Any resort properties acknowledge Plat?
 

One of my few complaints about MR (I became Plat after years of being Diamond w/Hilton) is that resort properties typically do not acknowledge Marriott members.

Why this matters for me is because when we do travel for pleasure, we always travel out of the country...and, most really nice places are out of the country.

While I am still Platinum, I want to plan a trip using $$/points (either way) to a really nice Marriott property outside of the USA. We live in California, and a flight lasting no more than 8 hours would be preferred. We returned from Australia a few months ago and even though we were in Biz class, it is still a very, very LOOOONG flight....we did not fly Biz home...so 8 hrs. or less is our preference.

1. Can anyone think of a resort property that typically rewards Plats even though it is not guaranteed (just maybe the hotel's policy). Specifically if they have an EL?

2. Can anyone think of a really nice nonresort property that they've been to (no CYs...I don't care where they are)?

I know this shouldn't matter (EL/breakfast/possible upgrades) if we are at a resort property (I know, I know, just the fact that we are fortunate enough to be able to travel should be enough)....but it's just one of those principle things with me....I don't want to use points or $$ if I have status and because it has "Resort" in the name, I am treated just like I got my room off priceline...no thanks. I've been Diamond too long and have been very spoiled over the past few years of not having to deal with this whole Resort exclusionary thing...my big pet peeve with Marriott.

Thanks for any information....looking for late Oct, early Nov 2010.

:)

I've gotten nice upgrades at resorts int he Carribean and Hawaii, but if by acknowledging Platinum guests, you just mean free breakfast, no I can't help.

Not breakfast, per se....
 

I don't mean breakfast so much....that is the one perk that is wasted on me. But access to the EL is different.

Actually, I should have been a little bit more specific. We've been to just about every Caribbean island and for sure, every island in Hawaii....I should have excluded those two destinations.

Hubby is really turned off at the whole exclusion on resort properties with Plat status.....looks like we are heading back to the Hilton. The Hilton doesn't exclude any properties from their member plan...other than Waldorf properties.

Thanks.....

Dawn

It's not so much that Marriott resorts exclude Platinum members from their EL, it's that they don't have them.

Since you said no more than 8 hours, Hawaii and the Carribean is what immediately popped into my head. It's pretty much that or Mexico if you want a resort within 8 hours.

I can't recall ever finding an EL at a Marriott resort, though I may be forgetting something, and I've been to most every Marriott in the Caribbean and Hawaii (yes, I know it's not out of the county...).

I've also been upgraded to ocean views, suites, etc. at almost every one - St. Kitts, Aruba, JW Oahu, Wailea, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, Waikoloa, Kauai - actually, every one, based on my PLT status. I've never booked more than a Garden View.

Hmm, just noted you also have been to all the Caribbeans and Hawaii, and want a flight of less than 8 hours from California. There may be a resort in Canada than I'm missing, but you may be out of luck. (Costa Rica is just outside your range - don't recall an EL there either)

Here's a thread that has a list of resorts with lounge access (among other lists). As we'd all expect, there aren't many.

Resorts with lounges, comp access or breakfast for elite

D'oh, how'd I miss the obvious - the Griffin Gate Resort (am I the only one who's never even heard of it?).

(I couldn't find any flights that reach San Juan from CA in <8 hrs)

So that's it for EL's, if an EL is the criteria for "acknowledging" PLT status. To me, an Ocean Front room or suite is plenty of acknowledgment so I have no issues with my treatment - hardly "treated like priceline".

I agree with others, I have always gotten upgrades at resorts. Book the lowest price room and end up with ocean view/front at beach resorts and mountain view at ski resorts.

Other than that I see this as a trick question, or at a minimum unrealistic criteria, and requiring EL at resorts as the sole quantifier of Plat status acknowledgment. Hilton resorts can't even meet that requirement given your criteria.

You live in Roseville, CA, always travel outside the country, on a flight under 8 hours, and wish to exclude Hawaii and the Caribbean. Why didn't you say you only wish to travel to Canada, Mexico or Central America. Your choices are very limited not even taking your desire for an EL into consideration:

Canada - 1 resort
Mexico - 1 non-Caribbean resort
Central America - 2 resorts both in Costa Rica (ex-SFO under 8 hours on TACA, over 8 hours on other airlines)

BTW, most really nice properties are outside of North America. You will find the best lounges with the nicest offerings in most Asian FS properties, and isolated resort properties. Suggestion: expand your horizon.

Then return to Hilton if that's what you prefer. That is why there are different hotel chains and frequent stay programs. What works for one person may not for another.

Your choices at Hilton under your specified criteria are actually more limited:

Canada – 1 resort
Mexico – 1 non-Caribbean resort
Central America – 1 resort (also Costa Rica)

And none of the above 3 Hilton properties have EL. You did say breakfast was wasted on you, so I don't see what Hilton brings to the table that Marriott does not:

JW Marriott Phuket
Marriott Bangkok Resort and Spa

Oops sorry...missed the 8 hour flight parameter.

However, as Phuket is a cat 5, its a great use of points.

Bangkok has the best lounge I have been in.

Sorry 'bout that...should have thought more about the OP...
 

No, it wasn't a trick question. Perhaps I was a little bit confining when I said an 8 hours....and I have not been to every Caribbean island either. (Ouch...when I read replies like this, it reminds me to be a little nicer to folks that may not be thinking 100% clearly or perfect when they post--thanks for the reminder in that area.) I feel like I have just been admonished by a teacher!

Let's see...let me try again.

If the "resort" does not have an EL, then that is not an issue. In my original post, I was also looking for NON Resort properties that are very nice--they just don't have "resort" in their name, which seems to matter in the MR program (could be wrong, but that is the impression I was under).

Also, the other question was trying to find any experiences with resort properties that did acknowledge MR members...and I did not know they did that, which is why I posted the question in the beginning. So thanks to those that provided me me with "resort" properties that acknowledged Plats. with the upgrades. And absolutely, a ocean front room is truly an acknowledgment in my book...way better than a cr*ppy breaded mushroom from an EL (hubby doesn't even drink so booze is wasted on him).

I think I have to relook at Caribbean properties. We just got off a 14 night cruise of the Caribbean and we had been to most ports already so it was simply a very relaxing cruise. But we walked to a couple Marriott properties (Aruba for one) and when we asked the front desk if they acknowledged Plats for upgrades, they said, "Oh no....(nearly laughing)....we are "franchised," or something like that....we don't acknowledge it at all." My husband was even turned off with their attitude and he's not even the one with the Plat status. It was almost like we should have been embarassed to ask. Mind you, this was the Renassiance...so it could be different at their other property.

We vacationed in Barbados (loved it), Ireland, London, Rome, Sorrento, Amsterdam, Budapest, Australia, 10 cruises, 4 trips to Cabo (Hilton) and once to Cancun, Maui 3 times, Oahu twice, Big Island, and Kauai.

We are just looking for something different but I realize the eight hour criteria was what made my question an impossible one to reply.

The only Caribbean Island that we haven't been to is Granadines (sp?), Bahamas, St. John....I think that may be it.....but most of those islands were not land vacations (besides Barbados and San Juan) so I think we will need to consider the Caribbean if we are not up for a really, really long flight.

We have definitely tabled Hawaii and Mexico for awhile anyway, but we do remember seeing a BEAUTIFUL Marriott (at least from the outside) when we were leaving St. Thomas....and Curacao seemed to be a very nice place to visit...this was actually are first time to that island (in April).

Sorry for the confusion, but actually, I got some great information. It appears that the Resorts "do" upgrade their Platnium folks....just not breakfast. But upgrading us to a nicer room or a fabulous view, in my view, IS acknowledging Plats and that is what I was after--I may not have been as clear and concise as I should have...you know how sometimes you know what you want to ask but it doesn't come out quite the same when you type it.

And we haven't left Hilton...we have both. We've just had more experience with Hilton outside of the United States, that's all. I will try to maintain both as long as humanly possible.

Thanks for the great information on the "resort" properties that do acknowledge Plat status.

Dawn

Excellent!
 

Thanks!!!! The resort in St. Thomas looked fabulous...thanks for letting me know that they acknowledged your status by an upgrade! We may end up doing a land vacation to the Caribbean after all....just can't stomach a 15 hour flight again--not quite yet anyway.

Also, are you referring to the Aruba Marriott? We didn't actually make it to that Marriott Property...the Renassiance did not seem to acknowledge Plats, at all...so I'm glad the other property (I'm assuming it is the other one) does acknowledge.

:)

If you want a beach hotel AND have a lounge, have you looked at the Hollywood Beach Marriott in Florida? It is just south of FLL. It is a smaller hotel, but right on the beach. It doesn't have much of a pool or other "resort" amenities, but you will probably get upgraded to an Oceanfront balcony room with a great view of the beach and ocean.

Another option, again while not a traditional "resort" hotel, the Victoria Marriott in Canada is a very nice hotel with a lounge. Also, Victoria is a great place to visit if you haven't done so already. You won't run out of places to visit or sites to see. Its been a few years since I was there last, but they upgraded my wife and me to a beautiful suite room. ^

Thanks....
 

Thanks hhoope01--we've actually gone to Canada (few times). My husband is Canadian (born in Hamilton), and I know that is a long way from Victoria, BC, but we went on an Alaskan Cruise, ended up in Seattle, and took the Victoria Ferry back to Victoria and stayed in an adorable cottage for a week (http://cottagevictoria dot com). There is one place that I would return in a New York Second (in Canada) as it is one of my favorite places on earth--Niagara-on-the-Lake, but I digress.

Anyway, we've spent some time in Florida....and I would only say that the only place we'd return to actually spend some time (other than a precruise/post cruise) would be Key West....truth be told, we have some fabulous weather/beaches/ocean in California without the humidity.

I am definitely talking about outside the US. And I never mentioned that an ocean is a must have....nice, but not a deal breaker (we actually seldom get into ocean water--love to walk the beach--love the view--but neither one of us will likely ever get into the water again unless we do a sail w/scuba or snorkeling).

Thanks...great information....

Dawn

I know you mentioned outside of the US, but being on the Westcoast does limit the possibilities as Europe/Asia/Africa/Australia are all outside of your flight limits. Though if you are interested, there is a very nice, new JW resort in Cairo that has an awesome pool (the best in Egypt) and it has a lounge. Though it would be a bit outside of your 8 hrs to get there. Also note that most Marriotts in Asia will have a lounge (whether they are a resort or not.)

Have you visited Mexico City before? The JW there is a nice hotel with a lounge. They will treat you well and there are a number of things to see there (pyramid, oldest Catholic cathedral in NA, etc.)

In the US, an off the beach resort my wife loves is the Grand Hotel just outside of Mobile, AL. It is a beautiful hotel and there are more than a few things to do and see around Mobile. It does not have a lounge though.

I was treated very well as a platinum at the Marriott Beachside Resort in Key West. I received breakfast vouchers for a great buffet every day, and an upgrade to a 1 bedroom villa with full kitchen with subzero appliances and great balcony. There is not really a beach (this is Key West), but the property is beautiful and the service was excellent. You do not want a std room, since they are really 'lockoffs' of a condo and are very small. I would expect an upgrade to 1BR would be available when you plan to travel.

In my opinion, Key West has gotten too crowded and commercialized in the past 5 yr., but many people still like it. Another all suite hotel is the Marriott Suites Palm Beach on Singer Island, FL. We haven't stayed at this hotel, but own two timeshares in the area and love the beach.