I was looking over at MR elite membership levels and trying to weigh out the differences in Gold and Platinum benefits. Per your experiences, does Gold get treated as well as Plats at JW? Per benefit sections, aside from 48 hour guarantee and 5% added bonus, Gold and Plat doesn't seem to have significant difference and is really not worth staying "extra" at Marriott hotels if I already have RA (top tier) with IC, Diamond (soon to be) with HH, and SPG plat (soon to be via HH Diamond status match).

I will be staying at hotels for the rest of the year and couple of months next year in Thailand (mostly BKK) and was hoping to diversify my point earning portfolio... since there is a nice MR bonus points promotion.

Thanks in advance for your input.

You won't see this from reading the list of Gold vs Plat.
Having a several thousand miles or more will help in addition for room consideration.

The Front Desk Check in and other staff are much more attentive to Plats. Playing Marriott's Elite game is rewarding enough to remain loyal. Location of their properties are best for me compared to the other chains.

I just wish most hotels had not lost their ability to make a good military or hospital bed, where the bottom sheet stays in place and does not become loose even before you get into bed. Pulling out the tucked in top sheet only adds to the mess. By morning you might wake up wrapped up like a mummy. This is a pet peeve of mine, and I have to teach the maids how to make the best bed considering that the mattresses are now too thick for the size of the sheets. Marriott is not the only hotel chain, that has this problem. And they have no idea how to correct it from NY Marquis to Rio to the West Coast of the U.S.

I agree with R&R. I was Gold for years and have been Plat last 2. Big difference in FS, JW's and Ren.! In large CY, (as in NYC) I have also noticed it - regular CY's, SH's, etc not so much - but I still notice a difference in room conditions, locations, etc - and there have been times I have been upgraded to a suite. If you are already the highest level elsewhere, - seems like it would be worth your while

The Marriott program is weak compared to IHG's RA when it comes to upgrades and point promotions. Last year I put 125+ paid nights to FS Marriott properties and this year probably around 80.

The good things about Marriott are EEO/BB's/PP's and some travel package awards.

IHG's IC's and Hyatt's are more rewarding for me.

^It amazes me how Marriott has properties in the very areas, that I want to stay in cities around the world.
Whereas the other chains, have properties, that are more remote, or at least, not as well located for my purposes.

As you have noticed there doesn't seem to be a big difference in terms of listed benefits between a Marriott Gold and Plat. At the lower end properties, there aren't too many benefits that they can hand out, so there is really very little difference. At the FS properties, since Golds get CL access and upgrades if available, there may not seem to be a lot of difference there either. So as you mention the real benefit seems to be the 48 hr guarantee and possibly the arrival gift or 500 pts.

My suggestion is if you want the nights to satisfy the Megabonus promo, then stay the needed nights at Marriott. If you don't, but there are promos in one or more of the other chains that you can maximize, you might be better off looking there instead. Attaining Plat status over Gold would be down on my list of reasons for changing from one chain to another.

Back in the days when I worked at a Marriott resort, it wasnt uncommon to hear the following:

"a guest is requesting XXXX, can I do it?"
"are they plat.?"
"yeah"
"there's your answer"

Not that Golds dont get treated very well, but that memory always makes me want to requal for plat.

Is it true that neither GOLD nor PLATINUM get breakfast on weekends? Hilton gives it to both Gold and Diamond 365 days a year.

Unfortunately, the Gold/Plat breakfast benefit is a weekday only benefit. Now that doesn't mean that certain hotels don't give the Gold/Plats who stay there breakfast on the weekends. There is a "CL lounge Open on Weekends" sticky thread in this forum that you can look at to see if you might get a complementary breakfast on the weekends.

The only difference in the US is 100% bonus points vs 25%.

You mean a difference of 30 % bonus points versus 25 % for gold?

Thanks, that's about what I thought. Also it looks like you get very little at Courtyard (Hilton still gives breakfast at Hilton Gardin Inn)?

I have gotten better responses from management at properties when they see I am Platinum vs when I was Gold. Same properties in CLT, not possible to get the manager when you need them to fix a problem. And I love the late check out, that as Gold was not always as easy to get.

In general you won't get breakfast, weekday or not, at a CY. So you are correct there. But, I have personally been pretty lucky at getting suite upgrades at CYs though. (I normally ask for them when I check in.)

I never noticed the difference between Gold and Plat. Being a Plat for 3-4 years, must say the upgrade to suites does not happen anymore.

It is still a crappy experience to say the least. The sheets are not changed between check-outs and there are towels that are dirty on the inside. So I am not sure a platinum gets a better room. As far as getting a break from check-in/out times, I have had the front desk even if I mention I am a platinum. The incentive to qualify every year is just slipping.