently Titanium.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Some really useful reviews there.

The question from them remains, why are you looking to move away from Marriott?

 

[Kscf]

Some really useful reviews there.

The question from them remains, why are you looking to move away from Marriott?

The move to remove the award chart is the trigger. I have close to 1.9 million points, will transfer them to Alaska Air by keeping 500k for moments redemptions.

 

[Kscf]

If anyone would like to know - I have redeemed marriott points for the following moments:

1. 2017 US Open tennis courtside seats for the early rounds - 2 tickets for 165000 points.
2. 2017 US open tennis men's finals suite tickets - this came with 2 seats on the bench in the starwood suite complete with unlimited food and drinks plus a goodie bag for 450300 points.
3. 2018 4th round Wimbledon tickets for 222500 points.
4. 2022 Australian Open men's semi finals and women's finals tickets for 30000 points each. Missed out on the men's finals tickets as I did not place the maximum bid and overslept and missed the end of the auction.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I'd love to hear about the Aus open experience. I put a bid in too but since work trips put on hold wasn't going to make it down.

 

[Kscf]

I'd love to hear about the Aus open experience. I put a bid in too but since work trips put on hold wasn't going to make it down.

We are headed down to Melbourne this friday. Almost cancelled as my wife went to a dentist last week and got a call from her next day that she was positive. We did the PCR test over the weekend and were negative luckily. We had our booster shot about 3 weeks ago which helped I think.

Will do a post here once I come back next Monday.