I redeemed at Cat 1-5 Travel Package prior to the implementation of the program changes, and have a reservation held.

My question is:

a) would it be possible to upgrade the hotel portion to Cat 6 at a later date if I wanted a higher tier hotel?
b) if possible, would the charge be 30,000 points (300K-270K -- had a 120K mile award)
c) and, would the new certificate then be valid for one year from issuance?

Thank you. I sorted through several threads, but did not see an explanation for the above scenario.

Question for Marriott Concierge. I ordered a travel package last summer that included 7 nights at any cat-7 hotel. At the time this was valid for any Marriott hotel and there was no information that any cat-8 would be coming along.

I would like to stay at a hotel that was cat-7 and is not cat-8. Can I do this with my existing travel package? If not, can I use the cat-7 award and then suppliment with with more points?

Thanks, Phil

I am in the same scenario, asked the same question and the answer is officially no. You may get lucky, but since the old travel package reward is no longer available -- if you have a Cat 5 and want to redeem for Cat 6, you can't really do anything (other than get the pittance 10k points back and then redeem at current award levels).

strange. I am trying to book a 1 week vacation in south beach for the 21st of July, and it gives me the following:
No Marriott Hotel Rewards available for the dates you requested. You have three options:

1. Select another day, special rate or reward redemption option
Travel dates flexible? Alternate Date Finder shows you when Marriott Hotel Rewards are available

2. Select another hotel.

3. Choose to pay for the room. The best available rates are listed below.

Maybe it hasn't kicked in yet?

I have not heard anything about plans it increase the amount points received for trading your week for points. The 5 night travel package available to timeshare owners is the only concession I am aware of.

Are you saying there is a special 5 night travel package only available to timeshare owners. I own in Maui so please provide more details or a link to where I can get this information. Thanks.

I'm rethinking my commitment to Marriott. Fortunately, I recently booked hotels for my spring break trip, using points - and I get under the wire. But I can't make changes without using 50% more points, which I don't have.

Please let us know where this "TIMESHARE TRAVEL PACKAGE" information is posted.

I'm sure MC can provide the details; here's what I have seen:

Don't have time to find the link at the moment, but I believe there's a lot of discussion about this on a time-share users's group - think it is called TUGG. I am also surprised this has not been brought up on this board. If I recall correctly it does provide a guarantee for 5 nights at a particular category level (depending on the value of your timeshare) in exchange for your 7-nights at your MVCI property.

I've seen this discussed on TUG (www.tug2.net) but I don't have a link to the info. It might be on the vacationclub site for Marriott owners.

However it isn't a guarantee for 5 nights. It's just a 5 night travel package. I think the cost is the points for the 5 nights and the airline miles added on to that amount. Just like a 7 night package, only for only 5 nights so it costs less.

5-Night Travel Package Rewards for Marriott Vacation Club Owners

5 Nights in Hotel Category

miles= 50,000 70,000 100,000 120,000 <- airline miles
1- 5 165,000 185,000 215,000 235,000
cat6 180,000 200,000 230,000 250,000
cat7 200,000 220,000 250,000 270,000
cat8 230,000 250,000 280,000 300,000
Participating Airlines (subject to change): Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Mexicana, Northwest, United Air Lines, US Airways, Varig Brasil, Virgin Atlantic


5 Nights in Hotel Category

miles= 35,000 50,000 70,000 85,000 <- airline miles
1- 5 165,000 185,000 215,000 235,000
cat6 180,000 200,000 230,000 250,000
cat7 200,000 220,000 250,000 270,000
cat8 230,000 250,000 280,000 300,000
Participating Airlines (subject to change): Air Berlin, Air China, Air France/KLM, Alitalia, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Southern, Emirates, Jet Airways, LAN, Lufthansa/Miles & More, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, SN Brussels Airlines, TAP Air Portugal


5 Nights in Hotel Category

credits=32 credits 48 credits 64 credits 80 credits
1- 5 165,000 185,000 215,000 235,000
cat6 180,000 200,000 230,000 250,000
cat7 200,000 220,000 250,000 270,000
cat8 230,000 250,000 280,000 300,000

Thank you for posting the TIMESHARE 5-night point schedules. THESE are NOT an "enhancement" in fact they cost MORE points for the Hotel portion.

If you subtract out the Airline 120,000 point transfers :

MVCI Schedule above New "Enhancements" Schedule Additional Points
Category 1= 115,000 points 30,000 points +85,000
Category 2= 115,000 points 40,000 points +75,000
Category 3= 115,000 points 60,000 points +55,000
Category 4= 115,000 points 80,000 points +35,000
Category 5= 115,000 points 100,000 points +15,000
Category 6= 130,000 points 120,000 points +10,000
Category 7= 150,000 points 140,000 points +10,000
Category 8= 180,000 points 160,000 points +20,000

SO it now is MORE EXPENSIVE--not an advantage other than the ability to include airline miles but that is already available in the highly EXPENSIVE 7-night Travel Package Award from Marriott if you trade your timeshare points.

I tried this link and get a message "We’re sorry. Viewing this Elite Reward requires a higher Marriott Rewards Elite status than you have presently achieved. We cannot display the information you have requested.", which is interesting with PLT status.

I also notice the packages page - Travel Packages - is missing the Hawaii Sampler that shows in the recently cached version - Google cached Travel Packages .

I'm glad I recently got my certs in hand for this summer - is the Hawaii sampler now extinct?

EDIT: Never mind, I found it buried in another thread here (though nowhere on the Marriott site) - another beneficial reward dead. What cost me 150K points a few days ago is now 225K. A 50% increase is even worse than the 30-40% increase for my typical stays. I guess that's why my scorecard for the year is SPG-8, MR-0, even though the FS Marriott and CY are closer than the Westin and Sheraton at my current client

CPRich is the third Platinum member-and former VERY loyal Marriott supporter that I know about(as these are regular and long time posters here on FT) to have jumped ship because of the changes Ed French has brought to the Marriott Rewards program.

I do hope the folks above Mr. French(Including the Marriott Family)are paying attention.

BINGO!

Status match to SPG....2009 YTD-

MR-2 nights (used up my last gift certs)
SPG-3 nights

Future bookings for next 3 weeks-
MR-0 nights
SPG-10 nights
Hyatt-1 night

And...just got approved for my SPG amex...typical spend on MRplat is ~$15K/month....GONE!