I am a Platinum member from the UK. I seldom have a moan but I woke up this morning and decided to rant on the Marriott scheme from a European POV.

(1) The lastest platinum offers for BOGO do not include any hotels outside the US or is that NA?

(2) the CC Visa, which I have one, only gives 2pts per �1, equivalent to 1.5 pts per $. I have never seen any promotion to increase spend by giving double points for a period of time.

(3) The CC give 10 elite nights per year where the US version gives 15 nights what does this cost the CC Company or Marriot to change to 15 nights?

(4) I am always chasing my points for stays, mainly in the UK, as over the last 4 years the hotels have managed to short change me by 200k points. The main problem with the hotels is that they do not seem to understand how to post giftcards or bonus bucks with the correct points.

I, as the title suggest, always looking for the grass to be greener on my side of the sea. I will be sticking with Marriott as I am 65 nights away from lifetime Gold.

SM

If it makes you feel any better at all, #4 is not limited to the UK - I have had to request for point corrections for exactly the same reasons....and all my stays are US -

sophiegirl

True for the current offers, but in the past there were often a number of UK properties participating.

Maybe the next iteration will be more to your liking.

Keeping receipts until points post, double checking that the _correct_ points post, and emailing for corrections / additions should be SOP for a frequent Marriott traveler. This is especially true for gift card/cheques stays.

It isn't really that hard once you decide to do it - when the receipt is emailed in to Marriott, I have had a 100% success rate in prompt corrections.

boomdog

I wasn't commenting (and I don't think the OP was either) on the success of corrections....it was the fact that they were consistently needed. Just because something IS SOP doesn't mean it SHOULD BE.

And it certainly isn't solely a Marriott issue - Hyatt is worse.

Just a quantum of solace to the OP: Trust me there are MR members who are not eligible for any Marriott branded CC at all and must chase their points too.

On the bright side: Those of us who are not forced to stay most of our nights at hotels in North America haven�t encountered the recent cost savings measures over there that often. Personally i prefer staying 15 more nights in decent Marriotts than beeing US member (forced to stay in the US) and benefit from CC nights... :-)

All of the guest loyalty programs, for hotels, airlines, and cars need to be reminded to post their points or stays or trips or whatever at least on a somewhat regular basis, and there is almost no excuse for that, AFAIAC. As a matter of fact, when they get it wrong and need to be prompted after 7 or 10 days have gone by, they should give some sort of compensation for us doing their jobs for them.

I went through quite an ordeal recently trying to get some DL miles posted to my account properly back in December for a trip in November, and got called just about everything in the book except an outright liar!

Many, if not most of the hotels treat the Bonus Bucks as some sort of discount coupon, rather than as a form of spendable currency or traveler's check, as they should, and clearly do not know how to apply it to our accounts. Of course they should apply it in the same way as cash, and give you a receipt, preferably mid-way through a visit, separately from both check in and check out, so you can have a distinct receipt showing the BB applied as if it was a cash credit reducing the balance already charged to your account.

The amount of nights someone gets as a holder of a Marriott Visa CC totally depends on what KIND OF CC that person holds. There are at least three different US versions of the Marriott Visa CC, and I have a feeling that there are at least two versions of the UK Marriott Visa CC. For the US Marriott Visa CC's, there are Marriott Rewards Visa Signature (Classic), Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature (Platinum), and Marriott Rewards Visa Business Card, and if I am not mistaken, there is also a Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature Business Card too, but I am not positive. The Premier cards give 15 nights, the cards which are not Premier give only 10 nights, so depending on which card you have is whether or not you have the license to moan and wail.

Doubt it. The trend has been during the last few years that less int'l properties, including in the UK, have been included, resulting in this year being zero. Bit of a diss to those based overseas, as well as those who travel overseas; IMO the OP's complaint is legit. BTW - I think it's US, not NA that they're limited to this year.

Cheers.

A follow up, after a Monday at work.

I did not realise that there were several varieties of a US Visa card and only so get the member 15 nights a year.


To get a balance to my "moaning", here are a list of the plus points of the MR scheme for me.

Still like the travel packages as I earn one every year, three in 2008.

Stayed at some great resorts and hotels throughout the world with the points, Sydney, Phoenix, Singapore, London, Paris.....

Good CS service, will normal fix a problem with the postings within 36 hours of reporting it.

Live in a country (UK) where there is a number of Marriotts (60 I think) which means that I can usually find one for work. (Back to moaning - I would like some of the cheaper brands, easier to get those extra nights for a megabonus)

BRG is great, and have several bargain due to this scheme, it does work best in USA less restrictions. I better stop there otherwise I may also thought of another thing to shout about.

Normally get excellent service from all hotel staff I meet, and some even buy me dinner.

Comfortable beds.

SM

Your good points are valid; so are your bad points

Cheers.