How does Marriott treat you as an elite?

[Daver6]

What crack are they smoking in North America where lounge access cost a bucket load and you're still expected to pay for drinks. Does anyone actually pay extra for rooms with lounge access or is this just them cheaping out on elites?

 

[drron]

What crack are they smoking in North America where lounge access cost a bucket load and you're still expected to pay for drinks. Does anyone actually pay extra for rooms with lounge access or is this just them cheaping out on elites?

I like the honor bar they often have if lounge is not staffed. I have been in such lounges and noticed not one honest person in the lounge.

 

[dajop]

What crack are they smoking in North America where lounge access cost a bucket load and you're still expected to pay for drinks. Does anyone actually pay extra for rooms with lounge access or is this just them cheaping out on elites?

That's if the lounge is even open, often lounges are not on weekends, or at least Saturday nights.

And I assume you mean US/Canada by North America. Our experience in Mexico City, which is also North America, was vastly different and more like an Australian/Asian/European hotel than US hotel (well at least at HIlton, we didn't stay at a Marriott property with a lounge).

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have been in such lounges and noticed not one honest person in the lounge.

Yes, but I don't want you to give up searching for that honesty..

 

[Kscf]

Property: Ritz carlton Maldives
Status: Titanium
Dates: 18-23 Dec 2022
Booked: Overwater ocean view villa
Rate: 5 night reward booking for 480,000 points
Received: Overwater ocean view villa.

Its a very nice property as its still very new - open for abt 18 months. As it was Christmas period it was booked solid and as is RC is very stingy with upgrades.

It was out first RC stay in 5 years, the last time was in Dec 2017 in RC Dove mountain, Arizona and the stay was outstanding.

They put is in villa 110 and it is on the very quiet side of the island and we loved the location.

I would not book the more expensive lagoon view villa as it is very crowded on that side of the island.

We are not watersports people and we only did light snorkeling from our villa and jet ski (this was the best part as we saw more than 100 dolphins).

We felt for the price we are paying Maldives is definitely overhyped and not really worth it. The room was $5k USD a night which is frankly ridiculous IMO

The food is also overpriced and it was not really that great. We ate italian one night at Loconda and it was just meh, the tuna steak , which came highly recommended was very salty for my taste

One night we took a boat ride to the fari marina village and dined at Arabella which is supposedly very nice, paid $200 for one entree each and one main dish and again it was just meh.

I get that its an island and everything has to be imported but for the prices - the quality and taste was no match.

The surprise was the in room dining which was by far the cheapest and had the best food, both taste wise and portion wise.

There were minor service issues - we went to celebrate my birthday and our 10 year anniversary and they gave us champagne and some cookies when we checked in which was appreciated.

My wife had arranged for a cake to ve delivered at midnight and the butler forgot abt it even after being reminded multiple times. The next morning when we were at breakfast they decorated our room and delivered the cake.

We had not finished eating the cake by evening and housekeeping removed it when they came for turndown.

My wife talked to the manager and he actually offered us a yacht ride to go to the Fari millage marina for our Arabesque dinner and for airport drop off. The yacht ride was very memorable.

The breakfast spread was outstanding, I had maldivian breakfast one morning and frankly it was one of the best dishes I ever had.

All in all a great stay but as I said before its only for one time IMO.

 

[albyd]

Property: JW Marriott Gold Coast
Status: Gold - via Amex
Dates: 22-25 January, 2023
Booked: Corner Junior Suite
Rate: 4 night reward booking for 495,000 points
Received: Corner Junior Suite

Wasn't expecting an upgrade as I'm Gold status as is everyone else toting an Amex so we're hardly rare. I did ask for an upgrade as had nothing to lose and was refused - glad I booked the room I wanted.

Received a welcome letter and some sweet treats when we came back to the room after an outing - was a pleasant surprise since I didn't expect anything as gold.

Resort is nice and pretty close to Surfers. Last stayed at Mirage and it was a bit of a treck from anywhere (and showing its age). Staff reckon resort has been more recently renovated and it shows - looks pretty modern.

The resort was a little inconsistent on breakfast benefit I would get as Gold - turned out they didn't do me many favours as I'd booked "room only". It's a nice room and resort. I don't blame them for charging for everything like wounded bulls during the tail end of school holidays - if they can't make money now, they won't ever make any money.

Overall was a nice place to stay. Had good view of the surrounds from my room. Some pretty "dumpy" places (hope that doesn't come across as too "snobby") especially near the beach. Will likely come back here. Nice man-made lagoon and pool on site and the Wi-Fi worked really well with speedtest showing 188Mb/s symmetrical connection & could use Chromecast to stream movies from my iPhone.

One last thing to consider. Cab ride from OOL to the hotel was $90. Hotel staff tell me that's on the high side. For a bit of fun, I caught the tram from the next block and the connecting bus to OOL and it took a little longer but was $10 with a day ticket and was pretty straight forward - when you get off the tram, you get on the bus on the other side of the platform. I'd recommend considering this option if you're in no particular hurry and circumstances suit - savings are significant. YMMV.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Property: Ritz carlton Maldives
Status: Titanium
Dates: 18-23 Dec 2022
Booked: Overwater ocean view villa
Rate: 5 night reward booking for 480,000 points
Received: Overwater ocean view villa.

.

Appreciate the review from the Maldives. These destination properties are always of interest given the points and cash outlay.

 

[Kscf]

Appreciate the review from the Maldives. These destination properties are always of interest given the points and cash outlay.

The cpp was like 5 but frankly speaking I would not pay $5k for that room.

The Elysian resort in the whitsundays OTOH charges $1500 AUD for all inclusive and had way better food.

The chef really went out of the way for each meal for my wife as she is vegan.

The RC came highly recommended by a good friend of mine who was there a few months ago but I have come to not trust this guy anymore lol

 

[dairyfloss]

Property: Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast
Status: Platinum
Dates: 22-29 Jan 2023
Booked: King Ocean View 1 BR Suite
Rate: Member Flexible Rate (avg. ~$1,000 p/n)
Received: as booked

Highly occupied at this popular, pricey beachfront resort near the end of the summer school holidays for NSW, and over the Australia Day '4-day weekend' for many.

No upgrade was available again (I'm 0 for 3, here!). We were allocated the same suite we've had the last two times. Thankfully a few improvements had been made, with carpets and some painting in common areas on the floor we stayed on, and the A/C must also have been cleaned / conditioned, as it had lost a previously musty smell that we were not looking forward to. Parking under the property was included (usually $20 p/n) as we were staying 7 nights, though I recall last time they also gave that to me as I was a Platinum Elite member. Early check-in not needed. Late check-out was requested for 12:30PM and given without question.

Chose breakfast as my Elite welcome gift, which is a solid saving in this place. That would have been $672 over the week (and that's with a son who eats free). A rather underwhelming amenity of a ~$15 bottle of Tempus Two sparkling, & a white rocky road bar were placed in the room, and remained in situ until we checked out.

Standards and service have not much improved since our last stay in April 2022, and we again had issues with in-room dining, where the kitchen missed an instruction and/or inclusion with every order. These were largely dietary type things, so you'd think they could deal with them better as the kitchen of a 5-star resort. Dishes were credited after complaints, but really, we just want what we ordered, not to get the wrong thing(s) for free. Spent much more time away from the hotel to dine on this stay as a result. Ladybird Bar & Restaurant across the road in Marina Mirage - near the Palazzo Versace - is highly recommended! I'll say though that the breakfast at Terraces is quite good, but also popular, and you'll need to deal with some queuing on arrival and at the hot buffet / egg chef area.

This was my last stay (anywhere) as a Bonvoy Platinum Elite member, after reduced travel and some straying from the chain means I'll drop down to Gold Elite soon, for the first time in 7 years. I don't expect to even make Silver in 2023. I think next time we head to 'the Goldie', we'll do so without any status shackles on, and check out the new Langham Gold Coast, between Surfers and Broadbeach, which also backs right onto the beach, and looks very nice [for a price!].

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[drross]

Property: Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast
Status: Platinum
Dates: 22-29 Jan 2023
Booked: King Ocean View 1 BR Suite
Rate: Member Flexible Rate (avg. ~$1,000 p/n)
Received: as booked

Highly occupied at this popular, pricey beachfront resort near the end of the summer school holidays for NSW, and over the Australia Day '4-day weekend' for many.

No upgrade was available again (I'm 0 for 3, here!). We were allocated the same suite we've had the last two times. Thankfully a few improvements had been made, with carpets and some painting in common areas on the floor we stayed on, and the A/C must also have been cleaned / conditioned, as it had lost a previously musty smell that we were not looking forward to. Parking under the property was included (usually $20 p/n) as we were staying 7 nights, though I recall last time they also gave that to me as I was a Platinum Elite member. Early check-in not needed. Late check-out was requested for 12:30PM and given without question.

Chose breakfast as my Elite welcome gift, which is a solid saving in this place. That would have been $672 over the week (and that's with a son who eats free). A rather underwhelming amenity of a ~$15 bottle of Tempus Two sparkling, & a white rocky road bar were placed in the room, and remained in situ until we checked out.

Standards and service have not much improved since our last stay in April 2022, and we again had issues with in-room dining, where the kitchen missed an instruction and/or inclusion with every order. These were largely dietary type things, so you'd think they could deal with them better as the kitchen of a 5-star resort. Dishes were credited after complaints, but really, we just want what we ordered, not to get the wrong thing(s) for free. Spent much more time away from the hotel to dine on this stay as a result. Ladybird Bar & Restaurant across the road in Marina Mirage - near the Palazzo Versace - is highly recommended! I'll say though that the breakfast at Terraces is quite good, but also popular, and you'll need to deal with some queuing on arrival and at the hot buffet / egg chef area.

This was my last stay (anywhere) as a Bonvoy Platinum Elite member, after reduced travel and some straying from the chain means I'll drop down to Gold Elite soon, for the first time in 7 years. I don't expect to even make Silver in 2023. I think next time we head to 'the Goldie', we'll do so without any status shackles on, and check out the new Langham Gold Coast, between Surfers and Broadbeach, which also backs right onto the beach, and looks very nice [for a price!].

Cheers,
Matt.

Totally agree about Ladybird Matt! Did you try Glass?

 

[dairyfloss]

Totally agree about Ladybird Matt! Did you try Glass?

Not this time, unfortunately. The kids menu options are not really to our boy’s liking, so we might need to wait until he’s a bit more mature in the palate!

I suffered none, however, in having to return to Ladybird another time for their AMAZING eye fillet with truffled bernaise sauce… drooling here just thinking about it! I don’t think we’ve found anything but great dishes there in three visits (two, last week).

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[drross]

Not this time, unfortunately. The kids menu options are not really to our boy’s liking, so we might need to wait until he’s a bit more mature in the palate!

I suffered none, however, in having to return to Ladybird another time for their AMAZING eye fillet with truffled bernaise sauce… drooling here just thinking about it! I don’t think we’ve found anything but great dishes there in three visits (two, last week).

Cheers,
Matt.

So much good food at both places and the staff at each are usually awesome

 

[drron]

I'm not sure I have ever had an upgrade at the Mirage Gold Coast over the last 30 years. Marriott standards I feel are slipping every where. So even though I have LTP I probably won't be staying at one of their properties this year as it stands at the moment.

 

[drross]

I'm not sure I have ever had an upgrade at the Mirage Gold Coast over the last 30 years. Marriott standards I feel are slipping every where. So even though I have LTP I probably won't be staying at one of their properties this year as it stands at the moment.

I’ve been lucky twice in the last 28 years re upgrades. ‘Normal’ room to a condo twice…both times when travelling solo for business/conference. Wife refused to speak to me both times for at least a day each time

 

[drron]

I’ve been lucky twice in the last 28 years re upgrades. ‘Normal’ room to a condo twice…both times when travelling solo for business/conference. Wife refused to speak to me both times for at least a day each time

That makes me feel worse. I'm on the side of your wife.

 

[dairyfloss]

I'm not sure I have ever had an upgrade at the Mirage Gold Coast over the last 30 years. Marriott standards I feel are slipping every where. So even though I have LTP I probably won't be staying at one of their properties this year as it stands at the moment.

Indeed - it’s not good. There’s some exciting new-build Bonvoy options coming to the GC in the next 5 or so years, with StR and RC both opening up there. Save for a great deal, we’ll likely give the chain a miss up there until then, and try out some of the others for a while

Cheers,
Matt

 

[drross]

Indeed - it’s not good. There’s some exciting new-build Bonvoy options coming to the GC in the next 5 or so years, with StR and RC both opening up there. Save for a great deal, we’ll likely give the chain a miss up there until then, and try out some of the others for a while

Cheers,
Matt

Not sure who you try next. was happy with Accor but currently at Pullman brizVegas cbd and it is hopeless re any status recognition

 

[dairyfloss]

Not sure who you try next. was happy with Accor but currently at Pullman brizVegas cbd and it is hopeless re any status recognition

I think Langham GC will be next… then we’ll see. My wife has a soft spot for the Sofitel Broadbeach, but I find their suites are a bit limited. With GC pricing as it is, we’re probably better off just getting our butts back up to Asia more often again!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[albyd]

I recently stayed at the Marriott - it's closer to the action - I found Mirage a bit far from everything - and it's very family friendly with a salt water lagoon and sizeable freshwater pool.

I agree about the Mirage, well past its prime unfortunately.

I'm only gold which I know is quite common and have never had an upgrade regardless of where I've stayed. I usually book the room I want so I'm not hanging for an upgrade to that room.

Did Mirage give you a song and dance about paying by ApplePay? I got that at the Marriott.

 

[dairyfloss]

I recently stayed at the Marriott - it's closer to the action - I found Mirage a bit far from everything - and it's very family friendly with a salt water lagoon and sizeable freshwater pool.

I agree about the Mirage, well past its prime unfortunately.

I'm only gold which I know is quite common and have never had an upgrade regardless of where I've stayed. I usually book the room I want so I'm not hanging for an upgrade to that room.

Did Mirage give you a song and dance about paying by ApplePay? I got that at the Marriott.

Being further from the action of Surfers is one of the reasons we liked the Sheraton Grand Also good to be on the beach, though the JW does have the man made lagoon which is good for kids. I’ve not stayed there since they moved up a tier to JW.

Nothing said about payment methods at the Sheraton. I use ApplePay anyway and haven’t carried a ‘real’ card in years.

Cheers,
Matt.