Originally Posted by
Powers106
<snip> I’ll end up with 23 nights this year as it stands. I’m lifetime silver whatever that counts for…but is Gold 25 nights or more? Is getting those 25 nights worth it? <snip>
Being a Gold Elite member is better than being a non-member or a Siver Elite member:
— 25% bonus points on stays
— Better possibility of some sort of upgrade, such as a higher floor or bigger room
— 2 p.m. late checkout at no charge, subject to availability
— Modest number of points as a Welcome Gift
— Free Wi-Fi at hotels that charge non-members for Wi-Fi (but you only have to be a member for that)
— Member rates, which can be better than non-member rates (but you only have to be a member for that)
— "Ultimate Reservation Guarantee" with compensation for failures
By themselves, these are not reasons to pick a Marriott Bonvoy hotel over someplace else. Legitimate reasons would be a combination of a hotel's location, quality, and price, with Marriott Bonvoy points as the icing on the cake -- or if someone is on a path to a higher Marriott Bonvoy annual tier or lifetime tier, and needs elite qualifying nights. As has often been noted, the better benefits kick in at Platinum Elite.
Now, on to this particular case... It's only March, and you're on track to have 23 nights this year. If you can stay just two more nights at a Marriott Bonvoy property, you'll have Gold Elite status for the rest of 2024, all of 2025, and into the beginning of 2026. You'll also be a bit closer to Lifetime Gold Elite. That seems worth doing.