I am finding that the VISA 3 for 2 rate is about the same as 3 nights booked at a "Marriott" rate...how is that FREE?

Anyone else seeing this or does it just happen to be at the resorts I am considering?

c'mon SG.....you REALLY expect us to answer that????!!!!

Maybe it's the places you want to go?

(hey, did you hear...starting april 20th, if we want a paper in CY/FFI/RI/TPS/SHS we have to haul butt to the lobby? sounds like an 'enhancement' to me!)

I hold several such reservations and they all offer genuine discount in the sense that the daily rate is the same as the best weekend rate.

The 3rd night is usually removed at check-out (although I don't see it mentioned in the rate rules this time), so the total shown in the reservation details is incorrect.

Marriott seems to do this for a lot of their "pay for X nights, get y night(s) free".

I have a reservation for a pay for 3 nights get 1 free (St. Kitts Resort). The total in the reservation shows charges for all 4 nights. (Though the reservation does state that the 4th night will be adjusted at checkout.)

I understand both of these scenario's; but in my case, I was not looking at the total when I asked the question.

Mine is: VISA rate is $289.00 per nite. So 3 nites would be $289.00 X 2 = $578.00. Divide that by 3 nites, and the actual "cost" per night is $193. I can book the same room, same view, same dates, same everything at a rate of $202.00 per nite. So - although the VISA rate does offer a savings, it is $9 per night - which is not a "free" night.

Hence my question.....but based on your responses, perhaps it occurs only at the property I am considering.

I have always found it to be that way, and I understand and agree why they do it that way. If they did not, there would be guests who would only stay part of the qualifying time, and leave early, and still have benefit of the free night if they did not charge for all the nights and adjust the free night at checkout. It is the same thing when you book a rewards night, you must give them a credit card to reserve the room, and if you do not show up, they will not use your rewards points, but they will charge your credit card for the room charge, since they could not charge a regular room night charge to a regular paying customer. Make sense?

In my reservation, the Buy 3, Get 4th night free rate was the cheapest non-prepaid rate listed. In fact, it was cheaper (without the 4th night free) than some of the prepaid rates listed.

I suspect it has to do with what other rates a particular hotel may also have in their inventory. In general, I suspect these rates will get the free night based on the hotels normal per night rates.

Not to me... I'd prefer if they showed first 2 nights at full rate and the last one at $0. I've had to argue several times at check-out and even print out the rate rules, as the clerks argued that the discount is already included in the rate, pointing at the total in my reservation printout.

sophiegirl - I've seen the situation you describe in several properties. These are in the minority though (at least according to my experience).

There are going to be stupid front desk agents everywhere who do not know their jobs, that just goes with the territory. I have checked into hotels where they don't even know what a Platinum member is! So what, that does not change the fact that they have to do it that way, they cannot grant the discount up front, otherwise people would take the discount without staying the required number of nights needed to qualify for it in the first place, that is just how that stuff works. If someone does not understand, just ask for a manager, and if they still do not understand, call Marriott rez to explain it to them. If they still do not understand, leave with the bill wrong and get it corrected after the fact, with 20,000 extra points added to your account by Marriott Customer Care for the inconvenience and "idiot factor."

If the reservation was for 3 nights, first 2 showing full rate, 3rd $0, how can you take the discount without staying the required number of nights needed to qualify for it in the first place?

I will use a 3 nights for the price of 2 example to best illustrate the situation. Just like when you make a reservation for a rewards stay, a credit card is required, because the room is blocked out for your stay, and if you do not stay, then your card is charged, because the reward is not pulled from corporate to pay the hotel. Similarly, if a 3 day reservation is made for a 3 for price of 2, but the $0 night is indicated at check in, and you checked out after the 2nd night, they would not be able to bill you for two nights, since you already have it in writing that you get a free night, and you checked out, so what could they do? No matter what you would say, signed guest disclosures upfront, 2 day waivers for no free 3rd day if checkout before 3rd day, whatever you would call it, could you imagine the arguments and bankcard chargebacks they would get if they did not do it this way? Okay, I understand, you are honest, but assume that at least 25% of customers are not honest, and imagine yourself standing in line waiting to check out and the arguments you have heard between a front guest clerk and an obviously dishonest guest trying to pull a fast one and taking up everyone's time while doing it, and then ask again why Marriott needs to do it this way. I agree, in a perfect world, it would happen your way, but the world is not perfect, so it happens the way Marriott does it now.