One night not available, adding an extra night makes it available
#31
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
You forget one important thing - there are rules in place by Marriott to cover early departures:
a) you can be charged the 2nd night stay regardless if you check out early,
b) if you check out a day early it can bump your 1st night to a higher rate,
c) there are no consequences by Marriott to a change in departure date, re: of whether it's in advance or when you're on property - ie, they ok the change w/ no penalty.
As long as those 3 exist, then there are no 'ethics' involved.
Cheers.
a) you can be charged the 2nd night stay regardless if you check out early,
b) if you check out a day early it can bump your 1st night to a higher rate,
c) there are no consequences by Marriott to a change in departure date, re: of whether it's in advance or when you're on property - ie, they ok the change w/ no penalty.
As long as those 3 exist, then there are no 'ethics' involved.
Cheers.
Last edited by SkiAdcock; Oct 1, 2012 at 9:01 pm Reason: clarify something...
#32
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central California
Programs: AA-LEP,United-1K Again!, USAIR-CHRMN, MW Plat Prem, SW-Gold, Hilton-Silver, Hertz-Platnium
Posts: 381
You forget one important thing - there are rules in place by Marriott to cover early departures:
a) you can be charged the 2nd night stay regardless if you check out early,
b) if you check out a day early it can bump your 1st night to a higher rate,
c) there are no consequences by Marriott to a change in departure date, re: of whether it's in advance or when you're on property - ie, they ok the change w/ no penalty.
As long as those 3 exist, then there are no 'ethics' involved.
Cheers.
a) you can be charged the 2nd night stay regardless if you check out early,
b) if you check out a day early it can bump your 1st night to a higher rate,
c) there are no consequences by Marriott to a change in departure date, re: of whether it's in advance or when you're on property - ie, they ok the change w/ no penalty.
As long as those 3 exist, then there are no 'ethics' involved.
Cheers.
Just to be clear - If the 'system' allows and the circumstance is warranted - I don't have a problem. It's going into the situation trying to 'game' the rules is what bothers me most I guess
#33
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 358
You forget one important thing - there are rules in place by Marriott to cover early departures:
a) you can be charged the 2nd night stay regardless if you check out early,
b) if you check out a day early it can bump your 1st night to a higher rate,
c) there are no consequences by Marriott to a change in departure date, re: of whether it's in advance or when you're on property - ie, they ok the change w/ no penalty.
As long as those 3 exist, then there are no 'ethics' involved.
Cheers.
a) you can be charged the 2nd night stay regardless if you check out early,
b) if you check out a day early it can bump your 1st night to a higher rate,
c) there are no consequences by Marriott to a change in departure date, re: of whether it's in advance or when you're on property - ie, they ok the change w/ no penalty.
As long as those 3 exist, then there are no 'ethics' involved.
Cheers.
#34
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 358
Although exceptions are aways a possibility, when I check in I'm asked to confirm my check-out date. This is a two-sided sword. One, you are agreeing to a stay of x nights at the rate booked. Two, you are agreeing to NOT stay longer than x nights. Some states have very strict eviction laws and it is very difficult to kick someone out of a room.
#35
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
Cheers.
#36
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 242
Give your weak kneed situational ethics a rest. Only Marriott can give you a reservation and only Marriott can undo or change a reservation. So long as you are not deceitful or lie, which is always wrong no matter the situation, then you have done nothing wrong.
#37
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central California
Programs: AA-LEP,United-1K Again!, USAIR-CHRMN, MW Plat Prem, SW-Gold, Hilton-Silver, Hertz-Platnium
Posts: 381
Exactly. Nothing week kneed or situational about that. You just said it much better and more simplistically than I did
#39
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 358
Quote:
Originally Posted by jascp
Only Marriott can give you a reservation and only Marriott can undo or change a reservation. So long as you are not deceitful or lie, which is always wrong no matter the situation, then you have done nothing wrong.
I understand this "lying" thing, but does putting moral on the table really help ?
When I book a stay I always state the real duration, except in one case : if I see that a 10 days stay will be cheaper dividing it in two reservations of for exemple 5 days each I will do it.
Do you think it is wrong ?
Coming back to the subject, in my case, if I book for two nights it will mean I intend to stay two nights. But we all have changes in our schedules, or the hotel can be not so good etc...in that case if I leave after one night I won't have lied about my initial intentions, and if there was no restrictions I would not expect to pay penalty or extra charge because I have to leave early.
In some circumstances (congresses, etc) on the reservation website hotel policy can be very tight (minimum stay, no refund, etc)...but if there is nothing I don't see on which base I could be punished for staying one night less than previously expected.
And coming back to lying, well morally it is bad, but it would have exactly the same effect.
Originally Posted by jascp
Only Marriott can give you a reservation and only Marriott can undo or change a reservation. So long as you are not deceitful or lie, which is always wrong no matter the situation, then you have done nothing wrong.
I understand this "lying" thing, but does putting moral on the table really help ?
When I book a stay I always state the real duration, except in one case : if I see that a 10 days stay will be cheaper dividing it in two reservations of for exemple 5 days each I will do it.
Do you think it is wrong ?
Coming back to the subject, in my case, if I book for two nights it will mean I intend to stay two nights. But we all have changes in our schedules, or the hotel can be not so good etc...in that case if I leave after one night I won't have lied about my initial intentions, and if there was no restrictions I would not expect to pay penalty or extra charge because I have to leave early.
In some circumstances (congresses, etc) on the reservation website hotel policy can be very tight (minimum stay, no refund, etc)...but if there is nothing I don't see on which base I could be punished for staying one night less than previously expected.
And coming back to lying, well morally it is bad, but it would have exactly the same effect.
#40
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,738
These two night minimums are common. Near where I live in Seattle across the Cascades there is a rather new SpringHill that opened in Wenatchee which is a popular weekend getaway trip by travelers because besides itself being the home of Washignton apple farms its a short drive from Leaveneworth, Lake Chelan, and the gorge aphitheater.
Someone just doing Saturday they will lose even more customers because many travelers dont want to have to flip hotels so they will just book their two nights elsewhere.
I do get frustrated with this...i wish they should have with this some rule that say within 48-72 hrs of your travel time this restriction is lifted.
This is in part of why Marriott changes that rule of combining free certs and paid stays together because it would frustrate customers with the work they would have to do to combine the paid night plus cert for one of these min 2 night stay (on weekends) hotels.
#41
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,738
For me I work for government and during the work week staying at the govt rate is usually cheaper than the regular booking rate...but not always. Friday and Saturday stay at the govt rate may be a lot higher than the weekend rate. Similarly say you stay Friday night your rate may be the business rate you paid the other nights but if you booked it separately the rate is lower.
#42
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
Off-topic:
My sister used to be a park ranger in the Cascades & I used to overnight in Wenatchee because by the time my flight arrived to SEA & then onward to Wenatchee, it was too late to then drive the hour & catch the boat to Stehekin. It's a lovely area! When I was there I had to overnight at HI Express since SHS didn't exist then.
Cheers.
These two night minimums are common. Near where I live in Seattle across the Cascades there is a rather new SpringHill that opened in Wenatchee which is a popular weekend getaway trip by travelers because besides itself being the home of Washignton apple farms its a short drive from Leaveneworth, Lake Chelan, and the gorge aphitheater.
Cheers.
#43
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 91
I'm trying to book a reward night at one of the two downtown historic district Marriott properties in Charleston, SC. I'm running in to this same problem when I try to book just Friday night (Nov. 16th), neither of those hotels shows up, however if I do Thursday and Friday, then they do show up. I'm not sure yet if I'll be able to go on Thursday or if I'll have to wait until Friday. If I book both nights as a reward stay and then want to cancel the Thursday night later, would I get the points back? Would they cancel the whole stay? If I call the hotel directly would they be able to override the restriction? This is the first time I'm using points for Marriott, so I'm not entirely sure how the whole process works yet.
#44
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 242
Quote:
Originally Posted by jascp
Only Marriott can give you a reservation and only Marriott can undo or change a reservation. So long as you are not deceitful or lie, which is always wrong no matter the situation, then you have done nothing wrong.
I understand this "lying" thing, but does putting moral on the table really help ?
When I book a stay I always state the real duration, except in one case : if I see that a 10 days stay will be cheaper dividing it in two reservations of for exemple 5 days each I will do it.
Do you think it is wrong ?
Coming back to the subject, in my case, if I book for two nights it will mean I intend to stay two nights. But we all have changes in our schedules, or the hotel can be not so good etc...in that case if I leave after one night I won't have lied about my initial intentions, and if there was no restrictions I would not expect to pay penalty or extra charge because I have to leave early.
In some circumstances (congresses, etc) on the reservation website hotel policy can be very tight (minimum stay, no refund, etc)...but if there is nothing I don't see on which base I could be punished for staying one night less than previously expected.
And coming back to lying, well morally it is bad, but it would have exactly the same effect.
Originally Posted by jascp
Only Marriott can give you a reservation and only Marriott can undo or change a reservation. So long as you are not deceitful or lie, which is always wrong no matter the situation, then you have done nothing wrong.
I understand this "lying" thing, but does putting moral on the table really help ?
When I book a stay I always state the real duration, except in one case : if I see that a 10 days stay will be cheaper dividing it in two reservations of for exemple 5 days each I will do it.
Do you think it is wrong ?
Coming back to the subject, in my case, if I book for two nights it will mean I intend to stay two nights. But we all have changes in our schedules, or the hotel can be not so good etc...in that case if I leave after one night I won't have lied about my initial intentions, and if there was no restrictions I would not expect to pay penalty or extra charge because I have to leave early.
In some circumstances (congresses, etc) on the reservation website hotel policy can be very tight (minimum stay, no refund, etc)...but if there is nothing I don't see on which base I could be punished for staying one night less than previously expected.
And coming back to lying, well morally it is bad, but it would have exactly the same effect.
#45
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NC
Programs: Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,881
I'm trying to book a reward night at one of the two downtown historic district Marriott properties in Charleston, SC. I'm running in to this same problem when I try to book just Friday night (Nov. 16th), neither of those hotels shows up, however if I do Thursday and Friday, then they do show up. I'm not sure yet if I'll be able to go on Thursday or if I'll have to wait until Friday. If I book both nights as a reward stay and then want to cancel the Thursday night later, would I get the points back? Would they cancel the whole stay? If I call the hotel directly would they be able to override the restriction? This is the first time I'm using points for Marriott, so I'm not entirely sure how the whole process works yet.
I would NOT book and assume all will be OK if a change is needed. I would call the hotel and insure that they agree to a 2 night separate reservation...not a 2 night combined. Single night reservations are the only way you can safely cancel one night with the 2nd remaining intact.