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"?

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.

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

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...