gumercindo

I'm on the east coast (DC area) and wife and I would be flying with a 3 year old. Not looking for a flight longer than 3 hours so would consider anywhere on the east coast and even the midwest/texas/etc.

Wife and I both have the old Marriott Chase card and SPG personal. So, we have in total 2 free nights at 25k per night and 2 free nights at 35k per night. Looking at turning that into 2 weekend trips.

Recommendations?

Jaunts

If you have a 3 year old, Disney World would be an obvious choice. There are several hotels in those categories in Lake Buena Vista. I would recommend going now rather than waiting for the peak season when school gets out.

Horace

For 25K or 35K, you won't get aspirational hotels or resorts where the hotel or resort is destination unto itself. But you can choose many very nice full-service properties (although usually not in expensive city centers).

The real question is what would you like to do? Theme parks? Historic sites? Perhaps a zoo and a children's museum? National Parks and State Parks? Recreation such a canoeing?

xooz

I think I would reverse the process and be looking for cheap air tickets to a location, especially since it looks like you are paying for 3. Once I had reasonably priced tickets, then I would be looking for the best free hotel nearby.

But since you asked, maybe a easy beach trip, like Residence Inn Amelia Island at 25K/night.

Collierkr

craigthemif

3 is too young to appreciate Disney IMO.

Using credit card nights in Orlando is also poor value UNLESS you're going at peak times. Otherwise you're far better off paying cash.


For the OP, check out this Google Map with all Marriott hotels overlaid. Limit your search to Cat 4 and 5 and have a wander around to see what seems interesting...

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/vi...2053101488&z=6

gumercindo

Thank you all! That google map is great.

Cledaybuck

If you are looking for a beach, maybe Hilton Head? There are two cat 5's on the island and non stop flights from all 3 DC area airports to SAV and from IAD to HHH.

Jaunts

We obviously disagree on this. Credit card nights only have value to me if it's something that I want to do. This whole business of saying that using the certificate isn't worth it unless a specific financial return is achieved is ridiculous in my opinion.

To each their own...

craigthemif

I'm the last person to suggest that you should only visit places where the room rate is high - and pretend to yourself that you got X cents per point or whatever.

However using your credit card nights on a $60 room is also a waste, which was my point...

AbuCordoba

I could not find an existing thread however if there is one please move this to that thread...

In the last Marriott Promotion I got 2, 35,000 MR Point vouchers (which is basically Cat 5) , in addition to the 75 night award benefit which I chose for a 40K voucher, therefore I am trying to decide what to do with these vouchers.

Does anyone know of any Gems in Cat 5, I am flexible on location (I am based in the Middle East but happy to travel if its interesting enough) and can be city or beach/


Regards

Asif

christianj

Sorry but I think you are asking to broad of a question to get some great recommendations. You are essentially asking for the best Cat. 5 worldwide. I would narrow down your area (or at least a country) to which you want to travel to and update your post or add a comment and then I think you will get some good recommendations. There are a ton of discussions on best Cat. 5 in NYC.

AbuCordoba

Good point! I saw a thread on Cat 6 similar and kinda wanted the same list of what people thought was good worldwide as flights is not an issue for me however if its better I am not specific, I would say Europe, Middle East or North/East Africa.

christianj

I would personally do this FIRST and then you can ask specific questions on properties.

1. Go to the Marriott website
2. Click on Find & Reserve at the top
3. Click on Browse by Destination at the bottom of the next screen
4. Pick the area you are interested in (Europe)
5. Once that area list comes up, click on the View All Hotel in Europe (or whatever area you picked)
6. On the next page, click on the ALL Filters tab under the EDIT button on the right side of the screen
7. On the next page click on the Marriott Bonvoy Category Tab
8. Pick the Category 5 (or all less than that if you want to see those hotels as well)
9. Click APPLY at the bottom and voila!
10. You will get a listing of all the Category 5 (or whatever categories you picked) for the area you picked.

AbuCordoba

Amazing never knew this tool existed!!!