Points for incidentals
 

What 'incidentals' should I get points for when they are charged to my room? I'd assumed that I'd get points for everything. However, my recent stay at the Hong Kong JW only got me 1900 points, which is a lot fewer than I'd expected.

I'd charged a couple of tours to my room (booked through the concierge), and these would have come to around US$500 alone.

The 1900 would probably be F&B (including the 50% bonus).

So, is there a list of what attracts points, and what is ineligible?

Cheers!

more then likely the tours booked were not hotel owned tours but booked by a 3rd party so points are not accrued so:

Charges that do not qualify for Points include taxes applied to the room rate, purchase of Marriott gift certificates or gift cards, purchase of The Ritz-Carlton gift certificates or gift cards, charges for third party-provided goods and services at participating Marriott brand hotels or Ritz-Carlton hotels, and catering or banquet functions charged to the guest room account

http://www.marriott.com/rewards/terms/earning.mi

Ah, thanks. That would probably explain it.

Yes, that's what happened to us in Tel Aviv. Tours sold by the concierge didn't attract points because they were third-party provided with the concierge acting as pass-through (although they probably got a commission).

Can I ask what tours you booked and if they were worthwhile? We are staying 4 nights later this month.

Depends what you want to see and what passport do you hold ;)

I did few and my wife did few.

If you never been there I would suggest (in the order):

1. Jerusalem and/or Bethlehem (it seems US esp. Christians like this one, I put this on #1 because of my wife, otherwise I would pick reverse #1 and #2)
2. Masada and Dead Sea (much longer drive)
3. Haifa (not too big of a drive/ride)
4. Petra (only because it is quite a ride there I put it so low)

Tours and resort activities, e.g. scuba diving are rarely credited with points.

A big question sometimes is spa services. I don't often request therse, the wife does, but I can tell you at least with certain Hyatt properties, on site spas sometimes do not credit such services as point earning. Can't say for sure that this is an issue with Marriott, but forearened is forearmed!

In addition, SPG routinely does not credit one with points for parking, so this too, may occasionally not show up as earning on your bill.

+1 (as a fellow Marriot/Hyatt/Starwood guest) and further limited by the fact incidentals earn MR points only at FS Marriott's

if the spa is run by the hotel it will earn incidental points at full service Marriott branded hotels

After some consideration, we did:

1. Jerusalem (full day).

2. Masada and Dead Sea. (Be sure to take the Masada option; the "floating in the the Dead Sea" part is a "fun once" well worth doing for the novelty but once done there's not much more to do there. And don't forget your flip-flops.)

3. Jerusalem and Bethlehem. We decided after going to Jerusalem the first time that we wanted to visit Bethlehem as well, and the only tour to there we could book included the morning in Jerusalem. As it turned out going back to Jerusalem the second time was a serendipitous treat. Some overlap/repetition of course, but the first day's tour guide was a historical scholar, and while he hit the religious high spots we also spent some time at the museum looking at the Dead Sea Scrolls. The second time, the guide was more Jerusalem architecture-oriented, and we visited the Wailing Wall and some archeological excavations in the Jewish Quarter. Really interesting to experience the different perspectives.

+1

Also of interest, if you have sufficient time, is the Sea of Galilee/Mount Herman (during the winter I've seen snow up here) and don't forget to try St Peters fish and Ashkeon/Ashdod (south of TA) where you can dig for Roman pottery pieces or a day trip up to Caesarea (between TA & Haifa)

Off-topic:

Thanks Counsellor & BKKLEE for the suggestions!

On-topic:

If I get there & book any of them I won't expect incidental points.

Cheers.

^ The same applies to other hotel chains. If I want to ensure points (I only do this with Hyatts due to wanting to earn base points for lifetime Diamond), I ask if the spa/restaurant/gift shop/etc is owned by the hotel or if it's an independent vendor.

Thanks! I was actually referring to the OP and the JW Hong Kong

Ah! Sorry for the confusion! It seems I wasn't the only one but hey :)

Made me laugh :)