Wow, rarely as it is, this time it works way better for UK customers...
"Earn 20 Marriott Rewards points for every Pound you spend!"
You only need to spend an equivalent of $2044.17 to receive 25,000 points.
The only catch is that you get vouchers instead of cards (partial payments with vouchers are not allowed and they would be converted to USD using hotel's exchange rate... otherwise they are as good as cards.
AX
SpeedbirdOne
Nov 3, 09, 7:29 am
This is excellent! Thank you Travel Auto for letting us know.
And 20 MR per £ ? For once, Brits come off better out of this - that doesn't happen all too often :D
UK-based FlyerTalkers, don't forget to go via Quidco, to receive 5% cashback on your Gift Card/Certificate purchases! (Not sure if you can combine the 5% cashback for Gift Cards, with the 4% cashback for booking a Marriott stay via Quidco as well - does anyone know?)
Edit: I'd originally asked how paying with these effects the MegaBonus promo, but just noticed in the 2007 thread that Gift Cards count as Visa payments so qualify for MegaBonus. So I'll rephrase my original question a little. Does anyone know if UK Gift Certificates qualify for MegaBonus? There's no card involved so I can't see it would register as a Visa payment.
dalm
Nov 3, 09, 8:23 am
When using gift cards, etc, I usually plan that there will be a small portion I will put on a credit card...whichever card the promotion requires. Haven't had a problem...yet!;)
jra3
Nov 3, 09, 9:31 am
Huzzah, I love gift card promos! Thanks OP!
Counsellor
Nov 3, 09, 9:47 am
So, it looks as though we have two promotions going on for the rest of the year,
- The Gift Card one in the original post, which gives 10 Marriott Rewards points per dollar but you pay regular price; or
- The Delta 10% off promotion at https://deltapromo.netlinkrg.com/ where you purchase $1000 or $2000 Vacation Cards* at 10% off and get 1000 or 2000 Delta miles as a bonus.
Nice!
* NOTE: The terms and conditions on use of Vacation Cards are a bit more restrictive than those governing Gift Cards.
pinniped
Nov 3, 09, 9:55 am
Brits come out ahead on this one...as long as you watch the hotels closely when they calculate your exchange rate on a non-UK stay.
For example, if you're doing a stay in the U.S., many places don't see GBP certificates often. They first won't have any idea what the certificate is, then they'll go looking for an exchange rate, and finally they'll likely find a "cash" exchange rate - the unattractive hotel rate you'd get if you wanted to pay for the stay with British banknotes.
I frequently had to look up and then show a live FX quote (or perhaps yesterday's WSJ quote) to the front desk to get my Premium Pounds posted correctly.
With the gift card, you know you're getting a Visa-processed transaction with a predictable exchange rate and a relatively low vig.
gardener
Nov 3, 09, 11:05 am
Rationale, valuing Marriott Points at 1.25 cpp:
Delta deal, get $1000 in Marriott currency for $900, plus get 4500 Marriott points for putting it on the Visa. Net cost for $1000 is $843.75.
Holiday deal, pay $1000, get 15K points, net cost is $812.50. But capped at $2500 total gift cards.
I ignored S&H in my calcs as it is more or less a wash.
GlennTheBaker
Nov 3, 09, 4:10 pm
This is excellent! Thank you Travel Auto for letting us know.
And 20 MR per £ ? For once, Brits come off better out of this - that doesn't happen all too often :D
UK-based FlyerTalkers, don't forget to go via Quidco, to receive 5% cashback on your Gift Card/Certificate purchases! (Not sure if you can combine the 5% cashback for Gift Cards, with the 4% cashback for booking a Marriott stay via Quidco as well - does anyone know?)
I don't see why you would not be able to get Quidco cashback on both the Gift Cheque purchase and the reservation as they are two completely separate transactions and totally unconnected.
yyliu88
Nov 3, 09, 10:51 pm
use promotion code MMF, get 10% extra for amount purchased
However, I think using this code will invalidate the points earning.
I put in an order last night with the 10% discount code. I guess I will have to wait till six weeks after December 31, 2009 to see if I earn the the points as well.
Also, anyone know if I will earn 5 points per $1 using my Marriott Premier VISA for the gift card?
Tanic
Nov 4, 09, 12:34 pm
FWIW, I bought Marriott gift cards during last summer's Hertz promo and received the Visa 5pts/$. That appears to be independent of the 10pts/$ current promo.
avpman
Nov 4, 09, 2:42 pm
So in theory, you could get 10 points/dollar plus 5 points/dollar for using visa, then 10 points/dollar at the hotel and 5 points/dollar for platinum?
That's 30 points/dollar which is pretty sweet. This doesn't include the platinum bonus.
Might buy it for personal travel in addition to holiday gifts.
AX9465
Nov 4, 09, 5:56 pm
Does anyone know if UK Gift Certificates qualify for MegaBonus? There's no card involved so I can't see it would register as a Visa payment.
While we are here - does anyone knoe if UK Gift certificates ever expire?
AX
AX9465
Nov 4, 09, 6:05 pm
use promotion code MMF, get 10% extra for amount purchased
However, I think using this code will invalidate the points earning.
Too bad it doesnt work for vouchers.
AX
Counsellor
Nov 5, 09, 1:46 am
So in theory, you could get 10 points/dollar plus 5 points/dollar for using visa, then 10 points/dollar at the hotel and 5 points/dollar for platinum?
That's 30 points/dollar which is pretty sweet.
That's why some call it a "triple play". :D
doctor15
Nov 7, 09, 12:00 pm
Are these gift cards "Visa" branded? (IE will they count for the MegaBonus :))
cfischer
Nov 7, 09, 12:33 pm
Are these gift cards "Visa" branded? (IE will they count for the MegaBonus :))
yes
weld3z
Nov 8, 09, 2:09 pm
gifts.marriott.com say
A maximum of 25,000 Marriott Rewards Points may be earned per member !!
I say
any way to got more than 2500$ per member ?
i want to buy 5 each 1000 USD for 2010 woow if i can buy 5000$ its 50,000 points :confused:
then way they allow you to buy 9,999 !!!
inmomx3
Nov 8, 09, 4:52 pm
How long does shipping usually take for these? I've got a reservation for this coming weekend and would love to order some, but only if they only get here in time, without having to pay for expedited shipping (defeats the bonus, lol). I don't have any more paid nights planned in the near future, so don't want to order and have them sit around forever.
If they don't get here in time, anyone had experience in getting charges credited back to a credit/debit card and applied to a gift card AFTER the stay? The hotel we are staying at is right next to my office, so I could go back in after the gift cards get here (if not here by this weekend) and request a credit and pay w/ the gift cards, if that's possible.
Thanks!
rylan
Nov 10, 09, 8:53 am
Anyone know if the gift cards are treated like a VISA card? Didn't see a response to doctor's post above... I'd also want to make sure it works for th emegabonus if I use it.
I do know that the vacationcard is treated as a visa and you get megabonus credit for using it.
aaupgrade
Nov 10, 09, 9:35 am
Anyone know if the gift cards are treated like a VISA card? Didn't see a response to doctor's post above...
see post 18 :confused:
rylan
Nov 10, 09, 10:20 am
<- DUH guess I'm blind. lol Didn't see that post when I hit page down instead of scrolling.
Dan_E
Nov 10, 09, 8:30 pm
How long does shipping usually take for these?
USPS First Class $1.00 (7-10 Business Days)
Ground $5.75 (5-7 Business Days)
Express $17.25 (1-3 Business Days)
User Name
Nov 11, 09, 10:06 am
use promotion code MMF, get 10% extra for amount purchased
However, I think using this code will invalidate the points earning.
I didn't see anything in the Ts&Cs of either offer that would indicate that you couldn't get both.
rylan
Nov 11, 09, 1:47 pm
I ordered some gift cards under the promotion and using the MMF 10% bonus code, so we'll see what happens if I get MR credit.
cfischer
Nov 11, 09, 7:59 pm
USPS First Class $1.00 (7-10 Business Days)
Ground $5.75 (5-7 Business Days)
Express $17.25 (1-3 Business Days)
yeah, but watch out for processing delays! I ordered one last week Thursday, my CC was charged Friday and they shipped it Tuesday this week with a FedEx estimate of delivery next week Tuesday ... so 12 days total for me. If you live on the West coast it should be quicker.
rylan
Nov 12, 09, 8:07 am
Well see when mine arrives... ordered Tues, got a shipping confirmation email Wed via USPS so I'm expecting it to arrive by the weekend. 1 day processing seems fast to me. The previous time I ordered it took 2 days to process.
iwc
Nov 14, 09, 12:06 pm
Are these gift cards "Visa" branded? (IE will they count for the MegaBonus :))
I realize that the answer to this question was "yes" however I just received my gift card and nowhere does the Visa logo appear. I am worried about the stay counting for Mega Bonus.
As a side note ordered last Sunday, shipped USPS, received confirmation Tuesday night, postmarked Tuesday Salt Lake City, received Saturday in Florida.
bradcc
Nov 14, 09, 9:12 pm
I realize that the answer to this question was "yes" however I just received my gift card and nowhere does the Visa logo appear. I am worried about the stay counting for Mega Bonus.
As a side note ordered last Sunday, shipped USPS, received confirmation Tuesday night, postmarked Tuesday Salt Lake City, received Saturday in Florida.
I had the same concern too when I received my Marriot VacationCard that I bought through the Delta link. The gift card itself has no mention of VISA at all. In addition, the card number was only 15 digits instead of 16 digits that you would expect on a VISA card. However, I've used this card twice at checkout and the folio indicates that it was paid by VISA. And I received the megabonus for both of my stays. So I am pretty sure you'll be fine too. :cool:
Counsellor
Nov 21, 09, 1:48 pm
I had the same concern too when I received my Marriot VacationCard that I bought through the Delta link. The gift card itself has no mention of VISA at all. In addition, the card number was only 15 digits instead of 16 digits that you would expect on a VISA card. However, I've used this card twice at checkout and the folio indicates that it was paid by VISA. And I received the megabonus for both of my stays. So I am pretty sure you'll be fine too. :cool:
There is an implicit "4" at the beginning of the number when it's processed for payment at a Marriott property. That "4" sends it through the VISA system.
Some years back, the older machines used in some MArriotts didn't add the "4" automatically, and so that had to be done manually. If you search back then in this forum for "gift cards" you'll find occasional reference to this.
BrightlyBob
Nov 24, 09, 1:33 pm
Ok, I am confused... Have I got this right?
1. I buy the gift cards, they seem to be in denominations of £20, £50 or £100, getting 20 points per £.
2. When I spend them I get another 16 points per £ for the spend ($1.6 to £1) plus the 50% plat bonus making 24 points per £.
3. So total points per £ are the 20 points for buying the card and then 24 points per £ on redemption, making 44 points per £.
4. AND the purchase counts towards the megabonus, is that on purchase of the card, or just redemption? The earlier posts seem to indicate redemption bearing in mind IF there is a megabonus on at time of redemption...
5. Minor addition of 2 points per £ for paying via marriott visa, well every bit counts (Why, oh why dont we have the Chase card here in UK?)
6. Finally, they arrive as cheques in the UK, so I assume to get the Megabonus I'd need to leave a bit left over to pay with my Visa at checkout?
At 46 points per £ (20 at purchase plus the 2 points per £ Visa, 16 at redemption and the Plt bonus of 8 more) it seems a no-brainer, but also too good to be true, as I mostly get about 1p per point, it represents almost 50% back!!
As a matter of interest its equivalent to 29 points per $ and it is possible to get almost 4cents each point. This is equivalent to Marriott paying me to stay, as its a 110% credit...yes, that is 110%... Marriott "pay" me back more than I spend, as long as I spend it in Moscow on the pointsavers rebate promo. I did book the Moscow Grand for 5 nights, which after the 15% rebate would be 51,000 points. The hotel cash rate is 56,000Rubles, just short of $2000, a value of 3.8 cents per point!! How ticked am I that I had to cancel:(
So, have I got this right?
Smart Monkey
Nov 24, 09, 2:08 pm
Also you can get 5% back if you go thro' Quidco for purchasing the gift vouchers.
I know this is not points but it does change points to pound ratio.