FlyerTalk Forums - E Certificate for cat 1-5

FlyerTalk Forums (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/index.php)

- Marriott | Rewards (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards-427/)

- - E Certificate for cat 1-5 (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/1594957-e-certificate-cat-1-5-a.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by yscleo (Post 23671899)

What backward?

At 35000 points it felt like a ripoff. The comparisons do not need to be made only for high season. People do travel in non high season times too. And in high season time, the rates are not that high either, and still lower than the low/regular season rates of other hotels requiring 35000 points for redemption.

Marriott makes the cats for year round, not just high or low season for various properties (not just this one). If someone redeems during high rates it's considered good value. During low not so much. Shrug. And again, part of the cat is based on how many redeem for a property. The more awards redeemed the higher the cat.

Since you found a cheap rate, book the rate, get points to redeem elsewhere.

Cheers

You found a great rate at the Fairfield inn Key West.... The cheapest I found there is $199 and it's a crappy place.

Can I use an anniversary night category 5 Marriot cert at a Ritz Carlton tier 5 such as the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas?

Quote:

Originally Posted by awardticket (Post 25062499)

Can I use an anniversary night category 5 Marriot cert at a Ritz Carlton tier 5 such as the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas?

if this was allowed, everyone would be getting the card. Unfortunately no, cat 5 and tier5 are in a whole different level.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jm1991 (Post 25062702)

if this was allowed, everyone would be getting the card. Unfortunately no, cat 5 and tier5 are in a whole different level.

It was to good to be true! I was wondering how a 440 dollar room can be had for a simple anniversary night.

Thank you!

Despite comments to the contrary, there are several properties that this value can be obtained at.

Quote:

Originally Posted by awardticket (Post 25063015)

It was to good to be true! I was wondering how a 440 dollar room can be had for a simple anniversary night.

Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkiAdcock (Post 23660976)

Disagree.

While not as great as before, FTers have been able to use them & not always at a FFI near an airport.

We've had many reports of them coming in handy, whether domestically or int'ly. Some have gotten great value out of them at locations where normally the rates are low, but skyrocket during certain events (Kentucky Derby, college football games, etc) or even airport locations when rates are high during the week. When ORD shut down a couple of years ago for 3 days, rates at LAX Ren in the week were $239-$279. That turned out to be a good use of the certs for me since I was on a personal trip & couldn't afford the extra spend. We've also had people use them at int'l properties that the properties were nice/they were pleased the categories were still low.

So while they're not quite as good as before, completely useless is not accurate.

Cheers.

Exactly! I enjoy the RI in Langhorne, PA. It is next to Sesame Place. During the fall, winter, and spring months, the hotel is empty and rates are cheap; thus, nobody uses points to stay there. In the summer, when Sesame Place is packed, the hotel is packed, and rates are high. My 10% discounted rates are

Studio: $269
1-Bedroom: $287

What is interesting is that a points stay booked in advance can work for a 1-bedroom OR a studio. I much prefer the 1-bedroom so my kid can be in another room and actually go to sleep instead of harassing me all night.

The hotel is a Cat-5, so for 25,000 points, the price is already great deal for the studio or 1-bedroom suite. However, the CC certificate also works. This is a great redemption. There are other places that are low category and high prices, such as the following during the weekdays:

Marriott Dulles Suites (cat 4)
Marriott Gaithersburg Washingtonian Center (cat 3)

Each of these properties can be $250-$300 during the weekdays. On weekends, when no business travelers are around, the hotels are dirt cheap. Use the points or certificates to stay during the weekdays.