Does MR offer status match? What are the MR amenities at Gold and Plat to expect, and how easy is it to cash points.

I'm sitting on a pile of HH points, the Safari award is gone, and Hilton seems to take my business for granted.

Considering SPG or MR, I hear SPG is no good @ Gold, but very fine at Plat. SPG has nice resorts all over the world (seems better than HH). Checking on the web last year, I noted that MR tries to collect $30 per extra person per night, on award redemptions?

Have two kids, so not being hit up in this way is important. Also, interested in getting into Resort properties in nice places. How good is Marriott on this, how easy are rewards to get for Gold and Plat.

Finally, any good current promotions? (Mega Bonus? Anything else?)
Thanks!

Scroll down a couple of pages or do a search for promotions...

I don't know about the current climate for status matches. Historically, Marriott has been tight on outright Gold matches. But in the past couple of years, I've read a couple of accounts of people doing short-term challenges.

The $30/night fee on awards is when you book an upgraded room category. There is no nightly fee on regular room awards. I look at this as a good thing - I can sometimes book a 2-bedroom suite at a Residence Inn for a slight upcharge or slightly more points. At Homewood Suites, there is no comparable option. With 2 kids, you might find this option helpful as well.

I have by and large had good success finding the awards that I want when I want them. I have redeemed two Travel Packages in Hawaii and done a handful of other smaller awards. Because Marriott has so many properties, I can generally find something that fits whether I'm doing an award or a paid stay.

One added bonus if you like traditional "resort" places: Marriott treats it's MVCI (villa) brand as a regular participating brand in Marriott Rewards. You earn points on those qualifying stays just like any other. (These properties also tend to have non-qualifying rates - rock-bottom promos with timeshare previews - to pick from as well.) Many MVCI's also offer reward redemption opportunities at reasonable rates (generally in the Cat 5-6 ballpark for a good one) if you like villas.

Finally, thanks to the new Visa, Gold is only 35 nights per year - Plat is 60. The card credits 15 nights to your account every time you pay the annual fee. Your $65 annual fee buys you the 15-nt credit and a Free Night certificate every year - the best credit card annual fee deal on the market. (Better than free and, for my needs, better than $30 for an SPG50 certificate.) SPG Amex is still king as a general use credit card, but MR Visa is superior for use at the hotels.

I use Marriott Rewards and have never been charged an extra $30.00. In fact, the only additional charges for an award stay that have appeared on my folio were for food, internet access or things of that sort. Some hotels *may* charge to be upgraded and that charge may vary with the category of the hotel at which you're staying.

One thing I'll add in regards to the $30 upgrade fee: if you hold an elite status, the hotel tends to treat you the same as they would if you were doing a paid stay. In other words, as a Gold, I typically get a nice room and - if applicable - lounge access even when on awards. I generally do not book the upgraded room types except when it is getting me a full extra bedroom (e.g., at Residence Inn or TownePlace Suites) and I know that Gold status by itself doesn't usually get those upgrades.

HH and MR are pretty similar here: Gold status gets you a good room in a typical full-service property, but rarely a true suite. Gold gets you lounge access, although across the board Marriott seems to have fewer lounges and lounges that are open fewer days per week than Hiltons.

[QUOTE=Miles2go]

Considering SPG or MR, I hear SPG is no good @ Gold, but very fine at Plat. SPG has nice resorts all over the world (seems better than HH). Checking on the web last year, I noted that MR tries to collect $30 per extra person per night, on award redemptions?

Have two kids, so not being hit up in this way is important. Also, interested in getting into Resort properties in nice places. How good is Marriott on this, how easy are rewards to get for Gold and Plat.
QUOTE]

On the $30, I've never encountered that. Regarding resort properties, I think Marriott has some of the best options for resorts out there (Starwood and Hyatt are close), but I think Marriott may have the most. Also, you can use points for Ritz Carlton properties or specialty properties such as Orient Express, etc.