Useless free nights
 

I have several free nights expiring, from getting cc and megabonus.
All limited to 4, all private trips were 5 hotels. Called gold desk and hotels numerous times, all answers useless. Any ideas before I dump cc?

It was clear in the T&C that these certificates were for category 1-4 hotels. That does limit your options somewhat but there are nice Cat 4 hotels around. If you do a little research (including threads in this forum discussing Cat 4 hotels), you could find something that would work. It was your choice to stay in hotels where the certs weren't useable.

For example, Mr Canuck and I have a couple of nights in Toronto before heading home for Christmas. While I could choose to stay in and pay for a Cat 5 Marriott property, I found the perfectly nice hotels (including a FS Marriott) where I could use my certificates. The first year I had the Marriott Premier Visa, I used our Cat 4 cert for an overnight stay near a friend's New Year's Eve party at a Courtyard that wanted $250 for a cash booking.

Next year, when your card renews, you'll get a Cat 5 cert, which significantly increases your options as far as hotel stays. We used last year's cert at the Marriott in Cairo. This year, we used our cert in Chicago (and while I would have liked to stay a Cat 6 Marriott, I found and was satisfied with a Courtyard Cat 5.)

So - the choice is up to you. Do the research or don't. Find a way to use the cert or don't.

What kind of useless answers were you getting? Things like: "no it can't be used in a cat 5 hotel" or "yes its only for cat 1-4 hotels"?
:rolleyes:

For me, I didn't realize these Cat 4 certs were given out so it was a completely free bonus when I got two of them recently in my MR account. In fact, I think I started a thread about it as I literally was clueless what they were; and finally called MR to talk to them about it. Like pennies from heaven! Then, I was able to use them at the SLC f/s which was otherwise $200/night. To me that's pretty good value and it was a very nice hotel. I don't know what more you could want then a $200 room for doing nothing!?

To me the credit card has substantial value and is a steal at $65 a year.

JMR007 unfortunately they wont be able to extend those to cat 5 or higher since those are all promo certs. There are PLENTY of cat 4's everywhere basically. Now if you're trying to go on a traditionally busy time (weekend/weekday either or) of course it's not gonna be available at as many. Consider the fact that there are millions of other rewards members that like to use their promo certs and points when they can. My advise is plan ahead and if there's availability..........BOOK IT!!!!!!!! you can always cancel using a cert/pts, if you wanna change it you can if not just cancel within the cxl policy. That's one thing that keeps me going to Marriott, for most of their hotels u can cxl same day whether it's 4pm or 6pm. When you call in or check online, take in consideration that they are quoting you availability at the time you're inquiring and only way to guarantee the reservation is to BOOK IT. Only thing else i can say if you didn't know about them, check your account regularly, Marriott shouldn't have to hold your hand through everything and tell you everyday what's going on with your account.

I'm relatively new to Marriott Gold, and I got two free nights in the MegaBonus promo this year. I sympathize with the OP in that I have so far found the free Marriott nights impossible to use. It seems that whenever I have tried to use them, there are never any Category 4 hotels around. (I couldn't use them in Paris, and I won't be able to use them in San Juan or in Rio, either.)

I suppose I could use them for cheap Marriotts, but if I the hotel is cheap, I just pay for it to help me fulfill my Gold challenge. (I could have used a free night at the Renaissance in Bangkok, but at US$100, why bother?)

I'm just learning the ropes with Marriott, so I know I have much to learn. But it did come as a surprise to me that I haven't been able to use the free Marriott nights, especially considering how easy it was to use my free Hyatt and SPG nights at hotels which otherwise would have been very expensive ($500+).

If you cant personally use them - can't you give someone you know a nice treat ?

I never understand why people complain about free gifts.

The free certs are not transferable. Award reservations using points are.

I can sympathize with the OP. In my case, I have one expiring on Dec 31. The closest cat 4 property in Boston is about ~25 miles away. OK, there is one Court Yard north of airport, but only if I have a 6am flight out in the morning...

There is also the award category inflation to think of. I can't remember when was the last time that happened.

Cat. 4 Cert.
 

Is it possible to book the hotel in your name (w/guest name) and only have 'guest' check in??
If yes - that would be a way to 'gift' your cat. 4 certificate :confused:

Yes this is possible, I added a second name for a guest and let them check in. I have had success both times I did this.

I don't know where you live around Boston, but there is at least one decent option. The Courtyard Cambridge overlooks the Charles River. I spent a Cat 4 certificate there in October. The weekday night would have been $209.

Finding the Cat 4 in a major city takes a little work; it tends to be a Courtyard. Even Paris has one, near the business park. I've been satisfied with my nights in Boston or San Diego (Courtyard Liberty Station). But, yeah, it's not as good as the Park Hyatt Zurich-Paris-Milan run.

Marriott changes the category levels of certain hotels all the time. I have stay hotels that are cat 1 which were cat 2 or 3 the previous quarter. I also find cat 1 hotels to be perfectly acceptable. So I am sure if you shop around, you will find some very good cat 4 hotels.

We usually take our European trips in the Fall, so the certs are great for spending the last nights at the airport. The Marriott at CDG and the one at Heathrow come to mind, and both are great hotels.

Otherwise, we've used them in Toronto and various props in the UK (outside of London) quite successfully. This year, I had an additional Cat 4 cert from the summer promo, and we wound up with three nights at the RI in Toronto (it's only a Cat 4).

They're well worth the $65 annual fee for the Visa card.

I am sure there are plenty of guys here who can help you use the free night.

If you're dumping the credit card because Cat 1-4 certs are useless to you, I believe starting in year 2 the credit card cert goes to a Cat 1-5 cert...

The category assigned to a hotel depends more on location than the amenities of the property. To cite extreme examples, the nicest full-service properties in the Detroit area are all Cat. 4s, while the Cat. 7s in Manhattan include 2 CYs and a RI.

I was in the same boat with expiring certs that were of no use. My niece had her 13th birthday this weekend. She wanted a sleepover, so I suggested to my sister that they do it at the Atlanta Marquis. The staff gave them a very high floor with a view, connecting rooms. (Thanks, T**i @ the front desk for arranging this when I called Friday morning!)

By all accounts all six girls had a blast. My sister and I went downtown at four to check in, then I left and she chaperoned. For the price of two room service movies and one parked car, the certificates made me a hero! (My niece told me those girls now think I'm rich. I told her if the subject ever comes up again, explain that's not the case. It just appears that way because I don't have the money drain called kids.)

Someone at MI once used the term "demand" to explain the category assignments.

I haven't had any problems in the past with my wife or daughter using the certs. Of course my wife & daughter have the same (uncommon) last name as me.

Both of you are correct.

The category of a hotel is determined by it's location and redemption rate.

Source: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...ml#post3057780

Courtyard Hutchinson Island Oceanside/Jensen Beach

I am very happy to use my free nights for part of my anniversary trip in April at Courtyard Hutchinson Island Oceanside/Jensen Beach. I have never been there before and the property has very good reviews on Tripadvisor.

I understand however that a category 4 property does not always fit ones needs or is not available in a desired location. I would not call them useless. I find that I have to do more research and planning to find a property that fits my needs and so far I have been successful.

I have only received this free nights for cc use never as part of a mega bonus promotion because I do not like the six month expiration and I find the cat 4 limitation too much of a challenge.

BTW I enjoy the New Orleans Marriott Metairie at Lakeway. I used one free night cert here last year. The rate was about 109 and free parking on weekends. You could string it along with a BOGO for a great 3 day weekend. I would use one again next year for Jazz Fest but it expires 3 days before the fest starts.

Renaissance Chicago Oak Brook
 

The wife and I had a wonderful weekend in Chicago visiting friends and X-mas shopping. This was a nice cat 4 Ren, not downtown but just a $4 Metra trip. Rooms normally go for $209/nt

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/hote...k-brook-hotel/

While it's harder to find good uses for the Cat 4's in the U.S. and Europe, it can be done. DC-area during peak demand periods is one spot. (There are at least a couple FS Marriotts on the Metro system at Cat 4 - Crystal Gateway is a good one.)

Sometimes it's a bit frustrating if I don't have a "perfect" trip planned to burn a couple of them in a spot where all decent area hotels are $200+/nt. But still...I usually get these Cat 4 credits from promotions where I didn't really outlay any incremental funds, so they're basically free. Even if I burn 'em on a hotel that is selling rooms to Priceline for $50, it's still better than nothing.

If you're talking about some sort of opportunity cost or actual cash outlay, then yeah, I'd be hesitant to buy Cat 4's without an ideal trip planned.

The Cat 5's I get from Chase are without question worth the $65. Cat 5 opens up a very good level of Marriott/Renaissance hotels except for in a handful of markets (NYC, London, etc.).

A lot of properties in Texas are Cat4 or below. I used two of my promotional certificates over Thanksgiving week. I was able to book with very little notice (like a day or two before arrival) too. I had quite a pleasant experience using my promotional certs ^

Please see my posts #39 & #41 in the MegaBonus thread. UR right that most Cat. 4 hotels are Cat. 4 (or lower) because they are in moderately-priced destinations which are not vacation hotspots, such as Downtown Pittsburgh.
Gee, with Christmas coming up, perhaps there is a Cat. 2--3 Courtyard near your aunt & uncle's home so U don't have to stay in their guest bedroom. Or maybe if U have a family member in college or high school playing an away sports game in January! Or go with your child/ niece/ nephew to visit a college campus with them where they are considering becoming a student!

Just used one of my megabonus cert to reserve a room at the St.Petersburg Marriott for NYE. Save a bunch of money. Too bad these aren't transferrable, as I would be glad to use them as these are free and does not cost you anything! Safe Travels! :cool:

Just curious because I don't know the answer. Do other hotel chains affinity cards give out free hotel nights?

Cheers.

Hyatt gives you two free nights for signing up the credit card, but I think it is a one-time deal.

Isn't there a Priority Club variant with an annual fee plus a free night?

Yes. It is the latest version that came out July or August this year. I dont remember seeing specific restriction on the free night cert which of course no one would have received just yet. The annual fee is only $49 though and no forex fee. I believe the Hyatt card also has 0 forex fee, not sure about the Marriott card. Chase seems to lead in the way of doing away the 3% forex fee on its affinity cards, started with BA, PC and Hyatt cards.

Hilton AMEX does not have free nights but then again it doesn't have an annual fee.

The bonus free night for PC Visa cardmembers is valid at all IHG hotels except all-inclusive resorts.
Valid even at 40K--pointers, which makes it = to the Hyatt FNs :) ! Both of which whoop the butt of the Marriott freebies, which are max. Cat 4 or 5.