Hi there - long time lurker, first time poster. I'll be staying at Marriott for the first time, in fact my first time traveling overseas! I'll be visiting Thailand for a month.

I was hoping for some advice on my best way to maximize my points and free night voucher. I recently got the Chase Visa card, so I have 50,000 points coming soon and one free night Category 1-4 voucher.

I'll be starting my trip in Bangkok for 8 days.

So with that in mind, this is what I've come up with so far from my research:

To start my trip, stay in Courtyard Bangkok (Cat3) for 15k points a night, for 5 nights using points only in order to get the 5th night free. I'd need to buy 10,000 points with cash for a total of $125 for these 5 nights.

Then I go stay at another hotel for a night, then return to Courtyard Bangkok and pay cash for 1 night (to qualify me for the 2 separate stays for the MegaBonus). This would get me a free night voucher to use later in my trip, maybe for the Pattaya Marriot resort which is category 4.

Or... would my 5 night points only stay not count toward the MegaBonus promotion, and I shouldn't bother returning for 1 night and paying cash?

Or should I be using a different strategy? My schedule is very flexible right now - I'm just looking to get some free hotel stays.

Any replies would be appreciated, thanks!

since the Ren is literally only 1 block from the CY, and you can still get 5 nights (w last 1 w/o charge) when you redeem 4-nights points (80k) and is still a Cat 4, I'd recoo staying at the Ren over the CY which is only a renovated apt bldg down a dead end Soi.........

Pattaya Marriott is still a Cat 4 until 16 May, when it, like the Ren will become Cat 5s........unlike other "resorts" the Pattaya Marriott has an Exec Lounge for G/Ps and again unlike other resorts provides breekie in either lounge or breakfast room.........it is located across the street from the beach but watch out in early/late evening as this area is frequented by "lady-boys" for a newbee sometimes it's hard to tell!

no point stays count towards the MegaBonus....

Thanks for the reply! I only have 50k points though - not 80k. 30k more would cost $375. I'm a young guy and don't need a 5 star hotel - just want to use my points for free stays.

then the CY will be OK for you........BTW, they have a tuk-tuk service to get you from their location on Soi 1 to the BTS/SkyTrain Sta on Soi 2 and SkyTrain will get you to most parts of the City, except for say Wat Pra Gow which is easily reachable by taking the SkyTrain to Taksin Sta (bridge) and then taking the tourist boat to Wat Pra Gow.......if you think you'll use SkyTrain frequently, they do have day-pass offered...

Check out this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...tt-points.html

People reporting being able to switch from the 50k to the 70k CC offer. Definitely worth a shot for you.

I'm Canadian so no 70k for me. I was lucky to get 50k.

Thanks for the tips BKKLEE! I might use my voucher for the Ren just to try it out.

Or do you think I should save it for the Pattaya resort?

Thanks!

since you have Cat 4 certs you can use them equally at either the Ren BKK or Pattaya Marriott, but since you intend to stay at the CY for 5+ days instead of changing props I'd just stay at the CY as there's no incentive to move (not ellligible for MegaBonus as you're using points, although the lounge offering at the Ren are really superior to that of the CY, but that's to be expected from a Ren vrs a CY) so IMO either choice, Ren BKK or Pattaya Marriott is equally OK ..........

I don't think the OP has Marriott status, so lounges won't matter.

Also, I have the impression that OP plans to spend free night certs as soon as they are earned. It doesn't work this way. It takes time for the stays to post and for you to receive the certs. Also, usually you must make a reservation in advance and specifically associate the reservation with your free night cert. The hotel might not have the right availability at the last minute.