The Marriott Grand Cayman charges a $200 deposit for an award stay....the deposit is charged to your credit card as soon as the reservation is completed (as did the Maui Marriott with their $50 deposit), and the Grand Cayman location does not even inform you of the deposit when booking on their website. The only clue was when I finished the booking process and the site read "your credit card has been charged the appropriate deposit".

I then called Marriott to question this. They told me that it is up to each individual resort to set the deposit requirements, if any. I informed the rep that I felt $200 was an excessive deposit for an award stay that was going to take place a year from now. She stated that, on regular paid reservations, they require a 2 night deposit. She said the deposit requirement would not be waived for a Platinum Elite member using an award. I then cancelled my reservation.

Hilton, I understand, takes no deposit for their award stays.