Their website claims
Q. What is a Dinner for Two Gift Certificate?

A. This Marriott Gift Certificate entitles the recipient to a dinner for two including the choice of one (1) complimentary appetizer, salad, entrée, desert and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages per individual at participating Marriott restaurants.

The actual certificate they now send is a three course not a four course dinner.

I called Marriott and they agree that they aren't sending the advertised four course certificates anymore and if I didn't like it I could get my money back - but they won't honor their website ad.

Do they no longer include the appetizer? I imagine if you print the website verbiage and bring it with you there won't be a problem. It sounds less like an intentional deception and more like some lousy language on the certificate and site.

I've seen this on other Marriott certificates: legalese that seemed to contradict other legalese a few sentences away or what was on the site. (For example, a particular cert might say "You must call 1-800-MARRIOTT to book", but a regular online reservation is actually okay.) They probably need to QA all of this stuff a bit better.

In any case, the one time I used a Dinner For Two offer, we ordered an appetizer and weren't charged for it. I think most restaurants understand this to be "Food's included, booze isn't." If we'd pushed it and ordered two appetizers, I'm not sure what would have happened...

More importantly, double-check to confirm that your desired restaurant participates. Just because a restaurant is physically inside a Marriott building doesn't mean they'll redeem the cert...I seem to recall a LOT of exclusions, and the exclusions were some of the best places you'd actually want to use the cert.

No it is intentional - it's now a three course dinner you have a choice of salad or appetizer not both - printing out the FAQs from the website is meaningless they have changed their policy

Why shouldnt they honor what is on their web page? Used one a month ago at the FLA Harbor Beach 3030 restaurant, great meal, with appy, and salad. Probably not worth the points or fee if it was just a 3 course meal.

I agree they should honor it but my point is they are now selling three course meals not four - just a heads up buyer beware sort of thing.

Did they reduce the cost of the certificate? (I thought it was a bit overpriced even at 4 courses, especially with the optimal restaurants excluded from the offer.)

We ate at Simply Fish at the Marriott Aruba last week. I had purchased 2 certificates prior to leaving...and we were able to use both certificates at our table (4 of us). Anyway, I was prepared for only 3 courses, however the waiter advised that we were entitled to an appetizer, salad, main course, and dessert...and the twin lobster tails (at $65) could be ordered! Also included were soft drinks, bottled water, and virgin drinks (my kids ordered several).
This was a GREAT deal.

The old certificates say 4 courses and they honor them - the new certificates say three courses and they don't give salad and appetizer - you need to make a choice. The website however, when they sell them don't mention the fact that the certificates being ordered within the last week or so have changed from four to three courses.

A couple years ago we had a problem with such a certificate at the Renaissance, London.
"Entree" over there (UK) means "before the meal" / appetizer.
"Entree" here (US) means "main course".

So our dinner bill was a bit of a surprise. They were certain their interpretation is what the American Marriott chain really meant.

I've just got one today, and it is for 3 course meal, and I knew that. I cannot eat more than a 3 course meal anyway... You have to remember that tip and tax is also included. so, with the sales tax around 9% (starting on April 1st for us in CA) and the tip at least at 15%, I still believe it's worth it.

I am surprised that people are so "mellow" about this and that there has not been more of an outcry. Though I feel the certificates are still a good value, I feel a little bit "scammed/cheated."

As of this writing, the web site still says 4 courses. Since Marriott has been made aware of this, the website should have been corrected by now. I ordered several at least 3 weeks ago and the certificates say 3 courses.

Let us define/discuss terms here:

An example of deceptive advertising might be when the airlines offer "seats from $99" when they have 2 seats on one of their many flights at this price while all the other seats are much higher. If less than 1% are sold at $99 that seems deceptive to me, but it cannot be called false.

On the other hand, if your website says 4 courses and you send a certificate for only 3 courses, that is false advertising. Some of the attorneys I mentioned this to called it fraudulent. This is similar to the menu saying your steak comes with a salad and then presenting your bill with a charge for the salad. I would be pretty upset.

Marriott has done the right thing by offering a refund, but they really fumbled the ball here and since they have not corrected the website or offered any apology or explanation, the ball remains on the ground.

Well said - thank you - I agree with some that a three course meal is maybe enough food - but my point of the posting was that the buyer wasn't get what they were paying for. I'm glad you understand.

We used the coupon at the Rennaisance in Times Square at the "Two by Two"
restaurant and had a wonderful four course dinner. That's what the coupon said and that's what the restaurant delivered. I ordered the coupon in December and used it on Feb. 16.

I hope you had a nice meal - but you missed my point - I also bought certificates in December for four course meals - used them and enjoyed the meal. Recently I purchased the same certificates, with the same terms and received certificates for a three course meal - not what I expected. I'm sorry I tried to let people know.

I really appreciated that you brought this up. We used the OLD certs on Phuket at the JW last Dec. OMG, what a great deal, one night the bill was $300, the second night it was well over $200. Not quite as good a deal if there are just 3 courses now....