Timing Question on Travel Package

jeepie · Nov 27, 2013

I recently redeemed MR points for a Travel Package, and used the airline's frequent flyer points for an upcoming trip. My idea was to use the five night hotel stay next December, which obviously can't be reserved yet. So, the hotel certificate would technically expire before I could use it (only by several weeks). The Marriott rep made me feel comfortable that this wouldn't be a problem, but I wanted to run it by you TUGgers to see if you have any comments or suggestions. Thanks in advance.

dioxide45 · Nov 27, 2013

Never extended a five night certificate, but I have never had a problem extending a seven night one. It usually helps if you have a confirmed rewards reservation to attach it to at the same time as requesting the extension.

Mr. Vker · Nov 27, 2013

Extended them often. Keep in mind, they are extended for a year from the time yo request the extension. It's not a year tacked on to the original expiration.

BocaBoy · Nov 28, 2013

Easy to extend a 5-night certificate, but it does not happen automatically. You have to call and request the extension, which will be for one year from the date of the request. You do not need to have a hotel reservation to attach it to when you request the extension. I almost never do, and I have done this type of extension at least two or three times.

MALC9990 · Nov 28, 2013

Whenever I have exchanged MRPs for a travel package, I have had to make a hotel reservation at the same time. So I assume that to detach the hotel cert from the reservation, I would first have to cancel the hotel reservation and then subsequently I could call to extend the cert that had been put back in my MR account.

dioxide45 · Nov 28, 2013

BocaBoy said:
Easy to extend a 5-night certificate, but it does not happen automatically. You have to call and request the extension, which will be for one year from the date of the request. You do not need to have a hotel reservation to attach it to when you request the extension. I almost never do, and I have done this type of extension at least two or three times.

MALC9990 said:
Whenever I have exchanged MRPs for a travel package, I have had to make a hotel reservation at the same time. So I assume that to detach the hotel cert from the reservation, I would first have to cancel the hotel reservation and then subsequently I could call to extend the cert that had been put back in my MR account.

A lot will depend on the rep you get I suppose. So while you don't need a hotel reservation to use a travel package or extend one, there are some reps out there that will require you to have a reservation to do so. I have had this issue in the past. It is easy enough to cancel the reservation that fighting them on it is not worth the trouble.

Big Matt · Nov 28, 2013

I've done it with a five night one and I did reserve a five night stay with the flights (making it a 12 night trip). I had an exchange into Ko Olina for the last 7 nights. I ended up finding a good deal on a condo rental in Maui for the first five nights and just cancelled the five night certificate. I ended up extending it for a year and a half with the final stay (last March) being two and a half years from when I first got it.

bazzap · Nov 28, 2013

That is interesting Malcolm and as Dioxide says it probably does depend on the rep you get.
We have always found Marriott very flexible with the Travel packages.
Most times we have not made the hotel reservations until later, sometimes much later.
We have extended for a year several times.
We have also confirmed that we only need to make the reservation within the year, but the dates we reserve can be up to another year later.
We have also confirmed that we can upgrade from Category 5 to Category 6 hotels for 15000 MR points.

jeepie · Nov 28, 2013

Thanks everyone...very informative. I do have a follow up question. I know which hotel we want, and will be hoping for an ocean front or at least ocean view room. I have Platinum status, but I expect my room certificate will be for a basic room, correct? So, do you recommend I just see what they offer when I arrive, and if desired, I offer MR points or cash to upgrade? Appreciate the help!

Big Matt · Nov 28, 2013

I've had experience with this also. Depending on what resort you are staying at will play into it a lot. Call the resort ahead of making the reservation and ask them whether they think they will upgrade you. Of course they can't promise anything, but they will give you a good indication. I've see lots of view upgrades in places where the view isn't that big of a deal and not so much where it makes the room worth a lot more.

dioxide45 · Nov 28, 2013

jeepie said:
Thanks everyone...very informative. I do have a follow up question. I know which hotel we want, and will be hoping for an ocean front or at least ocean view room. I have Platinum status, but I expect my room certificate will be for a basic room, correct? So, do you recommend I just see what they offer when I arrive, and if desired, I offer MR points or cash to upgrade? Appreciate the help!

Yes, a reward points reservation with a hotel certificate will be for a standard room. Nothing special. I don't know if you can pay additional points to upgrade it or not. Best thing would be to hope for an upgrade at checkin based on your status.

pwrshift · Nov 29, 2013

dioxide45 said:
Yes, a reward points reservation with a hotel certificate will be for a standard room. Nothing special. I don't know if you can pay additional points to upgrade it or not. Best thing would be to hope for an upgrade at checkin based on your status.

I think technically you are correct, but as a platinum MR Elite I always book the lowest rate (usually senior) and have always been upgraded to concierge floor with lounge access...quite an difference if you look at published rates. Although it hasn't happened to me i anve often heard of platinum upgrades to suites.

Brian

pacheco18 · Nov 29, 2013

pwrshift said:
I think technically you are correct, but as a platinum MR Elite I always book the lowest rate (usually senior) and have always been upgraded to concierge floor with lounge access...quite an difference if you look at published rates. Although it hasn't happened to me i anve often heard of platinum upgrades to suites.

Brian

I was upgraded as a Platinum to a suite once -- in Orlando at the Renaissance. It was the weekend I FIRST reached Platinum status. Nice touch.

I am almost always upgraded no matter where I go -- minimum to a Concierge Level room. Often to a better view where view is relevant. Only exception might be a Courtyard where I stay overnight before an international flight and it doesn't matter in that situation.

Whoever posted that you have to book the hotel when you book the package is not correct. The hotel part of the "package" can sit in your account until you are ready to book. I often book the package to get the airline miles immediately and wait to figure out how to use the hotel stay.

Extending the hotel stay is not a problem. I am lucky that I have had the same great VOA for years and he takes care of those things for me.

BocaBoy · Nov 29, 2013

dioxide45 said:
Yes, a reward points reservation with a hotel certificate will be for a standard room. Nothing special. I don't know if you can pay additional points to upgrade it or not. Best thing would be to hope for an upgrade at checkin based on your status.

You can sometimes use points to upgrade, but I think only if that upgraded choice s available on marriott.com as an available rate. I used to do this, but now as a Platinum Elite I rely on my status upgrades, which are now much more frequent than a few years ago. I have a 100% upgrade record at the Wailea Marriott, which has been great.

jeepie · Nov 29, 2013

Wailea Marriott

BocaBoy said:
...now as a Platinum Elite I rely on my status upgrades, which are now much more frequent than a few years ago. I have a 100% upgrade record at the Wailea Marriott, which has been great.

Coincidentally, this is where we'll be staying, after our stay at MOC. Sounds like we will have a good result. Thanks.

BocaBoy · Nov 30, 2013

jeepie said:
Coincidentally, this is where we'll be staying, after our stay at MOC. Sounds like we will have a good result. Thanks.

Unless they are sold out you should get an upgrade with at least a partial ocean view and likely a somewhat larger room. I really enjoy that resort. Good luck and enjoy.

cp73 · Nov 30, 2013

jeepie said:
My idea was to use the five night hotel stay next December

I thought there are only 7 day travel packages, hotel, air, and car. I looked on the Marriott site and still only see 7 days. Did I miss it or what type of reward are you referring to?

thanks

dioxide45 · Nov 30, 2013

cp73 said:
I thought there are only 7 day travel packages, hotel, air, and car. I looked on the Marriott site and still only see 7 days. Did I miss it or what type of reward are you referring to?

thanks

The five night packages are only available to MVCI owners. The information on these are on the my-vacationclub.com website. There is a small points premium to be paid for these packages over the 7 night packages.

Fasttr · Nov 30, 2013

cp73 said:
I thought there are only 7 day travel packages, hotel, air, and car. I looked on the Marriott site and still only see 7 days. Did I miss it or what type of reward are you referring to?

thanks

There are 5 day packages you can get via MVC.

Here is the link....you have to sign in to my-vacationclub.com to get there.

https://www.my-vacationclub.com/marriottrewards/default.jsp

Mr. Vker · Nov 30, 2013

One thing to be cautious about is canceling a reservation with a travel package certificate attached. Sometimes it goes smooth and the certificate returns to my account as an unused certificate. A few times, the (very depressed) point value of the hotel portion was redeposited to my account. I have had to call to convert back to a certificate. MR had to do this-not reservations. They were always helpful and got it done. I just make sure it happens properly now.

Big Matt · Nov 30, 2013

What happened to you should only happen if you ask them to put the points back into your account (not the certificate).

Mr. Vker said:
One thing to be cautious about is canceling a reservation with a travel package certificate attached. Sometimes it goes smooth and the certificate returns to my account as an unused certificate. A few times, the (very depressed) point value of the hotel portion was redeposited to my account. I have had to call to convert back to a certificate. MR had to do this-not reservations. They were always helpful and got it done. I just make sure it happens properly now.

BocaBoy · Nov 30, 2013

Big Matt said:
What happened to you should only happen if you ask them to put the points back into your account (not the certificate).

There are a lot of bumps in the procedures when redeeming a travel package, and especially when changing a travel package reservation. You have to watch the details very carefully. They don't have a smooth system for these, which I think is why we can't book them online.

Mr. Vker · Nov 30, 2013

Big Matt said:
What happened to you should only happen if you ask them to put the points back into your account (not the certificate).

Definitely asked for the certificate to be returned. Honestly it depends on the rep and I am calling the plat line. As Bocaboy says.lots of bumps to watch for. I am very clear. I would never want the points back vs a cat 8 five night certificate.

radmoo · Nov 30, 2013

Does anyone know if they are still offering 10% United mileage bonus for package redemption?

dioxide45 · Nov 30, 2013

radmoo said:
Does anyone know if they are still offering 10% United mileage bonus for package redemption?

Yes, but I don't think this applies to the five night packages. Just the 7 night ones. There is a special grid for this package when you look up the 7 night packages on Marriott.com.

Timing Question on Travel Package

jeepie

dioxide45

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Mr. Vker

BocaBoy

MALC9990

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Big Matt

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bazzap

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jeepie

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pacheco18

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Fasttr

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Mr. Vker

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