If you are asking whether being Plat over Gold would change any of the three experiences you received. The answer is:

1) Late check-out is the same for both Golds and Plats. So no difference. If the hotel didn't want to give it to you as a Gold, I doubt they would suddently change their attitude just because you are now a Plat. With that said, note that I rarely have "attitude" issues with late check-outs. In general, this is a good benefit that normally is easy to use. I do believe there was a recent thread in the SPG forum lamenting some hotels that were giving Plats a hard-time with late check-outs. Just as that isn't the norm there, I don't think your experience at Napa was the norm here either.

2) Resort properties don't have to provide breakfast to elites period, whether Gold or Plat. So in general, being a Plat won't change your experience here.

3) Again, being Plat or Gold changes none of the benefits you would receive. With that though, I generally have had good luck asking for and receiving suite upgrades at CYs both as a Gold and as a Plat. So while an elite doesn't receive a free breakfast and most CYs don't have lounges, they can upgrade your room. Most won't do it without your asking, but if you ask, your chances may be better than you think.

Overall, IMO the biggest single benefit of Plat over Gold is the 48 hr Reservation Guarantee. If you think that benefit will be helpful to you, then going for Plat could be worth it. If you don't think you will make use of that benefit, then I wouldn't spend too much of my time and money to push for Plat over Gold.

Thanks, that's about what I was afraid of. I'm leaning toward punting trying for more Marriott stays this year and suspect I won't put a lot of effort into renewing Marriott Gold next year. My first goal will be SPG Platinum and my second goal will be Hilton stays (not that I need them; but the guaranteed free breakfast is nice).

I'm about to be Platinum for the first time just because of my stays this year. So far, I'm not impressed with the Gold status, and have to wonder if Platinum is going to mean anything at all. Since I'm used to the benefits of MP status on UA, I've been quite disappointed with the hotel chain statuses. Any thoughts on Marriotto Platinum versus the competition?

Of the four hotel programs that I participate the Marriott Platinum is the weakest status, although it requires more nights than IC RA, Hyatt Diamond, or Hilton Diamond.

The only benefits of the Marriott program are EEO's/BB's/PP's. Otherwise the program is the least rewarding one.

IMO, the ratio of cost of points to award redemption value is also better than other programs with similar quality FS properties. This means that I only compared it to SPG as I don't think the other hotel chains have adequate FS property selection and/or consistent quality. It also means this would be for people similar to me who prefer FS properties and are able to plan award stays in advance. Marriott is weak when it comes to last minute or late planning. Late planning can mean planning as far out as 10 months or less in the case of some high demand properties during high demand periods. Paris or Rome during the summer, Vail during the ski season, etc.

There are many other factors in determining the value of elite status as having Hilton status in my case wouldn't be good due to a number of factors, like hotel locations relative to places I travel, inconsistency of FS brands. Limited FS locations is also the case for IC, Hyatt and others, so while their top elite status may be better, if I don't like their FS products (Hilton), or they don't have hotels in locations I frequent (all others except Marriott and SPG) then what's the point. YMMV

For additional info on point cost vs redemption please see the thread, Marriott or Starwood, discussing this topic in detail including numerous quantified analysis.

Of course we can disagree about this but I don't believe that Marriott has such a wide selection of luxurious properties (sans Ritz Carton which is not part of the MR anyway) where I typically burn my points. I cannot comment about SPG because I don't participate into that program.

On Hyatt's program I typically get around 3K points per stay which means that I can redeem a night i.e. at Park Hyatt Sydney for every six stays not even taking the Hyatt's FFN into account.

At IHG you can easily average 8K (or more) points per stays that gives you an award night at a quality IC for every five stays.

Both Hyatt and IHG basically blows Marriott away comparing how rewarding the programs are and the benefits that come with the top tier.

Because of the EEO's/BB's/PP's there is a place for Marriott on my mix. Without these I would never set my feet on a Marriott property.

This is only true if the stay is NOT at an IC, but at a lower quality level property. IC's will only net you 2K (3K if your a Plat). So if you want to have award stays at top tier IC properties, you can't really stay there when you are earning the points. This sounds somewhat similar to how Marriott treats RCs within their program (except that RCs tend to be a higher tier than ICs are.)

Trying not to take this too much into detail about the IHG program but there are constants flow of overlapping promotions that would be unheard on Marriott. Right now I am yielding 17K PC points per IC stay so on average it is around 8K per stay.

What is EEO/BB/PP?

One place Platinum is very much worth it is the ability to get a room in a sold out city up to 48 hours before check-in. The NYC metro area is sold out 50% of the time and my Platinum level has paid dividends in getting rooms on short notice. You don't have that luxury at the Gold level. Once you have the room you can work on the rate. Most full service properties (not Courtyards for some strange reason) will lower the rate to less than the corporate rack rate if you've stayed there before or have a company rate.

Elite Exclusive Offer - If your a Gold/Plat these are online coupons that Marriott gives for you to use.

Bonus Buck - Marriott has some rates that include receiving usually a $50 or $100 coupon good for use on a future 2 night stay (at the appropriate hotel chain.)

Primium Pound - Basically the same thing as a BB, but denomiations are in British Pounds rather than US dollars.

BTW, holtju2, I did check my last IC stay and I actually received 7K points. Unfortunately, the problem I have with IHG is 7K points for a 12 night stay just isn't very much. I guess if I had more 1 night stays, it might look like a better deal to me. My last 3 night Marriott stay netted me more than 15K points and my 21 night stay before that netted me just over 90K points. ^

thanks. I've never used the EEO's. I've mailed coupons to other FTers in the past, but have never used a coupon yet, nor the BBs.

Thanks for the info.

I think this is all subjective and opinionated. I have seen a huge difference between Gold and Platinum. I can count several times where traveling with colleagues that were no-status levels all the way up to Gold, they recieved less service than me. One of my colleagues was even bumped from a FS Marriott as a Silver. When I offered to take the bump (because of the big $$$ compensation, but wanting to be nice) they front desk manager politely said, "Mr. JC5280, we would never bump someone of your status. I the many years I have been Manager here, we never have abd never will."

Just this week, I was able to use my platinum guarantee to get a room close to our work, and I have cashed in multiple times on the elite gift guarantee. I tell ya, anyone that says its not worth it, has never slid that $100 bill into their wallet the morning they check out! :cool:

IMHO, there was a big difference for me as well going from Gold to Platinum. Everything from the nicer rooms (not always a suite, but I will always get a recently renovated room or something bigger than normal) to the way I am treated when checking in.

Now, those are all at FS Marriotts. At a CY, RI or other, it is usually a couple bottles of water and a note of thanks. Not bad, but certainly nothing like a breakfast or room upgrade.

Come January 15, 2009 YES it is worth it.