@nitrov wrote:
@elim wrote:
@nitrov wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Just my 2 cents here... I have been both silver and gold with Marriott rewards and I can't say I was treated much differently. In fact I generally get the gold perks with my silver membership as long as the hotel isn't that busy. It kinda seems like the places we stay are shocked to even see a silver member so we get treated pretty well.
Here's a link to the official benefits to compare: http://www.marriott.com/marriott-rewards/member-benefits.mi
Wow, that's good to know! I went to a Hilton property with a friend of mine who had Platinum or something status and we got treated like royalty. I got HHonors Gold when I had my Amex Platinum and I don't think they could've cared less lol. I wasn't sure if Marriott was similar when it came to silver vs. gold benefits and how they actually treat the guest when they go to check-in to the hotel. I appreciate that! At least if I'm stuck with the Marriott card I know it won't be that bad
+1
I have had nice upgrades with silver. Gold get's you some $10 breakfast vouchers but the RC card is pretty much badass. I'm stocking up on AA GC's for the AF's and don't forget it comes with a lounge club card.
I would just app for RC after you meet the spend on Marriott. Next year you can roll the M limit to the RC after getting both bonuses (or just keep the M card for the $85 cert).
That's pretty much exactly what I plan on doing at this point
no harm in trying out both cards for a year and seeing what I like better. Worst case scenario Marriott easily pays for itself with the free anniversary night, and I'm pretty sure I'll get my money's worth out of Ritz at least for one year. I've never had a metal card either (I know it's kind of silly) but it'd be nice to see how much or little I actually care about having one.
I guess I can do a good ol' Pepsi Challenge and see how Marriott compares with upgrades vs. IHG and maybe even a step further and throw Hilton into the mix if they happen to give me Diamond status on their loyalty match offer I submitted yesterday
I wouldn't say the free night easily pays for itself. I would say it can pay for itself. People really should research first, because the free night is only for cat 1-5 and therefore you need to make sure that there is a property at your destination which will accept the certificate. I have found in some major international cities it can be tough finding hotels that will take the cert, so it is better to research that type of thing in advance. I don't hear that much good about IHG in terms of benefits. There isn't a huge difference between Hilton Gold vs Hilton Diamond. Hilton gold has gotten me slight upgrade from my recollection but nothing amazing. The best perks tend to be access to the lounges which in the US aren't super exciting, but overseas they can be very very nice. The Hong Kong Marriot was excellent and I stayed there as a plat. Status tends to be more useful if you are staying at full-service properties. The problem with that is that is that you are usually paying much more in a room rate to stay at a full service property than you would otherwise be paying with some of their more basic properties. I probably should take my own advice because I'm always getting status with different hotel chains or airlines and I don't even travel that much!
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@nitrov wrote:
@red259 wrote:
@Open123 wrote:If I recall correctly, you log onto your SPG and under profile, there should be an option for Delta Crossover. You enter your skymles number, name, and log-in (?) and it'll sync the account.
While you're at it, mind as well link up Uber too. This way, you earn an SPG point for Uber and 3X during the days when staying at an SPG property.
I'll set it up tomorrow. Delta is not an airline I really use, but I guess you never know when it could come in handy. Starwoods I stay at once in awhile on award stays when there is not a hyatt around, but I like their credit card to earn spg points.
I fly Delta pretty often, but because their loyalty status structure is so complicated (MQS, MQD, MQM), I almost ALWAYS miss getting bumped to a higher status tier by like one silly arbitrary unit of measure for them. It's happened to me 2 years in a row and frustrates me to no end. I would assume the SPG reciprocity would help with getting "general miles," but probably not count as MQMs...would love to be wrong though
I don't like the delta program at all. I avoid investing in it and would rather deal with AA or united. I don't know for certain but I would be shocked if they were counting the miles earned via SPG as MQMs.
@taxi818 wrote:
Well just booked my first rooms on the Marriott card using points. Completely painless. And can't believe for 15k points I got a $250 room.
A category 3 charging $250 where?
@nitrov wrote:
WOW I cannot believe how few of their properties are 1-5. That's very disheartening. I just searched in Chicago and only suburban hotels are below cat 6. Yikes.
Yes, marriott is convenient due to number of locations but for those 1-5 certs your best bet is outside the cities in destinations that are seasonal. For example I redeemed free nights in freeport maine during the summer time. Since that is peak season in that area the prices for the room were quite high for what was an average property. You are not going to be using certs at ultra nice properties that is for sure, but in certain situations you can leverage them. In a pinch I can use mine when visiting family. Doesn't save me a lot, but I come out ahead like $15-$20, so it offsets the AF.