I don't have any great issue with Marriott deciding that they have to raise the rates for point redemption.

I personally could care less about the stay anytime vs. no blackout dates...there will be blackout dates and we all know it. Personally I have experienced times where there were no regular rates available at a hotel but there was always another one close enough to choose.

I don't understand what is so special about 5 nights? MC, Why did Marriott decide to remove the sliding scale for night redemption (it was something I personally really liked, and along with the travel package was an influencer in moving more stays to Marriott and making platinum this year). Personally I have a tough time remembering when I made a five night stay for myself...lots of five night stays for business but certainly not for holidays or personal travel.

I also agree with the other posters asking for the travel package to be available for the 5 night stays since that seems to be the new standard, keeping the miles at the 1-1 ratio.

Anyways, inflation elsewhere means inflation at Marriott - no problem. But I honestly don't follow what is special about 5 night award stays. And I think you need to figure out how to make the travel package work for 5 nights. I'm not switching from Marriott, but two of the biggest "attractions" to the program were the sliding scale and the travel package. I do appreciate the move from 30 bonus points to 50 bonus points.

The only other question I have is will the change in bonus points impact the Marriott promotions that get run in 2009?

Regards