Received my Marriott Bonus Bucks!

[Cara]

Thanks to whoever posted the thread about the Buick Test drive promotion. I received my $100 Marriott Bonus Bucks in the mail yesterday. We will be using it on our Chicago trip this summer!

Cara

 

[disneysteve]

Didn't know about the test drive deal, but we've used Bonus Bucks several times and they are a great deal. You can buy them on Ebay for about 20 cents on the dollar, so a $100 coupon will run you about $20 thus saving you $80 on your stay. Remember that you can use one coupon for each 2 nites, so if you are staying 6 nites, you can use 3 coupons. That gets you a pretty nice discount.

There are also Bonus Pounds coupons on Ebay. These are an even better deal because of the exchange rate and they work the same way.

 

[georgina]

Thanks for reminding me! I printed out the certificate and never did the test drive. I hope they don't run out of certificates before I get it turned in.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Thanks for reminding me! I printed out the certificate and never did the test drive. I hope they don't run out of certificates before I get it turned in.

Bad news -- this promo was only good for about a ten day period in February. Read the certificate.

 

[DMRick]

I didn't find it to be such a geat deal. Using internet prices, I can get a local Marriott (taking the grands to a hotel overnight for swimming over Spring Break) for $89. Using the bonus bucks, the same hotel is $189 a night and I have to book it for two nights. It's not all the hotels, and I have to book at rack rates and through the phone number given. I figured out fast, it was not a good deal for us.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Didn't know about the test drive deal, but we've used Bonus Bucks several times and they are a great deal. You can buy them on Ebay for about 20 cents on the dollar, so a $100 coupon will run you about $20 thus saving you $80 on your stay. Remember that you can use one coupon for each 2 nites, so if you are staying 6 nites, you can use 3 coupons. That gets you a pretty nice discount.

You had better read the fine print.

First of all the coupons are good only at the high-end hotels; JW Marriott, Marriott, Renaissance and Marriot Vacation Club. They are not valid at Courtyard, Fairfield or any of the Suites.

Second is that the coupon is good for a to night stay. It does not say so on the coupon, but on Marriott's web site where they discuss certain bonuses it specifically states that multiple consecutive reservations count as only one stay.

 

[Cara]

Hmmm. When I called the 1-800 number about my reservation at Renaissance in Chicago (where I already havea $155 per night government rate), I was told I could use the Bonus Bucks even at this rate. I specifically asked, and I was told it did not have to be a rack rate room.

 

[disneysteve]

DMRick - Bonus Bucks coupons can be used regardless of how you book or what rate you are paying. I always book online and have used BB's many times.

Cheshire Figment - You are partially correct. The $100 BB's can be used at the hotels you listed. However, there are also $50 BB's that are good at all Marriott properties including Residence Inn, Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, etc. These sell on Ebay for $10-$15 each. So on a 2-nite stay, you save $35-$40. Still not a bad deal.

As for using multiple coupons on a longer stay, I am absolutely positive that you can. I called Marriott customer service and they read me the Bonus Bucks policy verbatim. I don't have the exact wording, but to paraphrase it says, "It is possible for a customer to use more than one Bonus Bucks coupon if their stay is 4 or more nights. For example, 2 coupons may be redeemed on a 4 night stay. 3 coupons may be redeemed on a 6 night stay, etc." I have also done this myself with no problem.

 

[DMRick]

Thanks Steve..I'll try again, if it's worked for you.

I'm reading mine right now and it says (their capitalizaiton):

Reservation information: Reservations MUST be made in advance by DIREcTLY calling 1 800-899-7235. Recipients should advise the reservations agent that they are using a $100 Bonus Buch Coupon.

It does state that one Bonus Back Coupon is applicable per two night stay. Of course then it goes on to say "cannot be used in conjunction with any other certificate stays and certain discounts".

I called and was only offered the $189 price. I asked if I could book on line and was told no....that I have to be paying rack rate. Maybe I'll try calling back...perhaps it's like calling CRO..and the rules change with the person LOL. I told the person that the coupon says "may be used for all publicly listed and available room rates and packages", and he said, yes, publicly, through this number, and we only offer rack rates. Did you just go ahead and book on line? Then give the cert?
I'll repost after I try again tomorrow.

 

[disneysteve]

Reservation information: Reservations MUST be made in advance by DIREcTLY calling 1 800-899-7235. Recipients should advise the reservations agent that they are using a $100 Bonus Buch Coupon.

I apologize for any confusion. There are apparently different kinds of Bonus Bucks coupons. I do not believe this wording has appeared on any of the ones I've used. I don't currently have any so I can't check. All I know is that I never reserved through that number and have used Bonus Bucks numerous times - most recently last month in Princeton, NJ.

The other possibility is that Marriott has changed the program and these are the new certificates. If that's the case, they are not nearly as useful as they were previously. I'll have to call them and look into this. I was planning to buy some for our vacation this summer. I may not if this is the new policy.

 

[disneysteve]

Ok, I checked and here's the scoop. Apparently, the special reservations number has always been there but is routinely ignored - I never even realized it was there! I have always just booked my reservation online or through the regular phone lines. Then I present the coupon at check-in and it has always been honored. I've searched some online travel forums and the answers are consistent with this information. Everyone's experience seems to be the same. So I say book online. Find the best rate you can. And just present your Bonus Bucks (or Bonus Pounds) coupons at check-in.

 

[DMRick]

I called our local Marriott's and they said they will not take the coupons unless I book through the special phone number. I may end up putting my cert up on eBay, since it's pretty useless to me. First I'm going to see if the Marriott (and hope it's nice) across from Universal is included. That one is a less expensive one, and we'd like to spend a couple days near universal. If not, then eBay, here we come LOL.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

That won't work. The "Marriott" across from Universal is a Fairfield Inn. The Buick coupons are only valid at the full-service hotels. The only full service nearby are the Orlando World Center, the JW Marriott at Grand Lakes and the Downtown Orlando Marriott. There used to be a Marriott at the corner of Sand Lake and I-Drive, but it was reflagged to a Wyndham about five or six years ago.

 

[disneysteve]

This was really bugging me. I called Marriott twice today. They have dedicated numbers for Marriott Rewards Elite members for Reservations and for Customer Service. I called them both and they both told me basically the same thing.

The number listed on the certificate can be used to book your stay but it is not mandatory. You can book online or by calling the regular reservations line. You should be able to use the Bonus Bucks with any regular rate but not with any discounted rate like AAA or AARP. I explained that I have used Bonus Bucks numerous times and never told them at the time of booking that I was using them. I just presented them at check-in. They said it shouldn't be a problem to continue doing it that way. They also said that when calling the special number, you should not only be quoted rack rate. You should be offered any discounts or specials that are available.

DMRick - I would go ahead and book the best rate you find and just present the Bonus Bucks coupon when you check-in. The worst they can do is say no but based on my own experience (and what the 2 Marriott representatives told me), they'll honor the coupon.

 

[DMRick]

We're actually staying with the grands in a comfortsuite (which offers wonderful waffles at their free breakfast) over spring break instead of a Marriott. It's $107 but is very nice. I've called both Marriotts in my area, and they said they would not accept them, unless booked through the online number and at that rate. "That" rate is bookrate.

Even if they would accept it for other rates I find, if I present it when we go to check in, but they won't accept it with AARP or AAA, but just with regular rates, then I'm right back to the begining..paying full price (since the internet rate is the same as the AARP..so I'm betting they wouldn't take that) of $189 a night..not worth it.

Thanks anyway. It doesn't make me happy, and they have lost a customer.

 

[Trixiezzz]

How did you find out about the Test Drive offer in the first place? I'd love to do one of these.

 

[disneysteve]

How did you find out about the Test Drive offer in the first place? I'd love to do one of these.

http://www.buick.com/testdrive/

 

[Trixiezzz]

Thanks

 

[tinkerbell13]

I just got back from a short trip and was able to use my Bonus Bucks with no problem(the Buick ones). We had a friends and family rate and several people in our group with the group rate($99) were able to use theirs too!

 

[MKCP5]

Are the bonus bucks good for anything besides your room charges? We are staying at Marriott Grande Vista in August and I would love some $$ to use at the grocery or restaurant thanks for any info you have!