Since I started my job, I've been staying in nothing but Marriott's for the past 2 years, both years making platinum with over 210 nights/year. I've recently been staying in the FS Marriott Denver West. Nice hotel but totally turning me off on the Marriott brand.

I have a co-worker staying at the Sheraton 2 miles down the road and they have free wi-fi, free happy hour in the concierge lounge, better check-in amenities and from what I understand better points to rewards "exchange rate".

My hotel now won't give me free internet, $12.95/day, concierge is closed till Jan. 2nd and very poor housekeeping. I just wonder why I shouldn't status match to Starwood or Hilton for next year. Anyone have any advice to stay or switch? I'm really torn.

Lots of people seem to be happy switching to Starwood. The Westin properties I've visited have all been top notch and I've been tempted to jump based on similar reasons as you.

IMO, Hilton is not much better, and the properties are worse. Overseas there seems to be more Hilton properties but stateside I'm using Marriott 95% of the time.

If you jump ship, please write a nice letter to Marriott management letting them know why you did.

Any idea of who (what e-mail address) to write? When I do, any idea if anything would change or if they would do anything about it?

With your "credentials" I don't think you'd have any problem getting SPG to match your Marriott status. A phone call, then a nice note about wanting to compare "apples to apples" in regards to elite benefits along with a printout of my Marriott stays got it instantly for me. If they have hotels where you need to be they seem to be an excellent choice. Marriott has been on a downhill slope in regards to their benefits for elites.

I just ran some numbers, staying at a $200/nt hotel, for 1-5 nights, as a PLT, redeeming a typical resort-type vacation hotel for 5 nights. Marriott required 6.9-7.7 nights stayed per award night. SPG requires 8.7-13.7 (that 500/stay really helps on short stays).

So the numbers, even with the new award levels, are consistent with history. SPG has always been more "expensive" to redeem, but the last-room availability always made up for the value. Then again, MR always has a property near where I stay, I can't say the same for SPG.

I've been PLT in both for at least 7 years - with your number of nights, you certainly should look into spreading the nights around and gain status in multiple programs. SPG will match you to PLT right away.

At Marriott? About wi-fi, lounges, amenities, exchange rate? I doubt they'll do anything specifically for you, but a large, sustained amount of customer feedback has been known to influence companies. I'm sure the Customer Service contact info is on the web site.

Which program is better is a "how many licks to the center of a Tootsie Pop?" question...The world will never know...

For me, it's the availability of properties that makes Marriott win out. I travel to some far out places (not Haight Ashbury, more like Altoona or Goldsboro) and it's more likely a Marriott property will be available.

The last few full serve Marriott properties I've stayed at have included free WiFi as a Platinum amenity. I agree, though, that it is silly not to have this available at the hotel for all guests at no fee. To me, this is as silly as charging for toilet paper or water. We all know it costs the hotel pennies per person to have WiFi service in the hotel and the high fee is simply gouging.

The main reason I'm currently sticking with Marriott is the goal of getting lifetime Platinum. As far as I know, no other hotel program offers lifetime status.

When I stop traveling for work, it will be nice to still enjoy the benefits of Platinum status-- I don't do much leisure travel when I'm spending lots of nights away from home already.