I've been to Morningstar, it is very nice, and the pool area there is also really super.

Well, three hours of Internet searches and phone calls has proven Portugal will not work for the dates we want to go. AMS is still a great choice for a first start because we've never been, y'all say there are good Marriott options, and through DL, it doesn't count as a destination because it's a connecting city/airport so the stop is free of additional points charge...

But...

Any non-Portugal suggestions on European/North African Marriott beach property suggestions/warnings would be welcome.

Thanks for all the help so far. Portugal and AMS were both destinations we had not considered prior to being suggested.

Yet another vote for JW Bangkok. The lounge is great, the service exceptional, the buffet in the Marriott Cafe is always first rate (assuming you decide to not eat in the lounge), the location is convenient to BTS (although the new Renaissance will be even better) and the price is right.

I have not been to Bangkok, but have booked the Marriott Resort and Spa for 5 nights over Christmas 2010. So far in this thread all the posts about how great the Bangkok JW is, and the lack of posts about the Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa got me a bit worried.

So I did a search and found a number of threads including this fairly recent thread, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...evel-best.html which has quite a few posts from people who specifically said they stayed at both properties and provided their analysis and opinions.

So from the rave reviews about the Bangkok JW in this thread and the posts from the other thread, one comes to the conclusion that the Marriott Resort and Spa would also be a good choice. Or at least I did.

BTW, anyone who has actually stayed at both, I personally would welcome additional feedback (but probably in the other thread).

Thank you to all those who recommended BKK. I stayed in the JW BKK last month and agree it's a great hotel. I've heard great things about the Marriott Resort, too, and may stay there next time if I go to BKK. (The JW was EXCELLENT but might want to try something different.)

Having just been to BKK, I am looking for a different destination. AMS seems a great choice for on of two stops on the trip. I am looking for a beach location in the same or nearby continent to have as a second stop on the trip. Since AMS is city, I was hoping for beach or resort. Portugal, which was a great suggestion, won't work with the airline tickets (points) so I'm asking if anyone knows another nearby location. Thanks again for the help.

I'm actually trying to get some work done today so can't spend more than a few minutes on FT or do a search, but does Marriott have some properties in Spain - ie, Southern Spain such as Marbella? I know they have an Athens Marriott, but that's not on the beach (although it's got a lovely rooftop bar/pool from where I hear overlooking the Acropolis). Don't know about any other properties in Greece.

Cheers.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/athensh...10080/sizes/l/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/missexp...94616/sizes/l/

Marriott's Marbella Beach Resort

I have been to Marbella, and it is very nice, including some nice shopping, nice beaches, very good restaurants, and a nice casino. I have not been to this Marriott, which is a vacation club, but it looks nice. Marbella is the warmest spot in western Europe during the winter.

I travel all over the lower 48, so I have seen quite a few domestic properties - here's my pick of the litter.

I love both of these hotels - I was upgraded to the Penthouse Suite at the Vinoy - a bit dated, but awesome! I don't prefer the location, but that's ok.
And I love the Blackstone as well.

I think PHX has great Marriott properties. IMO, you can't complain about Camelback, Buttes or the JW.

The Mayflower is a great property in DC.

An unexpected recommendation: the Detroit Marriott Troy. I had to go to a small town near the north side of Detroit and I was pleasantly surprised by the Troy Marriott, and I suppose that's mostly because of the food in the CL. They had sushi! It wasn't really all that good, but still. I'm a sucker for the little things.:)

On another note, a disappointing experience: the South Beach Marriott. Seeing as how this is a cat 8 hotel, I was expecting something absolutely amazing, and the view is definitely that. HOWEVER, if you're going to be a cat 8 hotel, you need to have an amazing location and amazing facilities, IMO. The hotel was just regular.