Mar 4, 2019, 1:50 pm
Last edit by: mahasamatman
NOTE: this thread is for discussing promotions and discounts on gift card purchases and cash-back rebate sites etc.
Discussion about gift card usage can be found here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...on-thread.html
For more details, see the first post of this thread: New to this thread? Start here: Intro - https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18858149-post1.html
You can use Marriott gift cards to pay for Marriott stays (not applicable for discounted prepaid rates), resort fees and parking fees, treatments at the spa, dining at Marriott properties and more. Keep in mind, however, that some Marriott brands do not accept Marriott gift cards. This includes Bulgari, Design Hotels, Homes & Villas by Marriott International and The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and possibly more.
Historical portal earning and noticeable deals and discounts (July-2020):
Rakuten: 1.5%
MrRebates: 0%
TopCashBack & BeFrugal:
Discussion about gift card usage can be found here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...on-thread.html
For more details, see the first post of this thread: New to this thread? Start here: Intro - https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18858149-post1.html
You can use Marriott gift cards to pay for Marriott stays (not applicable for discounted prepaid rates), resort fees and parking fees, treatments at the spa, dining at Marriott properties and more. Keep in mind, however, that some Marriott brands do not accept Marriott gift cards. This includes Bulgari, Design Hotels, Homes & Villas by Marriott International and The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and possibly more.
Historical portal earning and noticeable deals and discounts (July-2020):
Rakuten: 1.5%
MrRebates: 0%
TopCashBack & BeFrugal:
Asia Pacific: 5%
Europe, Africa, etc: 5%
US/Canada Properties: 3%
US/Canada Properties: 3%
There are others as well. See evreward.com and cashbackmonitor.com for other current deals.
Pros and cons of buying hotel Gift Cards:
Pros:
1. 15% discount. We do not get additional earning from credit card since we would have earned the same points by paying with cash (credit card)
2. Good for mattress runs at reduced costs. Assume score lower room rates.
Cons:
1. Commitment to a single brand Marriott. Eliminate the flexibility of stays with Hilton, IHG, Hyatt and other brands.
2. GCs are prepaid funds. The funds do not earn anything (interest). We lose the time value of money. The longer we do not use the GCs, we more we lose.
3. GC values are not protected (perishable). The physical GCs can get lost or stolen. We may forget to use the GCs. The GCs can be hacked and value drained. After the GC purchases, the credit card protection is gone.
4. GCs are not accepted at all hotels. Marriott hotels are more decentralized and it carries so many brands. Some do not follow Marriott rules and they may not accept those GCs even though they should. A lot hotels overseas do not accept the GCs.
5. GCs have limitation. At current time, they can't be used to book prepaid hotel stays. This defeats the main purpose of buying the GCs. The GC holders are not entitled for the discounted hotel rates.
6. GCs are dominated in US $ only. Even if they are accepted at foreign location, GC holders lose further more from foreign exchange. With credit card, we may get to choose to charge in USD $ or local currency.
7. GCs can't be redeemed for cash. If GC holders ever want to get the cash out of the GCs due to financial hardship, they can only be sold at the secondary markets like eBay etc. at steep costs.
To check card balance, visit gifts.marriott.com.
For Customer Service call +1 800.442.6132 or email [email protected].
Gift Card Registration: Lost, stolen or damaged cards will be replaced only if previously registered on gifts.marriott.com. Value of replaced card will equal balance on card at the time it was reported lost, stolen or damaged.
Notes:
1) If you make an LNF/BRG adjustment to your reservation you will still get cash back.
DIRECTIONS FOR A HOTEL TO PROCESS A GIFT CARD
Click on Givex icon
Enter login and password info at 2 levels
- property info
- employee info (password is birthdate MMDD, at least at this property)
Enter gift card number
Click on Check Balance (other 2 options are Activate and Redeem)
Click on Redeem
Enter amount to use
Enter card number again
Click Calculate
Click Submit
I used an e-gift card and a plastic one. It’s the same process for both. No swiping.
Enter login and password info at 2 levels
- property info
- employee info (password is birthdate MMDD, at least at this property)
Enter gift card number
Click on Check Balance (other 2 options are Activate and Redeem)
Click on Redeem
Enter amount to use
Enter card number again
Click Calculate
Click Submit
I used an e-gift card and a plastic one. It’s the same process for both. No swiping.
MASTER THREAD: Current Marriott Gift Card, Cash Back, Tricks & Promos
Dec 28, 2018, 10:20 am
#1426
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,466
I paid at a property using gift cards back on Dec 22. For some reason, the online balance check still shows a full balance for all three cards even though only one of them should have anything remaining. They don't show any transactions either. Does anyone have experience with this? Is the balance checker broken, or perhaps is it just very delayed?
Jan 2, 2019, 6:01 pm
#1427
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
I paid at a property using gift cards back on Dec 22. For some reason, the online balance check still shows a full balance for all three cards even though only one of them should have anything remaining. They don't show any transactions either. Does anyone have experience with this? Is the balance checker broken, or perhaps is it just very delayed?
Jan 16, 2019, 12:49 pm
#1429
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
Jan 16, 2019, 5:39 pm
#1430
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BWI, PHL, IAD
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium; Mileage Plus 1K, 1 MM; Global Entry
Posts: 1,516
Checked this morning and TCB was showing 4%/6% with no indication of how long it would go. Just a bit ago it was up to 7%/9% for 4 days. Not sure what's going on there.
Jan 16, 2019, 8:41 pm
#1431
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London
Programs: HertzPresCircle, Virgin Atlantic Gold,Hil-Diam, Europcar Elite Vip, Emirates Gold, MarriottTitanium.
Posts: 419
Jan 21, 2019, 12:47 pm
#1432
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BWI, PHL, IAD
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium; Mileage Plus 1K, 1 MM; Global Entry
Posts: 1,516
TCB is showing no offer at all for reservation. Just a couple of special codes for specific discounts. Don't recall ever seeing this before.
Jan 21, 2019, 9:17 pm
#1433
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
This afternoon I saw the same thing as Michilander, but now tonight TCB has Marriott at 6% for >=4-night stays or 4% for shorter stays. Until tomorrow (Tuesday.)
Jan 23, 2019, 9:22 am
#1434
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 6,790
TopCashBack now has Marriott rebate at 10%. Not sure how long that will last. If you have some existing reservations, you may want to make replacement ones (at the 10% rebate level) and then -- if they go through at no increase in price -- cancel the earlier ones.
Jan 23, 2019, 11:53 am
#1435
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BWI, PHL, IAD
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium; Mileage Plus 1K, 1 MM; Global Entry
Posts: 1,516
For those who have cancelled and rebooked in situations like this, does it matter what order you do the cancel and rebook?
Jan 24, 2019, 6:19 am
#1436
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 6,790
Yes. Always be sure you can rebook at the same price (or lower) before you cancel the existing reservation. Otherwise you may be giving up a good deal for a higher percent rebate on a more costly deal.
Jan 24, 2019, 6:20 am
#1437
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 6,790
Ebates is now matching the 10% rebate offer. Don't know for how long.
Jan 24, 2019, 7:05 am
#1439
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BWI, PHL, IAD
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium; Mileage Plus 1K, 1 MM; Global Entry
Posts: 1,516
Thanks. That is actually the way I have been doing it, and prefer to do it for the reason you mention. Just checking to make sure doing it this way doesn't screw up TCB tracking.
Jan 24, 2019, 3:30 pm
#1440
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,620
The eBates deal doesn't seem to differentiate between 1-3 and 4+ stays. Just booked a single night now. And the Marriott.com site worked flawlessly, minus the lack of Sort by Price. That's the first time in many, many, many months where I didn't get an error. Glad to see it.
Has anyone ever done cash back then filed a LNF/BRG? Will the cash back still post at all?
Has anyone ever done cash back then filed a LNF/BRG? Will the cash back still post at all?