gwade

I have attempted a few searches, but not found an answer. I am falling 2 night short of Platinum this year. If I make a reservation at a local hotel near me (or elsewhere if it is cost prohibitive), is there a way to get elite nights without physically staying? I would think if you pay for the entire bill you should be entitled to the nights, but I would also think you need to "check in" to ensure they don't cancel your reservation. Any thoughts on how to easily obtain 2 more nights?

BKKLEE

Repeatedly asked and answered in MANY threads - if you do not phydically checkin (evn if you immediately checkout) NO points and NO stay credits per T&Cs....

CPRich

You do need to "check in" but you don't need to "physically stay". The general advice is to check in, go to the room, jump on the bed and move the sheets around, and leave.

CJKatl

Check with MR, though, before doing this. If you have been PM for the past few years, they may renew your status without your having to pay for nights you really don't need. They did that for me the one year I was a couple nights short and others have reported similar treatment.

SacTownGuy

I don't think you need to actually move the sheets around. I don't think the maid will report to Mr. Marriott if you didn't actually use the room. Lol.

CPRich

No, probably not. But if you're already at the property, you might as well have some fun.

Nikolaos

Moving the sheets is all the fun!!

Nikolaos

Seriously now, I had a case that I didn't move the sheets (in another chain) and I didn't get the credit, because housekeeping reported the room as unused!!

FLgrr

The room needs to look used, so muss up the bed, drop a towel on the bathroom floor, take the toilet paper home

I did once have housekeeping report I had left and was not using the room at a time I was checked in for 2 or 3 nights at a local hotel. After that, I messed up the room a little to make it look lived in. Never had the problem again.

SacTownGuy

BS.

SkiAdcock

Well given the post directly above yours had the same experience as the other one, I wouldn't call it BS.

I've heard of it happening, so the few times I've done a local check-in for a promo I've used the towels or mussed the sheets to avoid the situation. Only takes a few seconds to do.

Cheers.

hhoope01

I agree. It may not happen every time (or even often), but I could see a hotel doing it. And since it takes very little effort to make the room look "used", why not quickly do that?

TrojanHorse

Here is my story

I needed a night and I needed a place to park at IAD as I was doing a same day turn. I booked a BOGO (yeah back then) so had two nights. I checked in, told them I had a car (before they put the hang tags in the cars) and then took the shuttle to IAD. I had my keys in my pocket but never went to the room. I think I went to the CL first though to get a soda

anyway, I did my MR and had MX on the return so I had to overnight at my turn point. I came back the next afternoon and dumped my stuff in my car. I decided I wanted to get a soda in the CL and then said, let me go see my room. I get there and my key didn't work. I go to the front desk and they said that because I never used the room (I guess housekeeping told them that morning) they re-sold the room.

I told them what I was doing and they gave me another room. I didn't use that one either but I did mess this one up.

So when time comes to see if my points posted, of course none did. It took me a long time to battle with MR to get that night to post. Although MR had no problems charging my CC for the first night.

ever since then, I've pretty much gone in and torn up the bed, threw towels on the floor, run the shower to get it wet etc

Eujeanie

I don't see the point in not messing up the bed. Do you seriously think that if the bed "looks" made they won't change the sheets for the next person? Yuck, what an awful thought. What if the room was used by some O/C who just likes to make his own bed?

TrojanHorse

So with that double negative, I presume you are saying you mess up the bed?