Marriott Platinum. Daughter staying at Renassaince this weekend, using my points. She was told that because the Concierge lounge is closed for the weekend, no provision at all is made for breakfast. Isn't she supposed to recive a coupon for breakfast in the hotel restaurant under these circumstances? When she asked, she was told by front desk clerk, "We don't do that". ???

No. Only required M-F and not at all at resorts.

O.K......thanks for the quick reply. Disappointing, but she was upgraded to a suite, so she can "make do", I think!

if you don't stay there she shouldn't get any upgrade or perk ... by the rules ...

some hotels provide BF during the weekend, but most of them don't.

Are there no restaurants nearby?

Didn't know you could even get UGs on point stays.

I've gotten breakfast certs on weekends before, so it must be on a hotel by hotel basis.

This has been discussed quite a bit. Bottom line consensus....and certainly my experience....seems to be that most properties used to give breakfast certs to elites. Sometimes it took a little arm-twisting, but usually you could do it.

Now it's pretty much the opposite. Most properties won't do it....although some still do. I'm unclear whether or not this is a corporate-mandated "crackdown". But whatever, it has to do with the economy.

On the plus side, most (but certainly not all) weekend rates are a bigger relative bargain than they used to be. And most properties offer a an SFB (free breakfast included) weekend rate that's a pretty good deal and also represents good savings over the regular weekday rate.

As an example, I have a weekend stay coming up in a couple of weeks where IIRC, the regular weekday corporate rate is close to $200. Weekend rate ...no breakfast....is just under $100. For a rate $12 higher, I get a full breakfast buffet for two. Still a good deal....and less than the $119 I paid the last time I spent a weekend (with comped breakfast certs) at this hotel a couple of years ago.

We complain...and rightfully so....about hotels "nickel and diming" us. But that happens to cut both ways, too.

My experience has been similar to cyberdad's. Even without the breakfast certificates, the '2 for breakfast' weekend special rates at FS Marriott's are often lower than SHS and RI in the surrounding area. With the current 20% discount (F5x), these are a great incentive for weekend getaways. I have also been able to 'upgrade' a special weekend rate (AAA) at the hotel to include breakfast for $10-20. Add my platinum gift of Merlot with fruit tray, you can't beat the value.

Must say I do agree with posters here, I find myself paying less for weekend s4b rates now than I did room only a few years ago, making the abandonment of breakfast certs something of a nonentity, albiet that in UK almost all Marriotts offer free breakfast to plats anyway, lounge open or not. This does work especially well with rock bottom room only rates, which when coupled with the EEO can mean a weekend FS B+B for �50 ($80) for the entire weekend, and thats a cracking-value �25 night!!!

The cutbacks are tedious but the rates are being pegged back and in that scenario something has to give... Lounge facilities seems to be it, although I have noticed recently inferior toiletries too. Even so, the pricecuts make it well worthwhile since the main benefit of a Marriott are their beautifully comfy beds, clean rooms and excellent onsite bar/restaurants.

Of course the downside is that redeeming points in the current environment makes little sense, unless in the Eurozone, so my points balance is increasing to very high levels, thank goodness Marriott did its devaluation last year, hopefully my value is safe until the economy gets properly motoring and prices increase when I can then use those "cheap" points.