Jul 26, 2016, 5:56 am
Last edit by: Jaenks
Post great vacation hotels worth saving certificates for. Include the State/Country and category and reason.
Canada
Residence Inn Montreal Westmount Category 4
Located right outside the busy downtown but a quick walk or train ride away. Right near shopping center.
Malaysia:
JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur Category 4
Great value for a JW, in the heart of the city and excellent service
Phu Quoc, Vietnam:
JW Phu Quoc - Cat 5 - beautiful beachfront resort with rates from $350-$650 ++/night
Bangkok, Thailand:
Three of the full service Marriott properties are Cat 5. All three have central locations and reputation for good elite recognition:
Florida:
Courtyard Fort Lauderdale East Category 5
One of the closest hotels to the beach that is available for cert use and has a free shuttle to take you to the beach
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles:
Renaissance, DT Willemstad. Category 5.
On an ocean harbor, not a swimmable beach, but in the center of the action for nightlife, also for NYE, Mardi Gras, etc. festivities.
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles:
Courtyard, Category 4!
Brand-new hotel. 5--10 minute walk inland from the ocean beach. It's the only major chain hotel on that island, so all other hotels are available only by paying real money.
Quito, Ecuador
JW Marriott, Category 5
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Renaissance São Paulo, Cat.5 Very good location,excellent quality of service,pre-confirmed suite upgrades,executive lounge F&B.
Canada
Residence Inn Montreal Westmount Category 4
Located right outside the busy downtown but a quick walk or train ride away. Right near shopping center.
Malaysia:
JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur Category 4
Great value for a JW, in the heart of the city and excellent service
Phu Quoc, Vietnam:
JW Phu Quoc - Cat 5 - beautiful beachfront resort with rates from $350-$650 ++/night
Bangkok, Thailand:
Three of the full service Marriott properties are Cat 5. All three have central locations and reputation for good elite recognition:
Renaissance Ratchaprasong
Marriott Suk 57
Marriott Marquis
USAMarriott Suk 57
Marriott Marquis
Florida:
Courtyard Fort Lauderdale East Category 5
One of the closest hotels to the beach that is available for cert use and has a free shuttle to take you to the beach
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles:
Renaissance, DT Willemstad. Category 5.
On an ocean harbor, not a swimmable beach, but in the center of the action for nightlife, also for NYE, Mardi Gras, etc. festivities.
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles:
Courtyard, Category 4!
Brand-new hotel. 5--10 minute walk inland from the ocean beach. It's the only major chain hotel on that island, so all other hotels are available only by paying real money.
Quito, Ecuador
JW Marriott, Category 5
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Renaissance São Paulo, Cat.5 Very good location,excellent quality of service,pre-confirmed suite upgrades,executive lounge F&B.
How are you using your Cat 1-4/5 certs?
Sep 26, 2016, 12:53 pm
#301
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Hilton Silver
Posts: 711
Oct 1, 2016, 8:42 pm
#302
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
I used a Cat-5 cert recently at the Fairfield Inn Ukiah, California. It's a Cat-4 property. The AAA rate was around $150/night when I booked a few weeks in advance and was in line with local competition. $150 seems like a good value for these certs nowadays.
Oct 15, 2016, 9:58 am
#303
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
Actually wished I had another cert recently.
Initially used one at the Residence Inn Annapolis, Category 4 and many weekend rates were well over $200. Typical RI but I got a nice upgrade to a 2 bedroom after initially calling the property to ask for a Pack N Play and inquiring about upgrade chances.
Then I was traveling from NJ to NC and around 11:30 PM realized we probably couldn't make it all the way, so thought a Fairfield Inn off the highway wouldn't be too many points.
Ended up staying at the Fairfield Inn Elkin/Jonesville NC. Cat 5 which I thought was a bit high but at least there are a few attractions around. It was a nice newer hotel with good service and they had probably the best decorations in the lobby of probably any Marriott property I've stayed in.
My initial choice was the FI Wytheville VA which was a Cat 4 (but they didn't have a Pack N Play available). I've actually stayed there before, and it's a typical FI, not one of the newer ones but not one of the older ones either. But it's basically the definition of a roadside hotel off the highway with not much nearby, and it's still a Cat 4? I guess Va Tech is in the vicinity but still 50 miles away. It that is a Cat 4, it makes me wonder how it's even possible to be a Cat 1-3...
Initially used one at the Residence Inn Annapolis, Category 4 and many weekend rates were well over $200. Typical RI but I got a nice upgrade to a 2 bedroom after initially calling the property to ask for a Pack N Play and inquiring about upgrade chances.
Then I was traveling from NJ to NC and around 11:30 PM realized we probably couldn't make it all the way, so thought a Fairfield Inn off the highway wouldn't be too many points.
Ended up staying at the Fairfield Inn Elkin/Jonesville NC. Cat 5 which I thought was a bit high but at least there are a few attractions around. It was a nice newer hotel with good service and they had probably the best decorations in the lobby of probably any Marriott property I've stayed in.
My initial choice was the FI Wytheville VA which was a Cat 4 (but they didn't have a Pack N Play available). I've actually stayed there before, and it's a typical FI, not one of the newer ones but not one of the older ones either. But it's basically the definition of a roadside hotel off the highway with not much nearby, and it's still a Cat 4? I guess Va Tech is in the vicinity but still 50 miles away. It that is a Cat 4, it makes me wonder how it's even possible to be a Cat 1-3...
Oct 16, 2016, 1:58 pm
#304
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SFO, SJC
Programs: UA MM /Gold ; AS MVP Gold; SWA A LIst and CP; HH Gold; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Plat Elite
Posts: 588
Marriott Calgary YYC airport in terminal hotel
Arrived late in Calgary. Was told roads were icy and a mess. Noticed the new Marriott signs at the airport. It had been open a month! Online cost CAD$254 plus tax. For us it was a great use of CAT 5 cert! Had dinner in the hotel restaurant - decent Asian fusion. Picked up the rental car next morning - easy 2 hour drive to our friends place.
Oct 16, 2016, 2:18 pm
#305
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,815
Arrived late in Calgary. Was told roads were icy and a mess. Noticed the new Marriott signs at the airport. It had been open a month! Online cost CAD$254 plus tax. For us it was a great use of CAT 5 cert! Had dinner in the hotel restaurant - decent Asian fusion. Picked up the rental car next morning - easy 2 hour drive to our friends place.
Was so happy they brought them back with the spring mega but unfortunately short lived when the fall mega came out.
Count me as one those big fans for these certificates.
Oct 16, 2016, 2:30 pm
#306
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: MR Platinum, Aer Lingus GC, BA Bronze, Turkish Classic Plus
Posts: 388
Used cert on a night in Victoria Falls Protea - was coming in at USD 250 although it is only a category 1. We're using points for rest of Namibia and Joberg airport Proteas as all quite pricy and 7500 points is coming in at good value.
Nov 5, 2016, 10:06 am
#310
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Was originally going to use at CY LGW as noted upthread. However, was able to put it to better use at the CY Charlotte City Center in December when I head there for a Panthers game.
A solid redemption given the refundable revenue rate is $316 and it's walking distance to BofA Stadium for the game.
A solid redemption given the refundable revenue rate is $316 and it's walking distance to BofA Stadium for the game.
Nov 17, 2016, 3:58 pm
#313
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,518
So I had one expiring next week. I messaged Marriott today via the website - contact us - email and asked if it could be extended. Two hours later, my old cert was cancelled and they had issued a new one expiring a year from today. ^
Nov 17, 2016, 11:19 pm
#314
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
The Caribbean island of Bonaire, next to Aruba & Curacao, has a brand-new Courtyard hotel, which is Cat. 4 
--Cat. 3 since Spring 2017! Also, the Renaissance of Curacao is Cat. 5 --Cat. 6 since Spring 2017.
--Cat. 3 since Spring 2017! Also, the Renaissance of Curacao is Cat. Last edited by Brendan; Aug 4, 2017 at 7:10 am Reason: Category changes.
Nov 18, 2016, 11:55 am
#315
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
I have found uses in the past, but not this year.
So I had one expiring next week. I messaged Marriott today via the website - contact us - email and asked if it could be extended. Two hours later, my old cert was cancelled and they had issued a new one expiring a year from today. ^
So I had one expiring next week. I messaged Marriott today via the website - contact us - email and asked if it could be extended. Two hours later, my old cert was cancelled and they had issued a new one expiring a year from today. ^