Sep 16, 18, 1:41 pm
Last edit by: SanDiego1K
Book future Category 8 hotels (85,000 points) at the Category 7 rate (60,000 points) until March 2019.
These were 35K SPG points or the equivalent of 105K Marriott points, with the all suite properties being at least twice that points level.
https://points-redemption.marriott.com/category-change
Save up to 25,000 points per night when you book future Category 8 hotels at the Category 7 rate until March 2019.
How far into 2020 can we book?
Marriott opens up award availabillity one week at a time on Saturdays. On 1 March 2019 we can book thru 15 Feb 2020.
Hotel list: (thank you, CPRich)
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Crete
Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Cortina d'Ampezzo
Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection
Giardino Ascona, A Member Of Design Hotels
Giardino Mountain, a Member of Design Hotels
Gramercy Park Hotel, New York, a Member of Design Hotels™
G-Rough, Rome, a Member of Design Hotels
Hotel Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda
Hotel Danieli, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice
Hôtel de Berri, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris
Hotel Pitrizza, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda
Hotel President Wilson, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Geneva
Hotel Romazzino, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda
Kenoa Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort, Barra de Sao Miguel, a Member of Design Hotels
Le Méridien Bora Bora
Mystique, A Luxury Collection Resort, Santorini
PalazzinaG, Venice, a Member of Design Hotels
Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol
Phoenician Residences, a Luxury Collection Residence Club, Scottsdale
Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris
Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Mykonos
Schloss Fuschl, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Fuschlsee-Salzburg
Sir Joan Hotel, Ibiza City, a Member of Design Hotels
Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto
The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale
The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City
The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice
The Miami Beach EDITION
The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, a Luxury Collection Hotel
The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo
The St. Regis Aspen Resort
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort
The St. Regis Bali Resort
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
The St. Regis Deer Valley
The St. Regis Florence
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort
The St. Regis New York
The St. Regis Osaka
The St. Regis Princeville Resort
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
The St. Regis Rome
The Wellesley Knightsbridge, a Luxury Collection Hotel, London
The Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal
Vana Belle, a Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui
W Koh Samui
W Maldives
W South Beach
W Verbier
These were 35K SPG points or the equivalent of 105K Marriott points, with the all suite properties being at least twice that points level.
https://points-redemption.marriott.com/category-change
Save up to 25,000 points per night when you book future Category 8 hotels at the Category 7 rate until March 2019.
How far into 2020 can we book?
Marriott opens up award availabillity one week at a time on Saturdays. On 1 March 2019 we can book thru 15 Feb 2020.
Hotel list: (thank you, CPRich)
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Crete
Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Cortina d'Ampezzo
Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection
Giardino Ascona, A Member Of Design Hotels
Giardino Mountain, a Member of Design Hotels
Gramercy Park Hotel, New York, a Member of Design Hotels™
G-Rough, Rome, a Member of Design Hotels
Hotel Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda
Hotel Danieli, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice
Hôtel de Berri, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris
Hotel Pitrizza, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda
Hotel President Wilson, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Geneva
Hotel Romazzino, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda
Kenoa Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort, Barra de Sao Miguel, a Member of Design Hotels
Le Méridien Bora Bora
Mystique, A Luxury Collection Resort, Santorini
PalazzinaG, Venice, a Member of Design Hotels
Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol
Phoenician Residences, a Luxury Collection Residence Club, Scottsdale
Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris
Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Mykonos
Schloss Fuschl, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Fuschlsee-Salzburg
Sir Joan Hotel, Ibiza City, a Member of Design Hotels
Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto
The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale
The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City
The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice
The Miami Beach EDITION
The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, a Luxury Collection Hotel
The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo
The St. Regis Aspen Resort
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort
The St. Regis Bali Resort
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
The St. Regis Deer Valley
The St. Regis Florence
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort
The St. Regis New York
The St. Regis Osaka
The St. Regis Princeville Resort
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
The St. Regis Rome
The Wellesley Knightsbridge, a Luxury Collection Hotel, London
The Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal
Vana Belle, a Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui
W Koh Samui
W Maldives
W South Beach
W Verbier
Booking high end (aspirational) properties at reduced points til 5 March 2019
May 24, 18, 1:41 pm
#1
Community Director
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 32,553
Booking high end (aspirational) properties at reduced points til 5 March 2019
Marriott has let us know that we can book level 7 Starwood properties at level 6 point redemption levels between August and December 2018. For ease of discussion, let's talk Starwood points. This means that a property that currently costs 35,000 points will cost 20,000 points during that window. Marriott equivalents are 105,000 and 60,000. I have some questions:
- What about all suite properties such as Al Maha? Currently Starwood charges double points for all suite properties. Does this mean there is not a multiplier? That would mean that a room (suite) at Al Maha, normally 70,000, would be 20,000 during this window. I believe there are all suite properties in the Maldives and French Polynesia; perhaps in Thailand.**
- Will we be able to book out to the end of the booking window? This would mean by late December 2018 we can book to late November 2019.
- Do we need to make a fresh booking from August 1? This is my current assumption. Otherwise, I could book Las Alcobas (Helena) today for spring 2019, then call and ask for points to be returned.
- If a fresh booking, how fast do you think award nights will go once the booking window opens?
Here is a list of Starwood's level 7 properties. There are 51 properties. There are 10 properties that currently are special cases. Note list above. Should they remain special cases, there are still 41 properties to consider.
I definitely want to try Las Alcobas in Helena, Napa Valley. I loved St Regis Punta Mita and might want to return. Those are both easy access from where I live. I'm looking at the Gritti Palace in Venice and Cristallo in the Dolomites as part of a European trip in 2019. Where do you hope to book?
Last edited by SanDiego1K; May 24, 18 at 1:52 pm
May 24, 18, 3:07 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat Pro, Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton ♢, IHG ♢, Hyatt Globalist, Hertz Pres
Posts: 5,080
Originally Posted by SanDiego1K
Here is a list of Starwood's level 7 properties. There are 51 properties. There are 10 properties that currently are special cases. Note list above. Should they remain special cases, there are still 41 properties to consider.
I definitely want to try Las Alcobas in Helena, Napa Valley. I loved St Regis Punta Mita and might want to return. Those are both easy access from where I live. I'm looking at the Gritti Palace in Venice and Cristallo in the Dolomites as part of a European trip in 2019. Where do you hope to book?
I definitely want to try Las Alcobas in Helena, Napa Valley. I loved St Regis Punta Mita and might want to return. Those are both easy access from where I live. I'm looking at the Gritti Palace in Venice and Cristallo in the Dolomites as part of a European trip in 2019. Where do you hope to book?
I probably won't redeem for any of them but will be going to Cyprus in Sept... perhaps I'll try the Parklane.
May 24, 18, 4:31 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albany, NY
Programs: SPG LTP, Hyatt Globalist, HH Gold, IHGPlat, RadGold, Marriott Plat, BW Diamond
Posts: 172
Originally Posted by TravelinSperry
The Dolomites is a magical place during summer. If you're able to swing the Cristallo I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
I probably won't redeem for any of them but will be going to Cyprus in Sept... perhaps I'll try the Parklane.
I probably won't redeem for any of them but will be going to Cyprus in Sept... perhaps I'll try the Parklane.
May 24, 18, 5:53 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Starwood:Lifetime Platinum, Air Canada:Basic, Asiana:Lifetime Diamond Plus, ANA: Basic
Posts: 977
I never been to Italy before. but wow I didn't even know there was this "discount" happening. But life isn't as easy as just getting free hotel. I assume people need to arrange logistics to get holidays just to go there. You won't go alone so maybe bring a spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend or mom/dad?? And that takes coordination for holidays. I seriously don't think there is a rush to redeem these expensive (ahem "aspirational") properties.
May 24, 18, 6:18 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,604
I just tallied up and we’ve been to 16 of them over the years and they truly were some of our favorite and most memorable stays. They also were some of our best point redemptions.
We just returned from a trip where we had amazing stays at Schloss Fuschl (return visit) the W Verbier and the President Wilson.
We will visit 3 more Cat 7s between August and December- Prince de Galle and St Regis Princeville (return visits) and Mystique. (We also have a July stay at the StR San Francisco)
These Hotels really are the jewels in SPG’s (now Marriott’s) Crown.
There are others on the list we really want to try but there is no way to squeeze them into a year that already is set to break all our former stay records.
I hope Marriott realizes how special these properties are and will retain what makes them so magical.
Just in case we really revved up our travel in 2017 and 2018. 2019 too with fingers crossed there won’t be noticeable changes.
We just returned from a trip where we had amazing stays at Schloss Fuschl (return visit) the W Verbier and the President Wilson.
We will visit 3 more Cat 7s between August and December- Prince de Galle and St Regis Princeville (return visits) and Mystique. (We also have a July stay at the StR San Francisco)
These Hotels really are the jewels in SPG’s (now Marriott’s) Crown.
There are others on the list we really want to try but there is no way to squeeze them into a year that already is set to break all our former stay records.
I hope Marriott realizes how special these properties are and will retain what makes them so magical.
Just in case we really revved up our travel in 2017 and 2018. 2019 too with fingers crossed there won’t be noticeable changes.
May 24, 18, 6:24 pm
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.032MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CWC Au-197; CCC Elite; WoH Dis
Posts: 51,366
Originally Posted by yeunganson
I assume people need to arrange logistics to get holidays just to go there. You won't go alone so maybe bring a spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend or mom/dad?? And that takes coordination for holidays.
May 24, 18, 6:55 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,071
Originally Posted by yeunganson
I never been to Italy before. but wow I didn't even know there was this "discount" happening. But life isn't as easy as just getting free hotel. I assume people need to arrange logistics to get holidays just to go there. You won't go alone so maybe bring a spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend or mom/dad?? And that takes coordination for holidays. I seriously don't think there is a rush to redeem these expensive (ahem "aspirational") properties.
Unless it's a honeymoon hotel, what's wrong with going alone?
May 25, 18, 6:19 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Dia; Marriott Amb; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit; SLH Indulged
Posts: 4,571
Originally Posted by SanDiego1K
- What about all suite properties such as Al Maha? Currently Starwood charges double points for all suite properties. Does this mean there is not a multiplier? That would mean that a room (suite) at Al Maha, normally 70,000, would be 20,000 during this window. I believe there are all suite properties in the Maldives and French Polynesia; perhaps in Thailand.**
- Will we be able to book out to the end of the booking window? This would mean by late December 2018 we can book to late November 2019.
- Do we need to make a fresh booking from August 1? This is my current assumption. Otherwise, I could book Las Alcobas (Helena) today for spring 2019, then call and ask for points to be returned.
- If a fresh booking, how fast do you think award nights will go once the booking window opens?
2. I think we'll be able to book nights in 2019, but personally I will try to burn all my points between August and December 2018. That means most of my nights in 2019 will be paid in cash rather than points redemptions, which will help reach $20k spend.
3. It is also my assumption.
4. I think it will depend on whatever compromise they reach on #1 , if any. It might be that special properties will be forced to offer rooms at 20k pts but will only make one or two rooms available at that point level.
May 25, 18, 8:37 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 11,519
None. 20K per night is still way too expensive for a hotel night... Easily $450-500 of value for any of us who earn Starpoints from anything other than credit card MS.
By all means go nuts thinking that you're getting $1,000 per night rooms for half price, but I have better uses for my Starpoints and have yet to come across a hotel room that was "worth" $1,000 to me.
By all means go nuts thinking that you're getting $1,000 per night rooms for half price, but I have better uses for my Starpoints and have yet to come across a hotel room that was "worth" $1,000 to me.
May 25, 18, 8:54 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA Plat, AA Gold, LH Silver, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, Hyatt Disc, PC Plat, CC Gold
Posts: 4,585
Isn't anyone concerned that the hotels are going to play with their award availability and that this is going to seriously limit this "award windfall" that we are all hoping for? We can all dream about which hotels we are going to book during this timeframe but reality is that I am thinking that the actual availability of award rooms is going to be an issue.
May 25, 18, 9:00 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,069
Originally Posted by christianj
Isn't anyone concerned that the hotels are going to play with their award availability and that this is going to seriously limit this "award windfall" that we are all hoping for? We can all dream about which hotels we are going to book during this timeframe but reality is that I am thinking that the actual availability of award rooms is going to be an issue.
May 25, 18, 9:13 am
#13
Community Director
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 32,553
Originally Posted by christianj
Isn't anyone concerned that the hotels are going to play with their award availability and that this is going to seriously limit this "award windfall" that we are all hoping for? We can all dream about which hotels we are going to book during this timeframe but reality is that I am thinking that the actual availability of award rooms is going to be an issue.
May 25, 18, 11:29 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,611
Not an SPG property nor an aspirational property, but I booked Ritz Tahoe during ski season (President's Day long weekend in February). Rates start at ~$1500/night that weekend. It's a currently a Tier 5 property (70,000 Marriott points)...it will likely land as a new Cat 7 (peak season at 70,000 Marriott points) but maybe as a new Cat 8 (peak season at 100,000 Marriott points).
May 25, 18, 11:36 am
#15
Community Director
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 32,553
Originally Posted by Troopers
I booked Ritz Tahoe during ski season (President's Day long weekend in February). Rates start at ~$1500/night that weekend. It's a currently a Tier 5 property (70,000 Marriott points)...it will likely land as a new Cat 7 (peak season at 70,000 Marriott points) but maybe as a new Cat 8 (peak season at 100,000 Marriott points).
