I'd like some advice from someone who's made an award reservation here. I tried to make one for May. I noticed online it mentioned 'service charge not included'. I asked the agent what that would be. Took a while and they said it's 10% of the regular room rate during my stay, or $25. OK, I can handle that.

Then I asked for deposit amount. They said the required deposit is *three days* on all stays, even award stays, at the regular rate of $250 a night. If I don't 'use' it then it gets refunded at the end of the stay. That sounded ridiculous but she said that's what a supervisor told her. That's a total of $750 the hotel wants to hold onto even for an award stay!

And here I was complaining about the Hawaii Marriott's requiring a $50 deposit..

Has anyone made an award reservation recently for the Aruba Marriott? Did you have to put down three nights stay even on an award reservation?

EDIT: I followed up with Marriott and they said their agent made a mistake.. but the award deposit is $250. Still kinda high but not ridiculous like before.

[This message has been edited by pitflyer (edited 03-22-2002).]