The reservation does not have to be exactly 7 nights. It can be used for a shorter reservation, if someone wanted to use it as such. But it can't be "broken" into separate award reservations, it has be used for a single award stay.

Question: is the 5-Night TP still available for non-timeshare owners? I just inquired with a Marriott Rewards CSR/Manager and she said that they'd been audited and offering the 5-Night TP to non-owners was a breach of contract. Wondering if anyone has had any luck within the past month or so.

I think this option is officially closed to non owners. I inquired several times and the very nice agents reiterated this every time. Just really seemed like a non starter. I'd be curious to know if anyone has had success in the last week. I may end up just booking the 7 night to get the WN CP. Debating on how much I want Starpoints vs WN/CP.

I have 7 nights booked with points already to guarantee a room (points/e-certificate has NOT been sent yet)

If I call and purchase a 7 night TP, will they just apply that to the room or will they re-book my reservation and cancel my original booking?

You can have them apply the certificate to your existing reservation if that was booked using points.

I just got the 7 ngiht TP with southwest compansion pass.

I am from Philly. Anyone had a suggestion where to go (southwest only) and where to stay for 7 nights (cat 1-5)?

Agree...and to expand further some advice...with lessons learned over the years. I do EVERYTHING regarding a TP cert over the phone. Whether its attaching it to a reservation or detaching (if my plans changed). I make sure the rep knows exactly what I want. They do it-always very helpful. Then I refresh my account to make sure all is correct. Several times I have canceled reservations with a TP cert attached. Instead of returning to my account-its gone.

YMMV but this is my SOP now.

I'm going to guess that there was an internal memo about this around the time the blogger(s) were telling people to call and then HUACA if necessary.

It seems pretty clear now that the 5-nighters are off the table unless you own a timeshare.

working it
 

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Anyone get a cert recently who is banking on getting it extended after one year to be able to redeem at SPG properties (hopefully) in 2018? Trying to determine if I want to risk this with the knowledge that Marriott isn't required to extend the certs and may choose to stop this practice as they integrate SPG and have so many more hotels available for redemption.

Just got my cert and plan on using in 2018. Mainly got the package for the CP, the 7 nights are a bonus in my eyes.

When I called to redeem, the agent stated that the certs can be upgraded and extended without me asking the question. I agree that Marriott isn't required to extend the certs but it seems like in almost all cases they do. The SPG integration does add an interesting twist, they could alter the program significantly and remove extension, or it could add more hotels to redeem the certs at.

I'm planning on using in '18, although I had planned on just booking the stay this sometime year at an existing Marriott brand. I hadn't considered the SPG possibilities, simply because I totally expect a big round of serious category creep when the programs merge.

I expect that Marriott Rewards structure to be the one that survives. I even expect the TP's to survive: they've been the signature award for this program for almost the entire life of the program. It's still the best award in any program, and for me personally the primary value prop for staying with Marriott for many years. (Other programs treat their elites much better and match or beat Marriott on ROI when you're redeeming a simple hotel award for a couple nights. Marriott only wins when you get to the TP level.)

If the Travel Packages go away, then Hyatt becomes a clear choice for those who like high-touch elite treatment and Hilton becomes a better choice for people who just want to earn massive amounts of points per dollar for free nights.

However, when the programs integrate, I'm somewhat expecting the categories to go to 10-11 if they move the St. Regises into the Ritz tiers, or 12-13 if they get rid of Ritz tiers. Then it becomes really easy to bump everything up a category or two.

No reason why they wouldn't, on Southwest is making changes to TP redemptions on their side

It seems like there's anxiety every year about whether or not the TPs will go away. This year more than most since the merger is coming.

Airlines have come and gone in the past. And airlines have changed their treatment of hotel miles in the past. AA is in both of these categories: it was once a Marriott partner, and the miles transferred counted towards LT status. I wouldn't be LT Gold without Travel Packages. Then AA went away entirely. Then it came back, but the miles don't count for LT.

The underlying TP itself has survived, and my guess is that it will continue to do so as long as Marriott Rewards itself survives.

Does Marriott usually have a specific time of yea where they announce category changes ?

I want to use out Cat 7 cert in November 2018 at the Courtyard Ft Lauderedale Beach so I have to check and make sure it's category doesn't change.

Thanks