Kacee

Exactly. It's not about whether I need a free breakfast, it's about not being cheated. Most of us don't like being cheated.

jsl_313

edgewood49

I have to add that internationally it does play a bigger role given the price of an American style breakfast ( hot eggs) as a non insulin diabetic it's even more important.

Kacee

It's not naive. It's a published program benefit.

There are quite a few members here who are able to take their families on fabulous vacations (including to places like Maui) only because they accrue miles and points from work travel. That's not my scenario, but I appreciate and respect it. Not sure why you're dumping on them.

cdoobiest

Arriving mid February and booked 2 rooms for my family (2 kids aged 11) and my parents. Both on points and I am Platinum member and have 2 double bed garden room booked. I am not expecting any great upgrade since it is busy season but which part of hotel would you recommend I try to ask upgrade for? I know there is Tower rooms on higher floors with great views and the Hale low rises. I was thinking the ground level Hale would have larger lanais and easier access to pools for the kids. I think larger room/balcony to enjoy breakfast or coffee in AM would be my preference rather than a ocean view although I would love both! Any suggestions appreciated or prior upgrade success stories! Thanks

hipquest

The lanais on the ground floor are considered a big upgrade. Since you are going at a busy time I would not count on any kind of upgrade particularly IF you have requested connecting rooms. The good news is this is a beautiful property no matter where your rooms are. Enjoy your stay!

VickiSoCal

My husband, a lifetime PP, and I are here on the final day of a 6 night stay. This is probably the worst Marriott stay we have ever had.
We had requested an upgrade months ago using SNAs since he has 10. We got an email saying they were unable to fill. Checked in online the day before the stay started. Booked a basic room so not expecting a great upgrade but hoping for at least a decent quiet room.
When we checked in there was no mention of his status. We got to the room, it was terrible. I am in the lobby now:

Our patio is one of the ones behind the hedge. We had also not received our breakfast coupons. Went back to the front desk and asked why we didn't get any mention of PP status and they said because he had no MR number in reservation. Of course we pointed out this was impossible since we both requested a suite night award and checked in online. They shrugged and said "we use a different system" They added his number to the reservation and gave us coupons.
They said the hotel was sold out, no better rooms.
As the lobby got louder that night I got more mad. I called the PP line. They called the hotel. The hotel offered to move us to the room directly above ours. I couldn't see packing everything up for a room that was only slightly better. Every night the lobby noise goes until about 2:00 a.m. and the kids start running around outside at about 6:00 a.m..
FYI our friend, silver, checked in same day, same rate, high floor, partial ocean view.

HNLbasedFlyer

If the hotel was sold out, what did you expect them to do?

VickiSoCal

Why not bump down a silver, gold or plat, who is arriving later in the evening on one of the 9 o'clock flights. We arrived at about 2, our silver friend who arrived at 5 got a better room on the same basic room rate for the same six nights.

Here is our patio.

HNLbasedFlyer

At the time you checked in, perhaps that is all they had available - and a better room became available when people checked in later.

Regardless, I'm a big believer that if you desire a better room, the lesson learned is to book the better room. I've gambled and lost at some properties - and I've gambled and won big and some properties. You've come to Maui at an extremely busy time of the year. You not only have the NYE crowd extending vacations - this is a popular time of the year for sales clubs and events.

VickiSoCal

We are on a conference rate. Every single person we know at the conference on the conference rate has a lower status and is in a better room.

Kacee

It sounds like they didn't take status into account with the initial room assignment, and the online check-in then locked you into a crappy room. Unfortunate they were not willing to remedy that, particularly over the course of a six night stay.

I already had this property off the list due to the breakfast games.

lincoln boy

Me too!

edgewood49

I think many of us have written this property off it almost sounds like the same management as the Hyatt Andaz down the beach. I have learned that if you want a certain type of room then book it up front, who the hell wants to be flying across the pond worrying about ones room? Not me, too old and cranky. Hindsight is 20/20 but if I had walked into that room taken a look would have turned around and asked for MOD and nicely informed him that this room was unacceptable and I have done that, and in five star hotels, did that at the Park Hyatt Vendome have done it at other Marriotts as well. If you have high status then you have the right out of loyalty to get something better than a standard garden room.

This property has changed a lot in the past 10 years and not for the good.

kapooncha

Different strokes for different folks but I don't understand why you all spend so much energy worrying about room types. You guys are in Hawaii. I hope to God you aren't spending most of the time in the room. Get out and explore nature people! Even when at the hotel, I'll be in the pool or on the beach (at the Grand Wailea), not in my room unless I'm sleeping.