I just read about an awards program of hotels.com that supposedly gives back 1 night per 10 paid for without the capacity control headaches.

A quick search in the Albany, NY area next week shows just about all Marriott's in the area participating as "Price Match Guarantee" at rates equal to or a few bucks more than the best I can do at marriott.com. No fee cancellation is available although a day's notice is required rather than day of arrival.

Is this an opportunity to "double dip"? Specifically:

Will I earn points?
Will I earn night credit?
Will I receive PLT benefits?
Will I receive the worst room in the house or will PLT status override that?

Two drawbacks I see is not being able to leave early and get a refund of the prepayment and not getting a full 5 pts per dollar on the MR Visa card.

I also don't know if this has any value to me at FS or above since my corporate discount will blow their rates away but below that, it seems like a winner to anyone who frequents this tier of Marriott properties.

Anyone have experience with this? Thank you.

Read about it here. It does state that Marriott does give points but I'd like to confirm that with actual users.

http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/u...0&u=3ABFACEA89

Hi joshua362,

You wouldn't earn points or night credit for stays booked through 3rd party online retailers. From http://www.marriott.com/rewards/terms/earning.mi:

However, you may receive Elite benefits. Check out this thread for more information: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=318654

Best regards,

Drew

Reading Tim Winship's article I am surprised he posted a Hotels.com booking earns Marriott Rewards points. I would not have thought any hotel loyalty program would give credit for hotels.com booking. Perhaps Tim has seen this happen in his stays?

Also, I strongly disagree with this statement in regards to hotel loyalty programs, "Viewed as rebate schemes, loyalty programs generally deliver discounts of between 1 and 2%."

I'd drop Loyalty Traveler if I thought I was only saving readers $2 for every $100 in spending.

Hotel loyalty program promotions regularly allow rebates of 10%+ and something like Hyatt's Faster Free Nights can easily be a 100% discount on a hotel as a rebate scheme. Stay at two different Hyatt Place hotels this weekend and spend $200, then redeem your free night certificate for a $400 per night room. Now that is a loyalty program rebate.

Here is a link to a Loyalty traveler analysis of the hotels.com Welcome Rewards program. It looks like a good deal, especially if you do not have elite hotel frequent guest status.

Thank you for the clarification and links Drew and satori. Thought it was too good to be true. I will definitely stick to the old fashion way. Good analysis when it might make sense but I rarely stay at a non Marriott unless forced and certainly not 10 times in 18 months.

I'm sure sure about Tim W either. In the same batch of articles he practically blasted Southwest for allowing their top, top flyer's and "business select" fares to join a priority line at security. In fact, all they are doing is giving access to a line that all other airlines have had since 9/11 - first class and elites have been doing this 2001 at Southwest's expense.

http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/u...tml?id=2676403

dear Drew

Is there any offers to buy points through the Marriott web !!


Page entered the Marriott Hotel
For the purchase of points
40,000 points = $ 500


Is there any offers to buy points through the Marriott !!
Thanks

Hi Abdulmalik100,

Correct me if I am wrong about what you are asking, but there are currently no discounts or promotional offers for point purchases. Members may purchase up to 50,000 points in a calendar year for $12.50 (USD) per 1,000 points purchased. Hope this answers your question.

Best regards,

Drew

Dear Drew

I have a query

* What is the least number of points required to stay in any room marrioot hotels around the world ?
Q: Is there a link to a page offers direct

thanks sir

http://www.marriott.com/rewards/poin...dType=Standard

thanks sir
but
above 7 night How calculated points ?

Start over using the table aaupgrade linked to. IOW, if you stay 8 nights, then you would have to order a 7 night award plus a 1 night award. If you stayed 16 nights, you would need two seven night awards plus one 2 night award.