I dont think anything has changed, I recently did this - went from Cat 5 to 6 then downgraded back to a 5 and was able to extend the cert for another year. Award was originially issued in 6/07.

I say the OP should book the cat 6 - once you have enough points for the award you want, just call CS and they will fix it for you. May even try doing it on your own by cancelling and re-booking at that time - as there is no blackout, right...

Travel Package: Possible to Gift Hotel Certificate?
 

There are many threads on the Travel Packages floating around in here, but I couldn't find anything answering this specific question.

Has anyone been able to redeem a travel package and have the hotel certificate issued in someone else's name, as a gift? I am planning on gifting two very close friends a 1 week stay at a Marriott for their honeymoon as a wedding gift, and was hoping to use the travel package route as the means to get the free week. Just called the platinum desk and was told it was not possible to redeem a Travel Package in another person's name. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks in advance.
-jkm024

It used to be possible. Did you call the Marriott rewards number or the reservations number? Call the MR service center and ask them.

I have transferred them in the past. If you can't anymore, that's a big loss.

Billy

I used a travel package for my son's honeymoon. They issued the hotel certificate in his name. They put the United miles into my United account and we used those to book tickets to Phuket. I called Marriott Rewards to issue the travel package and they were very helpful.

Alright - thanks for the suggestion to call the Marriott Rewards desk instead. I called them this morning and it was no problem at all to issue this; the miles went to my account, and the certificate was issued in my friend's name. Thanks for the information.

Splitting the Hotel Portion of a Hotel + Air Package?
 

It's probably not allowed, but I thought I'd check.

We'll be doing our usual UK trip this summer, during which we will visit my in-laws and spend a few days in London. I don't normally consider the Hotel + Air packages (though the miles are very tempting) because my in-laws, who live in the Cotswolds, would be sad if we spent 7 nights in London.

This year, however, will be my father-in-law's 75th birthday. I would love to bring him (and my mother-in-law) to London for a couple of nights for a show and a nice dinner out. I'm wondering if there's any way to split the 7 night portion of the package into two rooms, one for 5 nights, and the other for 2 nights. Couldn't find anything in the rules regarding this, but I'll admit that it does sound unorthodox.

Perhaps the best thing to do would be to email the GM of our usual London hotel choice. He's always taken excellent care of us.

Advice?

just use points without air

I know I can do that. I'd just rather do the hotel + air package if I can because, for once in my life, I'd like to take advantage of the one to one points to miles conversion it offers.

For an apples to apples comparison--

"just using points"
100K United miles = 250K MR points
7 nights category 8 hotel = 240K MR points
Total = 490K MR points

Hotel + Air travel package
7 nights category 8 hotel + 100K United miles = 340K MR points

That 150K point difference is big enough that I'd still come out ahead if I ate the 2 unused nights and cashed in another 80K for 2 additional nights for my in-laws. That would cost 420K MR points and still save me 70K.

If you're wondering why I'm so eager for a favorable MR ==> United conversion rate, it's because I'd like to have enough United miles banked next winter to get 3 free tickets to LHR for the summer of 2011 as well (I just gutted my United account for tickets for 2010). I've earned around 350K MR points this year, and I think it would be nice for that to cover the bulk of one of our summer trips (hotel AND air). My in-laws are getting up there, and it's important for us to see them as often as possible (hubby is an only child, so we're all they've got).

I do realize that I am trying to get the best possible value for my points. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I'm not trying to get anything beyond the air + hotel package I'm hoping to use. I want 7 nights of hotel, but in a configuration in which I can actually use them. I'm not asking to spend a few nights at one time, and the balance at a later date (I see why that would be a bookkeeping nightmare). All 7 nights would be at the same hotel; they would simply take place over 5 nights. I expect that we would check out of both rooms on the same date (my in-laws would check in after we'd already been at the hotel for 3 nights).

From Marriott's terms and conditions:

"A Reward Certificate is good for one consecutive stay, for one standard room only..." (http://www.marriott.com/rewards/terms/usetrms.mi#hotel)

To me, it sounds like the hotel portion of the hotel + air package cannot be split.

No matter what we say, it will come down to the GM and whether he is willing to be flexible. The rules don't allow it; he might.

Thanks. I was sure it must say that somewhere; I just couldn't find it. Think I'll ask anyway. Worst that can happen is they say no.

Air+ Hotel package question
 

Hi

Planning a trip to Aruba next year, going to get a travel package for miles and nights hotel stay....

We want to stay at Renaissance Aruba Resort + Casino (cat 6) - the hotel has 2 distinct busildings Marina Hotel + Ocean Suites....

does anyone know if using the 7 days hotel certificate would allow us to stay in either building?

thanks

I do believe that the award certs are usable for rooms in either building. The one problem you might hit on with the Ocean Suites side is that you may also need to order Upgrade awards per night or you will have a per night cash upcharge. The upgrade awards are usually 5K per level per night. And depending on the room, you may need more than 1 of those upgrades per night.

Travel Packages
 

Can anyone point me to a post or let me know how I can convert my 300K MR points into a Travel Package? It seems that this is the way to get the most out of your points. I'm on Marriott's vacation website and I don't see an option to purchase one with points, but maybe I'm missing something.

Apologies if this is somewhere. I've been searching the forum for awhile.

Here you go: http://www.marriott.com/rewards/usep...ck.mi#packages