I am currently Marriot gold elite member. I am within striking distance of becoming Platinum for this year, but I have undergo a little pain (staying farther, less preferable places, etc).

Cursory glance of Gold Vs. Platinum benefits doesn't reveal anything compelling with Platinum.

What do other road warriors think of this?

Wish I could say but I have not experienced the luxury. I try (although emotion can get the better of me) to apply a "reasonable person" filter to most stays these days. If your willing to put up with the travel hassles then go for it.

Im quite curious to know what the ammenity welcome gift is personally.

This year so far I have received:

1. $400 from Marriott for forgeting the Plat. arrival gift.
2. 25,000 points from the Plat arrival bonus (500 per stay)
3. Used the 48 hour gar. 4 times at hotels w/no avail.
4. Maybe about 20,000 additional points (30% vs 25% bonus)
5. Upgrade to a suite four times

I would say go for it!

It's worth it for the 48-hour guarantee alone. Everything else is gravy.

Agreed. Of all the chains, Marriott's highest elite level has the worst benefits. But I still make it to Platinum every year! If I started to travel less, I would go for Starwood Platinum and Hilton Diamond (both of which I attain as well every year).

Gotta disagree emphatically with zakami. I've been Hilton diamond and Starwood platinum and found NO benefits to those levels at all. No suite upgrades, no bend-over-backwards customer service, zip. Marriott at least treats me like a valued guest almost every time I stay. A simple "thanks for staying with us again" goes a long way toward building customer goodwill, but the other chains don't seem to get that.

I have been Marriott PLT for a while and while I have recieved far more upgrades without asking as a Hilton Gold, I have always recieved a thanks for being such a loyal guest as a Marriott PLT.

However, each and every time I have emailed the hotel requesting an upgrade to a suite before check-in, I have never been turned down yet.

I totally agree.

Dan

I would go for Platinum. 48-hour reservation guarantee is very useful. Platinum amenity is a nice touch at regular Marriott hotels (though disappointing at the lower-tier Marriott brands in my opinion). I find that special requests for room location, type of room, etc., will generally be honored and front-desk personnel will make an effort to honor requests at check-in if asked. Almost always I will get a nicely upgraded room even on the cheapest room rates (no suites though).
I stay almost exclusively at full-service Marriotts so my experience may be different than someone who stays at the some of the other Marriott brands. The few times I have stayed at Courtyard, Residence Inn, etc., I generally noticed nothing special in room assignments.

I have to agree with others, the 48 hour guarantee makes Plat worth it by itself.

I will echo the other posts. The 48-hour shoe-horn is a very good thing indeed.

The arrival gift is worth about $13 at a full service, and $2-$3 at any other MR property.

The real answer to your question requires an understanding of the opportunity cost. Since you are gold already, I assume this means diverting 25 convenient nights to MR instead of hilton, to get plat the subsequent year at 50 stays at MAR. If those are all full service, it is probably worth it.

If your MR stays are mainly courtyard or springhill, its worth less.

albatross

Add my vote here...It also helps if you earn Plat in a single hotel...They really do bend over backwardsf or you.

48 hour guarantee is great
Upgrades are nice
Bonus points
Arrival gift at full service marriotts is nice
Lounge access but you get that with gold

Really? Hilton Gold and above provides you free breakfast. Since I have a limited daily meal budget, the free breakfast is a great benefit to me (it means I can have a nicer lunch or dinner that day!). Marriott (or SPG for that matter) doesn't provide this benefit, even to Platinums!

Actually, Marriott does.

Elite Membership Benefits
Guaranteed Lounge Access/Free Continental Breakfast***

*** Available at participating Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts and Marriott Conference Centers (except resort locations)

I just came back from a one night stay at the Portland Marriott and one night at the Eugene Hilton, both as Gold member. Neither places gave me breakfast coupons (which is expected at Marriott). At the Marriott, the lounge is very good in selection both in the evening and in the morning. Hilton's evening hors dourves and breakfast in the lounge were both pretty bad. The lounge also closes at 7:30 pm. This is the first Hilton that I didn't get a free breakfast. I will not stay there again.

in fact after reading the T&C I still don't quite understand how this works...at the hotels they almost never failed to ask me what Plat arrival gift I want, and I always asked for the 500 points...but roughly half of the times the 500 points don't get posted (while the base+30% bonus do), and I have to email the service center every time for this...am I qualified for the $100 each time ?? should I have asked for it ??

but in the T&C I think it says I have to ask when I was staying at the hotel, but the problem / hassle for me is actually after the stays when I have to check every time to make sure they post the 500 and then email them if not posted...I have talked to the hotel that I stayed most of the time numerous times but this problem still persists...quite a hassle seriously...

thanks.