Yes I agree with you!! That really sucks when you are paying $800/night and expecting better for a property like that! Those are minor things they are making issues of. That really puts a damper on considering this property.

So should one purchase a Travel & Fly certificate now OR should they wait until after August when the changes take place? I just dont want to experience another devaluation for something I have worked so hard for. My concern is that if I purchase a travel certificate now, that marriott will cancel it or refund me less money than what I used to purchase the travel + hotel certificate.

Thoughts anyone on anything official?

Nothing official, but I can tell you my thought process on the subject. The airline miles (for me) are the most valuable component of the TPs. And if TPs do indeed continue post August, I don't see the airline redemption going up. In fact, my gut tells me, this is where Marriott will devalue, so I am going to purchase before August.

With the 20K points posting for upgrading the Marriott CC, I will be sitting on more than 380K Marriott points in a week or so.

My question is: how to proceed forward to maximize my returns using the said Marriott Travel Packages.

Thank you! :)

Agreed, but I have used the 7-day category 1-5 hotels four separate times to spectacular redemptions in Thailand. Treated like royalty with suite upgrades, breakfast buffet at restaurant, lounge access, and VIP treatment. Redemptions were worth a $1000 a week easy.

I redeemed a 7-day Category 1-5 travel package this morning for 270,000 points. However, according to the email confirmation and my account, the agent gave me a 5-day Category 7 travel package for 270,000 points instead. Both packages includes 120,000 miles transfer to airline partner, the only difference between these two packages would be:

• 7 nights Category 5 (150,000 MR points via regular points redemption, with 5th night free), vs
• 5 nights Category 7 (140,000 MR points via regular points redemption, with 5th night free)

Before I call Marriott to fix it, can anyone think of any advantage of keeping the 5-day package over the 7-day package?

Thanks

I wish I can get a 5 nights package :) I rarely stay in the same place for 7 nights.

It would really depend on how you plan to use the certificate nights. Would you rather stay 5 nights at a higher category, or 7 nights at a lower one? My usual redemption is a CAT 5, so I would not want to give up 2 free nights. If you were looking to redeem at a Cat 6 or Cat 7, and were only interested in 5 nights, your answer would be different then mine.

Not sure the point value comparison means a whole lot, unless I missed an official announcement in the merger news?

It makes sense. Thanks!

Wow, I would keep it. I used to redeem for 5 nights quite often, until they stop allowing me saying it was only for time share owners :rolleyes:

As others said, I rarely stay more than 5 nights in one property, and when I do, it is because I have the 7 night travel package and usually pick a really good resort domestically, like the Hawaiian Properties.

Here is what I got today from Marriott Rewards via Twitter:

Plus I bet you could upgrade it to a higher cat if you wanted and keep it at 5 nights...could be very useful under certain situations. You could likely downgrade it to a cat 1-5 and get the credit as well while keeping it a 5 day award.

Hold on, how many points were you charged for this redemption? You stated 270k at the top, which would mean that you were charged the 7 night package price. Or were you charged less?

If it cost 270k, definitely get them to correct this, as you paid for a 7 night package. Even if you intend to only use 5 nights it's handy to be able to book a day early for an early check in or use the last day for a late check-out.

If you were charged less, then it's a simple question whether you would use 2 extra nights or not.

That's not right. OP got a Cat 7 package. A seven night Cat 7 would be 330k points.

I also wish I could get a five night package. I never stay seven nights in one place.