Blackout Dates for Points Redemption
 

I tried to book a room using points, The hotel was not available, but when I change to payment in cash, the hotel is available. I thought that points could be used like cash? Are there restrictions on redeeming points?

Thanks

There is a difference between "No Blackout Dates" and "Last Room Available". "No Blackout Dates" means that hotels have to provide at least a few rooms every night of the year for award reservations. IOW, they can't completely blackout a particular date. But there is no requirement to provide ALL their standard rooms for awards.

Starwood's program would be an example of a "Last Room Available" program. As long as the hotel has "standard" rooms available for sell, then they must also provide them for awards. Thus it is much easier to find award room available with Starwood hotels for "special" nights like New Years, etc.

Good summary & description of the distinction between the two. Often the former is confused with the latter.

Cheers.

What do you think this is .... Starwood?

The games they play with the "no blackouts" term has been a pet peeve of mine with MR for a while now.

What hotel and what dates?

Two different hotels, both popular: the Napa Marriott and the Sonoma Renaissance. I was looking at varied fall weekends.

It's on me (and that's why I asked), I don't always know the platinum benefits. I assumed I could use points when I wanted, but in reality, its based on an ability to reserve a room (cash).

I appreciate the clarification.

Hmmmm. I plugged in a few dates and the only dates I see no award rooms I also see no standard rooms for sale either.

First one I tried - Napa Marriott - 10/18-19. Cash rooms, no awards.

Note that if you click "Use Rewards Points", the cash rate won't show up. In fact, nothing about the property will show up at all. You need to unselect and Update. For these dates, I get "Choose from 51 hotels across 10 brands in Napa" and "Choose from 33 hotels across 7 brands in Napa", so there seem to be 18 properties without award availability.

I prefer SPG's approach that shows them all, with a "Not Available" note next to each rate that's not available.

That night I did not check. Holy cow, a standard room for 998.

Yes, that was my first reaction also.

Marriott's "search" results default to only showing available hotels, but it is very easy (a single click on a dropdown arrow) to show 'All hotels'. You can also easily change the "Sort by" results. It defaults to Distance, but can be easily changed to City, Reward Type or even Brand.

If I'm searching for both cash and awards availability, and the cash portion is available, then the room is "available", but not shown.

It would be easier to just show the property with something like:

"Cash Rate: $299 Award Rate: Not available"

than require the user to know this.

Exactly! I find it SOOO hard to use my marriott points on any of my vacations because i'm a last minute vacationer

Many hotels blacked out in advance
 

delete

Try searching one hotel at a time, checking both the 'award nights' box and the 'flexible dates box, which will bring up a calendar of availability. Also try 1 vs. 2 vs. 3-night stays, because some dates may have minimum stay or be 'closed to arrival,' such as Saturdays.