My sentiments exactly.

This is a legal requirement of some of the newspaper contracts with hotels.

As a sidebar, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times are all in a circulation war and they're offering all sorts of papers to the hotels for virtually no cost.

It still doesn't excuse your not getting the WSJ, though. Sounds like an execution problem at the property.

Let's face it- there's really a 3-tier travel system.

First, there's the treatment you get as a "no-status" traveler- you're at the mercy of the professionalism (or lack thereof) of the hotel or airline in question.

Then there's the low-tier status- Marriott Silver being one. They make it pretty easy to get- I have Silver on Marriott and Hilton because of the credit cards. I've read that some employers who throw a lot of travel bucks around get mid-tier status with the major airlines for their employees. If you want to throw big bucks around yourself, you can also get mid-tier Elite in the major airlines with an AE Centurion card (annual fee $1,000 or so- may be higher). You get a few nice perks- occasional upgrades, shorter lines, lounge access, slightly better access to reward travel, etc.

Then there are the Road Warrior levels. Other than the occasional fluke-y promotion, you get there only by butt-in-seat flying or staying way too many nights away from home. All the hotels and all the airlines want the Road Warriors and treat them like royalty. Some of us will never make the road Warrior category and are happy with that.

To me, low-tier Elite status in Marriott or any other program has nowhere near the rewards of the Road Warrior status, but it's got enough occasional pleasant surprises that I'll go to some trouble and expense to maintain it.

Well looks like I'm the special recipient of "Platinum for a Day" at the PDX Courtyard. When I checked into my room there was a bottle of water and some cookies with a large "Thank you for being a Platinum member" card.

For the record, I am a Silver and this is my fourth of 13 booked nights for 2004.

Any comments on Silver treatment at the Marriott Monterey?

Thanks!

IMO, just let the great folks at Monterey take care of you. Don't worry about status perks. Just ask nicely for a bay view if that is important. They gave us one without asking the last time we were there. Nice sized room.

Don't miss the prix fixe room service dinner, if you don't feel like going out. Unbelievable.

If you happen upon a middle-aged lady at the concierge desk (I forget her name), stop and talk. If you're interested in the area, I think you'll find the conversation enlightening. If you need reservations, a prime table at local restaurants will be at your disposal before you even know it.

I do recall receiving the WSJ as well as USA Today at this property, even back when we were Marriott unknowns. We usually go there for our credit union educational convention so that might have been a factor.

We usually leave the car in valet and walk everywhere, except when driving over to Pacific Grove or up to Santa Cruz/Felton. The hotel is really well located.

Enjoy your trip!

Pat

Silver doesn't take much to earn - so you shouldn't expect much in return.

Perhaps that could be their marketing mantra!!

That being said, I've been Silver for only two recent stays. I signed up for the MR Visa credit card for the bonus points and the lowly status. I would consider both stays as upgrades. A river view room at County Hall in London and a corner room at a Courtyard in So. Cal.

Most of my stays in the last few years have been at Hiltons. What I have noticed about Marriott is that they seem to be a notch above Hilton in terms of service but they are not as willing to lower their rates during lower occupancy periods. For the places I go, the Courtyards seem to hold steady in the $114 to $119 range. No change on a daily or weekly basis. The Hiltons in the same markets have much more room rate fluctuations, which I think has to do with occupancy loads. Just an observation.

My vote is that Silver does matter, but only in small degrees. Keep your expections low and you will be surprised from time to time.

Have you considered targeting Marriotts on Priceline? I do this routinely (Marriott particpates in PL in most every domestic area) and, once a strategy is known for targeting them, it's pretty easy to get a RI or CY for 35-45.00 and a full service Marriott for 45-70.00.

As an example, we stayed at the Laguna Cliffs Resort for 50.00 p/d a couple of weeks ago. Nice property. Killer ocean views over the harbor.

They also treated us well as Priceline customers and credited my wife with her stay and incidental points. That's why I keep coming back to Marriott. Flexibility.

Pat

One - I didn't think award credits could be earned for Priceline rates. Do all Marriott locations do this?

Two - care to share your strategy for targeting Marroitt properties on Priceline?

Wholesaler rates do not earn credit....but be careful....priceline.com either has or is about to become a full service travel agency

1. Socrates has the best explanation and I'll defer to his expertise. My experience has been variable. I never expect stay points but do provide the hotel with mine or my wife's MR number in my faxed confirmation and preference communications. IIRC, we've always gotten incidentals points/miles. I'll check the final accounting of the notations on our most recent invoice, from SNADP, which I still feel is in error (in our favor), and post back with any corrections.

2. Head over to biddingfortravel and spend some time on the PL bidding boards. You'll soon see the methodolgies for targeting a Marriott property in an area you wish to travel to. IME, the key is the start bid level and progression of bidding increments through the free re-bid zones. It does take time and work but we have a marked loyalty to Marriott and I wish to stay with them as often as is practicable, even on Priceline stays.

If evidence of our loyalty (MR points instead of miles, MR VISA, any elite status) helps us, even on a PL stay, so be it. Gifts are welcomed

Pat