Homes & Villas by Marriott Experiences and Discussions
Mar 21, 23, 1:29 pm
#106
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: YWG
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,441
Our bookings have all had the first email from Marriott confirming the booking including the details of the reservation including the M reservation number, the name of the local partner (who actually provides the stay logistics including check in info) etc and a rather detailed list of 'what to expect next'. If you do not have this yet, I would reach out asap.
Dedicated email for the H/V bookings we have been using for q is [email protected]
Mar 21, 23, 8:15 pm
#107
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: TUL
Programs: Delta, Marriott, IHG Platinum
Posts: 208
Presume the initial confirmation email was from Marriott?
Our bookings have all had the first email from Marriott confirming the booking including the details of the reservation including the M reservation number, the name of the local partner (who actually provides the stay logistics including check in info) etc and a rather detailed list of 'what to expect next'. If you do not have this yet, I would reach out asap.
Dedicated email for the H/V bookings we have been using for q is [email protected]
Our bookings have all had the first email from Marriott confirming the booking including the details of the reservation including the M reservation number, the name of the local partner (who actually provides the stay logistics including check in info) etc and a rather detailed list of 'what to expect next'. If you do not have this yet, I would reach out asap.
Dedicated email for the H/V bookings we have been using for q is [email protected]
Apr 30, 23, 11:29 am
#108
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,846
So from reading reports here and other summaries on travel blogs it seems firstly Marriott just is an agent for other rental agencies. So only reason you would use HV is to try to get points.
But Marriott provides no support, even for getting points.
So if you want a long painful process in which you may get points but may not why do HV?
But Marriott provides no support, even for getting points.
So if you want a long painful process in which you may get points but may not why do HV?
Apr 30, 23, 12:57 pm
#109
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: YWG
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,441
So from reading reports here and other summaries on travel blogs it seems firstly Marriott just is an agent for other rental agencies. So only reason you would use HV is to try to get points.
But Marriott provides no support, even for getting points.
So if you want a long painful process in which you may get points but may not why do HV?
But Marriott provides no support, even for getting points.
So if you want a long painful process in which you may get points but may not why do HV?
Another key consideration for us- For CC travel insurance, the HV booking comes up as 'hotel' vs with a home rental group- this means our travel insurance is in effect. AMEX team actually tested this by checking the coding for the charge as it was new territory for the CDN AMEX agent.
Our experience with Marriott is that they indeed hunt down the points and ensure they post (it is apparently a different group so needs to be done manually). I suspect the HV experience will be more streamlined as the program matures.
We also received support from the Marriott HV team when the local agent was not being responsive.
In a couple of comparisons, the HV booking had fewer 'additional fees' than other home rental operations- I suspect this is location specific but good to compare nonetheless.
For now, where there is a HV option in the area we are looking at, we go with it.
Apr 30, 23, 6:10 pm
#110
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,846
We like the points esp the promos (elite nights).
Another key consideration for us- For CC travel insurance, the HV booking comes up as 'hotel' vs with a home rental group- this means our travel insurance is in effect. AMEX team actually tested this by checking the coding for the charge as it was new territory for the CDN AMEX agent.
Our experience with Marriott is that they indeed hunt down the points and ensure they post (it is apparently a different group so needs to be done manually). I suspect the HV experience will be more streamlined as the program matures.
We also received support from the Marriott HV team when the local agent was not being responsive.
In a couple of comparisons, the HV booking had fewer 'additional fees' than other home rental operations- I suspect this is location specific but good to compare nonetheless.
For now, where there is a HV option in the area we are looking at, we go with it.
Another key consideration for us- For CC travel insurance, the HV booking comes up as 'hotel' vs with a home rental group- this means our travel insurance is in effect. AMEX team actually tested this by checking the coding for the charge as it was new territory for the CDN AMEX agent.
Our experience with Marriott is that they indeed hunt down the points and ensure they post (it is apparently a different group so needs to be done manually). I suspect the HV experience will be more streamlined as the program matures.
We also received support from the Marriott HV team when the local agent was not being responsive.
In a couple of comparisons, the HV booking had fewer 'additional fees' than other home rental operations- I suspect this is location specific but good to compare nonetheless.
For now, where there is a HV option in the area we are looking at, we go with it.
Do you mind providing an example of how Marriott HV can help when the local agent doesn't respond? It just seems like you need the local agent to do anything, as Marriott HV doesn't actually manage the property.
But when you said the Marriott HV team is helpful, do you mean as compared to not doing anything, or as helpful as VRBO or Airbnb support?
May 1, 23, 6:35 am
#111
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: YWG
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,441
For me, it seems like HV is a far cry from a hotel, where there is always someone physically there at the front desk.
Do you mind providing an example of how Marriott HV can help when the local agent doesn't respond? It just seems like you need the local agent to do anything, as Marriott HV doesn't actually manage the property.
But when you said the Marriott HV team is helpful, do you mean as compared to not doing anything, or as helpful as VRBO or Airbnb support?
Do you mind providing an example of how Marriott HV can help when the local agent doesn't respond? It just seems like you need the local agent to do anything, as Marriott HV doesn't actually manage the property.
But when you said the Marriott HV team is helpful, do you mean as compared to not doing anything, or as helpful as VRBO or Airbnb support?
re examples of how Marriott H/V has helped:
- In the Marriott confirmation is a note that the local agent will reach out with any specific booking details within a few days. When this did not happen, we reached back to Marriott H/V email and shortly thereafter the local agent info we needed was provided.
- During our last stay, the local agent was not available via WhatsApp on a time sensitive issue- so we emailed Marriott H/V email and voila, the local agent reached out shortly thereafter.
- We had no electrical service at our planned home in Italy and the local company worked with Marriott H/V to ensure the temp housing was still in the Marriott 'pool' so our reservation details were maintained and our elite nights still recognized.
May 1, 23, 6:17 pm
#112
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,846
Homes/villas are not supposed to be hotels... part of why we like this option- more space, managing our own food etc.
re examples of how Marriott H/V has helped:
re examples of how Marriott H/V has helped:
- In the Marriott confirmation is a note that the local agent will reach out with any specific booking details within a few days. When this did not happen, we reached back to Marriott H/V email and shortly thereafter the local agent info we needed was provided.
- During our last stay, the local agent was not available via WhatsApp on a time sensitive issue- so we emailed Marriott H/V email and voila, the local agent reached out shortly thereafter.
- We had no electrical service at our planned home in Italy and the local company worked with Marriott H/V to ensure the temp housing was still in the Marriott 'pool' so our reservation details were maintained and our elite nights still recognized.
I'm still wary of using Airbnb and the such given I'm used to staying at hotels and getting stuff fixed right away (or getting a new room), and was thinking Marriott HV was a compromise. But it seems like you still have to deal with a lot of issues potentially.
Aug 2, 23, 3:44 pm
#113
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 26
Positive Stay Experience but Needed Follow Up
Adding a generally positive HVMB experience here:
We booked a 4 night stay in Portugal during the early May 40,000 bonus promo. The local agent was Feel Porto and they were very responsive via email, WhatsApp, and their web platform before and during the stay (WhatsApp messages were answered within a few minutes while we were in Portugal). We had a confirmation email from Feel Porto within 24 hours of booking via Marriott with a login to their digital key platform. They resent the email and followed up proactively with the door code prior to arrival. So everything was smooth from a pre-trip logistics perspective.
The apartment itself was great, super clean, very well furnished, and as close to the pictures as you can expect. Would happily stay there again.
The only drawback of the experience was that the booking did include a 200 Euro security deposit which was not automatically returned. MB points were also not timely credited. We did end up getting both back quickly once I reached out. This was the timeline:
June 28th - Checked out
July 18th - Sent a follow up email to HVMB support
July 21st - Received email response from HVMB saying they have submitted the security deposit to be refunded within 5-7 business days and that elite night credits and points will take 4-6 weeks post departure to reflect on my Bonvoy account
July 24th - Security deposit refunded to CC
July 27th - Stay & 40K Bonus points added to my Bonvoy account - Note the HVMB nights count as Bonus/Promotional nights, not nights stayed
So overall, a positive experience. Bit annoying to have to chase them for the deposit and points, but it was only 1 email and resolved quite quickly. I would stay at one of these again depending on location.
We booked a 4 night stay in Portugal during the early May 40,000 bonus promo. The local agent was Feel Porto and they were very responsive via email, WhatsApp, and their web platform before and during the stay (WhatsApp messages were answered within a few minutes while we were in Portugal). We had a confirmation email from Feel Porto within 24 hours of booking via Marriott with a login to their digital key platform. They resent the email and followed up proactively with the door code prior to arrival. So everything was smooth from a pre-trip logistics perspective.
The apartment itself was great, super clean, very well furnished, and as close to the pictures as you can expect. Would happily stay there again.
The only drawback of the experience was that the booking did include a 200 Euro security deposit which was not automatically returned. MB points were also not timely credited. We did end up getting both back quickly once I reached out. This was the timeline:
June 28th - Checked out
July 18th - Sent a follow up email to HVMB support
July 21st - Received email response from HVMB saying they have submitted the security deposit to be refunded within 5-7 business days and that elite night credits and points will take 4-6 weeks post departure to reflect on my Bonvoy account
July 24th - Security deposit refunded to CC
July 27th - Stay & 40K Bonus points added to my Bonvoy account - Note the HVMB nights count as Bonus/Promotional nights, not nights stayed
So overall, a positive experience. Bit annoying to have to chase them for the deposit and points, but it was only 1 email and resolved quite quickly. I would stay at one of these again depending on location.
Aug 2, 23, 11:32 pm
#115
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Qatar Privilege Club Silver
Posts: 68
Last year my security deposit for a house in Greece was returned automatically after a month and a half. It's not fast because Marriott charges the credit card and transfers the money to the local company. And then the local company returns the deposit to Marriott, and only then does Marriott refund them to the credit card.
Aug 3, 23, 2:16 am
#117
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Qatar Privilege Club Silver
Posts: 68
I checked in detail when the money was returned to my card - I left the house on September 4, 2022, and I received the deposit on the credit card account on November 18, 2022. It's actually two and a half months...
Aug 24, 23, 3:45 pm
#119
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DEN
Posts: 496
How long do credit card refunds take when cancelling a trip to get the 50% reservation down payment back? The H&V website does say point refunds take up to 10 business days but can't find anything on non-points transactions.
