FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - First Marriott stay! Help needed with points please.

Feb 12, 2013 | 8:40 pm

#2

BKKLEE

Suspended

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: Thailand

Programs: Marriott - P; HH - G; Hyatt - P; Avis - LT First

Posts: 5,023

since the Ren is literally only 1 block from the CY, and you can still get 5 nights (w last 1 w/o charge) when you redeem 4-nights points (80k) and is still a Cat 4, I'd recoo staying at the Ren over the CY which is only a renovated apt bldg down a dead end Soi.........

Pattaya Marriott is still a Cat 4 until 16 May, when it, like the Ren will become Cat 5s........unlike other "resorts" the Pattaya Marriott has an Exec Lounge for G/Ps and again unlike other resorts provides breekie in either lounge or breakfast room.........it is located across the street from the beach but watch out in early/late evening as this area is frequented by "lady-boys" for a newbee sometimes it's hard to tell!

no point stays count towards the MegaBonus....

Quote:

Originally Posted by NomadMatt

Hi there - long time lurker, first time poster. I'll be staying at Marriott for the first time, in fact my first time traveling overseas! I'll be visiting Thailand for a month.

I was hoping for some advice on my best way to maximize my points and free night voucher. I recently got the Chase Visa card, so I have 50,000 points coming soon and one free night Category 1-4 voucher.

I'll be starting my trip in Bangkok for 8 days.

So with that in mind, this is what I've come up with so far from my research:

To start my trip, stay in Courtyard Bangkok (Cat3) for 15k points a night, for 5 nights using points only in order to get the 5th night free. I'd need to buy 10,000 points with cash for a total of $125 for these 5 nights.

Then I go stay at another hotel for a night, then return to Courtyard Bangkok and pay cash for 1 night (to qualify me for the 2 separate stays for the MegaBonus). This would get me a free night voucher to use later in my trip, maybe for the Pattaya Marriot resort which is category 4.

Or... would my 5 night points only stay not count toward the MegaBonus promotion, and I shouldn't bother returning for 1 night and paying cash?

Or should I be using a different strategy? My schedule is very flexible right now - I'm just looking to get some free hotel stays.

Any replies would be appreciated, thanks!