Actually using Marriott certificates
 

Just how tough is it to actually book a stay using a Marriott 7- or 10-day hotel certificate? I appears you have to stay consecutive nights at ONE hotel--I'm sure Marriott sees many of these never used.

If I am going to stay seven nights at one hotel I would want a resort location, and I'm sure its a mad scramble to actually get the booking.

How many nights out can you book with Marriott? Suppose you can only get 6 nights of award availability for a 7 night certificate--does that make the booking invalid? Do the better locations book up so fast that you have to sit by the phone waiting for the next day to open up? Any tips from those who have been there would be much appreciated!

I have used the 7-night cert twice already...Paris Marriott...and Renaissance Grand Beach Resort on St. Thomas...no problems with St. Thomas and this was about 8 weeks out...Paris was another story...had to pull some strings for 7 consecutive nights...this was about 4 months out...but to be fair it's a smallish property...only around 200 rooms.

I have also used the 7 nite certificate twice: St. Thomas at the Renaissance and on our upcoming ( next week) trip to Kauai. Both required some flexibility on dates, but were booked 3-4 months in advance.

If you are talking about the reward certificates, I have had great luck with these both times I have tried. The first was for 12 nights ( a 7-night and a 5-night combined) at the Marriott San Diego Marina property over Christmas and New Year's and then for the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua in Maui for 7 nights over Christmas. In the San Diego case, they did not have award stays available, but I talked to the reservations managers and they were very accomodating and let us cash it in for the 12 nights.

In the Ritz-Carlton case, I wanted to upgrade to a deluxe ocean view, but the Marriott certificate won't let you. Again, a chat with the reservation manager made this possible, with a reasonable nightly cash payment for the upgrade.

The only problem I have with Marriott is that they never answer their reward phone lines and everything is automated. This can get frustrating if you have a question.

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"Living well is the best revenge"

I don't know if its different for Plat members, but I call 800-450-4442, and then after typing or saying my Plat number, I hit 0. I've always (four times in the past week, at various times during the day) got an agent within 15 seconds. I use the agents to redeem some awards, ask questions, whatever. No problems here.

I've redeemed a 1 week stay over Thanksgiving at the JW Marriott in Hawaii w/o a problem. I had to be flexible because AA and US had blackouts and sold out (in award class) flights, but Marriott was available every seven night pair I checked.

snackyx,
Marriott will book 50 weeks out. Their website is very efficient in helping you see what is open... put in your dates at the property you want and then scroll down a bit to the AAA,AARP etc. area and check "Marriott rewards redemption".
I have found there were many Caribbean destinations open for this summer as late as a week or two ago.
If you choose not to or cannot book for the full length of stay indicated on your voucher you can still use it but will forfeit the remaining nights. Likewise you can pay for additional nights if you wish to add on.
Also, it is not necessary to have the voucher in hand when making the reservation, nor is it necessary to even have all of the points in your account at the time of reservation. You only need to order the voucher about a month before you intend to go, but make sure at time of res they are aware you are using the voucher to pay.
Also, rumblings that a change in the larger award packages is imminent, so if you do have the points available you may want to prepare to act quickly.
Hawaii properties, especially Maui and Kauai, do seem to be tight and best to reserve 50 weeks out. Some properties like the new JW Hotel in Cancun are very easy to book right now.
Enjoy!

pitflyer, I'm not platinum on Marriott so maybe I have to call a different number?

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"Living well is the best revenge"

I have made reservations and have recieved confirmation for my free 7 day stay at the London County Hall over Christmas w/o having the voucher in hand or even redeemed the points yet!

As I am intereseted in Europe, there are not many hotels that will give you good value for your points, that you can book on short notice -- London and Rome and Paris properties are sold out for 7 day stays during the summer.

Yes...and the Caribbean properties that Flyerwife suggested...are NOT good value in the summer..they can be had fairly cheap..probably why there's still availability.

I have used the seven day award many times. The only properties I found difficult to get in were Rome and Paris. Hawaii was not bad if yo ustarted six months or more ahead. But most properties, including resorts, could be done with three-four month lead time.

Not the County Hall or the London Grovesnonr for this summer!