Renard

I just ordered mine...this taps out my MR rewards account before the gauntlet drops in Jan

babbkent

Marriott Concierge, et al:

I have had a world of trouble today trying to reserve rooms in Capri and the Rome Grand Flora using my European Hopper certificates. I spoke today with six Marriott representatives for more than an hour, and the most frustrating part was that no one seemed to be able to tell me WHY I can't get into those rooms. I have researched that those hotels are supposedly above the new rules, which is confusing and odd in itself, but all previous information suggested that, at some point, rooms would be open there.

Here's my problem: The certificates say they're good for ANY hotel in Europe. Capri and the Grand Flora are both in Europe. One supervisor I spoke with today said she had no idea why those two (and there's another, I understand, that also doesn't play by the rules) don't have availability. She suggested I try alternate dates.

Well, using the Marriott Web site and using the Rewards search, I input that I wanted one night and searched for the rest of the year. Neither of those hotels have availability for Rewards redemption for even one night ... for the rest of 2009. If you're reserving a room and plan to pay for it, then there's plenty of availability.

In other words: These hotels just don't accommodate Rewards, which to me devalues the European Hopper and further devalues Marriott Rewards.

My question is: Is there any hope of getting into these hotels in May (or ever) or do they simply not accept Rewards -- ever? If that's the case, and you cannot, under any circumstances, get into your preferred hotels using points -- which is the basis for the Rewards system -- then I will do something between ending my 120-night-per-year loyalty to Marriott and speak to an attorney about false marketing. I'm looking at the certificate right now: "Valid for one (1) free guest room for two (2) consecutive nights at any hotel in Europe. Well, that's just not true, is it?

Mr. Concierge, I am very frustrated with the many folks I spoke to today. Each person told me different -- and inaccurate, according to my research -- reasons why I couldn't stay there. (The hotel is small and has no availability; Capri is a JW Marriott resort, which doesn't participate in the Hopper redemption; alternate dates might work, etc.) The supervisor seemed determined to get me in, but then she transferred me to a customer service rep who then couldn't get me in and then wouldn't transfer me back to the supervisor.

Is this just a lost cause? If it were my specific dates, I'd understand. But that those hotels NEVER allow Rewards redemption, to me, is wrong. I have a feeling my long loyalty to Marriott is nearing its final days.

latravel

I posted this on another thread but at around midnight Los Angeles time, all dates in June for the Grand Flora in Italy and the JW Marriott Capri were available. It was amazing to see. I was able to reserve 5nts in Flora, 5 nts in Capri and another 2 nts in Flora for which I will apply my European Hoppers. By 7 am when I awoke, all availability for the rest of the year 2009 was gone.

There was availability for both hotels but you had to be on-line and on the phone around 12 am Pacific time.

Renard

I assume that one can, if one wishes, use the 3 certs for a 7 day consecutive stay at one hotel?

GlennTheBaker

You assume correctly.

bananacake

see th other reviews- you ahve been warned

KeepItCoolidge

.....

aaupgrade

You should be fine as long as the Euro Hopper certificates' expiration dates shown on the front of the certificates have not lapsed, and you aren't asking to use them for dates that are past the expiration dates printed on the certificates.

It is quite scary about their lack of knowledge. Be persistent and insist on speaking to a supervisor; or hang up and call back.

If you are still unsuccessful, I would suggest you send an email or PM to Marriott Concierge.

VickiSoCal

I called to make reservations for mine 2 days ago and the representative was talking about what a great deal the Euro and Island hoppers are. I said "yes, it is too bad you guys discontinued them" She was shocked, had no clue that they were no more.

judolphin

EXACT same thing happened to me at the exact same properties and it was not resolved until I spoke to Mr. Marriott's assistant and wrote two separate letters to Mr. Marriott.

judolphin

What do you mean, a "dud"?! It has a bed, and it's on a gorgeous island, correct?

latravel

Yes, please explain.

I also had problems with agents knowing how to apply the European hoppers. The only way to get it resolved was speaking to a manager on the Rewards side, not customer service. Customer service gave me incorrect information and I had to spend a lot of time educating them on the rules of the reward.

aaupgrade

I think bananacake was referring to the reviews on Tripadvisor.com which can be found here:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._Campania.html

Probably the ones specifically involving award stays which were on both ends of the spectrum, either raving or ranting. Links to those reviews from the past year involving stays with points are provided below. I read similar ones a year ago and that along with this hotel not being a fully participating Marriott property wrote the hotel off as one I preferred not visit. YMMV:

Good reviews
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Campania.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Campania.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Campania.html


Bad Reviews
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Campania.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Campania.html

beofotch

I stayed there for 3 on Euro Sampler Award nights in early October '08 and at first they gave us a rather big room but it was sort of in a basement area with not much natural light. I asked immediately if we could have something with a nicer view or a balcony. Either because of the low occupancy at the time or because I was Platinum they moved to use a room with a small balcony not facing the ocean, but definatley more bright and cozy than the first room.

The breakfast each morning (free on weekdays for Platinum elite) was AMAZING.

Tiojelly

I made my reservation for using this award yesterday, and the MR rep did not seem to know all the aspects of the program. A couple times she referred to the fact that points would be taken out of my account -- although at least conversationally she got the concept that I had paper certs already and I did not want points pulled.

For those of you that have reservations using these rewards.. does your reservation online show the following:

"You do not have e-certificate(s) for this reservation.

Order e-certificate(s).

If you have not ordered e-certificate(s) 7 days prior to your stay, e-certificate(s) will be auto-ordered for you."

I am concerned that she may have incorrectly reserved these award nights and that points will be pulled for the stays. Although it certainly would be better if these were e-certs and I did not need to worry about misplacing them over the next 8 months until I use them.