Originally Posted by Uncle Lars
By the way, is there any distinction between Silvers who have stayed 49 nights a year and someone who just got a Marriott Visa Card, in terms of upgrade chances?
The answer is no.
According to your profile (and this thread), you're hanging in at about 49 nights this year. You have over 4 months left to get that last elusive night. This requires, what we call in the business, a "matress run".
1. Pick a convenient Fairfield Inn.
2. Look for dates with a discount rate. Try AAA, Senior, Government, or any of the discount codes listed in the sticky for this forum.
3. Using the "flexible dates" feature (see my post elsewhere in this forum), find the cheapest rate you qualify for and book it.
4. Show up on the date and check in.
5. Look over the room, maybe muss up the bed.
6. Go home.
7. Maybe drop in the next morning for breakfast; you've paid for it!
8. If you don't go for brekkies, stop back a couple of days later and explain you had to leave early, and get your receipt.
Now, this may not be worth it to you, depending on how many Marriott stays you have planned for the future. But the status does count when getting upgrades, etc. and you are then eligible for the EEO offers.
You've got lots of time left; think it over.