Originally Posted by
birdseye
First of all, there are no Marriott properties in Munich....
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...arriott-hotel/ ??
Originally Posted by
redtop43
Consider using Priceline for hotels.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onlin...ng-primer.html. You will save quite a bit. You might be able to use your points for some nights but based on what you said, you probably can't get more than a few nights total. Even with your current Marriott points plus new credit cards, at 40K points/night you won't get a lot of nights at properties you want to be at.
I know you said you are maxed out on Chase, which is unfortunate. The Chase Hyatt card gives 2 free nights at any Hyatt, and the Sapphire Preferred gives 40K points, which when transferred to Hyatt gives basically 2 more nights. So just on signup bonuses you could pretty much get 8 nights at any Hyatt. (Highest Hyatt award is 22K points/night.)
I already have the Sapphire Preferred (and used a few of those points to up the class on our flights). I am likely going to cancel the Marriott card (and likely another Chase card) after 6 months and could probably get the Hyatt at that point.
I realize the hotels will likely be the hardest part, hence my doing the flights first. Easy part done, now its crunch time. I'm not opposed to spending money, I would just rather avoid it if I can.
We're not really looking into super-luxurious suites or anything like that, just a reasonable room.