Yesterday Marriott launched its discount on purchased gift cards for Cyber Monday, which has the potential to be a great deal. I’m posting a reminder of this because the offer expires tonight, and I know a lot of people may be considering this promotion but haven’t yet made a purchase.
In this post:
Marriott selling gift cards for 15% off
On Monday, November 30, and Tuesday, December 1, 2020, Marriott is selling gift cards for 15% off (or if you want to look at it differently, Marriott is offering a ~17.6% bonus). Here are some basic things to be aware of:
- The discount applies to electronic gift cards purchased in USD, though the gift cards can be used globally (the exchange rate might be slightly worse than market rates)
- The promotion is only valid for residents of the US and Canada
- You can purchase up to $5,000 worth of gift cards per person per credit card per day
- Gift cards will be delivered electronically within one to 15 business days for order verification
- Gift cards don’t expire
- Only gift cards purchased online are available for 15% off, and not those purchased on-property
- Gift cards can’t be used to pay for a pre-purchased rate
- You won’t be able to use these gift cards at Bulgari, Design Hotels, Ritz-Carlton Residences, and Homes and Villas by Marriott
You can purchase gift cards in the following increments:
- Buy a $50 gift card for $42.50
- Buy a $100 gift card for $85
- Buy a $250 gift card for $212.50
- Buy a $500 gift card for $425
- Buy a $1,000 gift card for $850
For context, we’ve seen Marriott offer promotions on gift cards twice this year up until now:
- In May, Marriott sold gift cards for 20% off
- In July, Marriott sold gift cards for 15% off
Marriott is offering a gift card promotion for Cyber Monday
Should you buy Marriott gift cards at a discount?
If you’re in a position where you have the cash to buy Marriott gift cards at a discount (without causing liquidity issues), I’d consider doing so. The gift cards don’t expire, and getting a 15% discount on gift cards is pretty awesome.
Buying Marriott gift cards with a 15% discount is potentially a great deal
Which credit card should you use for Marriott gift cards?
Buying Marriott gift cards codes as a travel purchase. Based on my valuation of points, personally I would buy gift cards with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, so I could earn 3x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent.
Alternatively you could earn 6x Bonvoy points when paying with Marriott co-brand cards.
Based on my valuation of points, using the Sapphire Reserve gets you a ~5.1% return on that spending, while I value 6x Bonvoy points at a ~4.2% return.
Bottom line
Marriott is selling gift cards for 15% off through this evening (Tuesday), which is potentially a great deal. These gift cards don’t expire and can be used at most Marriott brands globally.
If you’re usually a frequent Marriott guest and have the cash to spend on this, then it’s a great deal, in my opinion. These purchases do code as travel, which means that generally there’s no opportunity cost for your credit card rewards vs. paying for a stay directly at a Marriott property.
Do you plan on buying discounted Marriott gift cards?
Any Marriott Gift Card deals in December 2021?
Word of warning, I had a Marriott hotel clerk steal my Marriott gift card number and then had someone check into a hotel in Miami later that week and drained my account balance. The hotel clerks can look up the amount left on the card when you give it to them. Marriott internal investigations was great, but it took about a month to resolve and give me the funds back.
If you buy Marriott gift cards with co- branded card ( Boundless), its 10 points per dollar , not 6 -valid to the end of the year!
Yes, it is immediate. Within seconds
OK, I have the answer to my question above: Immediate (just bought 2 cards)
Any experiences as to how quickly the eGift card arrives? I have a Marriott stay this weekend.
Does it code as Marriott purchase? Do you think it will get 10x on Marriott/Ritz cards from the ongoing "Earn 10 total points per $1 spent on up to $3,500 in purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy"?
Any luck combining this with Marriot AMEX - Spend $250 or more, get $75 back offer
T&C clearly says - Excludes gift card purchases
Hi Ben,
Can the gift card be used to pay for Seaplane transfer cost in Maldives or that is a prepaid amount?
Pretty good deal since there's a promotion in Canada right now where you can earn 10 Marriott Bonvoy points (5 additional Marriott Bonvoy points for every C$1) with the Canadian Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card :
"Earn five (5) additional Marriott Bonvoy points for every $1 of eligible purchases (less credits and returns) charged on your Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card when charged directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, standalone Marriott Bonvoy retail establishments, and...
Pretty good deal since there's a promotion in Canada right now where you can earn 10 Marriott Bonvoy points (5 additional Marriott Bonvoy points for every C$1) with the Canadian Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card :
"Earn five (5) additional Marriott Bonvoy points for every $1 of eligible purchases (less credits and returns) charged on your Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card when charged directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, standalone Marriott Bonvoy retail establishments, and Marriott branded online stores (including online purchases of Marriott Bonvoy gift cards), that in each case, are owned or managed by Marriott International, Inc. and its affiliates, up to a maximum of 25,000 additional points from November 16, 2020 to January 3, 2021."
Does anyone know if this will count as 10x points for Marriott purchases for those who have the "chase bonus" through the end of the year?
I missed the deadline but will keep an eye out for these in the future thanks for the write up! So to use these cards I just reserve with a cc online then pay with the gift card when I get there? I assume they hold the funds until I check out? I had not thought of using gift cards for hotel stays but it makes sense if i can buy them if they discount them again in the future. We stay at marriotts constantly
I just ran into yet another instance of a hotel refusing to honor/use the gift cards.
This time in the Four Points Sheraton in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The desk Clerk told me they “were not set up for it”. This now marks the fourth time I have been denied using these gift certificates and only one time that they worked (and I had to call the Bonvoy line to get stay credit/nights, twice as...
I just ran into yet another instance of a hotel refusing to honor/use the gift cards.
This time in the Four Points Sheraton in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The desk Clerk told me they “were not set up for it”. This now marks the fourth time I have been denied using these gift certificates and only one time that they worked (and I had to call the Bonvoy line to get stay credit/nights, twice as I was initially denied that).
Honestly, Marriott seems to be a mess with these cards. They are still a good value, as I will eventually burn through them, but frustrating.
I bought some for my last trip in Canada but they would only accept them at par CDN $ value not US$ using them in Canada so I would have lost 40% value. Luckily there is a 60 day money back guarantee if not used so I only lost $40 (still an expensive mistake buying them) as the rate dropped from US to CDN otherwise I would have lost $140
Pretty strange that they are restricting these to US and Canadian residents. Seems like a poor business decision given these residents have less options for international travel, and Bonvoy is missing out on money from European/UK customers like myself.
Would you happen to know that the rate could also be applied to the package rate? cause some of them are pre-paid during booking, do they qualify as pre-paid or not?
Cheers :)
Anyone encounter Captcha errors? I used Chrome and Edge, but to no avail.
It depends on your spending habits with Marriott properties.
I would not suggest to use it overseas due to the poor exchange rates and many international properties are not sure how to process such gift cards
I did get my $300 refund from AMEX but last time you were getting 25% off! It was a MUCH better deal... They were saying that you were getting 20% as JEREMY says above but if you did the math like you do this time, you were getting 25% OFF... Hope they do that again next year!! Good Luck
I bought $4k in gift cards when the 20% sale was going on. Redeemed them all a couple of weeks ago at the Ritz Bal Harbour--were treated just like regular gift cards, earned points just as with any regular stay.
I just want to update my previous post, per SteveH's comment. I had posted that I did not receive points for a stay when I used the gift cards. After a couple weeks, I successfully argued with the Titanium line regarding the points and had them credited (after two separate reps told me they were not eligible). So they were eventually credited.
That being said, I have had two separate locations refuse to allow...
I just want to update my previous post, per SteveH's comment. I had posted that I did not receive points for a stay when I used the gift cards. After a couple weeks, I successfully argued with the Titanium line regarding the points and had them credited (after two separate reps told me they were not eligible). So they were eventually credited.
That being said, I have had two separate locations refuse to allow me to use the gift cards, both Residence Inn's. And to answer questions, no these were not special rate, or pre-pays, and yes I did inform them/request on both check in and check out. Maybe this will get better as more of us attempt to use them, but it appears there is not wide spread understanding of the gift cards among the various Marriott Properties.
Ben - is there a reason when you provide an update to an already written article you cannot remove the previous comments? It’s annoying having to scroll and scroll to see the recent comments.
@ 2 posts above:
"I called the titanium line who fixed the night posting but informed me you WILL NOT receive any points for ANY STAY paid for by the gift card. I didn’t get my welcome points, or anything else because I used the gift card. "
is the bonvoy rep lying again? how can a gift card stay not earning points? I've stayed at Sheraton Taipei under SPG & got the points.
Anyone else have the issue like Jeb above with not receiving points on gift card paid stays? There was some question during the last round of gift cards with whether you would earn points on stays paid with gift cards but I haven't seen a lot of data points on either side.
About one week after purchasing this offer (and after the transaction and points booked on the Marriott credit card), the gift voucher order was cancelled without a reason.
When I called the gift card hotline (operated by a third party), the disinterested agent said it was due to "missing information". Raising a ticket through their website also didn't help as it was left unanswered.
Not sure, but seems to be hit and miss, at least when a promotion is involved.
Sorry that happened to you. I purchased one and have used it for 3 stays so far with no issues. I got all points owed.
I took advantage of this to by 5k in gift cards. I have know attempted to use it twice, first with a residence in who informed me that “they can’t process gift cards and I would have to use my credit card” and second with a Sheraton who applied the gift card appropriately.
However, I didn’t receive a stay, night or points for the Sheraton stay. I called the titanium line who fixed the...
I took advantage of this to by 5k in gift cards. I have know attempted to use it twice, first with a residence in who informed me that “they can’t process gift cards and I would have to use my credit card” and second with a Sheraton who applied the gift card appropriately.
However, I didn’t receive a stay, night or points for the Sheraton stay. I called the titanium line who fixed the night posting but informed me you WILL NOT receive any points for ANY STAY paid for by the gift card. I didn’t get my welcome points, or anything else because I used the gift card. This seriously impacts the benefit of these gift cards. I wouldn’t have bought them had I known this.
I was able to cancel mine, received an email right away but am still waiting on a credit card refund. It’s been 48 hrs.
did anyone get their gc order cancelled?
@Kris, unfortunate. I think people were having pointing it out either posted in this thread or the FB group... but you can still take advantage of the bonus points deal that’s out now.
I purchased a pretty one and that was the problem. The black one was the one with the discount. Wish I had known. I just got thru to customer service and was told that I purchased the wrong one and was not discounted! I was able to cancel my card, but now the promotion is over.
@Kris, did you purchase the “pretty” cards or the black “ugly” one?
I bought a $1000 ecard Saturday and it went thru as $1000 charge on my credit card. I emailed my complaint and have a case # started.
You can use gift cards on prepaid rates, I do it all the time. But it's a workaround I'd rather not post here for Marriott to see. Go to Flyertalk and you can find it.
@Josh. Because we're smart enough to know gift cards don't expire.
Just bought $10k worth of cards! Should be a nice little savings (assuming travel comes back soon).
not suceeding with a non us credit card. Anyone can help?
thank you
@Darlene
You pay $200 for a $250 card. You will see the $50 discount on the page you enter your credit card.
I just went to the site, and I selected the $250 e gift card which has "20% off" next to it. Yet when I went to check out, it showed a subtotal of $250. Does this mean I'll get a gift card for $301.20 or will they actually only charge me $200? I didn't want to press the purchase button without knowing. Could someone who has purchased a gift card please advise.
@miafll
You are right, I've never noticed that before. I hardly cross check points earned with spend as it seems their system is reliable. (Or blogs will pick it up)
@Cynthia
Thank you for your confirmation. I now feel more confident in spreading the purchase into few smaller cards. Your story would be a lot funnier if you had brought coins to pay those $35 since you expect few euros short for the stay. :)
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@Eskimo
For my 6-night stay in Vienna, I used cash+points. I booked 5+ nights so I used points for 4 nights, got 1 night free, and paid for the remaining night with 3 gift cards. Remaining amount owed at checkout after gift cards about $35. I had to laugh quietly to myself; it sounded sort of ridiculous to be checking out of a nice hotel after a wonderful 6 nights and be told...
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@Eskimo
For my 6-night stay in Vienna, I used cash+points. I booked 5+ nights so I used points for 4 nights, got 1 night free, and paid for the remaining night with 3 gift cards. Remaining amount owed at checkout after gift cards about $35. I had to laugh quietly to myself; it sounded sort of ridiculous to be checking out of a nice hotel after a wonderful 6 nights and be told the remaining amount I owe is $35.
Obviously the total for the trip was more than $35 (value of points + gift cards), but it just sounded funny.
I can confirm that the purchase coded for 3x points on my Citi Premier card (so it did qualify as hotel spend).
@Eskimo
Go to transactions screen, the amount of pts earned would show up in 2 to 3 days time.
You do not need to wait for statement close to find out, but do need to wait a couple days from the posted transaction. Some merchants are much quicker than others.
@Anthony
How do you check that between statement cycles for x6? Or did your statement just closed?
I just assume so because part of the $300 credit does post.
I can confirm that I received the Amex Brilliant credit on my gift card purchase.
I purchased a $100 gift card for $80 on Thursday 5/14. The $80 credit posted to my account on 5/15 (but didn't appear online until today 5/16).
I am going to go buy another gift card now use up the full $300 credit.
I can confirm the gift cards count as 6x Marriott spending for American Express (Bonvoy Brilliant) purposes
Anyone else ever got error: “We are temporarily unable to process your payment.?”
@Brandon
Chase Marriott cards count as x6.
CSR counts as travel x3.
AMEX Marriott card not sure but likely x6 can't confirm until statement closes but trigger the $300 credit, hence x6.
Citi Prestige seems to count as hotel x3 but can't confirm until statement closes.
Just ordered 2 min ago. Both order confirmation and eGC details came within 30 sec to email inbox. Lightening fast.
Need to use up the remaining 2020 travel credit on the CSR given travel in the rest of the year is almost nil due to the Pandemic as our travel is 100% leisure.
@Kevin B, Thanks. I just checked the spam folder and my trash folder to see if I accidentally deleted it ... unfortunately nothing.
Check your email spam folders. I received mine the next day.
What is the name of the over the water hotel pictured at the top of this article?
@Tricia Robleto, did you receive it yet? I ordered one on May 14 and haven't received it yet. I also tried calling on the number in the email and getting the same issue as you.
Ridiculous can't get through to a live agent....keeps saying if you liked to hold please press zero does it every 5 seconds. Have to keep pressing 0. Ordered gift card yesterday never got it and can't get support ...lovely!
Can I use these to pay upon arrival for a non-prepaid booking done via Booking.com? The rate is significantly lower that on Marriott website!
@christ Thanks!
Why would anyone be stupid enough right now to buy miles? It will be a blast wearing your mask all vacation long! Airline service is going to go by the way side, no more meals, lower of service, ect, this will also happen to the hotels.
@ChocolateFactory: I bought gift cards last month and got 5x Marriott points (old Chase Visa)
@Lucky
Will these count as Marriott spend on the Amex Business Bonvoy card
I still have the old Amex SPG and miss the Sheraton lounge benefit.
How do Marriott point purchases code? Do they code as "miscellaneous"?
“The gift cards don’t expire, and getting a 25% bonus on gift cards is pretty awesome.”
Where is the 25% bonus. All I see is 20%???
@ Duke2020 -- A 20% discount is the same as a 25% bonus. You're paying $800 for $1,000 worth of gift cards.
@AW
You are confusing Marriott corporate who sells the gift cards, and Marriott properties who accept the gift cards.
Preposterous that they won't let you use it for the advance, non-refundable rate. That means they're still not desperate for cash. Wait a couple months. Short of a vaccine, there's no magic bullet that's going to help the travel industry.
I actually have some question to those who 'successfully' done it before.
Can you pay with more than 1 giftcard per stay?
Since I don't need to carry any physical card. I might consider 20x$50 rather than 1x$1000.
@Sel, D.
I think you misunderstood what is manufacture, this isn't. Unless you know something we don't. ;)
Can you use Marriott gift cards ...using senior rate ?
Great write up Ben. Thank you.
Given the userous hotel rates in Tuscaloosa this fall I'll happily take the 20%.
Manufactured spenders, start your engines!
Does anyone know how this post on your credit card like a hotel charge for the citi prestige ?
Thanks
JR
Will these gift card purchases go towards the spend bonus on the Amex Brilliant?
If we use these GCs to pay for our stay, do we still receive the 10 points (+ any elite bonus points) per dollar spent on nights?
I can confirm that the $300 Amex Bonvoy credit applies towards these gift card purchases. Purchased a $200 gift card on 5/11 for $160. Received a credit for $160 on 5/13.
Has anybody bought and can confirm they got 6x points on their Marriott credit card?
I used Marriott gift cards for part of a stay in Vienna this past December, and my experience was similar to that of @Roland. The exchange rate was similar to the current bank exchange rate. I was quite happy with that.
In practice of actually using them: Having read up before my trip on the use of gift cards internationally, I made sure to inform the front desk upon checking in that I would...
I used Marriott gift cards for part of a stay in Vienna this past December, and my experience was similar to that of @Roland. The exchange rate was similar to the current bank exchange rate. I was quite happy with that.
In practice of actually using them: Having read up before my trip on the use of gift cards internationally, I made sure to inform the front desk upon checking in that I would like to use a couple of gift cards. That was smart, as the clerk was going to need to figure out how to apply gift cards issued in USD to the bill. That gave them the time to do that rather than me bringing it up as I was trying to check out at the end of the week. Check out was a breeze without the added stress for myself or the desk clerk figuring out gift cards last minute.
@Lucky -
Interesting that your contact said the card will earn 6x Marriott points. A month ago I was going to buy a GC with my Bonvoy Amex Card (the $90 one). I was told by both Amex and the people at Marriott that it would not earn the 6x bonus if I paid with the Bonvoy card. Did they change the rules for this promotion?
Also, do you happen to know if I...
@Lucky -
Interesting that your contact said the card will earn 6x Marriott points. A month ago I was going to buy a GC with my Bonvoy Amex Card (the $90 one). I was told by both Amex and the people at Marriott that it would not earn the 6x bonus if I paid with the Bonvoy card. Did they change the rules for this promotion?
Also, do you happen to know if I pay with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, will I earn the 3x bonus on this purchase for "travel"?
And lastly, assuming both cards earn the bonus points, what is more valuable on a $1000 gift card purchase (6000 Bonvoy points or 3000 Chase UR points)?
Thanks,
Briola
My dear friends everywhere:
do not do this!!! Do not buy points, and do not buy gift cards!
Times are changing, and life from now on will be different until the mid 20's, even if you do not want to believe it.
You will not be able to travel internationally this year or next year. I am a respected specialist in the medical field, and I personally believe: there will be no vaccine until 2022/23...
My dear friends everywhere:
do not do this!!! Do not buy points, and do not buy gift cards!
Times are changing, and life from now on will be different until the mid 20's, even if you do not want to believe it.
You will not be able to travel internationally this year or next year. I am a respected specialist in the medical field, and I personally believe: there will be no vaccine until 2022/23 (if at all: the "2019" version of Corona tells you that we were unable to develop a vaccine in all the years before of previous strains!).
I so hope I am wrong, but personally, I cancelled every single reservation until the end of 2021 (as a Bonvoy Titanium and Lufthansa HON, earning status through my activities as a medical professional), because I strongly believe life will NOT be back to normal until sometime around 2025!
All you are doing is giving a credit line to travel business at this point. You might end with nothing in the end, when those companies go down. :-(
Well, I tried to purchase $1000 but my order got cancelled. Trying again today.
Well don’t I feel silly. Thanks Bill G & VA1379. Got a $250 for $200 with my Bonvoy Visa. Gonna get 6x points for that plus my points for the stay. Winner winner.
@Josh
I don't have an answer but do understand your frustration.
The Arrival Plus is really a pain to burn the remaining miles. You need a very precise calculation to maximize this card before cancelling it. (having 500 miles left).
Other 2% cash back card and contactless payment, which defeats the chip & pin benefit make it very hard to justify $89 for this card anymore. There is very few places left on earth...
@Josh
I don't have an answer but do understand your frustration.
The Arrival Plus is really a pain to burn the remaining miles. You need a very precise calculation to maximize this card before cancelling it. (having 500 miles left).
Other 2% cash back card and contactless payment, which defeats the chip & pin benefit make it very hard to justify $89 for this card anymore. There is very few places left on earth that a chip and pin is your only option. Probably only unmanned gas stations in remote areas of the world.
Will this code as travel on the Barclay Arrival Plus?
@Nik - used a USD Marriott gift card in Europe last year. The properties charged me in Euro and the equivalent in USD was deducted from the gift card. For me, exchange rate was close enough.
I have not done much traveling but have been looking into a Marriott Westin that I know serves a wonderful fancy (expensive) dinner buffet at the restaurant on their property. Would I be able to use the gift card towards my bill in the restaurant?
Sorry it's late and my brain is slow- got it now
What am I not understanding? "selling gift cards for 20% off (or if you want to look at it differently, they’re offering a 25% bonus" How am I supposed to look at it different, that part wasn't mentioned. Is it because we would be earning CC points on top of the purchase?
Hello Ben ..
Thank you for your continues efforts ..
my question is Can gift card used to settle promotional discounted rate such as ( AAA rate ) or other Marriott promotional rate Like ( M11 ) .
Thanks .
@Lucky I have AMEX green card and the Bonvoy ($90 fee) card, which one shoud I use?
One warning about marriott gift card if you plan to use them internationally. Marriott gives you a very bad conversion rate to local currency. The difference can be up to 5% difference from the rate you'll get by charging to your credit card in local currency and then using the credit card companies exchange rate
@Kevin B you have to click on browse cards to pick the smaller gift cards because it defaults at showing the $1000 one. The first five black ones go in descending order of dollar amount.
@Kevin B You need to click on the value card you want. The default is $1000 but there are several others to chose from starting at only $50.
it says gift cards will be delivered in 1-7 business days but i got mine in 1-7 seconds
I only bought a $1000 card as wondering if they'll have a better sale later on. What do you think?
Clicked through to buy one for $250, but it only gives an option for $1,000 card for $800. I don’t need that much.
@Ryan any sort of prepaid rate cannot be paid with a gift card. You apply a gift card to your folio at the front desk after you check in. So a gift card can only be used to pay for anything charged to your room, including room rates that are paid at check out.
Hi Ben, as usual what a useful information and thank you.
In the mean time I have a question. Normally Marriott will offer certain "special rate" to a big conference. Will I still be able to use this "gift card" to pay for the room if reservation made by this type of special rate?
Ryan
Hi Ben, as usual what a useful information and thank you.
In the mean time I have a question. Normally Marriott will offer certain "special rate" to a big conference. Will I still be able to use this "gift card" to pay the room if reservation made by this type of special rate?
Ryan
you can just buy groceries for the $300 starting June 1 so really is it worth $150 for a free night, I would say yes.
Saw several q's above about whether Marriott gc's would count towards the bonvoy brilliant credit. Saw too the separate comment that these gc purchases will count "the same as a Marriott stay." Soooo am I off-base in surmising this is an implied answer to the first question. Or is this a don't ask, don't tell sort of thing? Hazard asking the q yet again as I need soon to make a decision to keep or downgrade the Brilliant card....
I used such a gift card in the past. These gift cards can only be applied as a credit to your folio by a hotel front desk after you check in. You cannot use them online or for anything else.
You cannot use the gift cards for MVC maintenance fees, but once you check in to your MVC resort, you can then ask the front desk to apply the gift card to your folio, to pay for anything you change to your room.
@Lucky
The biggest question isn't x6 on Marriott but is it x3 on Citi Prestige or CSR.
Anyone can confirm those yet?
There could be a possibility that Marriott codes it differently but still gives x6 to its own co-branded cards.
Will these card be valid World-Wide? Or only in USD countries? if so probably worse exchange rates?
Charge is pending as “Marriott Gift Cards” so I doubt this will work with the $300 Amex Credit.
If you made a reservation with Points can you use a gift card to pay the fees.
I think the biggest barrier to gift card purchase (aside from an unlikely scenario of Marriott folding) is the "Gift cards can’t be used to pay for a pre-purchased rate" caveat. The prepaid rates are usually 10-20% less than standard rates, diminishing the value of this discount. Anyone come up with a way to get around that?
Thanks, Lucky. I've booked using FH&R for the Ritz Reserve. So I was hoping I could use the gift card when I settle the bill for incidentals.
Good stuff, thx! Would Marriott Vacation Club maintenance fees be included? I’d also like to look over the full T’s & C’s if you could kindly provide a link.
@Nik @Roland ...I am likewise VERY curious how these get processed at international properties. I've personally seen a 12% difference @ a Marriott property in Mexico after they double dipped in the exchanges. First, by "converting from Pesos to USD" (since they publish their rates and everything at the resort is denominated in USD including room rate). Second, they helpfully offer to charge the Peso transaction as USD on their credit card terminal.
...my...
@Nik @Roland ...I am likewise VERY curious how these get processed at international properties. I've personally seen a 12% difference @ a Marriott property in Mexico after they double dipped in the exchanges. First, by "converting from Pesos to USD" (since they publish their rates and everything at the resort is denominated in USD including room rate). Second, they helpfully offer to charge the Peso transaction as USD on their credit card terminal.
...my friend, this is "mexico" we need to convert to Pesos. The USD prices are only there for your reference and convenience.
In a not uncommon scenario like the one I just described you are first trapped by the hotels predatory exchange rate (which I guess you can argue), then the follow-on rape ensues since the gift card is processed in USD with predatory exchange rate back into pesos.
Your 20% off suddenly became 8%...
Ben,
Will it be possible to reach out to your Marriott contact to get a step by step reservation system instruction for the front desk agent on how to redeem the gift card? About half the time i used the gift card, the front desk agent struggled to figure out the command in their system so I was thinking a cheat sheet that i can hand out will be helpful to make the check out experience more smooth.
thanks,
Thats 1.9c per airline mile when purchasing 60k points.
25000 miles for $468
Got a final answer, which is that yes, gift card purchases count for 6x Bonvoy points on Bonvoy credit cards.
@Roland @Nik.... I think these are the key questions for international use. I can see four scenarios how these might work internationally, and I am sure individual international hotels may only allow one or even not even allow their use
1. Charged in local currency (Euros, ect) with a foreign transaction fee?
2. Charged in local currency without a foreign transaction fee (at what rate here is the question, are these visas for example)?
3....
@Roland @Nik.... I think these are the key questions for international use. I can see four scenarios how these might work internationally, and I am sure individual international hotels may only allow one or even not even allow their use
1. Charged in local currency (Euros, ect) with a foreign transaction fee?
2. Charged in local currency without a foreign transaction fee (at what rate here is the question, are these visas for example)?
3. Converted to dollars before used at the hotels rip off rate (similar to the rip off option restaurants will give you to convert to dollars prior to charging).
4. Converted to dollars prior to charging at the hotels discretion at a fair exchange rate.
4 or 2 are pretty much the best options, and I bet 4 most likely what happened on the described Madrid use in these comments.
I used one last year at the Marriott Auditorium in Madrid and the exchange rate was pretty much identical to the spot exchange rate. Different hotels could process in different ways though.
Nik:
I think it works, but Marriott uses their own (disadvantageous) exchange rate.
HA:
You should be able to have a family member purchase and gift you the points. I think.
I tried your link and could not find the t/c-- how do I get to read the t/c?
thanks
Hi Ben,
Thanks for the lovely update. Quick question. If someone has exhausted their 100,000 points purchase limit during the previous 50% bonus sale, will they still be eligible to buy more points during the current 60% bonus sale when it goes live ?
How can I use those cards abroad? (e.g. Europe?) Is there a foreign transaction fee?
Last question: This gift card should work coupled with Virtuoso benefits, FHR benefits (if not a pre paid rate) and FS special partner benefit rates (forget the travel agent name of program) if all are not pre paid?
@ Stags -- That's correct, assuming you're settling payment at the property itself (which is usually the case on these rates).
I have the same question as Dave in regards to the $300 statement credit.
I would only recommend buying and using these cards for hotels that bill in USD otherwise you will be losing value on the hotel in-house exchange rate.
I once tried using a gift card in Rio at JW Marriott and the difference from "bank rate" on xe.com was 12%
Can you ask them to confirm if the gift card purchase would trigger the $300 statement credit on the Amex Brilliant card?
Do those gift card purchases qualify for the 6x points with the Bonvoy Brilliant Amex?
Further update -- a Marriott spokesperson has confirmed to me that purchasing gift cards would qualify for 6x Bonvoy points on co-branded credit cards, so it counts the same as a Marriott stay for those purposes. That's great news.
However, he is checking with the relevant department just to be extra sure, so I'd hold off until I get final confirmation.
Fingers crossed the wife and I can still get the Ritz Reserve in Dorado this summer. Love the place, but it ain't cheap. Will Marriott gift cards work there?
@ DCAFrank -- The terms don't mention Ritz Reserve properties being excluded, so it would appear to me that they would be eligible (though I'm a bit surprised by that, because other non-Bonvoy participating properties are excluded).
Off topic: Ben, do you know what happened to Hilton's availability on WA Maldives?? it literally disappeared on any dates, it makes me wonder if it still worth buying points in any of these programs since they vanished with the best hotels availability...
Booked a Trip to Maldives can I use gift card to pay for seaplane transfer and the taxes and fees ?
Are gift card sales through Marriott - would they be categorized as travel for credit cards?
How do these code? Aka what card should we use.
@ JackG @ steve -- I've asked a Marriott representative that question, and will update this post when I have an answer. :)