Perhaps I'm doing something wrong -- but I can't help but think that the process of making an online reservation could be improved considerably with a few small changes. Mainly by unifying the sign-on process. It seems like I'm constantly telling the web site who I am -- if I go to www.marriott.com and enter the city & dates that I'm looking to stay in it doesn't remember my MR# -- so I enter it. Then I go to "express reservations" and on step #5 (!!!) I'm offered the opportunity to "sign in for faster reservations" *after* it extracts my smoking preference and so forth from me! It doesn't matter if I first checked my account balance by signing onto that site either -- nor does signing in to reservations help me get to my account any faster. None of these sign-ons are in any way remembered by the web site -- in spite of promises that they will be! (the "remember this" check box on the express reservations page is especially annoying!)

Is it just me or do these things happen to everyone?

This has been a major drawback for Marriott.com for some time. They need to fix their "Cookies" so they do not expire so quickly when surfing through their website.

I have previously contacted them about this and was told it was being worked on. But this was MONTHS ago.

------------------
AA member since 1981

and since there's no bonus to booking online (like there is at United.com), for me, it doesn't pay to try and book online...

agreed that they should fix this and make it easier for regular customers to book online.

its just the reason i don't care to book my stays on the web-site. it never remembers who i am and since there are no bonuses for booking online... why bother at all? its actually easier to book on expedia or orbitz or even through marriott customer service. now if marriott got their cookies right, they'd save on commission to expedia or orbitz or even some additional points would be some incentive.

I always stay at Marriotts, but was forced to stay at the "Fairmont" while in Vancouver. I booked online, and as a first-time user it was a joy. It even remembers all my reservations when I return! If only Marriott.com could do THAT!

I love Marriott, but their website is very rudimentary.

Totally agree the website could be a lot better.

When I am booking rooms in the UK for the family I always ring the hotel direct because the website often says that there are no rooms with two beds available when hotel reservations has them. Also I have had the experience that the hotel offer the rate stated on the web but can throw in breakfast as well.

Granted, nothing is perfect, but this website is the best of majors. SPG, Hilton, and hyatt are so far behind Marriott's website that they can't even see how far behind they are. My only complaint is that there isn't an online booking bonus and that isn't the websites fault!!!

Are you kidding? Have you seen the SPG web-site lately? Its by far the best. You can change/edit your reservations. Whether you make the reservation directly with a hotel, on-line or call-center, it always shows up on the web-page. With Marriott you have to specifically enter the reservation number to view reservations not made on the web-page. The site is so simple to use and intuitive. Also on SPG.com you can book negotiated rates at ANY hotel, which is not the case with Marriott.

I'll give you that Hyatt is leagues behind and Hilton pretty much sux too.

well you must be one of the lucky ones who actually gets to use the SPG website on the couple hours per day that it is up and running. I've never seen a website that is down as often as spg.

I couldn't agree more (with the exception of SPG, which I don't use). I've stuck with Marriott so long now, I've gotten used to their system as it has developed. The latest version really isn't too bad when compared with Hilton or the new American Airlines site.