Happy Dance over Marriott Points

[snarlingcoyote]

DH will be living in a Residence Inn (well. . .6 nights out of 7) for about 3 months this fall/winter. While I am dreading the time I'll spend without him, I'm looking on the bright side at all those Marriott points he'll rack up! We're thinking of buying DVC with some of his overtime, but if we don't, I think we'll have enough points to stay at a Marriott near Disney on our next trip for free. If we have bought DVC, well, we'll have our drive down hotel covered for the next 10 years!

Just had to share with people who understand me!

 

[swilshire]

They don't add up as fast as we all would hope, especially at the properties such as Residence Inn where you only get half the number of points you would at a full service Marriott. I spent a month in a Townplace Suites last year and it was just enough points for a single night this summer.

Make sure he is signed up for the Fall Megabonus promotion. Different members get different offers, but mine is for 40 or 50K points (I don't remember right off the top of my head) if I stay 25 nights mid-Sept through mid-Jan.

Sheila

 

[dis-happy]

Have him sign up for the Marriott Visa. It's not free but it includes good perks that are worthwhile for frequent Marriott users. Can he book/pay for his own hotel room and get re-imbursed? If so do it all through the card. As he bumps up in status level he'll get more points for the same stay. Also, tell him not to take the free gift at check-in but the extra points instead ( he won't be eligible right away but may later).

Enjoy!

signed,
Mariott wife who loves to book free trips

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I love free travel, congratulations!

DH was a consultant for 13 years and stayed at Marriott so much he made lifetime Platinum status (12 years/1000+ nights/2 million points earned). Two years ago we booked the Marriott Marquis in Times Square for New Years Eve and they upgraded us to a high room with a Square View.

I love having him home now (well- 95% of the time ), but at times we really miss the hotel, airline and car rental points. We did luck out, last year we booked the Marriott Ocean Club in Maui with the last of the points and a few weeks before the trip I got an exchange on my timeshare for the Westin on the same beach- and we were able to save the points.

Like PP said, get the Marriott Visa or find a card that gets extra points for hotel stays. Sometimes they also run promos that you can enroll in like stay x nights and get a free nights.

 

[auntmeme7577]

And don't forget, those points can be miles on Southwest
My one night stay last week was 1800 or 2400 points, not sure which as Wyndham is running a similar promotion
so congratulations on building up those perks!

 

[swilshire]

If DH is not already a Platinum Elite, suggest that he call and ask for a "Platinum challenge". Typically Marriott will give him temporary Platinum status and he must stay so many nights in a given period of time to keep it. That should be easy with his current schedule. Platinum will give him bonus points for each stay, making them add up more quickly. It also gives the possibility of upgrades.

We use our points mostly for single nights while enroute to our vacation destination and have had good luck about half the time getting upgraded to a larger unit. We usually book Residence Inns and it's great if we can get upgraded to a 2-br so the kids have their own bedroom.

Sheila

 

[kristenrice]

...and if you go to the Marriott website via EBates, you'll earn a 2.5% rebate in addition to your Marriott points.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Woohoo! Yay for hotel points!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

They don't add up as fast as we all would hope, especially at the properties such as Residence Inn where you only get half the number of points you would at a full service Marriott. I spent a month in a Townplace Suites last year and it was just enough points for a single night this summer.

Make sure he is signed up for the Fall Megabonus promotion. Different members get different offers, but mine is for 40 or 50K points (I don't remember right off the top of my head) if I stay 25 nights mid-Sept through mid-Jan.

Sheila

Unfortunately, you have to use a VISA and he's got to use his Corporate card. Boo Hiss.

If DH is not already a Platinum Elite, suggest that he call and ask for a "Platinum challenge". Typically Marriott will give him temporary Platinum status and he must stay so many nights in a given period of time to keep it. That should be easy with his current schedule. Platinum will give him bonus points for each stay, making them add up more quickly. It also gives the possibility of upgrades.

We use our points mostly for single nights while enroute to our vacation destination and have had good luck about half the time getting upgraded to a larger unit. We usually book Residence Inns and it's great if we can get upgraded to a 2-br so the kids have their own bedroom.

Sheila

Thank you for this! I have the particulars bookmarked now. That will be verra nice!

Woohoo! Yay for hotel points!

Thank you!

Of course, this means I will have sole responsibility for the house, the bills, the cats and the dogs most of this fall and into next winter. . .<sigh>. Not so much looking forward to that. I always lose weight when DH travels, so at least there's that and the points.

 

[love2disney]

sign up for the fall promotion which will give you 25000 points for 20 nights and another 15000 after 35 nights