Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

Marriott Says They Won’t Let Hotels Ignore Suite Upgrade Rules (Crack Down on JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort)

by Gary Leff on January 2, 2019

Jan 02 2019

The JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort published a policy that they would not upgrade Marriott Platinum members to suites despite terms and conditions of the program saying Platinums are entitled to suite upgrades if available.

There are always going to be hotels that are more generous than others with respect to elite benefits. However this wasn’t just a non-compliant hotel, their policy not to comply was explicitly outlined on the Marriott website and in the Marriott app.

One Hilton I Definitely Won’t Eat At and an Airline CEO’s Awesome Phone Number

by Gary Leff on January 1, 2019

Jan 01 2019

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

The Greatest Attempt to Abuse Family Boarding and What Marriott Considers an Elite Breakfast

by Gary Leff on December 31, 2018

Dec 31 2018

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

How to Pick the Hotel Program That’s Best For You

by Gary Leff on December 30, 2018

Dec 30 2018

A lot of members are frustrated with Marriott — for botching the Starwood integration, for failing to deliver on the benefits they promised, and for generally unhelpful customer service. I argued that doesn’t make Hilton better, that Marriott disappoints but shouldn’t surprise — they are the largest and still offer better elite benefits, why would you think they’d be better?

I learned several things making the argument and listening to reader comments and commentary from other blogs.

You Can Still Get Points Back For Marriott Travel Packages

by Gary Leff on December 29, 2018

Dec 29 2018

Yesterday Mark Ostermann wrote that Marriott travel packages can no longer be cancelled for a partial points refund.

I wanted to find out whether that was an(other) unannounced negative change or a(nother) case of wrong information from Marriott customer service. It turns out it was bad information from a customer service representative.

What You Don’t Realize About the Marriott Data Hack: Good Marketing and Bad Breaches Go Hand in Hand

by Gary Leff on December 27, 2018

Dec 27 2018

Good marketing is something that all of us welcome: useful information that connects us with something we actually need or want, and even better information that comes to us right when we want it, to help us make a decision.

When someone says they don’t like marketing what they mean is they don’t like bad marketing. They don’t like receiving information that isn’t relevant to them, that doesn’t speak to them in their language, that isn’t what they’re interested in.

The world is full of bad marketing.

Limited-Time Free Signup for Membership Site That Lets You Find Big Hotel Savings (Airfare, Cars, and Cruises Too)

by Gary Leff on December 27, 2018

Dec 27 2018

Hotel chain Best Price Guarantees are for the most part Best Price Gimmicks, there are so many holes and exclusions that it serves to say that the chain has the best price without having to have the best price.

However you don’t earn points, stay credits, and you’re not supposed to receive elite recognition if you don’t “book direct.” Still if the price is good enough you can buy your won breakfast or even just book the room you’d like to stay in straight away, and still pocket a savings.

How the Free Atlantis Stay Works and 5000 Free Points for a Survey

by Gary Leff on December 27, 2018

Dec 27 2018

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

The Good and Bad of Dining on Planes, in Hotels, and on the Ground

by Gary Leff on December 25, 2018

Dec 25 2018

Here are four dining lessons from the air and from the ground that I learned over the past week: a recommendable restaurant, a good meal on a plane, and a former hotel favorite disappoints.

Hotels

Marriott Says They Won’t Let Hotels Ignore Suite Upgrade Rules (Crack Down on JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort)

One Hilton I Definitely Won’t Eat At and an Airline CEO’s Awesome Phone Number

The Greatest Attempt to Abuse Family Boarding and What Marriott Considers an Elite Breakfast

How to Pick the Hotel Program That’s Best For You

You Can Still Get Points Back For Marriott Travel Packages

What You Don’t Realize About the Marriott Data Hack: Good Marketing and Bad Breaches Go Hand in Hand

Limited-Time Free Signup for Membership Site That Lets You Find Big Hotel Savings (Airfare, Cars, and Cruises Too)

How the Free Atlantis Stay Works and 5000 Free Points for a Survey

The Good and Bad of Dining on Planes, in Hotels, and on the Ground

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About Gary Leff

	Bilt Mastercard® Earn Points Paying Rent (up to 100,000 each year) plus earn 3x at restaurants; 2x on travel; as long as you make at least 5 purchases per month. No annual fee.
	Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months (See rates and fees)
	Citi® / AAdvantage Business^TM World Elite Mastercard® For a limited time, earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening. AAdvantage miles are the currency I've redeemed most.[See rates and fees]