The idea is that you'll get a confirmed booking now as opposed to later. Certs come from the same pool of rooms as points, so if they're not available later you'll miss out. I also prefer booking on the website, making sure all details are ok, then feeding the booking # to the CSR at the time. That way there shouldn't be any mistakes by them.

Plus you lock in the category in case of an increase.

Has anyone successfully extended a 5 night travel package not being a vacation club member ? I am was able to book a 5 night package last year but when I called to extend the 5-night award ,I was asked to call the vacation club. Confused.

My guess is that you've been caught up in Marriott's attempt at cracking down on 5 night TP awards. And probably one of the ways Marriott is trying to crack down on only MVCI owners getting them is to have MVCI agents be the only ones that can manage them.

It sounds like you were "lucky" (or maybe not as the case may be) in getting one last year without being an MVCI owner. But it doesn't sound like you are going to be as successful in getting them to extend it. You can keep calling in and trying, but based on other posts where it sounds like Marriott has plugged the MVCI hole, don't get your hopes up too far. I'd suggest having a backup plan to actual use the cert before it expires just in case you can't get Marriott to extend it.

I am going to extend the cert and book the room the first day those dates in 2018 open up.

I'm sorry, I just don't understand the difference between extending my cert on 12/11/17 and booking on December 11, 2017 with the cert as opposed to points, that would be the first day that 11/25/18 - 12/1/18 is available to book so I can't do it any sooner.

I'm guessing the TP reservation will show up in my account as soon a as it's booked by the agent so can't I just confirm the details at that point to make sure it's correct ?

With a 7 night certificate can you combine them with cash for a better room. With some hotels when booking points you can do points plus cash to get a executive room or even suite and wondered if you can do this using the certificates to?

As long as the hotel is offering "upgraded" award rooms, then no problem. The 7 night certificate is no different than any other award room cert. If the hotel has an oceanfront room available for award plus say 4 upgrade certs per night or say $100 cash per night, then your 7 night cert (assuming it meets the category requirements of that hotel) will work for the base room and you just need the points for the upgrade certs or pay the cash.

Hi all,

Can anyone shed any light on the ability to book SPG properties using these travel package vouchers ??

Is it possible ??

I've heard a rumour it is.. !

Thanks

Not possible to my knowledge, and I doubt it will be until the merger is complete.

oh right - will they even still honour the vouchers though at that time (after the merger) ??, as the category system and points currency may change once SPG properties are fully integrated right ?

I would be beyond shocked if they actually stopped honoring the vouchers after the merger. That said, there is every chance that there will be major changes in the lineup after the merger - perhaps the addition of extra categories leading to an effective devaluation of the certificates. I don't anticipate a change in the points currency, but I suppose lots of things are theoretically possible.

You may need to upgrade the 7 day certificates if there are category changes that make the property more expensive to redeem in the future. My personal belief is that you are better off redeeming for the lowest room category. It is always easy to pay the difference later if you need a higher room category versus trying to downgrade the room certificate later.

I have been successful in both upgrading and downgrading these certificates... all it takes is a phone call to do either.

People have reported issues in the past trying to downgrade, whereas upgrading is always an easy thing.

That's why everybody around here suggests redeeming Cat 5 TPs if you don't know where you're going to stay. That said, it's good to hear at least one anecdote of someone who's had success going the other direction. Maybe a HUACA thing...or maybe something they'll do only for Plats or PPs?

Last month I redeemed a 5 day Marriott travel package and today I received the 25K United bonus miles.