[QUOTE=flyerwife;13575974] It is not a Concierge lounge (no Marriott resorts offer Concierge lounges)

Yes some Marriott resorts do offer Concierge lounges

I too had never considered the gift card option. Would you then also accrue points and elite nights as it is a 'paid stay'?

The other thing I see discussed is point savers. How do I actually know if I can obtain this discounted rate?

I'm pretty young and actually don't make that much of a salary, but due to travel have tons of Marriott points. That's one of the reasons I am looking at doing AI. From what I see online, it looks like Los Suenos has a big variety of restaurants on site which could be nice if we're going to be there for at least breakfast and dinner 7 days.

Hockeypuck88 (if you're born in 88 you're actually younger than me :)) Aruba Marriott is very nice, one of the best properties I've been to. I was contacted a week before my stay by the platinum concierge who gave me info on my AI package, made a reservation for me at the nicest restaurant, and was very kind overall. We got upgraded to ocean view and had a balcony which was really quite nice. Food was expensive if you're paying for it, but if you're just using gift cards are you really?? The beach is a beautiful white sand beach that is good for walks. If you have any particular questions let me know.

Hockeypuck,

I just came back from Grand Cayman two weeks ago.

We stayed at the Ritz Carlton for a week using Marriott points. Ritz was on pointsavers, so it was 190k points for the week plus a $35 per night resort charge. Ritz was really big and we saw a fair amount of folks there on points. I sure didn't hear of anyone getting a free upgrade (although honeymoon may get you something) and Marriott status had no influence. It seemed as if there were many empty rooms ocean front that they were not giving away especially if there on points. It was a beautiful hotel and beautiful pools and beach and free coffee in the morning.

If you want high end food, there are VERY VERY nice restaurants at the Ritz and on GC but you will pay for them. Food is quite pricey on GC.

We walked down to the Marriott and I will have to say that I would not have considered it a honeymoon hotel at all. Water was full of seaweed, but the waves were up a bit so perhaps that caused part of the problem. The pool was teeny tiny and crowded.

Best wishes for a happy married life.

For a honeymoon, don't stay at the frenchman's reef! The service is AWFUL. Like... AWFUL. Let me see if I can dig up my old thread and link to it.... actually, i'm sleeepy... but search for it! It's a real gem, detailing my experience....

Yes....

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...mr-points.html


wow a Member since 1998 and this is my 1,000th post!

Thanks for the well wishes!

And, thanks to everyone for helping me out with my request. As I've just posted in another thread, we decided on the JW on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. After learning that I could 'purchase' a $1000.00 gift check for 135K points, I was no longer 'tied' to an AI-only option.

Again, thanks to all that shared their thoughts and opinions with me.

Best.

Honeymoon Reward Stay
 

Greetings FT Community -

Currently staying at the JW Ihilani on the lovely island of Oahu. Prior to booking my stay here I scoured these boards as well as others (Yelp, TripAdvisor) to get a sense of the property. I have to say that the ones pertaining to the property needing an upgrade on on-the-spot; and I do promise to write a complete review upon my arrival back home. I'm in enough trouble as it is posting while on my honeymoon.

Can anyone speak to any benefits they received while arriving at their honeymoon at this property? As I mentioned before, I am on a reward stay and as a Platinum (96 nights this year) I was upgraded to a deluxe ocean view room. Great views and privacy, which is awesome. Though, I was shocked that other than the Platinum arrival gift, there was no other recognition from the hotel regarding my honeymoon.

I guess I am feeling a bit slighted, as I bought the wife-to-be 2 nights at the Boston Marriott Copley (1 night points, 1 night cash) for her bachelorette party. 15 minutes after check-in, they sent up 4 chocolate covered strawberries and chilled champagne. And prior to our arrival in Hawaii, we spent 4 nights at the Dolphin in Disney World and they had a gift basket sent in recognition of our honeymoon.

My only piece of advice is get off the internet and back to your wife. Your on your honeymoon and this is what you are worried about? :rolleyes::p

If the recognized everyone who is on a honeymoon in Hawaii they would be recognizing most of their guests.

Same reason they don't allow people with small children to board early on flights to Orlando.


But as others of said, it's your honeymoon - get off the computer :)

I can see why you are disappointed. Getting the 4 strawberries, gift basket, and champagne for free probably reduced the cost of your wedding by 0.00001%. Had the JW come through for you, you might have doubled that number.

UGH.

-1

/thanks for playing

Where to Honeymoon with 240k Marriott Points <3
 

I've been an avid reader (and lurker) of FT since 2006. The advice, tips, and other threads you all provided have helped me achieve the best methods of transportation, accommodations and extra amenities throughout my business travels. Now I turn to the community for probably the most important travel experience of my life:


Where do I honeymoon with 240k Marriott Rewards points?


My fiance and I are flexible with location and dates for the honeymoon, we just want to experience the most amazing honeymoon possible. Here's the rundown:

Our home base: Philadelphia (PHL and EWR are a quick train ride for us)
Our wedding: May 2011
Out honeymoon availability: She's a teacher, so we'll have to wait until her school's summer break (June 15 - August 31, 2011) or winter break (Dec 25 - Jan 1, 2011). We don't mind if our honeymoon isn't for a while after we get married, or even if its on a holiday, we're pretty laid back!
Airline points: 0. All of my business clients were within the Northeast US area, so I was never travelling "far" enough to fly, but constantly took Amtrak to DC, NYC or Boston for the week (hence the hotel points over the years).
Other hotel points: 100,000 Starwood points -- my company is pretty set in it's ways, and set up a deal where we could only book Starwood properties for travel. A few years later, they cut a better deal with Marriott, hence my 240kMR and 100kSPG points.

Thank you in advance from myself and my future wife!

I don't have an answer as I have been doing similar research for 10th anniversary next summer. We are on the west coast so Hawaii is always first to jump to mind. Curious how nice the Marriott all inclusive places are. Another option, I was considering is a few nights around Grand Canyon/northern AZ and then a long weekend in Vegas.