mmaster737

+1

AICML

Wow, I was able to redeem 7 nights in Paris in 2009 for 150K, now that same redemption will cost 270K. I use to think Marriott was a great value when I first joined the program but it's just not worth it anymore. Need to burn my remaining balance ASAP.

freeflyin

^

rylan

Good point about the VacationClub option to trade for points. They have not increase how many points you get for your week, yet the value of the points has plummeted. This makes the reward points option a joke for your timeshare.

OverpaidSlacker

Wow, this is a kick in the balls.

I have been Hilton Diamond for 5-6 years (still Diamond through February 2014), but decided to switch to Marriott on January 1, 2013. Got the Chase Marriott VISA, on which I have already spent $40k since receiving it last month ($10k on Marriott purchases alone).

And now this. My timing couldn't have been much worse.

I still haven't canceled my Hilton HHonors AmEx Surpass. I guess I'm going to switch back. I just wish I had foreseen this and spent the $40k on the AmEx....would have already secured Diamond through February 2015 at this point).

**sigh** Thanks, Marriott.

hotelfanatic

Is night and day comparing the MR change to http://hyatthotels.hyatt.com/content...rtupdates.html

Thankfully I started moving my eggs to other programs a decade ago.

hrdjeepzj

Been thinking about it for a while, but it's finally time to do a SPG platinum challenge. I have 3 stays coming up that could easily be switched to Westin from Marriot/Ren, and I'll throw a few Aloft stays in as well (much better than the average CY from my experience)

Since status basically means nothing at CY/RI I'll probably still stay there if there aren't any *wood hotels around even once I lose MR platinum, but other than that I think all my full service stays will finally move over to SPG 100%.

Glad it is a lot easier to switch hotel chains than airlines.

yerffej201

It sucks that RC's are getting killed.
RC Dubai, RC Osaka, RC Tokyo, RC Seoul, RC LA, etc. etc. etc.
Every single RC in a major city that's cat 1/2/3 is going up. up up up.

Wow.

boss315

MR must have hired Jeff Smisek and the UA team to advise them of loyalty programs!

Boraxo

Does not shock me that most expensive high demand properties, i.e. London, NYC, resorts, etc are going up. These hotels are inundated with guests using award nights and demand just keeps going up as MR and Chase print more points. Was somewhat pleasantly surprised not to find one of my favorite Ritzs on the list (I guess Cat 3 is high enough) as well as a few Courtyards that somehow missed the cut. OTOH some of the increases are absurd for subpar Ritzs like Pentagon City, MDR, etc. but of course this is true for many of the lower tiers as well.

What is really sorely needed (maybe Loyalty Traveler has a chart?) is an apples-to-apples comparison for those of us who earn through stays and burn at Cat 8-9 level. For example, if I choose Marriott (Plat=15 points/$1) rather than SPG (Nonelite= 2points/$1) or Hyatt (Plat=5.75 points/$1) which one gets me a free night faster at a Cat 8 property (or better yet a 4+1 award which both programs offer)? The problem is that unpredictable megabonus-type promos will skew the analysis.

From a credit card perspective, it would appear that SPG Amex points are worth far more than Marriott or Priority Club Chase points, as you generally need twice as many of the latter to get the same room across brands.

Rebelyell

I loved the Cat 1-4 certificates, and even if they couldn't be used at top properties there were still lots of good places to use them. No more.

There is not a single Cat 4 Marriott property left in New Orleans. The only redemption option is to stay way out in the suburbs, which sort of defeats the purpose of going to New Orleans.

My wife travels a lot and will continue to stay with Marriott enough to get all three certificates, which will give her a total of seven in her account. Plus I'll probably earn one or two. We'll need to decide where and when we want to use them before May 15 or else just plan to use them for roadside Fairfields.

EWRfflyer

Also agree. makes my cat 1-4 mega bonus room almost worthless

EWRfflyer

^

NJUPINTHEAIR

I don't recall getting the e-mail notification of changes before the "re-evaluation" in the past.

If this is the first time they are doing it -- and I believe it is -- then they already know how much they are devaluing the program by sending out e-mail notifications to all those who have an e-mail on file, so as not to be innundated with complaints that they made major changes to the program without any notice.

I think it safe to say that most if not all downtown locations in the USA are no longer at a Cat 4 level, and many susburbs are no longer at even a Cat 5 level -- this devaluation is disgraceful.

DLB404

Crap. I was just going to move over to Marriott this year. Loved the Q1 Stay 2 get 1 free promo and my Marriott Visa just arrived. Oh well, I will max out the promo and Visa, book my rewards and back to Hilton.