Thank you everyone for your responses. I have to say that I think it is a total ripoff for Marriot to charge additional fees (but I'm sure you all feel the same). I have found periodically that because my husband is a Gold Elite member that in the past, he hasn't been charged anything extra in terms of fees and still gets the upgrade. Hopefully we'll get lucky again. We are also looking at St. Kitts and Grand Cayman if anyone has any feedback on those locations..

Kathy