Using points for a suite upgrade?
 

Wondering if it is possible with the Marriott program to use points to upgrade from a paid rate to get a suite? My wife is considering sending my father in law and I to the Marriott resort in Ponte Vedre Beach, FL on a golf weekend as a Christmas present. Problem is I snore and my father in law is a light sleeper, so it's either two rooms (expensive), or one room and possibly use points for a suite upgrade...anyone ever do this/know if it is possible, and if so, how much?

Thanks in advance for your help!

If you are paying for a room with points, you can upgrade to a suite if the option is available. Marriott charges 5,000 per night for each level you upgrade. You might need a few levels to upgrade to a suite depending on the property.

If you are paying for a room out of your pocket, you will have to pay extra cash to upgrade to a suite.

For this property, they do not offer suites for points. However, a suite costs only $50 extra per night and is much cheaper than two rooms. They also have golf packages with the suites where a round of golf is included for one or two people. Since they charge $509 for one golfer and $704 for two golfers versus $269 for just the suite, you might want to call and ask them how much a round of golf costs. The golf packages include breakfast. At $704, the suite golf package for two is $75 more than the one room with the same golf package.

Thanks for the quick feedback!

I do believe the reply is not correct on a few counts.

First, Marriott doesn't allow point upgrades unless the room is an award stay. IOW, if it is a paid stay, you must pay to guarantee an upgrade. Second, the 5K upgrades mentioned don't include suite upgrades*. Those tend to be view upgrades. Some of them may be CL floor rooms, some may be "balcony" rooms, etc. For example, you might be able to upgrade to a "pool" view or ocean view room. Some hotels may require multiple 5K upgrade certs per night for some rooms like for an "Oceanfront" room.

With this said, that doesn't mean someone might be able to get a suite room at a particular hotel. It just means that the hotel would be going above and beyond the rules should they do that for you. It is basically the same thing as with an elite upgrade. Suites are not included on those as well, but once in a while, you might get lucky and snag a suite.

*RIs and MVCI properties would be an exception as one can upgrade to a 2 or 3 bedroom suite using points.

:) can you hear me whistling and not paying attention to this thread? :)

I'm at a RI this weekend on an award and was charged an extra 5,000 / night to go from a studio to a 2 BR so I can confirm this works! I didn't ask for a 2BR but it works for me.

Now if only this brand new but cheaply built RI was built better, maybe I could sleep past 6:30 am without the pitter patter of little feets above me. I swear all newly constructed hotels without cement slabs have this problem. Always insist on the top floor.

Words of wisdom spoken to me by my parents when we started taking trips to WDW almost 30 years ago...

Huh?
 

I'm confused by this...perhaps I don't troll this board enough to understand this comment?!!?!

Sorry :(

Could you explain?

I wished I had the benefit of the wisdom of your folks. I learned the hard way and I still forget.

Unless you have activities at the 5 ice rinks across the street, I would avoid the RI Boston-Marlbough like the plague. In fact, I'd avoid it anyway.

Audible foot noise from above at all times. No PLT arrival gift. Unfriendly to the hockey crowd they obviously wooed and built the place to attract. No sticks or equipment allowed in building. Wouldn't give me (a PLT) 2 hours late checkout so the boys could shower after their last game before a 5 hour car ride home. Had signs up all around the building to this effect, don't even bother asking. Did try although.

Management trained their FD folks to lie about a "large group" coming in that night, right, as if anyone in their proper mind would organize a large meeting/outing that required travel the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

After spending a 1/3 of my year in Marriott hotels (alone) and needing a bene for my family, I couldn't get one nor decent sleep.

<deleted by poster>

Actually, I think I hear you trying to not pay attention to this thread. :p

UGH, it's my worst fear...Flyer talk police!

So this thread has now evolved more into socrates & his imaginary whistling than the OP's original request :rolleyes:

Hope you enjoy the golf weekend! Cheers.

not at all...no one asked me to edit or not post in this thread...let's just say the room at times has been fairly right on with suggestions or coming enhancements........but at times they have been off

Under Hyatt's Gold Passport rewards the schedule includes options for upgrades -- both to suites and club level (which will be found in their resorts).

Trouble is that the Ts and Cs mandate that any upgrade must be from a rack or close-to-rack rate (whcih can be mighty pricey).

So, all-in-all, I'd just as soon take my chances in a Marriott resort for a complimentary upgrade (and/or) breakfast.

And once-and-awhile it's not unknown that a relative pittance will net a suite upgrade. My wife still smiles when recalling our upgrade (@ $30. per night), in the Curacao Marriott Resort for one of their one bedroom "*terrace suites."

*These days much, much pricier.

The song I'm whistling is "happy days are here again"

Socrates whistling and all I decided to post my question here rather than start a new thread :D.

I have an unused hotel portion of the 087 package award and will like to know if I can use (or is it possible) this at one of the Vacation Clubs. I know officially it cant be done, however, the point requirement for the vacation club is actually lower than the normal cat 6 stay - so it got me thinking, just maybe its possible. ;)

How about suite u/g's? Guess thats why im moving 50% of my stays to Hyatt!

yes you can use points for suite upgrades (as well as room upgrades)

MVCI's inventory is controlled very well for the benefits of the owners - the GM's actually have minimal control over their inventory for this vary reason so with that said if it's again the rules for the package award unfortunately it wont be possible

Personally, I'd avoid lockoffs ("guest room") at MVCI. Most FFI's I've stayed in are better. A master (1BR) is a bit cheaper than a Cat6 and a decent deal, depending on resort. That's likely what I'd go for, if targeting MVCI.
Socrates is correct about room management. We owners get first dibs. However, many villas are surrendered to Marriott for points as well as for rental and go into Marriott's room pool. Also, MVCI has many "developer owned" villas (unsold stock) which also are available. There is more flexibility there.

My personal opinion is to always book the standard room (revenue or points) and make any upgrade deals directly with the room manager/GM at the property after arriving and perusing their room stock. I've had enough negative experiences to now follow this process. Likely said somewhere prior, but points can only be used to upgrade a reward reservation, at least according to the T&C's...

https://www.marriott.com/rewards/usepoints/hotelrmup.mi

Pat

According to the T&C's (https://www.marriott.com/rewards/ter...rms.mi#upgrade), you can use points to upgrade on a paid stay.

MR makes it impossible to do so. How do you do it? Hyatt is easy...reserve, done.

MR is "if we FEEL like letting you u/g, you will be able to!" Then again, what else can you expect from a company that cant even link awards to stays properly..STILL!

I already have a reservation using points for the MVCI - just need to Marriot to change the award type - thats all ;).

Same process at MI, you can use either award 010 on reward or paid stays, or you can choose to pay for the upgrade on reward stays