Marriott Rewards (including Ritz-Carlton) - New to Marriott Rewards, and a few questions

Hello,

I have a few questions about how usefull/flexible the Mariott Rewards program is. I'm brand new to the program (today), but I'm not new to loyalty programs - I'm pretty heavily vested in Alaska's Mileage Plan and the Starwood Preferred Guest program.

I'm mainly interested in the Mariott program because of it's management of the new Cosmopolitan property in Las Vegas. I was hoping that the Mariott program would have a 1:1 transfer through its own site or threw a third party where points can be transfered for use in a different program (which I've really enjoyed with AA/SPG).

While Mariott appears to give points to airline programs, there doesn't appear to be any other way of adding points for rewards other than 1) staying in the hotel 2) opening up a credit card 3) piecemeal purchases through skymall and periodic offers for new cell phone contracts.

I've done a little sluething on what's a great way to "ramp" up the bonus points in the program, but nothing really seems worth taking the plunge.

What do (all of you) recommend? Are there programs in place to exchange points, or is the Mariott program based on old fashioned, hard loyalty? Any suggestions are helpful!

While Mariott appears to give points to airline programs, there doesn't appear to be any other way of adding points for rewards other than 1) staying in the hotel 2) opening up a credit card 3) piecemeal purchases through skymall and periodic offers for new cell phone contracts.

I was hoping that the Mariott program would have a 1:1 transfer through its own site or threw a third party where points can be transfered for use in a different program (which I've really enjoyed with AA/SPG).



If I am understanding your question correctly, greener_007--you want to know if there is an "efficient" way of transferring MR points into frequent flyer miles.

If that is what you need to know--let me suggest what I believe is BY FAR the best deal out there. It's the travel package, which enables standard amounts of MR points for seven nights hotel PLUS using an additional amount of points transferred into almost any frequent flyer program at a ratio of close to 1:1 (I believe it is closer t 1.1:1 now).

So a level five travel award would be (a) 100K for five nights (25K/night plus fifth night free) and (b) an additional 50K points for additional two nights--that comprises the hotel portion. Total redemption requirement is 150K MR points,

Let's say you want an additional 120K frequent flyer miles transferred to American. When redeeming the travel package, remember I said the MR points needed for frequent flyer miles is close to a 1"1 ratio? So you just add an additional 120K MR points to your total redemption.

Bottom line: It would cost you close to 270K Marriott points for seven nights at a level 5 PLUS an additional 120K frequent flyer miles for most airline programs (150K for hotel portion and another 120K for the frequent flyer mile component).

When my husband (well, "we") joined Marriott Rewards, it was at a time when he was starting to travel a lot for his work, as well as we bought a Marriott timeshare. He only stays in Marriott properties, as they are the most convenient for the job sites.

I also have SPG, and enjoy the transfer bonus to airlines, as well as using the points for an occasional hotel stay.

Marriott is really only best if you are going to be doing a lot of stays at Marriott properties. My husband is platinum, so he gets the 50% bonus on points (and has almost 800,000 now since joining 2 1/2 years ago). We're saving them for a family vacation next year - still can't decide where to go.

I don't know if Marriott will be right for you. You can't transfer 1:1 to airlines like SPG (yes, the travel package is the only way to do that). As a platinum we can use 135,000 points for $1000 in Marriott gift cards, but I don't think that is the same for non-plat. If it's just one property you're interested in, then unless you're staying there frequently, it may be worth it to keep your loyalty with SPG. If you are going to stay there a LOT then it's also definitely worth it to get the Marriott Visa card as well. I doubt there is one Marriott elite member that doesn't use it!

I've been a member for 10 years and am Platinum Premier. From my experience, you waste alot if you try and convert MR points to Miles. The travel package that is mentioned above is a very good deal if you can rack up 300,000 points or so to cash it in and includes 7 hotel nights, 120,000 miles and rental car discount. My wife and I have used this a few times and have got round trip tix to Europe and Asia plus hotel paid for with the packages. I really like the program because of the vast amount of options you have to use points. We've used them for free cruises to the Mediterranean and Nova Scotia and have also used them for a free plasma wide screen.

If you are staying pretty frequently, you can rack up points very quickly with elite bonus, megabonus promotion and using the credit cards. If you aren't staying there very frequently, you might look into Hilton's program that lets you "double dip" for miles. I'm not real familiar with this, but have heard other colleagues who like the program.

Thanks everyone!

It appears that Marriott's program is better suited to those that travel regularly (work, etc). For myself, I'm a fairly active leisure traveler, never for business, so Marriott may not be the way to go, and I should stick with SPG.

Still, it's hard not to be tempted with the Marriott program with that beautiful Cosmopolitan property on the Strip!

If you are going to stay there a LOT then it's also definitely worth it to get the Marriott Visa card as well. I doubt there is one Marriott elite member that doesn't use it!

If only it was available to us non-Americans... :(;)

Thanks everyone!

It appears that Marriott's program is better suited to those that travel regularly (work, etc). For myself, I'm a fairly active leisure traveler, never for business, so Marriott may not be the way to go, and I should stick with SPG.

Still, it's hard not to be tempted with the Marriott program with that beautiful Cosmopolitan property on the Strip!

I'm not even sure this makes that much of a difference. IMO, spending points here is not a great value, as it's a category 7 property (35,000 points/ night). With the rates you can generally get in Vegas, even for nicer strip hotels, it's probably not worth shelling out that many points. It would be nice to earn points while there (on a paid stay), but you could do that even if Marriott isn't your primary program.

I'm not even sure this makes that much of a difference. IMO, spending points here is not a great value, as it's a category 7 property (35,000 points/ night). With the rates you can generally get in Vegas, even for nicer strip hotels, it's probably not worth shelling out that many points. It would be nice to earn points while there (on a paid stay), but you could do that even if Marriott isn't your primary program.

Yeah, I agree with that Vegas sentiment.

I stayed at the Renaissance in Vegas one time, and it made sense.....just meeting a family member who was staying on The Strip, used my free Visa night and got a stupidly low LPR rate for the second night (was a few years ago, think it was $59). I knew I was going to be out for the entire day walking around, and I just really needed a place to crash, plus the free breakfast in the lounge was nice, and was all I needed from the hotel. The Renaissance suited me just fine in that case.

But if you want to have the Vegas "experience," you really would be much better off at one of the hotels on The Strip, such as the Venetian or Wynn.