Hello,

I have never reedemed through certificates or from Marriott so I need some help and tips from the seasoned experts. I earned the two weekend certificates through making three separate stays at Marriott last year. Now, I want to redeem the free weekend for the Victoria Day weekend (May 23-25) in Chicago. I followed the instructions on the cert and dialled the number and it seems my only choice for a category 4 hotel in downtown Chicago is Residence Inn. The agent cooly informed me that I will not be able to use the certificate since the hotel is showing no availability. I don't have any more trips planned (I just came back from Europe) so does that mean the certificate goes waste? Do I have to call them everyday to see if they might have availability or it is pointless to do so? Wouldn't it be better if I could check myself on the Internet rather than troubling them by calling everyday, and is it worthwhile to call? How does their reward system works as opposed to Starwood where I never had a problem booking (redeeming) a night.

Any tips, suggestions, rules would be greatly appreciated.

Call the hotel directly and speak to the manager if need be. I have had much better "luck" dealing with the hotels directly.

Whoops - my hotel choice was not a cat 4 location. Sorry

[This message has been edited by back seat (edited 04-14-2003).]

You don't have to let those certificates go to waste. If push comes to shove you can always use them at the Marriott Chateau Champlain, which is a Category 4 property. (That surprised me. It deserves at least a 5, and if you plopped that hotel down in Boston or San Francisco it would be a 6.) You can easily get CDN$400 worth out of those certs. If it seems silly to you to spend 2 nights in a hotel so close to home, why not invite friends or family from out of town to spend a weekend?

The alternative, if you have no other trips planned, is to plan a trip anyway. Indeed, this is the FlyerTalk way. With the money you'd save on hotel rooms the airfare would practically pay for itself (even from YUL). I know there are some decent Category 4 properties in Florida, for example...

Factotum,

The problem is the the flight to Chicago is already booked !!!!!

I appreciate your advice, and I think I am either too novice or a bit spoilt. This was the first time I was told NO, I have never taken that for an answer . Actually, even with redeeming Air Canada flights, it has always worked out. This is the first time I leanr about this funny convoluted way of redeeming through cert (even though have over 100K Hilton points never redeemed them). and NOW I KNOW WHY STARWOOD IS BEST. You just call them and you always get a YES in two minutes!!!

Montreal, I've been Marriott for years & not once have I ever been told no for a Marriott reward. On the contrary, I've found them to be easier to redeem than other programs. But - to your question. The weekend you've chosen to visit Chicago is also a holiday weekend in America, so perhaps that's impacting their inventory. I would try calling the hotel directly.

Also, in Cat 4, there is the Courtyard by Marriott downtown; you might check there. And not optimal but doable is Chicago Marriott O'Hare, which is next to the El station that takes you downtown.

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Sharon

[This message has been edited by SkiAdcock (edited 04-15-2003).]

The only Cat 4 hotel showing availability on those dates is the Chicago Marriott Suites O'Hare. As suggested earlier, I would call either the Courtyard or Residence Inn directly and see if you can get them to make an exception. You may wish to speak to the Director of Reservations/Rooms. I wanted to make use of an award once at the Marriott South Beach and the Director of Rooms there was able to make an exception for me even during peak season. I have found Marriott to be extremelly flexible and generous in terms of rewards.

Is there any way to check availability of an X14 award online? I know I could when I had some W14's, but now I get an error message when I put X14 in the promotional code box.

I made the mistake of not booking my W14's until Dec and it was tough to find a decent room available.

jb

Wow, what wonderful tips from such seasoned Marriotters!!

I must state that my primary chain is Starwood, secondary is Hilton, and tertiary is Marriott (so I really don't have much experience with them) unlike you guys...but perhaps a Platinum amongst us may want to put in a word on my behalf and I'll return the favour.

OK I'll try the tips you have given, see if the Manager or Director can make an exception in case of a lowly Silver (earned through the 3 stay promotion just to clarify) and I will report back.

Thanks for the suggestions!!

P.S. Sharon what is an El Station, is that the convenient metro that takes you right from the airport to the heart of the city or is it a surface train??

PPS. Again for Sharon: Courtyard downtown is not showing up as Cat 4. The only Cat 4 downtown is Residence Inn and Cat 3 is Fairfield Inn. But even Fairfield Inn is not available.

OOPS SORRY: The courtyard downtown has been now added as Cat 4. It wasn't there until last week!

[This message has been edited by Montreal (edited 04-15-2003).]

Well, the El is both - surface train & metro depending on where it's at (going from memory here). I didn't know whether to refer to it as train or metro, so I went w/ what the locals call it. BTW - it's pronounced like the letter L. The El runs multiple routes through Chicago but the route I'm referring to starts at the airport & goes downtown, and stops where the O'Hare Marriott & Marriott Suites O'Hare are so you could pick it up there (it's inexpensive) if you can't use your Cat 4 at either the Courtyard or Residence Inn downtown.

I haven't been to the Marriott O'Hare in a while, but it was a bit tired last time I was there. Suites is a bit newer. We'll all keep our fingers crossed that your calling & begging (I mean politely asking!) the reservations manager at the Courtyard or Residence Inn works. If not, go w/ the Suites & just walk the 5 min to the El stop.

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Sharon

[This message has been edited by SkiAdcock (edited 04-15-2003).]

El is short for "elevated" (i.e. above street level) which many of the CTA (Chcago Transit Authority) trains in the Chicago loop area are (unlike New York which moved most of their elevated railways underground to create their subway system). I do know that the one to O'Hare has segments that are both below ground and at ground level (in the median of a freeway) and may also have elevated segments (I don't remember for sure), but is below ground level in the Chicago downtown "Loop" area.

[This message has been edited by rtpflyer (edited 04-16-2003).]

Sharon et all,

I want to "test" one thing before starting to beg the Marriott hotels downtown. Through online availability I found out that reward booking for the same night or next is available...so I want to test this weekend (which is also a holiday weekend like the one I am trying to book in May) if the hotels become vailable just the day before or so. Perhaps, realizing that the hotels will not be sold out they start releasing rooms from their inventory for reward booking - am I right? If this is the case, I'll have better chances closer to the date of my stay than a month in advance. But I wouldn't risk it too close!

[This message has been edited by Montreal (edited 04-16-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Montreal (edited 04-16-2003).]

That one you're going to have to get advice from more experienced Marriott folk than me.

But - if I recall correctly.. You already have the certs in hand. Right now you know the Marriott O'Hare Suites is available. Make a reservation there telling toll-free # you're using the certs (check on the cancel by date, which is probably 4pm DOA) so you know you'll have a place to stay no matter what. You don't turn over the certs until you arrive.

Then keep checking on availability for the Courtyard & Residence Inn downtown every day or every couple of days until it gets closer. If it doesn't open up, try the begging thing w/ the res mgr a few days beforehand. If either of those work, then cancel the Suites.

I'm not sure comparing Easter & Memorial Weekend is an apples to oranges. More people stay w/ family on an holiday like Easter so something might open up now; MW folk may travel & stay at hotel. Just a guess.



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Sharon