krazykanuck

I have the same problem. I initially got MR Gold from the SPG status match which would match to Gold, but this year I got the Ritz card which bestows MR Gold for the first year which since it's native MR Gold and I think should match to Platinum. I think we're just going to have to wait and see.

bballdad175

laxmillenial

Nameless chain is a little harsh, no? Are United and Delta nameless chains?

StuckinITH

My first experience with Airbnb was my last.

The nail in the coffin was that they would not give us two keys. We are two adults that need flexibility of coming in and out. Our flight got delayed so it nearly caused a problem getting the key (we arrived at 8:30 PM instead of 7:00 PM). Good that the cleaning lady was available to wait for us. And good for us that even though the airbnb was in MUC, my wife realized after trying to communicate with signs that she spoke Spanish. So, here it got easier because after rapid talk in Spanish, the cleaning lady called the manager (yes, that property was not managed by an individual owner but by a manager) who refused to give us a second key. More rapid talk and my wife obtained the cleaning lady's key.

The manager had requested by email that we would be quiet so that we would not bother the neighbors. Bad luck, the neighbor had a party until 3:00 AM and we could do nothing to have the party move somewhere else. In a hotel, I call the reception and immediately they send a guard to calm things down.

There was no local knowledge to be obtained.

Yes, I felt that I was helping a manager who could not care less and misrepresented the property. Good that the next location we were moving to let us move some days ahead of our reservation.

I like these dinosaurs hotel chains because I know what I'm getting.

But to come back to the subject of this thread. I started trying Marriotts because of the status match with United. Lucky that my last Marriott reservation is in July. I then have time to see how things continue forward. Usually, I stay in Hiltons and I have to say that they have treated me very well. I even got upgrades to suites when it's not a benefit for Golds.

findark

I always find the hotel status game an interesting color

For contrast, I'm SPG "loyal" on business travel because I have consistently found the Westin brand to be significantly superior to any other [comparable] chain I've stayed at. On personal travel I'm usually in an Airbnb or foreign business hotel as US hotels are crazy expensive.

zombietooth

My sentiments exactly.
Airbnb sounds likes a fantastic idea, in practice it is horribly inconsistent, and there are too many layers of bureaucracy to go through to resolve a problem. One of the reasons that I like Hampton Inns is because of consistency. Are there minor service failures and quality shortfalls with Hampton? Certainly, but there are far less than the abysmal failures I've had with some Airbnb stays.

SFOdelayed

The biggest thing I value from Marriott/SPG Plat is the guaranteed 4pm late checkout. So much so that about half of my room nights last year with SPG were on my own dime. My company’s corporate program moved all to Hilton this year so I won’t qualify for new Starriott platinum next year which makes me sad.

adambrau

fumje

I thought Marriott Platinum was designated for GS enrolled in RewardsPlus? Although I'm not sure that was formally published.

SFOdelayed

cfischer

no longer.

StuckinITH

Westin is the favorite brand of my wife. She joined when it was independent of Sheraton. On a trip to Japan in 1996, she stayed in Tokyo in a hotel that was not a Westin but was affiliated with it. On the check-in counter, she saw a Westin membership application. She completed it, then told the check-in agent: this is my Westin number. Result: she got free breakfast for every day of her stay.

We still stay in Westins once or twice a year even though we don't get any benefits. Just enjoying the brand.

cfischer

this will finally relieve the insane crowding in lounges ... it's about time.

cova

I agree - "about time". The lounges have gotten way too crowded. Too many people are eligible. Some hotels seem like 1/2 the guests are eligible. Marriott has created M Lounges at some properties on the 1st or 2nd floor to handle the crowd, but I am not a big fan of the M Lounge.

Marriott gave too much to United. UA only gave Silver MR - which does not get Lounge access. Seemed like Marriott was getting the short end of the stick by giving the old MR Gold with lounge access. The new MR Gold (without lounge) is more matched to UA Silver.

garkster

And, some M lounges, like the one at IAH, are small. I will admit that, as both a lifetime Marriott Platinum and a 1K, I have little use for the so-called matching, and as mentioned, the Marriott lounges can be ridiculously overcrowded because of the Starwood elites who have been matched.

As far as I'm concerned, if you want to use Marriott lounges, stay at Marriott/Starwood, buy the credit card, etc. After all, how would we UA elites feel about Marriott elites who don't generally fly UA getting group 1 just because of a deal between UA and Marriott?