I don't know about your stays, but when I checkin, I need to use a CC even when I intend to use a GC upon checkout as GCs aren't usable as a checkin deposit so if the OP is still at the hotel and hasn't checked out how is using the GC refused beforehand????
And, although the prop will take an initial deposit amount against the CC (usually equal to the 1st night), I've never had them interimly increase this amount day-by-day as restaurant or other charges are billed to the final room bill so do not understand the candy bar claim........

Perhaps each credit card company is different, but I know there are interim increases on at least one of my cards if it appears I am charging over $X amount (X being whatever the hotel decides is reasonable and customary on a per day basis).

I am certain of this, as one of my credit cards was stolen this month, and as we determined which charges were "mine" there were multiple amounts from various hotels. When I asked, I was told some were initial preauthorizations, others were add-ons, and still others were for the final bill.

As far as the GC, CC, checking in / out, concerns and questions - the OP's actions reflect those of a new traveler - worth remembering that it is a completely different experience than yours or mine might be.

May be you have not stayed in hotels that practice such?

I have had hotel put incremental pre-authorization on my card day by day, WITHOUT even charge anything to the room, just a general practice - but they are upfront about it, 75 euro per day per person for incidentals, added every day until check out. That is on top of the room rate.

With OP being a young person, he may not have a credit limit high enough to allow such pre-authorization that essentially reduces the available credit he could use.

If the hotel accepts GC from the beginning, OP can prepay his stay at check in with GC - effectively reduce the "hold" to incidental only because the stay itself is paid at check in with GC.

The hotel chose NOT to accept GC from the beginning, hence the problems that brought about - OP's credit card available limit is all eaten up to the point he could net use it to charge anything - not even able to eat at the hotel because there was no more meaningful available credit - all took up by the hotel's pre-authorization on both the room rate, incidentals and possible further incidentals until he checks out.

I am quite surprised that you fail to see such simple mechanism.

perhaps they do this type of pre-authorization in Obama-ville, but they sure don't do this here in asia............. now my MR's acc't only shows 111 nights for this year, all on my-dime, as client stays are at their owned props, so I guess I just don't have any experience with this type of debiting for incidentals used or not used..........

Europe is not OB's territory. Note I mention my experience is in EURO currency. Last I know, OB does not govern any country where Euro is the currency.

It is a very common practice in US, Canada and Europe. No idea about South America as I haven't been there.

BTW, your 111 nights have been mentioned many times in your posts, I think the readers are very familiar by now - however that does not mean you really know about the practice in areas where your 111 nights have not occurred. Or, you have cards with credit limit very high then such practice is non-event. As others pointed out already, OP is a young and inexperienced traveler and this can be a lesson especially on how to deal with hotel management and the intervention from corporation on his behalf (OP chose to decline it, a rather naive reaction.)

Again, it is such a simple, basic situation that occurs EVERYDAY in many hotels and other similar type of business - cruise lines come to mind as a matter of fact. Cruises are all prepaid - the final payment is due 75 days or more before sailing date. So there is ONLY incidentals outside the 24/7 meal service, such as drinks, shipboard purchases, tours purchases, that the ship needs guaranteed payment. Some lines do a set amount calculated on a formula such as $80 a day for the whole duration of the cruise, authorized the moment you check in regardless whether you would incur such incidentals or not. Some lines do it on an INCREMENTAL basis as described by Sophiegirl. As a result this can often create a lot of messy pre-authorization on the card, and it takes ages to drop off. It could really create problem on a low limit card, or to folks who have extensive land trip post cruise.

Really,this is such a simple and basic scenario that I am at a loss why your 111 nights would not help you to see the matter the same way as the majority posters on this thread, OP included.

didn't know that Florida used Euros..........I'll keep it in mind should I every want to visit..........
what cruises (of which I've never participated) and their method of debits have to do with acceptance or non-acceptance of Marriott GCs is way beyond me.............. and, as I recall, I haven't in the past mentioned 111 nights as until my recent Phuket/ Singapore/KL trip I was way under 100............
and, I still do not provide a GC at checkin as it is a direct debit to the hotels acc't at checkout............I do provide a CC and normal practice is to be charged 1st night + taxes as a "hold" but I have never had day-by-day extra charges, incremental or not, ever charged to my acc't at any hotel in the world I've stayed at and that includes Asia, Europe (inc. eastern), No America, So America, Central America, Africa, Australia/NZ & the Middle East...............

Agree w/ the above, both on the cc auth - AND that the OP reflect a new traveler, which those who stay 111 nights or more & has traveled for years is not.

Agree w/ the above.

Now the OP knows re: both cc' auth & incidentals, as well as gift cards (although based on this experience he probably won't use GC again).

Cheers.

Nervous First Time eGift Card User Has Questions...
 

This morning's Marriott email offering 10x points for each dollar of Gift Card purchased has me considering using a Gift Card for an upcoming stay. I just want to make sure I'm understanding everything correctly and am crossing my "T"s and dotting my "I"s before parting with the cash.

I called Marriott this morning and confirmed that eGift Cards are eligible for this promotion, and that there is no problem purchaing cards for my own use. The agent also called the hotel to confirm that they will accept eGift Cards. (I read the other thread!) I will also reach out to the hotel directly to confirm they accept the cards.

Will this be the points earned, assuming a $600 four night stay?

• 6k points for purchasing the gift card.
• 3k points for using my Marriott Premier card to purchase the gift cards.
• 6k points for staying at the hotel.
• 3k points from the Platinum 50% bonus.
• 500 points for the Welcome Gift.
• Total: 18.5k points + 4 nights credited towards Elite Status/MegaBonus.

In other words, nothing is credited differently using an eGift Card versus paying with a credit card, correct?

Thank you in advance for clarification. I'm a little nervous about using the eGift Card, but it seems like a good deal.

As long as you confirm (get a name) w/ the hotel they accept the gift card & know that you need to provide a cc at check-in for the hold & use the gift card at check-out you should be good to go. I'll let someone else figure out whether your math is right, but looks like it to me.

Cheers.

I have the name of the person I spoke to at MI Customer Care this morning, but does anyone have an email address for the JW Marriott Bangkok? I thought I could just use a previous Virtual Concierge link, but it didnt' work.

Calling BKKLEE...

Cheers.

its not 3x for charges from Marriotts on the MR CC but 5x

also keep in mind that there will be Forex fees I believe of 3% added to your bill total

last night I used my GC when I checked in, knew I would be in a rush when leaving this morn and didnt want to find out Im late since I had to wait to switch the method of payment. No problem they took it, later when I ran into some problems even thou I called earlier and got the AOK, they ended up crediting the amount they were refunding me to the CC I used to close the payment out to. (I like to use only a round # to my GC say $80 or $85 rather then say $84.77 Id tell 'em take $80 from my GC and close it out charging my CC for the difference. Pt is using a GC should be no different then using aCC

But the purchase of MR GCs is not a Marriott property charge so it doesn't hit as a MR purchase...

I wasn't sure of that. Thanks. It still comes out as more points if I purchase and use the eGift Card.

On the CC points - it's 5x, so on a $600 purchase it would be 3k, if it were credited, or am I missing something?

I think you are still missing the point, so to speak...
As I read this, the 5 points for every $1 is for property spend and does not apply to the purchase of MR GCs. I would expect only 600 points for $600 worth of GCs. So using your MR CC is a MUCH better deal if points are your goal.

I don't see here anything about a 50% bonus for using the MR Premier card.

I have not tried this and I don't have a MR CC, so maybe someone else with direct experience will chime in.