This year I am likely to stay over 60 nights at Marriott properties. I used to get AA points for my occassional stays, but wondering if it would be wise to switch to points. Any advise? Can someone direct me to the relevant threads...I am sure this has been discussed before. Many thanks!

It has indeed. You might try doing a search (right-click on "Search" in the blue bar above, select this forum to be searched, and the words "points" and "miles") which should bring up a selection of the threads.

Bottom line, though, is that most feel if you're going to be staying frequently at Marriott properties, collecting points makes more sense than collecting miles, because once you collect a large amount of points (>100,000), you can redeem for package deals where you get more miles with the award than you'd earn getting miles instead of points for the stays.

Additionally, if you collect points, there are numerous promotions that you can take advantage of to increase your points (currently a 5,000 bonus points for every third stay promotion), while if you collect miles you seldom seem to qualify for additional miles via a promotion.

There are also additional ways to earn points by getting and using a Marriott Rewards VISA card.

I came to the conclusion many years ago that earning miles through Marriott rewards was not the best return on my money spent. For example:

If I earn miles and have spent $20000 at full service Marriotts over then past couple years then I would have earned 60,000 miles in my favorite airlines program (in my case AA) and 60,000 points assuming I can earn points using my Marriott Rewards VISA even though I selected miles as my preference (not sure this can be done if miles have been chosen as your preference).

If on the other hand I chose points I would have earned 280,000 points ($20000 x 10=200,000 + 20% silver bonus 20,000 + 3 points per dollar spent for using MR VISA 60,000) . More if I were Gold or Platinum. Also many bonus promotions only apply to those earning points, Spring Promo I earned 20,000 points, Summer Promo I will probably gain 10,000 more. But even not counting those bonus points, for the 280,000 points I can get a week at a category 6 plus 120,000 AA miles by cashing in a 250,000 points for a travel package and I would have 30,000 points left over. Since a week at a Category 6 usually runs 130,000 points, that means I just swapped 120,000 (250,000 points for travel package less 130,000 points for the free week award) MR points for 120,000 AA miles, a 1 for 1 exchange. So reducing this to comparable currency, by earning points it basically translates to a net of 160,000 points and 120,000 miles which is more than double the earning power under the miles earning preference of 60,000 miles and 60,000 points.

On top of that, there was a promotion at American Airlines that ended on May 31 that gave a 20% bonus in points transferred from Marriott Rewards, so I got 144,000 for my 120,000 Marriott Reward points. With the point promos, my Platinum elite status bonus points, and AA points transfers bonus the comparison for me would be more like 205,000 points and 144,000 miles as compare to 60,000 miles and 60,000 points if I had chosen to earn miles. A huge difference.

My recommendation is to change your earning preference to points, the rate of return is much better.

As a collector of both Marriott points and AA miles, I couldn't agree more with aaupgrade's excellent analysis after reaching a similar conclusion some time ago. In my opinion Marriott points are the hardest to collect, especially since severing the tie to Amex Rewards, and have the most value of any hotel program. AA miles, while nice to have, are just airlines miles with little other value than flights. Those flights can often be purchased outright for a more reasonable cost (and of course then earn more miles). You can't beat the feeling of satisfaction when you check into your �250 a night room in London with a Marriott Reward certificate.

My main priority is collecting AA miles, but I have left my MR earning preference toward hotel points. From reading this thread it sounds like their are ways to maximize AA miles.

Question: Are there ways to transfer the Marriott points over to AA miles at a better rate than 120,000 to 60,000 (with AA's previous 20% promo).

Thank you all! Just switched to points accrual. I hope Marriott has reasonable availability for award stays. A longtime member of SPG I love their policy of "last room availability". I had much worse experience with Hilton and generally believe you get a lot less for your dollar in terms of points value - despite the double dipping option.
Thanks again. Time and again, I get excellent advise on this board.

bonusflyer,

Glad our info was helpful. Another bit of advice regarding MR award stays is in order. While Marriott does not have a policy of "last room availability", I have never had problems getting awards once I realized how the system works. Planning well in advance is the key. I have gotten award weeks at Vail Marriott and Whistler Residence Inn during the ski season. You must book highly popular hotels like these 11 months out, and when you find availability on a preferred property you should not hesitate, as he who hesitates loses. With travel picking up, last minute award availability is much more difficult. Marriott does offer "last room availability" at a premium of 50% more points. So rooms may be had at a premium, however this is rarely, if ever, a good return value on the use of your points.

Good luck and welcome aboard.