My bold. Every time I see something in my hotel room that mentions "GREEN", an alarm in my head goes off. "CHEAP is what comes to mind. Funny, I thought I was alone in thinking that!

I'm generally not impressed with Marriott service for plat. I've worked my way up from the bottom over the last two years, and have seen no difference between gold and plat. Lately, it has made me question whether to stay plat. or hit gold and movie to another program. I used to be a Hilton diamond, but started to see them devalue the program and decided to move on.

Right now, I'm leaning towards moving on. As a gold at SPG, I get upgrades frequently, with Marriott I haven't had one yet this year with 25 nights.

What does plat really give me other than a few extra bonus points? Am I missing out on something and not maximizing the status?

I'm Platinum Premier and facing the same decision. Up until a few years ago - or even last year - I thought the Marriott program and Platinum Premier were the best option out there. Now it seems Marriott just isn't willing to reach out to super-frequent (300+night/yr) guests. Bending rules, helping out, and going the extra mile for "valued" guests was always an attraction to the Marriott program, but now it seems as if Marriott can't be troubled with even being nice/welcoming.

I've stayed just over 100 nights so far this year (with some double dipping from leaving long term rooms checked in whilst I make 1 or 2 night trips elsewhere so I don't have to pack up and deal with all my belongings) and have thus far only had 2 non-Marriott nights since January 1. I have, however, moved quite a few of my crews to Hilton properties and even have a 2 week stay (at $309/night) booked for an SPG property later this month.

That said, I still think Marriott has the best earn and burn point program but the more subjective parts of the program, specifically how they relate to super loyal customers, has gone down the toilet quicker than a cigarette butt after a high school teacher walks in the boy's room.

Incredibly revolting

Wine & cheese. To me, that's the main difference between Gold and Plat. (I'm not belittling that...I do enjoy the wine & cheese...)

I have attempted to call for the Platinum Override twice. Both times it was rejected...apparently properties can game the system on this somewhat easily. So unlike with rental cars, where I've found their top-tier overrides quite valuable, it hasn't helped me with Marriott.

??? Hotel's have no control over this...if they turn their inventory over to a group (such as the NFL for super bowl or a large citywide convention) they can request platinum overrides be granted, upon reviewing the documentation only MI HQ can actually grant it - there's really no room to "game" the system here, and the reason they are granted is the hotel has no control over their inventory - they've contracted it out

My failures with the Plat override did not involve any kind of major worldwide event or other situation (e.g., natural disaster or whatnot) where the hotel was likely to have lost control of its inventory.

I know there are others here who have had successes with it and may assign value to it. For me, it doesn't really have any value...that's why, to me, the difference between Gold and Plat is basically the wine and 2 points per dollar spent.

Hmm. Sounds like a great idea to me.

I'll tell you why you can't - because credit card merchant rules don't allow it. Hotels must allow cancellation up to 1600 the day of checkin. Granted - some properties try to get away with not following the rules, but they only get away with it if you let them....

+3. Shameful. I will get to PLT soon, but I am not overly excited about PLT taking over GLD. Marriott LAX isn't giving me too much of the goodies. The last time I got a little better upgrade was a larger guest room at the club level. I used EEO for weekend stays, and guess what, they never seemed to realize that because every time I received the bill, I had to get down to the front desk and ask them to take away the 2nd night charge. However, the surprising benefit is that I would often be credited as 3 EQN. I guess the fact that they try to charge me two nights in the system cannot be overridden.

Sounds like old information. Many hotels, including numerous RC and Ren properties, and other brands, require 24 hour advance cancellation. Pay in advance rules provide for no cancellation. Please cite some link to support what you state as fact; that is that credit card rules require allowing cancellation up to 4:00 pm day of arrival. Here is a sample of rules from Moneris: http://www.moneris.com/en/Support/Do...lPrograms.ashx

Ugh. I hope this isn't the case as it is THE reason to be plat IMO. Ive not used it in a while but normally do so every couple months. I've never had an issue....

it helps if you say it in your head with the jon lovitz voice...

Stay at the LAX Ren. Nicer hotel, you usually get an upgrade to jr. suite, and they know how to process the EEO.

Cheers.

One of the things I love about Marriott overall is the consistency of their chains. For the most part, all hotels in a chain are within one or two standard deviations of each other with a few outliers. Meaning, some totally fantastic FS Marriott hotels, some not so good FS Marriott hotels and the rest are, IMHO, above average but not stellar.

One of the things I do NOT love about Marriott overall is their inconsistent and seemingly arbitrary recognition of Plat and, now that I am Plat Premier, that also.

I do not understand why one of, if not THE, most difficult (in terms of stays) program to earn top tier in does not go out of its way to make us feel a bit more loyal to their program. No, I'm not expecting parades and trombones and rose petals, but their is enough discussion above to understand that many of us are feeling a bit down about the program.

Especially now that I am Plat Premier. I have had 17 different hotel visits with about 50 night stays so far as Plat Premier and have yet to see any difference between when I was Plat. How about something as simple as that you can have the points AND the amenity. No suites, nothing.

Oh, well. I still like the lifetime Gold which I should get by next year so we'll see.

I was extremely displeased with my second plat override attempt.
I tried to book the Philadelphia downtown Marriott for a random weekend, and was told there is a special event. I did not know of anything significant going on so I asked what it was. He called the hotel and told me they have a wedding and a business convention.
Give me a break, a wedding is considered a special event!!!
This is gaming the system as far as I am concerned.
I understand opting out for a city wide special event but this is laughable.
Rep then offered to book me at the Airport Marriott.

I ended up booking at the West Philadelphia Marriott which is 11 miles away.
Needless to say I believe platinum is only good for the amenity points and 50% bonus. I have no intentions of hitting it again unless it just works out that way.

I really do like the EEO and the megabonus promos but the difference between gold and plat are negligible.

How special an event is has nothing to do with the Platinum Override. The Super Bowl or Olympics could be in town and if a group hasn't bought the entire room block, override should work. On the other hand some convention you've never heard of on some random day could have bought it out and the PO would not work.