Marriott Rewards (including Ritz-Carlton) - 4 free night certs for 5 award nights?

Hi, 1st of all, very sorry if this has been answered before but I couldn't find any thread about it.

If I have collected 4 Megabonus cat1-4 free night certs and plan to use them all together for consecutive nights redemption at a same hotel, do I need 4 or 5 free night certs to redeem 5 award nights? Anybody tried this before?

Thanks a lot.

You need 5 for 5 nights. But you only need points for 4 nights to get 5th night free. At least that is my understanding. Try calling MR and book and see.

Thanks for your reply. Hopefully someone who have tried this before would give us some information. I'm considering either to accumulate my free night certs or to use 1 or 2 of them from time to time.

I think it only applies for points like iztok mentioned. Definitely won't hurt to contact MR reservations to confirm.

Dolpin,

I am almost positive the 5th night free only applies to points reservations and I will tell you why. From time to time, Category 5 hotels are on Pointsavers and effectively become equivalent to the regular Cat 4 properties for award points purposes e.g. 20,000 points for Cat 4 = 20,000 points for P/S Cat 5.

However, when I inquired whether I could use a Cat 4 Megabonus cert at a Cat 5 P/S hotel they researched that issue and they said no, even though they acknowledged that if I were using points, it would have cost 20,000 points.

Consequently, although it can be substituted for a Cat 4 points reservation on a day to day basis, it cannot be used for all items that may cost at one time or another 20,000 points. This leads me to conclude that they will view the reservation qualitatively differently than a points reservation and it is unlikely that they will permit you to do so.

Thanks a lot for your opinio,guys. Will try out and see what will happen.

the 5th night free promo is ONLY valid using points..............NJ is correct but I'll expound a little bit............. you need to have the same type of points for the 4-nights, either std or point stretcher (combos will not work)........ further, the 4 point nights need not be consecutive..........
Do I still get my 5th redemption night free with Cash + Points?
Every 5th redemption night is free when at least 5 nights are the same rate (either standard or PointSavers). The redemption nights do not need to be consecutive.
https://www.marriott.com/rewards/hotel-rewards/faq.mi


and there are several threads already on this topic with the same/similar response as herein if anyone actually ever read the R&Rs or FAQs........

Thanks a lot for your opinio,guys. Will try out and see what will happen.

Will try out and see what will happen.

Please let us know what you find.

fwiw, several others have asked the same question, have tried that same thing, and have had the result that numerous posters have already replied.

I was asking if I can use cat 4 certs on pointsaver stays and numerous FTer told me a big NO.

PLease report back Dolphin!

if you're asking if you can use a Cat 1-4 cert on a Cat 5 prop that is now on pointsaver (equivalent to a Cat 4) then the answer, previously stated by Marriott Conceirge is "no", but if you're asking if you can use a Cat 1-4 cert that is or will be a PS but is still a Cat 4 then the answer is YES

I was asking if I can use cat 4 certs on pointsaver stays and numerous FTer told me a big NO.

PLease report back Dolphin!

if you're asking if you can use a Cat 1-4 cert on a Cat 5 prop that is now on pointsaver (equivalent to a Cat 4) then the answer, previously stated by Marriott Conceirge is "no", but if you're asking if you can use a Cat 1-4 cert that is or will be a PS but is still a Cat 4 then the answer is YES

Sorry typo, I meant using a cat 4 cert on a cat 5 point saver.

I doubt that you can use 4 cat 4 certs and get the 5th night free.

previously answered by MC - (unfortunately and I fully understand your rational) but "no"

Sorry typo, I meant using a cat 4 cert on a cat 5 point saver.

the 5th night free promo is ONLY valid using points..............NJ is correct but I'll expound a little bit............. you need to have the same type of points for the 4-nights, either std or point stretcher (combos will not work)........ further, the 4 point nights need not be consecutive..........
Do I still get my 5th redemption night free with Cash + Points?
Every 5th redemption night is free when at least 5 nights are the same rate (either standard or PointSavers). The redemption nights do not need to be consecutive.
https://www.marriott.com/rewards/hotel-rewards/faq.mi


and there are several threads already on this topic with the same/similar response as herein if anyone actually ever read the R&Rs or FAQs........

BKKLEE,
What do you mean by nights need not be consecutive. Can you do two nights (checkout) two nights + free night? Therefore you will have two stays--1 for two nights and 1 for three nights.

first of all, since point stays, whether they be standard or point stretchers, don't qualify as stay credits (this is Marriott, not SPG, or similar) I don't get the gist of your question/comment.......

with the new weird C&P instituted recently, it was made easier to use points, say for 2-nights, followed by 1-night cash and then another 2-nights of points which will yield you another night "free".........the ONLY cavaet being the use of points must be consistent (all std or all stretcher, no combo).....

BKKLEE,
What do you mean by nights need not be consecutive. Can you do two nights (checkout) two nights + free night? Therefore you will have two stays--1 for two nights and 1 for three nights.

BKKLEE,
What do you mean by nights need not be consecutive. Can you do two nights (checkout) two nights + free night? Therefore you will have two stays--1 for two nights and 1 for three nights.

No, one stay. It's been reported you can stretch a point stay by paying for intervening nights, but as long as you are "on property" for consecutive nights you can choose which nights are points and which nights are cash. This is nice when there is a rate drop for the weekend. Unfortunately, the current version of Marriott's Cash & Points process does not let you use discount/corporate rates so you will need to work with a phone agent to set up your rez.

No, one stay. It's been reported you can stretch a point stay by paying for intervening nights, but as long as you are "on property" for consecutive nights you can choose which nights are points and which nights are cash. This is nice when there is a rate drop for the weekend. Unfortunately, the current version of Marriott's Cash & Points process does not let you use discount/corporate rates so you will need to work with a phone agent to set up your rez.

Ah....do you mean this scenario is possible?

Wed: Reward night 1
Thu: Reward night 2
Fri: Paid night
Sat: Paid night
Sun: Reward night 3
Mon: Reward night 4
Tue: Reward night - 5th night free

Spend points for 4 reward nights.

What if we change the scenario above slightly--by changing Fri to a Cash & Points paid night?

yes, provided that the 4 reward nights are all the same (either standard or point-saver)

why don't you open Marriott.com, put in the 7-nights, city/state/country and flip on C&P and try it for yourself...............

Ah....do you mean this scenario is possible?

Wed: Reward night 1
Thu: Reward night 2
Fri: Paid night
Sat: Paid night
Sun: Reward night 3
Mon: Reward night 4
Tue: Reward night - 5th night free

Spend points for 4 reward nights.

What if we change the scenario above slightly--by changing Fri to a Cash & Points paid night?

Ah....do you mean this scenario is possible?

Wed: Reward night 1
Thu: Reward night 2
Fri: Paid night
Sat: Paid night
Sun: Reward night 3
Mon: Reward night 4
Tue: Reward night - 5th night free

Spend points for 4 reward nights.

What if we change the scenario above slightly--by changing Fri to a Cash & Points paid night?

And there is the rub... People are confused by the MR Cash & Points "program" (it's not a reward). Under the program you are allowed to book a multiple night stay declaring some nights using points and some nights using cash, so "changing" Fri night to a C&P night is not possible. To make matters worse the paid nights during this booking process can not be any discounted/corporate rate.

But it is pretty easy to call and book a discounted rate together with points nights.