Marriott Rewards (including Ritz-Carlton) - Is there really a point in being Marriott Platinum?

I have now been Marriott Platinum for 2 years and in the same time have also been SPG Gold... and honestly think SPG treats their members much better. The option for late check out is usually only extended till 1pm and only very rarely till 2... with SPG I get 4pm checkout everytime!

Also, there are never any room upgrades, almost makes me wonder why I continue to stay with Marriott.

Is there really any point to staying Platinum with Marriott?

Yes there are, and if you do a search the topic's been asked many times & the reasons why it is have been outlined so no need to rehash it all again.

You're right on one thing though - Starwood has a better late check-out policy than Marriott.

Cheers.

As a Marriott and SPG Platinum for many years, both approaching lifetime PLT status, I believe there are various reasons to maintain status in both. If you have to choose one, your preference and stay patterns/locations dictate which is better. A 1pm checkout at a Marriott is better than a 4pm checkout 20+ miles away because there is no SPG property nearby, a not-uncommon occurrence.

Just different.

I have now been Marriott Platinum for 2 years and in the same time have also been SPG Gold... and honestly think SPG treats their members much better. The option for late check out is usually only extended till 1pm and only very rarely till 2... with SPG I get 4pm checkout everytime!

Also, there are never any room upgrades, almost makes me wonder why I continue to stay with Marriott.

Is there really any point to staying Platinum with Marriott?

Nope. No benefit at all. Much better to be King Kamehameha with Motel 6.

None whatsoever. I recommend you give SPG all your business.

I have never been denied a 2pm checkout at any Marriott property that I can recall.

Also I have asked (and been offered a few times at airport properties) for 4pm and been granted it a few times.

Actually, one of my pet peeves with SPG is that I have never, not once, been granted any late checkout at all. Even when I was platinum, the one time I asked for it I was told that it's not really a guarantee and that I had to check out on time because the hotel was full the next night.

Even though there's no late check-out "guarantee" with Marriott, I've had much better luck.

When I was a plat I was denied late checkout by the Pere Marquette in New Orleans.

My biggest beef lately is that Hilton seems to have way more properties than Marriott, especially where I seem to need to be lately.

Absolutely!!
- Guaranteed room when hotel sold out - used this benefit several time and it is very convenient when booking at the last minute.
- Lounge access and free breakfast - very convinient in US properties but especially in properties overseas as their breakfast is much better. Also, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the evening (some times even a full dinner buffet).
- 50% points bonus
- amenity gift

These are some of the benefits I really enjoy.

My biggest beef lately is that Hilton seems to have way more properties than Marriott, especially where I seem to need to be lately.

Well be sure to tell Marriott where you're going to be in the future so they can build or buy a property for you :p :D

Where I travel, there's usually a Marriott AND a Hilton property. There usually aren't Starwood or Hyatts at all, or if there are, there might be 1-2 & Marriott/Hilton will have 8-10.

Cheers.

Absolutely!!
- Guaranteed room when hotel sold out - used this benefit several time and it is very convenient when booking at the last minute.
- Lounge access and free breakfast - very convinient in US properties but especially in properties overseas as their breakfast is much better. Also, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the evening (some times even a full dinner buffet).
- 50% points bonus
- amenity gift

These are some of the benefits I really enjoy.

Yep. Not to beat a dead horse (and I do like Starwood in a lot of cases on a property-by-property basis), but the lack of guaranteed lounge access and free breakfast easily tip the scales when I have a choice of either Marriott FS or Sheraton/Westin. Downscale (Fairfield/Courtyard versus 4-Points) the difference isn't as great.

And so far as actual room upgrades are concerned, my percentage with Marriott as a Platinum is much higher than my percentage with Starwood as a Gold.

...but the lack of guaranteed lounge access and free breakfast easily tip the scales when I have a choice of either Marriott FS or Sheraton/Westin.

And so far as actual room upgrades are concerned, my percentage with Marriott as a Platinum is much higher than my percentage with Starwood as a Gold.First, I do like Marriott (and I'm a LT Plat with well more than 1000 nights in Marriotts.)

But I do want to make sure we give out correct info and are comparing the same things:


An SPG Plat is guaranteed lounge access (if the hotel has a lounge). (Though a smaller % of SPG hotels do have a lounge than FS Marriotts.)

An SPG Plat is guaranteed free breakfast at every hotel 7 days a week. Marriott used to have a winner on this, but Starwood leaped them.

Comparing Marriott's top tier status (Plat - 75 nights) to SPG's mid-tier status (10 stays or 25 nights) is not even close to an apples-to-apples comparison. I do believe most tend find that SPG's top tier (Plat - 25 stays or 50 nights) will tend to provide better upgrades than Marriott's top tier.

Now if you want to compare the mid-tier status on both, I'd agree that Marriott Gold blows SPG Gold out of the water. But for virtually the same amount of stays/nights, I could get SPG Plat rather than Marriott Gold.

Is there really any point to staying Platinum with Marriott?
I think you first need to figure out which benefits matter to you and which don't. Someone who needs hotels at the last minute in booked-up places may feel very differently than someone who never does.

Second, you need to figure out what the alternatives are for you. In other words, if focusing only on Marriott Gold as opposed to Marriott Platinum would allow you to get higher status in another hotel program, the question is not whether Marriott Platinum is worht it as much as whether the difference between Marriott Gold and Marriott Platinum for your needs is bigger or smaller than the difference between whatever status level you're getting elsewhere vs whatever status level you could get elsewhere with 25 more nights.

Finally, are you getting your Marriott nights the easiest way? If you're based in the US, by holding a "negative net annual fee" credit card you could have a "head start" of 15 nights:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milesbuzz/1271936-70k-points-1-night-no-fee-1st-yr-marriott-premier-visa.html

That doesn't change the absolute difference between Marriott Gold and Platinum (it's still a 25-night difference), but it does magnifiy it (it changes it from being 50 vs 75 nights to 35 vs 60 nights; ie, it makes a much bigger percentage dent in Gold than in Platinum.

My biggest complaint for everyday stays is the lack of benefits at Courtyard properties. I travel to a lot of smaller cities that don't have full service Marriott's and except for the Plat arrival bonus, I get little to any benefit during my actual stay. A free breakfast would be nice, but I know this has been discussed at length.

I do travel to Asia on occasion and even the Courtyard properties there blow away anything we have here stateside. Most of the Courtyards even have full lounges with food and alcohol complimentary.

My biggest problem is that I never want to use my free night certs as I barely cross the 75 night threshold every year and every night counts. I have a ton of unused points and ever expiring cat 1-4 certs from bonus promotions.

My biggest complaint for everyday stays is the lack of benefits at Courtyard properties.I agree that breakfast would be a nice elite benefit at CYs (note that SPG now offers free breakfast to their Plats at ALL Starwood hotels, 7 days a week.)

But I have to admit, so far this year I have a perfect record for suite upgrades at CYs. The key is to ask at check-in as I don't remember ever being "automatically" upgraded (which seem fair given suite upgrades aren't a guaranteed elite benefit.)

Absolutely!!
- Guaranteed room when hotel sold out - used this benefit several time and it is very convenient when booking at the last minute.
- Lounge access and free breakfast - very convinient in US properties but especially in properties overseas as their breakfast is much better. Also, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the evening (some times even a full dinner buffet).
- 50% points bonus
- amenity gift

These are some of the benefits I really enjoy.

But gold gets you the lounge / breakfast. The up to Plat gets you the extra mileage bonus and reservation guarantee, so the question is really whether that extra over gold is worth the benefit.

Someone said it right - preference and stay patterns determine. marriott works well for me.

But gold gets you the lounge / breakfast. The up to Plat gets you the extra mileage bonus and reservation guarantee, so the question is really whether that extra over gold is worth the benefit.

Someone said it right - preference and stay patterns determine. marriott works well for me.

Agreed. For my travels and last minute reservations, having the Platinum Override is essential when I need to stay near a convention center or at a trade show host hotel. Also the 50% points bonus is pretty worth is as well.

Absolutely!!
- Guaranteed room when hotel sold out - used this benefit several time and it is very convenient when booking at the last minute.
- Lounge access and free breakfast - very convinient in US properties but especially in properties overseas as their breakfast is much better. Also, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the evening (some times even a full dinner buffet).
- 50% points bonus
- amenity gift

These are some of the benefits I really enjoy.

I receive upgrades regularly when staying at Marriott Hotels, or J. W. Marriott Hotels. As for the sold out guarantee I suppose that happens. However, at a Marriott Courtyard in the New Orleans area I am been refused booking four time since January 1. That is at the discretion of that facility manager, but Marriott allows him to do it.

However, at a Marriott Courtyard in the New Orleans area I am been refused booking four time since January 1. That is at the discretion of that facility manager, but Marriott allows him to do it.I never talk with anyone to use the Plat Room guarantee. I make the reservation online.

My understanding is that the local hotel has virtually no control over allowing or not allowing the Plat guaranteed room. The only thing they can do is to petition Marriott with an exemption "event" where the whole hotel has been reserved by the "event" in question. If it is approved, then Marriott itself, not the hotel, will not allow a Plat reservation overide.

I receive upgrades regularly when staying at Marriott Hotels, or J. W. Marriott Hotels. As for the sold out guarantee I suppose that happens. However, at a Marriott Courtyard in the New Orleans area I am been refused booking four time since January 1. That is at the discretion of that facility manager, but Marriott allows him to do it.

Sometimes they said this is upgraded room. But for me, if they cannot upgrade to suite, it is not upgraded since I have a 5 years old kid.

But for me, if they cannot upgrade to suite, it is not upgraded since I have a 5 years old kid.

Since suites are not guaranteed upgrades, any room above what you booked can be considered an upgrade, regardless of your personal viewpoint of not receiving an upgrade because it's not a suite.

BTW - multiple FTers have children with whom they travel. Not sure they buy into your theory of only a suite upgrade is considered an upgrade. ;)

The up to Plat gets you the extra mileage bonus and reservation guarantee, so the question is really whether that extra over gold is worth the benefi
In that case, I decided it wasn't worth it so I'm holding still with Marriott and Hilton Gold on both. Hilton Diamond gives the reservation guarantee and alleged suite upgrades but I haven't sniffed one this year. On that front, the reservation guarantee is worthless for me as I book thru a work vendor and they don't take this into account at all. I can't book rooms outside of the company plan so the benefit is of no good to me.

Sometimes they said this is upgraded room. But for me, if they cannot upgrade to suite, it is not upgraded since I have a 5 years old kid.

It is upgraded; it's just not enough upgraded for you. There's a difference, upgraded means you got a better room in some way, not necessarily a useful way, than you reserved.

No program gives guarnateed suite upgrades on every stay. The best you can hope for is a limited number of confirmable upgrades, but still very few programs (maybe SPG if you do a zillion nights, not stays?) have even that much on paid stays. Some programs lets you reserve a suite for extra points on an award stay, but that doesn't help if you need to do a paid stay (and at any rate, the price in points may not always be so great).

My suggestion for someone who absolutely needs suites: Choose all-suites brands (or subrands, in the Marriott Suites case). Getting the kind of suite you want at them can be simpler (and actually less expensive often) than trying/hoping for a suite upgrade in a mostly-not-suites hotel (but then all too often not getting it, and being stuck with something insufficient for your needs). And Marriott has several of these (though not all of the "Suites" brands have mostly two-totally-separate-rooms suites, so research which of the "Suites" brands or sub-brands do exactly what if it matters to you). Some of them include (I'm not sure if I remember every last one): Marriott Suites, Springhill Suites, Townplace Suites.

Just out of curiosity, has there ever been a Marriott thread that someone didn't bring up SPG?

As for the OP's question. I think that Platinum has plenty of benefits, but it varies by location and brand. By making to Platinum, I would think you understand the benefits by now or you wouldn't have spent so much time in Marriott beds. My favorite benefits are the extra points, C-lounge, and arrival gifts at resorts (some are really nice).

I don't worry about the upgrade to a suite or the late checkout. I just don't have a regular need for either.

Hope you have better luck in the future...

Happy Travels!

Absolutely!!
- Guaranteed room when hotel sold out - used this benefit several time and it is very convenient when booking at the last minute.

Can this also be used for Reward stays?
(I've Diamond-Forced reward stays with Hilton, not sure if Marriott is the same.)

The website is telling me a property is unavailable for a reward in a few weeks' time, is it simply that the website isn't clever enough to recognise my Platinum status?

Can this also be used for Reward stays?
(I've Diamond-Forced reward stays with Hilton, not sure if Marriott is the same.)No. The 48 hour room reservation guarantee does not apply to award availability.

SPG - 992 hotels

Marriott - 3700 hotels

Easy choice for me as Marriott has a hotel in all the cities I travel to. SPG not so much.

I use Hyatt as my secondary choice of hotel.

I always find it very funny when someone brings up how much better another programs benefits are in one of these threads, and when you go to the forum for that program you may find the very same poster complaining about how poor the benefits are in that program. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.:rolleyes:

I receive upgrades regularly when staying at Marriott Hotels, or J. W. Marriott Hotels. As for the sold out guarantee I suppose that happens. However, at a Marriott Courtyard in the New Orleans area I am been refused booking four time since January 1. That is at the discretion of that facility manager, but Marriott allows him to do it.

Have you talked to the elite line.
One the few times I could not book online, one call was all it took.

SPG - 992 hotels

Marriott - 3700 hotels

Easy choice for me as Marriott has a hotel in all the cities I travel to. SPG not so much.

I use Hyatt as my secondary choice of hotel.
And Hyatt has how many hotels??? :confused: :confused: :confused:

I don't understand why you make a point about SPG having way fewer hotels total than Marriott, if you then turn around and say Hyatt (which has even way fewer hotels total than SPG) is your second choice instead of SPG!

While written benefits may not differ significantly on paper, I've found that the treatment I've received while Platinum far supersedes that when I was Gold

IMO, that depends on the individual property (ie. as a plat, I've never received any upgrade at the JW Phuket, but as a former gold, I, along with others reporting on their stays, were upgraded to a private pool villa at neighboring Reniassance Phuket)

While written benefits may not differ significantly on paper, I've found that the treatment I've received while Platinum far supersedes that when I was Gold

Absolutely!!
- Guaranteed room when hotel sold out - used this benefit several time and it is very convenient when booking at the last minute.
- Lounge access and free breakfast - very convinient in US properties but especially in properties overseas as their breakfast is much better. Also, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the evening (some times even a full dinner buffet).
- 50% points bonus
- amenity gift

These are some of the benefits I really enjoy.

Really? I just tried to book Sydney Marriott Circular Quay for New Years Eve this year. No luck. And yes, I'm a Marriott plat.

I think you'll find that NYE is considered a special event and the 48-hr guarantee for plats won't be applicable................ that being said, have you tried seeing if bookings for more then 1-night is available as at certain times rooms are available over holidays if the res is more then 2+ days...............

Really? I just tried to book Sydney Marriott Circular Quay for New Years Eve this year. No luck. And yes, I'm a Marriott plat.

Really? I just tried to book Sydney Marriott Circular Quay for New Years Eve this year. No luck. And yes, I'm a Marriott plat.It looks like there is a 3 night minimum. Use the "My dates are flexible search" and you should be able to find a 3 night stay or longer for over NYE. Rates are $549/nt.

I think you'll find that NYE is considered a special event and the 48-hr guarantee for plats won't be applicable................ that being said, have you tried seeing if bookings for more then 1-night is available as at certain times rooms are available over holidays if the res is more then 2+ days...............

When NYE, which occurs everywhere in the world, is a 'special event', there's a problem with the plat guarantee.

It looks like there is a 3 night minimum. Use the "My dates are flexible search" and you should be able to find a 3 night stay or longer for over NYE. Rates are $549/nt.

I was looking for a 5 night stay but the 'my dates are flexible' worked. Thanks for the tip. ^

I was looking for a 5 night stay but the 'my dates are flexible' worked. Thanks for the tip. ^You're welcome. Enjoy! I was there for NYE 2010/11 and it was awesome.

NYE private venues (restaurants, dinner cruises, etc) run $500 and up per person. We did Cafe Sydney which was awesome and I highly recommend it. Bookings should have opened on July 1. Request outside if it's still available. Capt cook cruises, Opera Bar, Sebel Hotel (but it is right under the bridge so not the best location IMO since the bridge is what you want to see and looking straight up isn't this best view) are a couple other options. There are many more to choose from, do some research.

NYE public venues start filling up midday. If you choose this option bring plenty of sunscreen, umbrella and drink lots of water because it will be a long day.

Exec lounge closes at 9 PM on NYE but they do have an awesome spread that evening.

While written benefits may not differ significantly on paper, I've found that the treatment I've received while Platinum far supersedes that when I was Gold

IMO, that depends on the individual property (ie. as a plat, I've never received any upgrade at the JW Phuket, but as a former gold, I, along with others reporting on their stays, were upgraded to a private pool villa at neighboring Reniassance Phuket)

Depends not only on specific properties - but what one's definition of "special treatment" happens to be. I have found the biggest bennies to being Plat happen when I have an issue - due to a funeral, job issue or whatever. It isn't usually a "thing", but a service provided.

SPG - 992 hotels

Marriott - 3700 hotels

Easy choice for me as Marriott has a hotel in all the cities I travel to. SPG not so much.

I use Hyatt as my secondary choice of hotel.

Actually Starwood has 1105 hotels with 45 more new hotels coming this year. Having more hotels means very little--where they are located and the quality/value of the properties matters much more. If I need to go to small town Ohio, I would have a lot of choice with Marriott. If I go to the Greek Islands, I would have no choice to stay with Marriott. Since I have no reason to ever stay at any of the 108 Marriott properties in Ohio, this plethora of properties is of no attraction to me. Now if I aspire to go to Crete, Santorini, Rhodes, or Mykonos Starwood is a clear choice.

Depending on travel patterns, different programs/hotel chains work for different people. Number of hotels is not the only reason to choose a program--especially if most of them are in places one never has a need/desire to go.

And Hyatt has how many hotels??? :confused: :confused: :confused:

I don't understand why you make a point about SPG having way fewer hotels total than Marriott, if you then turn around and say Hyatt (which has even way fewer hotels total than SPG) is your second choice instead of SPG!

Second choice was probably a bad choice of words. My company is based in Madison, WI and they shack us up at the Hyatt Place when we come in for meetings. About 12-14 nights per year and I qualify for Platinum.

I am just about 100% Marriotts elsewhere except the occasional Grand Hyatt in Seattle if they have a good rate (4-6 nights per year). I have their CC and use it at their hotels to earn some free nights per year with the stays.

Depending on travel patterns, different programs/hotel chains work for different people. Number of hotels is not the only reason to choose a program--especially if most of them are in places one never has a need/desire to go.

A valid point.

Cheers.

I work to keep it primarily for the bonus points, and the occasional upgrade.

.Depending on travel patterns, different programs/hotel chains work for different people. Number of hotels is not the only reason to choose a program--especially if most of them are in places one never has a need/desire to go.

A case in point is Club Carlson. I have a bunch of Club Carlson points and was going to use some for a couple of nights in downtown Chicago for my daughter. Club Carlson has 20 hotels listed but only one in downtown Chicago. And that one, Radisson Blu, is not taking points for the weekend I was looking at.

I have now been Marriott Platinum for 2 years and in the same time have also been SPG Gold... and honestly think SPG treats their members much better. The option for late check out is usually only extended till 1pm and only very rarely till 2... with SPG I get 4pm checkout everytime!

Also, there are never any room upgrades, almost makes me wonder why I continue to stay with Marriott.

Is there really any point to staying Platinum with Marriott?

My experience is the exact opposite. When I fell to Gold on SPG I was shocked at how little I get. (Late check out does nothing for me so...)

Marriott works better for me because I tend to travel to towns which apparently are "beneath" Starwood's interest... (Abiliene, TX for example LOL!)

SPG - 992 hotels

Marriott - 3700 hotels

Easy choice for me as Marriott has a hotel in all the cities I travel to. SPG not so much.

I use Hyatt as my secondary choice of hotel.

Me too. Marriott has a lot of choices/hotels available. I have had the best service experience at Hyatt.