What does this mean? I am booking a stay with points.....there are two options. 150,000 (looks like a standard room).....or 270,000 for a suite, but it says it requires 4 upgrade certificates per night. I am multi year platinum. Have earned close to a million points and have never heard of an upgrade certificate. Anyone have an insight?

Check out Room Upgrade. It details out most the info about Marriott Upgrade award certs.

I have the same question as the OP regarding a room in Waikiki. I do not understand the link, I guess, as it did not answer my question about what an upgrade certificate is! Should I have some of these certificates in my account? I'm gold level.

If what Marriott wants is more points to upgrade, why don't they just say so! Calling addition points required to upgrade makes it very confusing. The room I'd like is 105,000 points plus 2 (I think I recall correctly) upgrade certificates. If those certificates are actually miles, why not say so!

Sorry... not miles.... POINTS.

Should have said that calling them upgrade certificates, when they are in actuality, just more POINTS required, is very confusing.

Each upgrade certificate is 5000 points. I guess MR did it by certificates vs points as to make it less confussing -- it is 1, 2 or 3 certificates PLUS the room points needed, for an upgrade.

As davidash states, Marriott has chosen to use "upgrade" certificates with a set and constant value (i.e. 5000 points.) Depending on the type of upgrade and how long you want the upgrade there is a cost in terms of # of upgrade certs required.

It is just like making a reservation for a room. Do you want a standard room? It has a set price (i.e. $100/night.) But if you want a Concierge Level room, it might have a higher price (i.e. $120/night.) So if you want your standard room for 5 nights, then the price wil be $500 for the stay (plus taxes/fees of course.)

Using the "upgrade" certs is the same. If you want a single level upgrade, it costs 5000pts/night (i.e. pool view room). If you want a double upgrade then that would cost 10000pts/night (i.e. partial oceanview). If you want a triple upgrade that woudl cost 15000/night (i.e. oceanfront). So if you have a 5 night award, a single level upgrade would cost you 25Kpts.

Marriott came back with a very terse answer, by email, that certificates are 5000 points each. They thanked me for my 'gold' level loyalty, but made me no special offers! Think I'll reconsider where I'm staying in Waikiki. Either that, or go for the standard city view room for 75k points for 3 nights. I have time to think about it, in any case.

Note that as a Marriott Gold, if available at check-in, you might very well get an upgrade to a nicer room/view without the use of the certs.

For a Gold/Plat the benefit of the upgrade certs is more to guarantee an upgrade rather than wait until check-in. In terms of Hawaiian resorts, I've never used upgrade certs, but I've always been lucky enough to get at least an oceanview room or better upgrade.

I have never used upgrade certs and always gotten an upgrade at every resort we've stayed at.

You are probably right. I ought to just book the basic room. I don't really NEED that ocean view, should I NOT luck out with an upgrade. I've also been lucky with upgrades at Marriott properties. Worth a try. I don't think late Sept is prime season in Waikiki anyway.