Yeah, it is probably looks like this because the way they have structured the points pricing, they take into account the 5th night free, so that goes on one certificate and then the remaining two nights on the other.

And just because it shows this way doesn't mean that there are two separate certs generated for the reservation. If you cancel the res, you will get one 7-night cert put back into your account.

Someone else already did a calculation, but if you needed the Marriott stay then it would be a great deal. Marriott has more airline options for transfer than MR (for example the Southwest companion pass), though SPG has more options than Marriott.

But for Marriott travel packages it is 1:1 point to mile conversion after you take out the 7-night stay cost. Which is the best deal ever!

Anyone had luck with a 5 night redemption?

I've not heard of anyone not an MVCI member successfully getting one. Doesn't mean it can't happen, but I'd guess it would be very unlikely.

Bit the bullet and did the 7 nights for the UA bonus before they change their award rules.

Is there somewhere on the marriott site i can see my unused 7 night stay certs?

After you log in click on my account, account activity, and scroll down.

It has happened in the past (As a non-MVCI owner but Plat MR member, I was able to redeem for one). Some bloggers started posting about them late last year/beginning of this year and my speculation is Marriott responded by cracking-down on non-MVCI's ability to get a 5-night package.

Anyone have experience with the transfer times to Southwest?

Trying to time it right.

I tried to figure it out for you, but cannot find out how to go back so far in time on my Marriott account (to see when points were deducted).

I am new to MR and have just read the entire thread. I am planning a 6 day vacation to a Cat. 6 hotel next March. While I know which property I would like to use I am not 100% sure at this time that the trip will actually happen. I would like to use a 7 day TP for the stay. I have no immediate need for the air miles and have plenty of MR points (via SPG). I do not want to commit to the TP until I am more comfortable that the trip is a go, but I would like to secure the rooms now. Can I move the required 180,000 MR points for a rooms only stay into my account and make a reservation for next March, and at a later date move an additional 90,000 MR points into the account. At some date closer to next march I would call in and have the reservation changed to a Cat 6, 7 day TP with the payment of the additional 90,000 MR points. If between now and next March it became apparent that the trip was not happening I would cancel the rooms only reservation and have the 180,000 points redeposited to my account. Are there any potential problems with this plan? Thanks in advance.

Your solution is very easy with MR. You can and just need to make the award booking *without* the requited MR points in your account. MR is good in this aspect.

Can this be done online? I usually just call to make reservation and just ask them not to take points out of my account.

Thanks.

The only way I've been able to do it online is when I didn't have enough points in my account for the reservation.

7 Night Travel Package Strategy Opinions requested
 

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Ultimate Plan: Redeem for 7 night travel package with Southwest as airline in early January to receive SW Companion pass for 2017 and 2018.

Currently I have 250,000 MR points and should have no problem getting to 270,000 to hit a category 1-5 package.

But....of course I don't want a 1-5 hotel. Would like at least a category 7 which would require 330,000 MR points. Which I probably can't do on my own by Jan 2017.

So, the choices I am considering after researching different cards:
1. Open Chase Marriott in husbands name. Transfer his 80,000 points into my MR account.

2. Open Chase Sapphire reserve in my name. Move the 100,000 points into my MR account.

3. Redeem for the 1-5 now and then continue adding points to my MR account throughout the year and then upgrade my cert to a higher category later.

Thoughts? Opinions? Other options I may have missed?

Thanks again.