The CC only gives 5x for dollar spent at a Marriott property, whereas the eGift Card offer is giving 10x per dollar spent, so it appears to be the better offer, so long as I also get the credit for paying for the room.

If I only get 1x per dollar spent when purchasing the eGift Card, but still get credit for the stay, plus the platinum 50% and welcome gift, it's a net 16.1k points. If I just pay outright with the CC instead of the eGift Card, it only nets 12.5 points. If I don't get the credit for the stay points, only the eGift Card purchase and welcome gift, then it's a net of 9.5k points.

But that's why I posted this; so that someone who has experience and knowledge could let me know.

If this is true, than this would be a change from last year. I am 99% sure that my GC purchase was credited as a Marriott purchase on my MR Visa.

It's interesting that I am able to pull up the T&C for this offer, but no direct publicity on the Marriott website...

Sabreena Jacob l Resident Manager l JW Marriott Bangkok
[email protected]

You will definitely get the pts from the Stay and the 50% bonus for PLAT.

Could you let us know who is the merchant on your MR CC statement for the GC purchase? If it is from Marriott, then I would agree it is a given you earn the 5x.

However point purchase with airlines or IHG (Priority Club) are handled by Points.com and billed as such - they dont earn the spend bonus on their corresponding cards.

@BKKLEE - Thanks for the contact info.

Thanks to everyone for the input. I'm thinking it makes sense to purchase the eGift Card, right?

provided they will accept it.............

Living in Florida does not mean I dont stay in hotels in Europe. Dont you agree? I am sure you being in BKK does not mean you dont stay in hotels outside of Thailand. Am I correct?

For your information, the hotel in question is InterContinental Le Grand in Paris. That would also tell you that such pre-authorization practice is not limited to Marriott hotels, but an industry-wide practice.

since I am special counsel for a 5* int'l hotel chain with well over 200 props worldwide, this brand does NOT have such practices............

But we're talking Marriott & I have encountered the practice at Marriotts worldwide.

PS - Thanks for giving CJKatl the email as I figured you'd be the 'go to' guy on BKK properties, but I meant in a more generic sense or via PM. We normally avoid providing real names or email addresses of hotel/airline, etc, employees on FT in the open forum.

Cheers.

besides all previous Marriott stays, in this month alone I just completed stays at the Renaissance Phuket, singapore Marriott and JW Kuala Lumpur and at none of them did this practice take place...........

So sounds like Asia not, but the OP was in the US & those of us who have experienced stays in the US, UK & Europe frequently encounter this. I myself have plenty of times and it's not fun.

Cheers.

last year were Marriott stays in Spain, Portugal, France & Monaco with no incremental debits noted............ year before was UK, Belgium, Holland - same............... won't dispute your experience but perhaps we don't stay at the same Marriott's...........

Well goodness gracious Miss Molly. You must be the exception to the normal practice of holds on rooms + incidentals, unlike many who have posted what they have experienced many a time (and which socrates has confirmed in many a thread is the normal practice). Good for you! You go guy! Woo-hoo! You be the man!

Cheers.

Just to make sure we're on track here, the discussion is regarding additional holds being placed on the account and not actual charges (debit cards work differently in effectively holding funds and not just credit). These hang on your account until properly closed out with an actual charge or x number of days depending upon the CC issuer. Some properties do not clear the holds and you're left with essentially double billing for a few/several days. All of my CCs allow me to see pending charges online, but they aren't always immediately visible, but they do dig into my credit line.

Fortunately, the OP was able to get the CC to up the credit line and this may be a good deal. Too bad the call wasn't made while at the first place.

Two clarifications:

1. On the purchase of the Gift Cards, since the T&C for the "10 points per dollar" bonus require the Gift Cards to be purchased through the "gifts.marriott" website, if you use the Marriott Rewards black VISA card you should get 5 points per dollar from Chase for charging the purchase to the MR VISA. At least, that has been the case in the past.

2. The gift cards, like the Marriott Rewards VISA, do not charge a foreign transaction fee. The Gift Cards are processed through the "Givex" system, which does not add the 3% ForEx fee.