Value of Marriott 7 Night Cat 1-5 Certificate....
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 568
Value of Marriott 7 Night Cat 1-5 Certificate....
Hi there,
I earned this certificate recently and would like to know the approx value.
Can somebody give me a ballpark idea/range?
Thanks in advance
I earned this certificate recently and would like to know the approx value.
Can somebody give me a ballpark idea/range?
Thanks in advance
#2
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DTW
Programs: AMEX, Ritz LT-Plat Prem, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Delta Plat, United Gold, Sixt Plat
Posts: 866
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
The value depends on where you plan to redeem it. In the US and much of Europe, category inflation has pushed most hotels near major city centers and resort areas-- i.e., the hotels likely to have higher cash room rates-- to Category 6 and higher. Those left in the Cat 1-5 range are generally cheaper, with average room rates well below $150/night. In Asia you may find pricier hotels still at lower categories.
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
I hope this isn't a "how much should I ask on eBay" question.
#6
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
#8
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
Here's how I value it (so I can decide whether it's worthwhile to convert):
If you paid MR points for a 7-night stay in a cat 5 hotel, it would require 6 x 25K, or 150K points. However, most people don't stay 7 nights in the same hotel (5 nights is probably the average). Besides, certificate should be worth slightly less because of its fixed expiration and lack of flexibility relative to points. As a result, I value the certificate as if it were only for 5 nights, which would cost 4 x 25K or 100K MR points. 100K MR points are generally worth around $800.
If you paid MR points for a 7-night stay in a cat 5 hotel, it would require 6 x 25K, or 150K points. However, most people don't stay 7 nights in the same hotel (5 nights is probably the average). Besides, certificate should be worth slightly less because of its fixed expiration and lack of flexibility relative to points. As a result, I value the certificate as if it were only for 5 nights, which would cost 4 x 25K or 100K MR points. 100K MR points are generally worth around $800.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
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#10
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,276
You can play with the filters on the right to add lower categories and/or to limit your search to specific Marriott brands.
If you bring up a hotel and it shows $100 USD as the rate, that would normally be the lowest off-season, off-day rate. If you then enter dates for 7 nights for when you actually might want to travel, you're likely to discover the real rate is double (or even triple).
But, at this point, does it matter if a particular hotel costs $700 or $1400 or $2100 for seven nights?
The real question would seem to be, where do want to spend a week? You have the certificate. Now it's a matter of turning it into a vacation you will enjoy.
I disagree with the poster who suggested that 7 nights in the same hotel is too long for a vacation. I've taken many vacations with 7 nights in the same hotel. Yes, usually that involved a destination that would only have higher categories, but places like Albuquerque and even Des Moines also have much to offer.
With Category 5, you generally can't get a hotel in a major destination city or resort area, at least not a full-service property. But you can choose form plenty of decent select service properties, or full-service properties in many suburban locations and smaller cities.
Last edited by Horace; Apr 4, 2017 at 10:42 am