Why on earth does MR advertise the up to 2 free nights Megabonus to the public - via a sticker on the USA Today I just got at a Marriott property-and then, when an existing MR member tries to sign up online, the offer switches to a much less attractive one? (Mine was 5,000 points after every two stays)
This only serves to confuse, disappoint and aggravate the very people whom you hope to attract to your properties. Despite being a lowly Silver (15 nights this year), I called and was promised a change to the 2 free nights offer. But that's not really the point here, is it?

Well the 5k for every stays is actually one of the many options out there.But since a 1 night stay at a cat 4 is now 20k points( ) I can see your(valid) point.
IMO the 25 points is much more useful than a 2 free nights in a cat 1-4 property(mostly limited service or in less than popular destinations)-but that is just me.

The fact that a Visa is needed to pay for stays is much more distasteful IMO-MR cheapens out and makes Visa pick up the tab for a large portion of this promo.

These"Mega"(HAH!) promos just keep being regurgitated by the overpaid suits who have ruined a once fine program.

BTW=Bait and switch(aka Lying)Is part of Marriott's shameful history.

did you try to call and switch the promo?

Agreed. Sponsored promos requiring use of certain credit cards need to be done away with. If they are going to truly let anyone participate, they need to recognize some people either don't use Visa or dont' have a Visa.

Marriott's is not going to get any more business from me until January 2011 unless they come out with something that does not stipulate which card I have to use.

I'd rather have the 5K points after each 2nd stay! The last promo I had was 5K points up to 25K, and those 25K went into the hopper w/ my other points to redeem for "Sharon's Place" (Grosvenor House).

Do you know the parameters of your original offer? Were you maxed out at 10K points (ie, 2 5K bonuses)? If not & it's more like the 25K, I might switch my stay 2, get a free Cat 1-4 (max 2 nights) to the points.

I know some people use the Cat 1-4 free nights, but I'm not one of them. So points is better for me.

I'd normally have enough for the 20 nights promo (not the 35) but some of my nights are before the promo starts & also some nights where I'd stay w/ Marriott will be at Starwood due to the StarMegado (which is a waste cuz I won't accumulate enough for a night at Starwood & the points will expire), so that means I'm short. So if I stayed extra to get it, not worth it at that point.

Cheers.

* I'm sure Visa's doing quite well w/ the promos - ie, it makes economic sense for them, or they wouldn't be doing it. Marriott probably does alright as well. Either people were going to stay at them anyway (that's a net), or they pick up bizness of those who were going to stay elsewhere but got lured by the 5K, 25K, 35K, 40K points or the 2 free cat 1-4 nights (a gain).

Cheers.

Same thing happened to me as to the OP: "Earn 35,000 bonus points after 20 paid nights, plus an additional 15,000 bonus points after 25 paid nights, up to 50,000." So I phoned to request a change. The rep. notated my account for the 2 Cat. IV nights for 4 stays.

Bigguy #2 is bang-on in exclaiming Hah! to the "Mega" name. Yeah right, ONE free night in a high-level juicy hotel after TWENTY nights?? Compare that with Hyatt FFN/ BWB or Radisson's & Starwood's summer promos!

I liked the two certs after 6 stays, worked well for me as I had very few stays over summer as we travel for leisure stays and tend to avoid UK school holidays. But everyone is differenent and at least I was able to swicth from my original 25 nights for 40,000 points and get the very same value!

On another point: Marriott scrapped Premium Pounds a couple of years ago and haven't bothered to replace it with a full on promotion in a similar vain for the same period. The only Bonus Bucks I have seen in the UK have been fairly lame "spend �150 a night on B&B and get a $25 dollar Bonus Bucks voucher" I rather hoped they would be replaced by the same promo for summer with $100 dollars, perhaps allowing UK guests to get about �70 off future stays??? But nothing and 20% off doesn't give the same value, especially at hotels that purposely put their prices up when a promotion like this comes along!!!

I received the 2 free nights offer, even got a mailing on this.

But Marriott.com switched me to and auto-enrolled me in the 20 night - 35k 25 n - 50k points promo. I can't see the free nights offer anymore, regardless of whether I choose miles or points for my earning preference. As limited as the free nights offer is, what the switched me to is probably much worse - because my travel is way down this fall and I am unlikely to be able to get 20 nights in.

I've already registered for the 25k points 15nights/40K 20 nights promo. What are my chances of changing it to a free night every 2 stays?

I called Marriott and told them that I don't think I will stay enough to get bonus point and I want to change to a free night stay promotion. She said no problem and she make a note on my account and change the promotion.