We're trying to do a redemption for 5 nights in St. Kitts 5/21-26. This is our first redemption on the new system, and every redemption rate they are showing requires us to pay an upgrade fee of $85 minimum.

Is this the case with all redemptions or just something at this property?

We're Gold members and are becoming more and more frustrated with the program. Hopefully one of you can show what we're missing on this one.

Certain properties require co-pays.

This is very common at resorts. It happened under the old system also.

If all they have available are rooms with views, etc, you have to pay to upgrade. I usually call and see what the PLT desk can do.

A beach resort hotel will normally put some std rooms into the award inventory AND they may also put in some rooms that require a per night co-payment or extra points per night. These "upgraded" rooms usually are ones that have a better view (i.e. ocean view, ocean front, etc), more space (i.e. corner room), balcony, or some other "upgrade".

The issue you may be finding is that Plats and Gold elites will quite often be upgraded to these types of rooms for free (if available at check-in.) Also, there may be others who just don't think the upgrade is worth the cost or needed. As such, most who make award reservations will go for the standard room that has no extra per night charge. When enough persons grab all the standard rooms in the award inventory, that leaves only the "upgraded" rooms available for awards. Your problem is May 21-26 isn't that far off and may very well be a high season for them (meaning a lot of people have already made reservations and there just aren't very many rooms left.)

You can try a couple of things:

1. Make a reservation with the extra charge and enjoy the upgraded room.
2. Make a reservation with the extra charge, but check back weekly or even daily to see if standard room availability opens up. If it does, call MR and have them change your reservation to one of the standard rooms that has no extra charges.
3. Call (or email) the hotel and ask to speak with the GM or one of the managers. Depending on the hotel's available unreserved rooms and your persuasiveness, you might be able to get them to give you a reservation with a standard room.
4. Change your travel dates to one where there is standard room award availability. If you can push your dates farther out, you may have better luck finding standard award availability.

Based on your advice I called the property and got a very helpful front desk agent. She told me she is updating our reservation to reflect only a standard room that would not have any upgrade fees. The Marriott Rewards manager is supposed to call me tomorrow to confirm, so we'll see about that.

Thanks again to everybody in the community for your help!

Jude

Good for them.

I stayed there just after they opened, about 5 years ago, and everyone on the property (and the island) was very nice. It's good that they would go above and beyond for you in this way.