Maintaining and gaining hotel status what would you do?

[I love to travel]

Oh so what would you do? I am fully self funded lesuire traveller and for the last few years have averaged 45 nights a year at Marriott hotels - not chasing life time status though . In past years had added a few bonus nights to make up a platinum year. Last year after being injured had to cancel all my stays after 26 nights and therefore will drop to Gold after Feb 28. I value lounge access the most as I now have limited mobility due to the accident. At the end of the day I am buggered.

So do I self fund an extra 4 nights this year at a cost of 1000 USD or status match to Hilton, and easily meet the Diamond criteria? If I go for platinum with Marriott this year there will be no lounge access for the whole year as I literally will make it on the last stay of the year. With Hilton I will get it on the last few stays and still requalify for Marriott gold due to what I have locked in.

My sense is the lounge access for HIlton Diamond is time limited due to their changes late last year so that is prompting my thinking as well

Genuinely asking what would you do in this situation?

 

[serfty]

Status match to Hilton to make use of that while you can.

Then reflect while you are in a hilton lounge on if it is really worth it.

I have had hotel status in various chains of high levels for the last 20 years. About 8 years ago I realised that those that provide relatively "easy" complimentary breakfast have the best cost benifit for me.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

You might just be better off booking hotels under preferred partner programs (e.g. Hilton for Luxury, Marriott Luminous, Accor HERA/Preferred, Shangri La Luxury Circle, Hyatt Prive, etc) through a qualified travel advisor.

Happy to help if needed - just DM me.

 

[kpc]

I got the US Amex Aspire card (read the long thread!) and for an annual fee of US$550, get Hilton Diamond status. You could also get the Amex Marriot equivalent for US$650 annualy I believe.