Just booked JW Marriott!!

[waverunner1]

I'm excited! I have another thread on here about SeaWorld area hotels. Have went back and forth, over and over. Originally wanted Hilton Garden Inn, but it's booked. Started checking other locations. Was really leaning toward Renaissance, but, down deep, wanted JW. Thought about Priceline as Lynn1 suggested.

I crunched numbers this morning, comparing Renaissance, JW, and the new Springhill Suites SeaWorld. Found some packages at JW, called and asked if I could do one package the first night and another the second. Yes! FYI, they said a different package can be booked for each night of your stay! I booked their Discovery Cove package which includes DC/SW or Busch Gardens, room upgrade, complimentary parking, free breakfast, reserved area on the beach of DC. I priced this out booking through Priceline and the savings was only a few $ when adding parking fees, breakfast, better room, etc. Springhill Suites was only $40 less. Renaissance had no deals and was $150 higher. JW must really want to attract visitors!!

I just have to decide on my second night's package. I'm thinking of booking the romance package (even though we are a family of three ) It includes breakfast for two, complimentary parking, choc strawberries and champagne (or sparkling cider), room upgrade (same as above), 2 pm check out. We would have to pay for DS's breakfast. Or . . . . the stay for brkfst package, then we would pay for parking.

 

[dudleydog]

Awesome...we have stayed there 5 or 6 times. Their breakfast buffet is the best. TRy offer code M11....we got $151 a night with breakfast. Best rate I have ever sen there.

 

[cjnix29]

There was also some deal with JW on travelzoo. Might want to check it out.

 

[dioxide45]

Awesome...we have stayed there 5 or 6 times. Their breakfast buffet is the best. TRy offer code M11....we got $151 a night with breakfast. Best rate I have ever sen there.

We are booked in to the JW for May for one night, we booked several months ago. The rates have now almost doubled. It is important to note that in order to use the M11 or M12 codes, you have to be a Marriott Rewards member. They were not offering any rates with these codes during our travel dates.

 

[peyjax]

Congrats on your decision. You never see anything on here about this resort and it looks awesome! We will find out in just two more weeks I can not wait to try that pool! Have fun.

 

[waverunner1]

Thank you for the code dudleydog!! Saved me $40. We're all booked now! I am a Marriott Rewards member, so no problem there.

Be sure and post a report when you get back, peyjax. I want to hear about the JW! The pool does look incredible.

On my other post, a couple of people posted about the great deals that got on Priceline . . . . Guess I could have saved more, but I was too nervous to bid on the 4*. Not sure I would have won the Renaissance. We probably would have ended up closer to Universal with my luck. I could have bid on JW, also, but we got a better room and other perks with the packages. Maybe someday I'll get brave.

I am happy to have the decision made and booked!

 

[spiceycat]

Awesome...we have stayed there 5 or 6 times. Their breakfast buffet is the best. TRy offer code M11....we got $151 a night with breakfast. Best rate I have ever sen there.

oh gee - that is enough might try it!!!

on a budget but that is great rate for this hotel.

how much is the parking fee?

 

[janet89]

The parking fees are $15.98 daily, $21.30 for valet daily.

 

[waverunner1]

I have to give Marriott HUGE kudos. I got nervous because the room type on my first package didn't match the room type on the second package. I didn't want to have to switch rooms, so I called JW direct. They had to send me to Marriott reservations. The lady said, "They don't match, so you really shouldn't use the M11 code." RATS! I thought. She proceeded to look at my packages and then said she could save me $$ on my DC package! I would have to book a different, more expensive than the M11, package on the second night. OK. I was pleased. She was super helpful and nice , which you don't find too often anymore. Lakefront room on both nights (which is an upgrade).

After I got off the phone, I crunched the new numbers. She saved me $37 from what I had booked originally! Even w/o the M11 code! I compared what we would have paid for DC by booking it separately, and we are paying $172 + change a night, plus free valet parking, plus free breakfast, plus room upgrade!! Granted this is not cheap, but with all the extras and the level of hotel it is a DARN good deal!

I now wish Marriott's hotel in Clearwater Beach was beachfront!! But, we will be staying at the Hilton there.

 

[RenaissanceChef]

I'm excited! I have another thread on here about SeaWorld area hotels. Have went back and forth, over and over. Originally wanted Hilton Garden Inn, but it's booked. Started checking other locations. Was really leaning toward Renaissance, but, down deep, wanted JW. Thought about Priceline as Lynn1 suggested.

I crunched numbers this morning, comparing Renaissance, JW, and the new Springhill Suites SeaWorld. Found some packages at JW, called and asked if I could do one package the first night and another the second. Yes! FYI, they said a different package can be booked for each night of your stay! I booked their Discovery Cove package which includes DC/SW or Busch Gardens, room upgrade, complimentary parking, free breakfast, reserved area on the beach of DC. I priced this out booking through Priceline and the savings was only a few $ when adding parking fees, breakfast, better room, etc. Springhill Suites was only $40 less. Renaissance had no deals and was $150 higher. JW must really want to attract visitors!!

I just have to decide on my second night's package. I'm thinking of booking the romance package (even though we are a family of three ) It includes breakfast for two, complimentary parking, choc strawberries and champagne (or sparkling cider), room upgrade (same as above), 2 pm check out. We would have to pay for DS's breakfast. Or . . . . the stay for brkfst package, then we would pay for parking.

JW Marriott,Renaissance,Springhill,Fairfield,Courtyard,Townplace Suites,Residence Inn, all owned by....you guessed it..Marriott, It is confusing sometimes trying to find the best deal.With so many Marriott properties around Disney and Sea World, none of them have the same types of Package Deals running at the same time, so do like the OP did and DO YOUR HOMEWORK ( notice the part about parking fee? That adds up big time! ).We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard in the Marriott Village for 39.00 yet the Courtyard on the other side of I-4 was 99.00 !!! Homework people !! Do your Homework !!!

 

[CarolA]

JW Marriott,Renaissance,Springhill,Fairfield,Courtyard,Townplace Suites,Residence Inn, all owned by....you guessed it..Marriott, It is confusing sometimes trying to find the best deal.With so many Marriott properties around Disney and Sea World, none of them have the same types of Package Deals running at the same time, so do like the OP did and DO YOUR HOMEWORK ( notice the part about parking fee? That adds up big time! ).We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard in the Marriott Village for 39.00 yet the Courtyard on the other side of I-4 was 99.00 !!! Homework people !! Do your Homework !!!

Actually most of them are "owned" by various hotel developers. They are "managed" by Marriott. Marriott owns some hotels outright but most of the Lower priced brands are just 'franchise management' agreements. That will often explain the "deals" at some hotels vs others. Some "owners" may be more motivated. Marriott will load whatever rate they tell them.

 

[hts]

You're only paying $172/night for the JW with all that stuff included *and* passes to Discovery Cove? What am I missing? Is there a code I can use to get a similar deal?

 

[stlrod]

The Spa and Golf Package is really good also. We booked it for July 2-4 and it comes with 4 breakfasts (over the 2 night perod) and 4 spa treatments (in lieu of two golf and 2 spa treatments) valued at $130 each. We are paying $279 per night.

 

[MinnieGi]

You will love JW! We stayed there for a week a few years ago thanks to my dH's work having a conference. We had a wonderful time and the staff was top notch. The pool was super too! Enjoy!

 

[HappyGrumpy]

You will love it!!!! It is so hard to stay anywhere else (value style) when you experience the AMAZING JW! Have a great time! It made me a hotel snob

 

[peyjax]

Just returned from our trip with a five night stay at JW. It was a beautiful hotel. There were some things I did not like about it. It was hard to feel like a vacation when all you are surrounded by are people on business trips. I think I saw two other families on "vacation". There were swarms of conventioners along with loud parties at all the restaurants and by the pool. Definatly felt a little out of place being in a swimsuit. LOL The pool is amazing. Yet a lot of conventioner wives with the kids. The beds were uncomfortable and too small. The room was also very small. The views from our room were really neat. We could see Sea World and part of Universal.

To be honest I really expected to fall in love with this place. We stayed at the Contemporary for 2 nights after staying here. The price was the same for the rooms so we went for onsite for the last couple of nights. The contemporary room was much bigger and I prefered its' room decor over the JW. We did get an amazing deal the other five nights at the JW so it made it worth it. The service was the same at both hotels.

 

[waverunner1]

You're only paying $172/night for the JW with all that stuff included *and* passes to Discovery Cove? What am I missing? Is there a code I can use to get a similar deal?

hts, the $172 is for the hotel room, breakfast and valet. I took the $925 off (the price we would have paid for DC if booked separately). So . . . .we got a deal, but not THAT good of a deal.

peyjax, thanks for the review. We convention often, so I don't think the convention crowds will affect us much. I had already read about the smallish beds and rooms. I will just be prepared. I still feel it was our best deal after comparing other hotels in the SW/DC area. Did you have a balcony? I plan on requesting a balcony when we arrive (if available).

 

[peyjax]

Yes we had a balcony, there are more balconies than not so I imagine you will get one. They gave us the side with the pool on it. It was really nice at night to stand out on it and look over the pool and the city. We were on the 12th floor and the elevator was hysterical. It shot straight up as if you were on the first floor. The pool stays open until 11 so you can take advantage of it later in the evening and it really has a different feel. Have fun!