Jul 26, 2016, 5:56 am
Last edit by: Jaenks
Post great vacation hotels worth saving certificates for. Include the State/Country and category and reason.
Canada
Residence Inn Montreal Westmount Category 4
Located right outside the busy downtown but a quick walk or train ride away. Right near shopping center.
Malaysia:
JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur Category 4
Great value for a JW, in the heart of the city and excellent service
Phu Quoc, Vietnam:
JW Phu Quoc - Cat 5 - beautiful beachfront resort with rates from $350-$650 ++/night
Bangkok, Thailand:
Three of the full service Marriott properties are Cat 5. All three have central locations and reputation for good elite recognition:
Florida:
Courtyard Fort Lauderdale East Category 5
One of the closest hotels to the beach that is available for cert use and has a free shuttle to take you to the beach
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles:
Renaissance, DT Willemstad. Category 5.
On an ocean harbor, not a swimmable beach, but in the center of the action for nightlife, also for NYE, Mardi Gras, etc. festivities.
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles:
Courtyard, Category 4!
Brand-new hotel. 5--10 minute walk inland from the ocean beach. It's the only major chain hotel on that island, so all other hotels are available only by paying real money.
Quito, Ecuador
JW Marriott, Category 5
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Renaissance Săo Paulo, Cat.5 Very good location,excellent quality of service,pre-confirmed suite upgrades,executive lounge F&B.
Canada
Residence Inn Montreal Westmount Category 4
Located right outside the busy downtown but a quick walk or train ride away. Right near shopping center.
Malaysia:
JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur Category 4
Great value for a JW, in the heart of the city and excellent service
Phu Quoc, Vietnam:
JW Phu Quoc - Cat 5 - beautiful beachfront resort with rates from $350-$650 ++/night
Bangkok, Thailand:
Three of the full service Marriott properties are Cat 5. All three have central locations and reputation for good elite recognition:
Renaissance Ratchaprasong
Marriott Suk 57
Marriott Marquis
USAMarriott Suk 57
Marriott Marquis
Florida:
Courtyard Fort Lauderdale East Category 5
One of the closest hotels to the beach that is available for cert use and has a free shuttle to take you to the beach
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles:
Renaissance, DT Willemstad. Category 5.
On an ocean harbor, not a swimmable beach, but in the center of the action for nightlife, also for NYE, Mardi Gras, etc. festivities.
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles:
Courtyard, Category 4!
Brand-new hotel. 5--10 minute walk inland from the ocean beach. It's the only major chain hotel on that island, so all other hotels are available only by paying real money.
Quito, Ecuador
JW Marriott, Category 5
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Renaissance Săo Paulo, Cat.5 Very good location,excellent quality of service,pre-confirmed suite upgrades,executive lounge F&B.
How are you using your Cat 1-4/5 certs?
Jan 3, 2018, 9:51 am
#466
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,739
My husband is using one at the Racine Wisconsin Fairfield Inn, a level 3 property. He was able to book their larger room with it. The person traveling with him has to pay $180 for the same room. It's not aspirational but it saves money out of our pocket and that makes me happy.
Jan 3, 2018, 11:24 am
#467
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, UA Silver (via Marriott)
Posts: 642
It's been a couple years since I was there, but the adjacent hotels were very questionable in terms of quality and safety (with the exception of the Fairfield that shares the parking lot). Not much to write home about in terms of dining or entertainment right in that immediate area either. The Marriott itself is very nice, albeit with a very strange layout that sometimes requires you to walk completely through a very large conference center if you get a room in the newer (nicer) tower. The exec lounge was in the older tower, so it was quite a hike to get there if I got a room in the newer tower.
Jan 4, 2018, 9:50 pm
#469
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: Marriott LT Gold, IHG Club, Hertz Gold, Aeroplan, Avios, SkyMiles, Thrifty, AMEX
Posts: 985
Jan 5, 2018, 12:56 pm
#470
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,164
Jan 5, 2018, 1:17 pm
#471
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,815
Jan 8, 2018, 6:18 pm
#472
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 92
Using ours at Marriott Village D'ile de France this upcoming summer paired with a points nights to do Disneyland Paris. Very much looking forward to it. Question, to reserve before I actually have the cert do I have to reserve a points night or can I reserve a paid night flexible rate?
Jan 8, 2018, 6:44 pm
#473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,073
Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza, Mobile, AL.
My cert was extended for 5 days so I could use it on this trip. Numerous reports of extensions in another thread.
My cert was extended for 5 days so I could use it on this trip. Numerous reports of extensions in another thread.
Jan 9, 2018, 11:09 am
#475
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, UA Silver (via Marriott)
Posts: 642
Using ours at Marriott Village D'ile de France this upcoming summer paired with a points nights to do Disneyland Paris. Very much looking forward to it. Question, to reserve before I actually have the cert do I have to reserve a points night or can I reserve a paid night flexible rate?
Jan 9, 2018, 12:48 pm
#476
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,218
Reserve a points night (or call and ask them to reserve the night but not issue the e-certificate yet if you need the points elsewhere). Then, when you get the cert, call back and have them attach that to the reservation and return the points you had used to book (if the e-cert was already issued). This way is safer in case reward inventory is exhausted between the time of your initial booking and the time when you earn the MegaBonus/credit card cert.
Jan 9, 2018, 1:49 pm
#477
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 92
Reserve a points night (or call and ask them to reserve the night but not issue the e-certificate yet if you need the points elsewhere). Then, when you get the cert, call back and have them attach that to the reservation and return the points you had used to book (if the e-cert was already issued). This way is safer in case reward inventory is exhausted between the time of your initial booking and the time when you earn the MegaBonus/credit card cert.
Jan 9, 2018, 3:42 pm
#479
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
Ennsy, either phone Marriott or go online to to book a 2-night award stay. Then click on Points & Cash to choose one night points, the other cash. Click on "Do not issue certificate," then confirm. But you'll probably have to call Marriott anyway to attach the Cat. 5 cert. to the ressie!