I want to say Feb/March-ish is when they announce category changes. (I could easily be wrong on this.) They announce the changes, give you about a month to book at old rates, meaning you can lock in a stay about a year out from when they announce the category changes.

So for a Nov 2018 stay, you have to survive 1 round of Category Creep.

A big IIRC, yes, middle of next month. They used to give until mid May to book at old rates but that's been severely cut back in recent years, maybe 2 weeks or so.

Marie will come on once a year with big fanfare to announce a heads up for FT members and we won't hear from her again.

90% chance, IMO, that property will increase.

There ought to be a law against Category 8 Courtyards. Sorry.

For what it's worth, my 120,000 Southwest points arrived in my account about 21 hours after I phoned Marriott for my TP. ^


Not that I really needed them that fast, but still...Marriott gets a ^ for it anyway.

I actually prefer this Courtyard over the CAT 8 Marriots in the area..........far from your typical CY

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...derdale-beach/

Cat 5 would be my limit if I was king...

I had a relative who did the package for WN CP. He was a few hundred points short of the package he wanted, and they rounded up. Impressed with the service!

I've stayed at a couple Cat7 Courtyards, and.... I must say.... that when you walk into a hotel and smell the oxidized frying oil that they use in their disgusting kitchens throughout the entire lobby.... they are not deserving of anything more than Cat5.

This is the case at many of the CY hotels I stayed in through the last few years.

Would like to convert an existing rez of 7 nights to a travel package, but on my account it is showing as 5 nights + 2 nights. I think this might be because I originally reserved 5 nights and had to call and have them add 2 later. Is this a problem for booking the 7-night TP? If I try to create a new reservation, I'm offered only a king, and I need the 2 queens that I have in the 5+2 rez.

Tried calling MR today but when it transfers me over to operator from auto menu, phone cuts off. Every time.

Here's what my rez says:

Hotel Reward: 5 Nights, Category 8 Hotel 1 160,000
Hotel Reward: 2 Nights, Category 8 Hotel 1 80,000
Total points for stay: 240,000

Update: I finally got through to MR on the phone. So for future reference: 7-night award certs don't exist. It's always 5 + 2. To confirm this, I booked a dummy award rez for 7 nights at a random Marriott. Voila: 5 + 2.

I did look but have a dumb question. Can I book a travel package on line. and since I do not know where I want to go, can I leave the destination open?

Just want to get it done before the loop hole closes for WN.

I'll answer what I think you are asking. Ask again if I have it wrong.

I believe the only way to redeem a travel package is to call. And in my experience their award desk is closed on Sunday (though it was open on the Sunday right after the ability to move points was announced).

When you redeem a package, you identify the airline where you want the points to go. You do not need to book specific flights. You also do not need to book the hotel where you will use that portion of the award. Rather, the award goes into your account.

How did I do? Did I swing and miss?

you are Karnak the magnificent . (I think that's how they spell it.)

You perfectly answered my question.
thank you

I was looking at a couple of different hotels that when I click "Use Points" tell me that they are not available. Is using points the same as using one of these certificates? I've accumulated a number of Marriott points over the years, but I don't have much (any?) experience actually redeeming them.

Correct. Using the cert. is the same as an award stay. Points availability has to be available to use your cert.

Good to know. I just called in for the TP this morning and want to book some WN flights asap. I'll keep checking back for the points. Did your CP post at the same time as the points?