Need 8 nights.
Nov 7, 2005 | 2:11 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Programs: WorldPERKS, MarriottRewards
Posts: 12
Need 8 nights.
I am currently Gold and need 8 more nights this year to maintain it. I also need a little over 1,000 NW EQMs, so I am hoping to possibly combine the two sometime in December (I have lots of time off) or do a MR and deal with the hotel thing some other way.
However, I'm not made of money!
I stay at Marriotts for work, so they pick up the tab, but I don't want to loose the gold status for next year's work trips.
Anyone have tips on finding REALLY cheap rooms for 8 nights somewhere in the US (I live near MSP)?
Thanks.
However, I'm not made of money!
I stay at Marriotts for work, so they pick up the tab, but I don't want to loose the gold status for next year's work trips.Anyone have tips on finding REALLY cheap rooms for 8 nights somewhere in the US (I live near MSP)?
Thanks.
Nov 7, 2005 | 2:16 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NY
Programs: Marriott Gold, UA Nobody, Hertz Gold, Avis Select
Posts: 786
Find a local Fairfield in and see how their rate is...Usually you can find them as cheap as 59$ so you can drop by, check in...Go back home and then come back 8 days later and pick up the bill. Usually there's a discount for weekend stays too, since that's when the business travellers go home.
# 2400 Center Drive
# Hudson, Wisconsin 54016 USA
# Phone: 1-715-386-6688
# Fax: 1-715-386-6688
# Sales: 1-715-228-2800
This Fairfield Inn has a rate of like 67$ with AAA discount. for most of November. Not sure how much of a drive that is for you. I searched near Minneapolis Minnesota
# 2400 Center Drive
# Hudson, Wisconsin 54016 USA
# Phone: 1-715-386-6688
# Fax: 1-715-386-6688
# Sales: 1-715-228-2800
This Fairfield Inn has a rate of like 67$ with AAA discount. for most of November. Not sure how much of a drive that is for you. I searched near Minneapolis Minnesota
Last edited by psychephylax; Nov 7, 2005 at 2:23 pm
Nov 7, 2005 | 2:24 pm
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,011
Psyche beat me to the punch on the local-hotel idea. Also check your nearest suburban full-service Marriott and look at the lowest available weekend rates. 2 weekend nights with a Bonus Buck or Premium Pound applied might be cheaper than anything. (Lots of avenues to get those certificates if you don't already have them, whether via FT or otherwise.)
Be wary of going the EEO route: depending on how they post it, you might only get 1 qualifying night.
Be wary of going the EEO route: depending on how they post it, you might only get 1 qualifying night.
Nov 7, 2005 | 2:46 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta Gold, UA Plat. Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Plat. Hilton Plat. US Airways, Starwood Gold, Avis Pres
Posts: 1,382
Originally Posted by psychephylax
Find a local Fairfield in and see how their rate is...Usually you can find them as cheap as 59$ so you can drop by, check in...Go back home and then come back 8 days later and pick up the bill. Usually there's a discount for weekend stays too, since that's when the business travellers go home.
# 2400 Center Drive
# Hudson, Wisconsin 54016 USA
# Phone: 1-715-386-6688
# Fax: 1-715-386-6688
# Sales: 1-715-228-2800
This Fairfield Inn has a rate of like 67$ with AAA discount. for most of November. Not sure how much of a drive that is for you. I searched near Minneapolis Minnesota
# 2400 Center Drive
# Hudson, Wisconsin 54016 USA
# Phone: 1-715-386-6688
# Fax: 1-715-386-6688
# Sales: 1-715-228-2800
This Fairfield Inn has a rate of like 67$ with AAA discount. for most of November. Not sure how much of a drive that is for you. I searched near Minneapolis Minnesota
Nov 7, 2005 | 2:49 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: YUL
Programs: AC*Elite, Marriott Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 259
Assuming u have stayed at pricey properties, just call MR and ask them to requalify you based on the revenue (dollars spent), not nights. If you don't get the positive answer - hang up and call again. With less than 10 nights you should not have a problem, if it does not work you can call them early next year and ask for challenge.
Nov 8, 2005 | 8:48 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
I spent about 6 months in the FI in Coon Rapids. Very reasonable place and they treated me very well. Call the manager (Max) and explain your problem.
Nov 8, 2005 | 8:54 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA EXP, UA Global Services , Marriott Platinum
Posts: 301
Originally Posted by Konsultant
Assuming u have stayed at pricey properties, just call MR and ask them to requalify you based on the revenue (dollars spent), not nights. If you don't get the positive answer - hang up and call again. With less than 10 nights you should not have a problem, if it does not work you can call them early next year and ask for challenge.
Thanks.
Nov 9, 2005 | 12:09 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Programs: WorldPERKS, MarriottRewards
Posts: 12
Originally Posted by Konsultant
Assuming u have stayed at pricey properties, just call MR and ask them to requalify you based on the revenue (dollars spent), not nights. If you don't get the positive answer - hang up and call again. With less than 10 nights you should not have a problem, if it does not work you can call them early next year and ask for challenge.
Nov 9, 2005 | 12:09 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Programs: WorldPERKS, MarriottRewards
Posts: 12
Originally Posted by BigLar
I spent about 6 months in the FI in Coon Rapids. Very reasonable place and they treated me very well. Call the manager (Max) and explain your problem.
Thanks for the contact!
Nov 9, 2005 | 10:15 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: YUL
Programs: AC*Elite, Marriott Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 259
Originally Posted by KimmyAA
Any idea what the revenue range would be to make this request? I stay at full service Marriotts if the city has one (otherwise Courtyard) and will end up between 65 and 70 nights. I would love to ask them for Platinum.
Thanks.
Thanks.
If you read another thread ("Platinum granted early") you will see that people are getting bumped to Plat with high 60s to low 70s nights anyway, so if I were you I would not worry.
Nov 9, 2005 | 11:29 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Programs: AA Plat, UA Silver, DL Silver, Marriott Titanium, etc.
Posts: 4,214
Just to expand on an earlier idea, if you decide not to spend all 8 nights in one hotel:
There are several Marriott hotels throughout the mid-atlantic and northeast offering $50 bonus bucks this fall for a 1-night stay - you can use the $50 for two nights at a fairfield, courtyard, etc. The only thing is to use multiple bonus bucks, you would have to stay at two different Marriotts (if consecutive nights) at cheap weekend rates and then you would have to find a different lower tier hotel every 2 nights if you wanted to use up all of the bonus bucks you earn. Don't know if you are able or want to do this.
There are several Marriott hotels throughout the mid-atlantic and northeast offering $50 bonus bucks this fall for a 1-night stay - you can use the $50 for two nights at a fairfield, courtyard, etc. The only thing is to use multiple bonus bucks, you would have to stay at two different Marriotts (if consecutive nights) at cheap weekend rates and then you would have to find a different lower tier hotel every 2 nights if you wanted to use up all of the bonus bucks you earn. Don't know if you are able or want to do this.
Nov 29, 2005 | 12:43 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Programs: WorldPERKS, MarriottRewards
Posts: 12
Sometimes good things happen.
Shortly after posting this I went through my month of backlogged mail and found a letter from Marriott stating that they will maintain my Gold status if I stay 12 more nights (by the time I opened the letter, I had already stayed 14 in the time period), so that made me pretty happy.
Thanks again for the suggestions.
Thanks again for the suggestions.
Nov 29, 2005 | 2:54 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greener Pastures
Posts: 10,515
One other thing - check long term stay rates - sometimes, hotels discount for 7+ nights - if you can find a Fairfield Inn or TownePlace Suites nearby with a discounted rate for 7+ nights, check in & don't check out til after the 8th night instead of doing it as 8 seperate stays.