rrgg

Is there an easy way to determine if a CY has a lounge available to Gold/Plat other than calling each hotel? I don't see a list other than the list of which lounges are closed on weekends. Thanks.

hhoope01

The 2 sticky threads listing hotels with open/closed lounges is probably the best place to look. I don't think Marriott's website will let you search based on whether a hotel has a lounge or not (though you can search just certain hotel brands).

If you go to http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...-weekends.html and do a search for "Courtyard", you should find almost 60 hits. While that may not hit every single CY outside NA that has a lounge, I'm betting its a majority of them.

danger

It maybe easier to go to the hotel's individual listing on the Marriott website and have a look at their rooms. If you see a type of room with executive lounge or similar, you'll have your answer.

Nazdoom

I usually just ask Marriott Rewards directly. They told me they can see it.

Robl

Probably posting in the wrong thread but here's my story. My wife and I pooled over 300k points in 2015 for a trip through Italy. I developed a severe health issue and we had to cancel the trip. All points were refunded and fortunately I'm well now. I fully realize there is ongoing devaluation of rewards programs. However, when I try rebooking my trip at hotels like the Grand Hotel Flora in Rome it not only requires 45,000 points but also 200 Euro a night! The Boscolo Venezia is 45,000 points AND 350 EURO PER NIGHT. How on earth is this considered an award stay?? I wan't in a coma for 2 years, when did this happen?

hhoope01

Most likely what you are seeing is the hotel doesn't have any standard rooms available for awards during the times you are looking. What you are seeing is the base award cost for your stay (for a standard room) plus a "per night" charge for an upgraded room (i.e. better view, corner, balcony, larger, etc.)

And note that it isn't unusual for a resort(ish) type hotel to run out of standard room award inventory well before they do the awards for the upgraded room. This is because most Gold/Plats know they have a good chance at a free upgrade during check-in. So why pay for the upgrade with extra cash or points?

If this is the case, that means you can either pay the extra "upgrade" fee or look for different award dates.

NA-Flyer

Does Marriott do a sale on MR points purchase?

ChrisFlyer66

If a friend uses his/her 7-night certificate to book a stay for me, but isn't staying there with me, will I enjoy the status benefits based on my friend's account status? or my own status? Or no status benefits?

I've heard using your 7-night cert (from nights and flights) to book a room for someone else is allowed, but someone please correct me if that isn't the case.

hhoope01

Yes, it is allowed, but technically the person who ordered the award will need to call Marriott to get it attached to your reservation (i.e. the non-elite person).

As for whether or not you will get their elite status benefits, technically you shouldn't. But if the reservation is made in there name and your name is added to the reservation, you may well get the elite benefits. But beware of going down that path, it is possible a particular hotel might not let your friend check in until the elite person shows up which could be very inconvenient. I don't think this happens very often in the US, but in other parts of the world where they ask for your passport when you check-in, this might be more of a problem.

So the safest route would be to have the elite person who ordered the TP award call Marriott and make the reservation specifically for the non-elite person. It is much more likely that no elite status recognition will occur this way, but they won't have to worry that the hotel might not let them check-in either.

ChrisFlyer66

Thanks. But if I am elite, and the person booking the reservation makes the reservation specifically for me, then will I get my elite benefits? My status is actually higher than the person redeeming the certificate for me.

hhoope01

Then I'd suggest your friend make the reservation in your name and ask a Marriott Customer Service agent to attach the cert to the reservation. You should be able to go in an add your MR# to the reservation, but even if you don't, just show them your MR elite card and the check-in agent can add it then.

MasterGeek

Can I earn Gold or Platinum status solelythrough award night stays ?

hhoope01

I don't know of any stated requirement that X% of nights be paid/cash versus any other type of acquired nights. So I guess it should be possible if you have enough points to stay the required # of nights. And between potential roll-over nights and/or CC nights, maybe you don't need that many nights after all.

DrRodneyMcKay

So I could have sworn that gold status required 25 nights, but I just checked and it's 50. Did they change the requirement recently and I missed it?

UpgradeMe

No.