I would talk to The front desk manager and if no luck ask to speak to The Hotel Manager. Give the hotel the chance to help you and if worse comes to worse contact Customer Service and open a complaint file. the BB's should be with a 6 month expiry in the very least.

Good Luck.

The clerk's an a$$, probably saw this is a hassle she could avoid and tried to get you off her back. Like imverge said, start working up the chain of command. Personally, this kind of behavior really annoys me and makes me more resolved to make sure I get what I deserve. I would escalate and go as high as you need to. Involve Marriott Customer Service if you need.

Good luck and please post back your results

Marriott Premium Pounds Coupons - new rules
 

Hi,

I'm new here (my very first post :) ), so I apologize in advance if this question has been asked before.

I am a state government employee and also a AAA member. I book my hotel stays at the cheaper of the 2 rates. Occasionally, I am asked for an ID, which I always bring with me. I also use Premium Pounds coupons, and have never had a problem. However, the rules for using the Premium pounds have changed. The following item has been added to the Terms & Conditions on the back of the Certificate:


9) This coupon is not valid for any rate that requires ID or membership. This coupon is only valid toward publicly listed rates through the 800 numbers listed. Excludes advance purchase, catering, group, and other contract rates. Premium Pounds Coupons cannot be used in conjunction with any other certificate stays or reservations made using a travel agency.

I called Customer Service and was informed that this change was implemented about 3 months ago. I have a hotel stay booked for New Years weekend with a very desireable AAA rate. My AAA rate is less than half of the hotel's regular rate. Any chance hotel staff will allow me to use these coupons?

Anyone else encounter this same problem?

Newman

Just present the certificate and play dumb. You have nothing to lose. Some hotels take them even when they shouldn't, according to the rules. But you can't demand that they take them under those circumstances. You just might get lucky.

Bruce

That restriction's been there for longer than 3 months. You are also supposed to make reservations through the 800 number.
I've never used the 800 number and have used Bonus Bucks/Premium Pounds multiple times on a govt rate. I've been turned down once. I played dumb when it was rejected.
Odds are that it will be accepted.

Do a search for any hotel where you stay; this is a popular topic here, so if they don't accept Bonus Bucks/Premium Pounds unless booked through the 800 number, you'll be able to confirm that.

And your searches will work better using the term bonus bucks vice premium pounds.

I ran into this issue last week and was not happy to learn that this fine print had been quietly inserted. The hotel ended up allowing the Premium Pounds but only because they had already written cancelled across the face of the vouchers....... but for a while there they wanted to double my room rate. I dont think so. :)

Now we have to be more carefull.....

Maybe not such a bad deal...
 

I'm a simpleton when it comes to doing all the cyphering y'all do, but...if you use the bucks to pay for your room/meals/etc at checkout, you'll still earn points, whereas if you redeem an award, you get no points. Granted, it's not as many points as using the Marriott Visa, but if you have the points, why not?

I just got 20 $50 checks on the deal, plan on using them for $250/nt resort stay that would have cost over 135k points. So I'm content.

Then you get another 1000 (paid) * 0.9 (tax) * 13 (platinum) = 11,700 points, which can be used to buy another $86 dollars. This brings the value per point to 1086/135,000=$0.008 ... which is a little better.

Absolutely! You have to figure the Marriott Rewards points you forego by using an award instead of paying (whether with a gift check, gift card, or credit card) as a lost opportunity cost. That means the award actually "costs" you the points you redeem, plus the points you would have gotten for the stay if you had paid for it, and you have to include that in the calculation.

Good on ya! Although I don't remember seeing any properties that would cost 135K points for 4 nights ($1000 divided by $250 per night), that sort of a play (spending the $1000 you get for 135K points for a stay that would have cost > 135K points for an award) is good sense.

Yeah, what Counsellor said is what I meant.

Can I combine EEO Certificate with Bonus Bucks?
 

I am staying at a Marriott property for 2 nights in West Palm Beach from 1/12-1/14. I am using the Marriott rewards Elite Exculsive Offer (code: EEO) to get my 2nd night free (which I acquired from coupon connection). Do you think that I can combine my EEO certificate with Bonus Bucks to pay for the first night?

It seems that Bonus bucks require 2 night stay but the restrictions are very confusing...

Thanks in advance.......

Search is a wonderful thing:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ight=eeo+bucks

The fast summary is this:

According to the terms and conditions of the Bonus Bucks (and Premium Pounds and Extra Euros), they can only be used on stays of two consecutive paid nights. Since the EEO gives you a free (i.e., unpaid) night, you can't (by the T&C) use the EEO and BB/PP/EE for a two-night stay.

In order to use both the EEO and BB/PP/EE on the same stay you'd have to stay at least three nights.

However, some folks have reported that particular properties (or particular cashiers) have either ignored or waived the rule. I wouldn't count on this happening, but if you're feeling lucky . . .

While it's not the rule, some hotels may allow it. However, what you may want to do is present the Bonus Buck (BB) at check-in. Then, later in your stay or at the end, give them the EEO Certificate.

I know once I used $200 worth of BBs on a 3 night stay at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis that had a rate of $109 per night. All I did was present these BBs at different intervals during my stay to different front desk employees.

It can work, but always be prepared to pay if it doesn't.

Marcell

Present the one that offers the best value (or the one you prefer to use) first then come back the next day and try to apply the 2nd coupon; often it will work