Ritz-Carlton using MR Points
Jan 7, 2009 | 9:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: The OC
Programs: AA EXP, HH Gold, Hyatt Gold, MR Plat, SPG Plat, PC Plat
Posts: 421
Ritz-Carlton using MR Points
Hi,
I've been trying search for a few minutes now, but I think it is down or broken.
Can anyone give some experiences on using MR points for Ritz Carlton stays? In May, my wife and I are going to NYC for a few days and I was thinking about staying at the RC on Central Park using points.
I doubt they give any Platinum recognition or upgrades... is that a safe assumption? Any advice about this option would be most appreciated.
I've been trying search for a few minutes now, but I think it is down or broken.
Can anyone give some experiences on using MR points for Ritz Carlton stays? In May, my wife and I are going to NYC for a few days and I was thinking about staying at the RC on Central Park using points.
I doubt they give any Platinum recognition or upgrades... is that a safe assumption? Any advice about this option would be most appreciated.
Jan 8, 2009 | 9:07 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cambridge, MA
Programs: AA Exec Plat MM, UA MM 1K, MR Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 153
Just call the MR Award desk and let them know you wanted the RC at Central Park. Got an award stay myself last year at the same property.
No recognition or automatic upgrade for MR Platinum. I did asked for a Central Park view room at checkin and the receptionist was kind enough to move me to a room with partial view.
Good luck.
No recognition or automatic upgrade for MR Platinum. I did asked for a Central Park view room at checkin and the receptionist was kind enough to move me to a room with partial view.
Good luck.
Jan 9, 2009 | 1:18 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3
I used 250,000 MR points to stay at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua in Maui for 7 nights back in September. I booked by calling the MR number and had to book about 6 months out. They send you a paper certificate in the mail and you MUST bring it to the hotel when you check in.
We had a fantastic experience, no issues whatsoever. The hotel was fantastic and we are definitely going to book another RC vacation with MR soon.
We had a fantastic experience, no issues whatsoever. The hotel was fantastic and we are definitely going to book another RC vacation with MR soon.
Jan 9, 2009 | 2:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AA EXP, AAirpass, & CK 2MM, MR Plat Premier, DL Plat, US Plat, UA RECOVERING GS
Posts: 2,620
You have to be careful with the RC rewards in my opinion. The "few nights" rewards tend to be the worst in the program. Take for example a Tier 2 RC that would otherwise cost, let's say, $500/night all-in during your stay.
For a 1 night reward, you are going to pay 70k points, netting you $0.007 in value per point (a whopping 7 tenths of 1 penny per point).
On the otherhand, for a 7 night reward, you are going to pay 250k points, netting you a much better (but still not good) $0.014 (1.4cents) per point.
I tend to pay for all my RC stays, which total an average of about 15-25 nights a year. The RC redemptions have improved in recent years (anyone else remember when they were 110k/night???) but I have to think they are mostly targeted at people earning points for work-related travel who otherwise wouldn't stay at an RC on vacation, therefore MR sees these types of reservations by this specific type of customer as a good way to bleed down MR's point liability cheaply.
Also consider the value in a travel package. Let's say you redeem a 7 night Cat 7 with 120,000 air miles for 270,000 points. Most people value air miles at $0.02/mile, so the air portion alone is worth $2,400 under that logic. If we assume, say, $400 all-in for a Cat 7 hotel if paying cash, that gives us a value of $2800 for 7 nights, or $5,200 in total for hotel + air miles. That means the total value of the entire redemption is $0.019 (1.9 cents) per point, which is the best of any option.
Of course, YMMV.
For a 1 night reward, you are going to pay 70k points, netting you $0.007 in value per point (a whopping 7 tenths of 1 penny per point).
On the otherhand, for a 7 night reward, you are going to pay 250k points, netting you a much better (but still not good) $0.014 (1.4cents) per point.
I tend to pay for all my RC stays, which total an average of about 15-25 nights a year. The RC redemptions have improved in recent years (anyone else remember when they were 110k/night???) but I have to think they are mostly targeted at people earning points for work-related travel who otherwise wouldn't stay at an RC on vacation, therefore MR sees these types of reservations by this specific type of customer as a good way to bleed down MR's point liability cheaply.
Also consider the value in a travel package. Let's say you redeem a 7 night Cat 7 with 120,000 air miles for 270,000 points. Most people value air miles at $0.02/mile, so the air portion alone is worth $2,400 under that logic. If we assume, say, $400 all-in for a Cat 7 hotel if paying cash, that gives us a value of $2800 for 7 nights, or $5,200 in total for hotel + air miles. That means the total value of the entire redemption is $0.019 (1.9 cents) per point, which is the best of any option.
Of course, YMMV.
Jan 9, 2009 | 3:43 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: AA-EXP(2MM+), Delta-Plat(1MM+), Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LifePlat
Posts: 27
I called RC res directly, told them I wanted to use MR points. They made the reservation and then connected me directly with MR. This was in November 08.
Jan 9, 2009 | 5:45 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
Dillman,
What you say is accurate and on point, but remember one thing, the 7 night travel packages are going up next week. If the costs of the RC stays do not increase, then it brings the "value" of some of those RC properties alot closer to those of the Marriott familiy hotels.
What you say is accurate and on point, but remember one thing, the 7 night travel packages are going up next week. If the costs of the RC stays do not increase, then it brings the "value" of some of those RC properties alot closer to those of the Marriott familiy hotels.