Prepaid Reservation Price Drop
Dec 18, 2025 | 3:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 135
Prepaid Reservation Price Drop
I took advantage of Marriott's Black Friday "sale" to book a two night stay later this month that was prepaid and non-refundable. Flexible reservations for the same nights at the same hotel (Courtyard) are now about 30% less than what I paid. I'm guessing there's no way that I can take advantage of this price drop, but thought I'd ask.
Dec 18, 2025 | 3:16 pm
#2
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I took advantage of Marriott's Black Friday "sale" to book a two night stay later this month that was prepaid and non-refundable. Flexible reservations for the same nights at the same hotel (Courtyard) are now about 30% less than what I paid. I'm guessing there's no way that I can take advantage of this price drop, but thought I'd ask.
Good luck.
Dec 18, 2025 | 3:23 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
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Of course, at least IME, a lot of the time the prepaid deposit isn't charged anyhow, which is nice, so then there's nothing lost at all.
Dec 18, 2025 | 5:11 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Marriott Titanium -> United Silver
Posts: 1,479
This probably won't work, but check both the app and the website and maybe one gives you that option.
Dec 18, 2025 | 6:03 pm
#6
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Black Friday is all too often just a scam, particularly when it comes to travel. I saw how one crusie line doubled the prices for wifi and then had a Black Friday 40% off sale.
Dec 19, 2025 | 8:11 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Formerly Box 350, Boston Mass, Oh two one three four. Now near Beverly Hills 90210
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Posts: 4,363
No one forced the OP to book the rate. I'm sure they thought it was a good deal at the time. Just because Marriott decided to provide an even better rate a few weeks later isn't mistreating customers.
I must also say that 15 year old me NEVER thought I'd be in a discussion with Enos Cabell! I'm just smiling ear to ear!
I must also say that 15 year old me NEVER thought I'd be in a discussion with Enos Cabell! I'm just smiling ear to ear!
Dec 19, 2025 | 8:13 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: MCO-The Mouse House
Programs: AA EXPlt, SPG Plt, Nat EE
Posts: 1,675
Marriott screws guests all the time but I don't understand how they did anything wrong here.
You see a rate you're happy with. You're incentivized to prepay because you're given a discount. The terms are disclosed. You agreed to them knowing full well that hotel prices change based on demand. Again, you're happy with the rate.
If you prepay a non-refundable rate and the prices go up before check in, would you accept the hotel charging more?
Sometimes you win prepaying, sometimes you lose. If you don't like the rules. don't book that type of rate.
You see a rate you're happy with. You're incentivized to prepay because you're given a discount. The terms are disclosed. You agreed to them knowing full well that hotel prices change based on demand. Again, you're happy with the rate.
If you prepay a non-refundable rate and the prices go up before check in, would you accept the hotel charging more?
Sometimes you win prepaying, sometimes you lose. If you don't like the rules. don't book that type of rate.
Dec 19, 2025 | 8:52 am
#10
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Yeah not surprising at all... Marriott frequently does these 'sales' which are effectively nothing but false advertising that locks in bookings and cash for Marriott and their customers (hotel owners).
Unfortunately nothing you can do other than say lesson-learned and don't get suckered in by Marriott next time.
Unfortunately nothing you can do other than say lesson-learned and don't get suckered in by Marriott next time.
Dec 19, 2025 | 3:37 pm
#11
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
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Posts: 7,269
Yeah not surprising at all... Marriott frequently does these 'sales' which are effectively nothing but false advertising that locks in bookings and cash for Marriott and their customers (hotel owners).
Unfortunately nothing you can do other than say lesson-learned and don't get suckered in by Marriott next time.
Unfortunately nothing you can do other than say lesson-learned and don't get suckered in by Marriott next time.
Dec 19, 2025 | 3:53 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Posts: 2,723
I Agree. Many Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other mega sale day deals aren't good deals at all. Whenever possible, research and know the normal pricing in advance. Then you will know if a sale is a good deal. When that's not possible, I'd generally recommend buyer beware. I especially wouldn't commit to a prepaid nonrefundable reservation if I didn't have data to tell me it was truly worthwhile. I don't believe in the general benevolence of businesses. For the record, I am not blaming the OP. It is easy to get sucked in by the advertising. Caveat Emptor...
--Jon
--Jon
Dec 19, 2025 | 5:19 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Toronto, Ont., Canada
Programs: Marriott Titanium; Aeroplan E25; IHG Gold; Best Western Diamond
Posts: 2,494
I looked at a few rates for the Marriott BlackFri sale. Nothing good for me, no reduced rate for the ones I've booked.
For Air Canada, I saw the rates for the time I was watching, jumped up, then with the so called 25% off just for that day, still came out higher. Of course the day after Black Friday, AC rates went down.
For Air Canada, I saw the rates for the time I was watching, jumped up, then with the so called 25% off just for that day, still came out higher. Of course the day after Black Friday, AC rates went down.
Dec 20, 2025 | 10:17 am
#15
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I dont book prepaid rates for many reasons - this being one of them as changes and drops do frequently occur (and I reprice all of my upcoming reservations at least once a week).