I’m a long time reader of the blog and I appreciate the tips, advice, and trip reports you post. But on your blog, and the others I read, I can’t help but notice the absence of anything about Marriott hotels.

Hotel coverage is always about SPG and Hyatt, with occasional, usually negative, stories on Hilton and Priority Club, with the exception of InterContinental. However, on all the miles/points blog I read, Marriott is always absent. Why is this?

I think I’ve mentioned the answer in passing in some posts, though I don’t think I’ve directly addressed it yet, so thanks for the question.

Marriott is the chain that mystifies me the most. They have incredibly high customer satisfaction, as evidenced in the Frequent Traveler Awards results from last year. As a matter of fact, they won four of the six hotel awards for the “Americas” category, which is an impressive feat. Beyond that, they have a ton of hotels, much more so than Hyatt and Starwood.

So why don’t I show them more love? Probably because despite what the Frequent Traveler Awards said, I think they are the chain that offers the least “value” for members trying to maximize their benefits. I believe that it can make financial sense to go for top tier status with Hyatt or Starwood as a leisure traveler, though I can’t imagine that every being the case with Marriott.

For one, they have by far the highest top tier elite qualification tier. To earn Platinum status with them you need to stay 75 nights per year, without an option to qualify on stays instead. With Hyatt and Starwood you can achieve top tier status for just 25 stays or 50 nights. So it’s potentially possible to earn top tier status with Hyatt and Starwood for a third as many nights as with Marriott.

That being said, they do let you earn elite qualifying nights with their Marriott Rewards Premier Visa (that’s my affiliate link, so I earn a commission for anyone that signs up through that link). Just for having the card you get 15 nights towards elite status annually, in addition to one elite qualifying night for every $3,000 spent on the card. In other words, for $180,000 of spend you can “buy” Platinum status each year. Totally not worth it, but worth pointing out, for those that put a ton of money on their credit cards annually.

Despite the insanely high qualification threshold, though, they offer fewer elite benefits than Hyatt or Starwood offer their top tier elites. The most valuable benefits are as follows:

• 50% points bonus
• Free internet access
• Room upgrades upon availability, excluding suites
• Club lounge access, and if no club lounge you get continental breakfast in the restaurant (except in the US, where you would only get continental breakfast on weekdays)

Compare this to Starwood which offers:

• 50% points bonus
• Free internet access
• Room upgrades upon availability, including suites
• Club lounge access, and starting March 1 you can choose continental breakfast as an elite benefit seven days a week

And Hyatt which offers:

• 30% points bonus
• Free internet access
• Room upgrades excluding suites upon availability, plus four confirmed suite upgrades per year
• Club lounge access, and if there’s no club lounge or it’s closed you get full breakfast in the restaurant

So I have nothing against Marriott, and if anything I think they deserve credit for having such high satisfaction among their elite members despite the limited benefits they offer. But I often focus on Hyatt and Starwood because I think they offer the most “bang for the buck” for those looking to maximize benefits.

The JW Marriott Khao Lak (about an hour from Phuket — I stayed at the neighboring Le Meridien last time I was there) has an amazing Travelzoo deal for the next two days. They’re offering vouchers for the JW Marriott for $89 per night, with a three night minimum. They can be redeemed for March through October (yes, it’s the rainy season, but it really isn’t that bad!). You can buy as many as you’d like, and don’t have to decide when you’d like to stay till you actually make the booking.

This hotel is typically ~$200USD per night, so this is an amazing deal. But wait, there’s more.

You also receive two hour-long massages, free breakfast, free wifi, and a two-for-one cocktail voucher.

If you know you’ll be in the area, this is one of the best deals I’ve seen in a long time.

It’s not the best promotion ever, but I’m not a Marriott guy and don’t really collect Marriott points, so if I were to stay at one of those Marriott properties, this would be my preferred earning method. Besides, this is also a way to get a “hit” for US Airways’ Grand Slam promotion.

(Tip of the hat to @TravelSort)

I do wonder what they’re reasoning is, though. On one hand they’re losing out on revenue, though will it really draw people to Marriott? If they’re doing it for business travelers, well, they can usually expense internet, so I’m not sure how much additional business it will get them.

That being said, free internet is slowly becoming a trend, and while it will likely take another 10 years before the concept of paying for internet at a hotel is unheard of, this is another step in the right direction.

(Tip of the hat to Loyalty Traveler)

Via Loyalty Traveler, they will be selling gift cards in the following increments:

• $50 Marriott Travel Card for $44.   (Maximum purchase = 5 cards)
• $100 Marriott TravelCard for $89.   (Maximum purchase = 5 cards)
• $250 Marriott TravelCard for $222.   (Maximum purchase = 2 cards)
• $500 Marriott TravelCard for $445.   (Maximum purchase = 2 cards)
• $1,000 Marriott TravelCard for $890.   (Maximum purchase = 1 card)

While those amounts are only a little bit more than 10% off of face value, they’re offering an additional 10% discount for making the purchase with an American Express credit card. In other words, if using an American Express, the $1,000 gift card is really costing you $801, or about 20% off.

If you’re a frequent Marriott guest, this is a pretty unbeatable deal.

Keep in mind that there are very limited quantities, so if you want to take advantage of this offer, be ready at 12PM eastern sharp with your credit card ready to go.

Somehow, given that this is Marriott, I suspect it has more to do with “morals” and being “family friendly” than anything else (which I certainly don’t hold against them). At the same time, if you’re going to keep pay per view movies, I’m not entirely sure what the point of eliminating the adult entertainment selection is. I mean, it doesn’t cost them much (if anything) to have the movies in the selection if no one purchases them, right? I assume they’re losing out on at least some revenue with this move…

InterContinental better not do the same, or some Ambassadors/Royal Ambassadors may no longer have an incentive to stay at InterContinentals!

(Tip of the hat to Loyalty Traveler)

Yep, I find this to be as random as you do!

(Tip of the hat to TMtravelworld)

Registration is required.

(Tip of the hat to TMtravelWorld)

I’m always amazed by how happy most Marriott elite members are, despite the program having the highest elite tier qualifications, fewest elite benefits, and a limited number of promotions. I guess more power to them if they can maintain a loyal customer base without throwing ‘em too many bones!

(Tip of the hat to Loyalty Traveler)