Marriott EBreaks >20% discount???
 

I checked rates at the Albany, NY USA for this weekend (10/10/08 - 10/12/08) when I saw it on the e-breaks email list. It seems that the savings for the FS using MEB rate code is only $5.95 less than the no code rate. That's a 5.4% discount; not the promised 20% :mad: I guess I will stay at the SHS instead.

The thread title is a bit misleading. If a moderator could change it to Marriott EBreaks < 20% discount it would be much appreciated. Thank in advance!

I mentioned this in another thread (I was ranting about the RejuveNATION offer).

In the UK VAT is applied at 17.5%. MEB rates will have 20% off, but when you check the rate rules it always says "excludes tax". The savings are actually paltry and the 20% discount draws people in and mislead. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if Marriott could be caught under the Trades Description Act in the UK.

I think someone at Marriott thinks that all their guests are thick. I have stayed at hotels where there is a DB&B package and the rate works out at £25 a person more than just B&B (I did this when using AMEX BBs as it was only on DB&B). When I asked what the allowance would be for dinner I was told £20! I had to point this out at two separate hotels and they then made the dinner allowance £27. Either they think we have no idea or they have some number cruncher who really has no idea.

I think you are confused, can you show any UK property where standard rates include tax and MEB rates don't?

+1 :)

I was expecting to see some huge savings in this thread.

In response to Slowly, all rates in the UK include tax, EXCEPT for those in London (I have no idea why this is, maybe someone will enlighten me). When the MEB rates come out, they look attractive, but add the 17.5% and you find you might have saved about £4 against the standard S4B rates.

I'm afraid quite a lot (most, I think) of Marriott package rates are priced similarly, I don't understand the logic of such. I have noticed for example, that most of the rates offering a $25 gas card are about $20 more per night than the rates without the card offer; and you don't get multiple gas cards if you book multiple nights; you do the math.

Some gas card packages are $10 more a night and require a 2 night stay. Those are slightly better than the regular rate since you get a few extra points to offset the extra room tax and come out a few bucks ahead. The SEA Marriott has a weekend car package which includes a free gas card each day and free parking. That package is a pretty good deal since it costs an extra $10-$20 more, but you get about $37 in return.

Please let me repeat my question – can you show any UK property where standard rates include tax and MEB rates don't?

The phrase 'Tax not included' seems to appear in all eBreaks rate descriptions regardless. I just looked at a non-London UK property's eBreak rate for this weekend and tax was included when I clicked through to the 'Confirm Details' page.

In response to Slowly: Huntingdon, Peterborough, just two I have checked when wondering if they were cheaper. They were, but by about £3 a night! The S4B rate is £105 a night, the MEB rate was £84, add 17.5% to that and you are nearly as the S4B. There are lots, but I am too tired to check them all out.

I can do without your "schoolteacher" tone as well, sorry I just didn't take kindly to the second post, no offence. I actually said that all the hotels in the Uk have tax included in the rate, except London and the majority of MEB rates have "excludes tax" in the rate rules. The only one I ever found that didn't was Swindon and I actually used that rate once.

Hartleypig, I believe the best way to correct people (without long explanations) is to let them find out their mistakes themselves.

Apparently neither my tip nor GlennTheBaker's explanation worked.

Tax is included in MEB rates the same way as in regular rates.

I realise I'm repeating myself here but MEB rates behave in the exact same way as any other rate at Marriott hotels here in the UK. London properties' rates are quoted exclusive of 17.5% VAT, the rest are quoted inclusive of 17.5% VAT, despite the MEB 'blanket' rate rules saying 'Rate does not include tax'. Do a dummy booking and click through to the point of confirming and you will see for yourself.