Originally Posted by SkiAdcock

FYI in case you jr1202sr (and others) didn't know it - it's really hard to respond to a quote when you embed your answer within the quote you're responding to. My response orginally to yours was to your 1-liner after your quote stuff. So I separated out the rest below.

Re: your asking for examples re: properties that charge more/less in exec lounge. Doesn't happen often, but it does. Re: which properties. I can't remember but don't really care. Speaking only for myself, it's the least most important thing when it comes to booking a hotel that I think of. If it's important to you, my recommendation is - start a thread saying which lounges charge more than bars. It's FT. You'll get responses, and then you can avoid those properties.

"I am speaking of misleading advertising towards Platinum members (NOT the average customer) You are promised an upgrade to the next best room if available. So all this marriott does is put some qtips in a bowl and say they complied with their pledge. How hard would it be to add a minibar or nicer towels? Back to the point-This hotel is simply one of the worst out there. Count how many non airport FS Marriotts are catergory 3. That says it all. How can they defend not having a safe in the room at a business hotel in the middle of the business district?"

As a fellow Plat, I disagree w/ the misleading advertising comment. Marriott says the next best room - that could be an ocean view, exec level, etc. Exec rooms get exec lounge access - which is a biggie, and let's face it, those 'average customers' are actually paying for it vs hoping for an upgrade like most Golds/Plats - plus some extra stuff like qtips/cotton/bathrobes/slippers. If you get anything other than a standard room, then yes Marriott has fulfilled its promise to both Golds & Plats. No misleading advertising.

Heck I don't always defend Marriott & will diss them when it's needed, but if you're going to diss them on this, then you better be ready to axe out all the other chains that do the exact same thing.

Re: how hard to add a minibar, etc. Many exec level rooms (and reg rooms) have them, although not all. I stay clear of mini-bars due to the mark-up. Nicer towels. Seriously? It's a regular hotel chain, not the Ritz. In-room safes. I find that to be hit or miss, depending on when the property was updated. I do agree w/ you that more hotels should do them, but I also say that of non-Marriott hotel chains too. It's not specific to Marriott.

I'd say you're going to be disappointed w/ the other chains because all the defects you just mentioned re: Marriott are also true of other hotel chains.

Re: the hotel you mention being the worst. I'll take your word for it, and will avoid the property.

Re: Cat 3, we already know most Cats are a combination of award stays plus location, etc. It does not surprise me at all that an airport property in any city is a lower cat than a downtown property. Again, that's true of multiple chains.

Cheers