Better late than never, but never late is better – Drake…
When Marriott announced final details of the now combined Starwood Preferred Guest, Marriott Rewards and Ritz Carlton Rewards programs into Marriott Rewards – one gem stood out. For a limited time, that time being the year 2018, the most high end, crazy luxurious properties in the world would be available to book, not at the obscene rates found prior to August 18th, but at standard rates using points. This, in a nutshell, meant virtually anyone could experience one of the world’s best hotels, at least once in their life, as a gesture of goodwill in the new rewards program. August 18th came and passed, the hotels remained un bookable, and people started to panic. Had Marriott reneged? Nope! The hotels are now bookable, but availability will go fast, like really fast…
The Luxury Hotels
LoyaltyLobby points out that the hotels people have long dreamed of booking using points, the $1000+ a night crazy luxury resorts in the Maldives, Bora Bora and beyond are now bookable using points. These properties were never available at reasonable rates prior to now, because they operate on an “all suites” basis, with very few standard rooms. We’re talking hotels like:
St Regis Bora Bora
St Regis Maldives
Le Méridien Bora Bora
Al Maha Dubai
Van Belle Koh Samui
Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah
Al Hamra Beach
Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert
Marriott Points Needed
These hotels are now a mere 60,000 Marriott Points per night, which is nothing short of outstanding. Stay five nights, and the price drops down to 48,000 points per night. These high end hotels previously required 58,000 SPG Points ON SALE, which is the equivalent of more than 150,000 Marriott Rewards Points PER NIGHT. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how good these deals are, especially when you look up cash costs and nearly spit out your coffee!
How To Book
These incredible hotels are now officially bookable online or over the phone. If you haven’t already, combine your Marriott and Starwood accounts (one last time) to get your updated points balances and everything ready to go. If you can, go for five nights to lock in the better rates. As always, you should be able to make the hotel bookings now and earn the points later, which is a great Marriott Rewards trick. Some properties which were previously SPG hotels do not have this functionality yet, according to various reports. Availability is disappearing by the minute, so if you want to lock in a 2018 or 2019 hotel stay before these rates disappear in January, get moving…
Are you jumping on these great points offers?
Featured image courtesy of the St. Regis Maldives.
Cant book anything. I can find reward dates, but then it punts me from marriott.com to spg and then the rewards dont show. fun times.
Also the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach and The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert. All villas with pools in the UAE are also included.
Great additions!!!!