As you’ve probably heard, the Daily Getaways start tomorrow with the best deal of the week: Marriott gift cards are 20% off if you pay with an American Express card. Mommy Points has the scoop here.
I still have gift card credit from prior deals, so I plan to sit this one out, but if you do pickup some, here are some pointers for using Marriott gift cards effectively…
When using Marriott gift cards, you can stack promotions as follows…
- Make sure to sign up for the latest Marriott promotions. Marriott regularly runs MegaBonus promotions. For most people, this means that for every two Marriott stays, you’ll receive a free night certificate for a category 1 through 4 hotel. Some people are offered certificates for a category 1 through 5 hotel. Either way, make sure to sign up!
- If you plan to stay at several Marriott properties within a few months of each other, consider going for their Gold or Platinum challenge. See “Pursuing Platinum @ Marriott.” This way you’ll be treated better as an elite and you’ll earn more points with each stay!
- When booking your stay, make sure to start in a point earning or cash back portal. I use CashBackHolic to find the best option since it consistently delivers the most accurate results (see “Portal finder fight! Round 2“).
- When comparing rates, make sure to look at AAA and other rates you may qualify for. In my experience, stays booked with AAA discounts do still earn portal points / cash, but stays booked on a government rate do not. Your mileage may vary.
- If you have some time on your hands, use Kayak or other aggregators to search for a site that offers a better rate than Marriott does directly. If you find a price discrepancy, you can take advantage of Marriott’s “Look No Further Room Rate Guarantee” to save 25% off the lower rate. Loyalty Traveler offers details here.
- When you check-out of your hotel, don’t forget to pay with your Marriott gift card! Alternatively, ask to pay in advance with the gift card when you check in so that you don’t risk it.
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Definitely not a scam, Andy. Deborah is right. You must be diligent. I got a $1000 card at what I figure to be 1:00:15 pm and then about 8 minutes later was able to grab a $500 card. They didn’t indicate sold out until about 1:20
Was on right at 1pm and scored 4 $100 cards for upcoming trip to Munich. You have to be fast and diligent to get the deals.
Just purchased 2 $500 cards … exactly what I needed. Took a lot of trying to finally get availability (about 10 minutes after they went on sale), but my fast fingers paid off.
this website reaqlly like a scam. i waited by 1pm and when the “buy now” appeared a few minutes later, all GCs are not available. after 2o minutes, $500 and $1000 are sold out.
This is my first time to try to buy from US Travel Association website. It really gives me a terrible impression!!!
QQ…will bluebird get me the AMEX discount?
Vinay: Yep
I will try all denominations. Hope I will get at least one.
i’ve never had an issue getting points/creds while on govt rate.
Will these work at RC properties too?
NYBanker: Yes, the gift cards should work at Ritz-Carlton properties.
mrredskin: I didn’t mean to suggest that you wouldn’t get hotel points or stay credit with the government rate. I know from experience that you do. I meant that if you book the hotel via a points-earning portal, in my experience, you won’t get points from the portal when paying with a government rate.
Yes! I got the $500 card last year and used it all within about 3 months for family travel. I am on a Taste of Gold Challenge right now, hopefully my last 2 stays to complete the Challenge could be paid for with this Gift Card. The official sale time is 1PM Eastern, but I think last year there were some for sale an hour before the official opening? Anyone?
Was thinking about buying some to churn, but not worth the effort and the rate will def change.
@FM #12
Thank you for the link. If I use SPG by American Express credit card, Will I still get the additional 10% off? Thanks for helping.
Marie: Yes, any Amex card will work including the SPG card.
Vincente: Last year (if I remember correctly), they had a special early-bird thing where some packages were offered at noon instead of at 1. They’re not repeating that this year.
@FM
Is Daily Getaways a web site? What is the web address to purchase the gift card? Thank you for helping.
Marie: Yes, Daily Getaways is available through a website. I’ve added the link above and here: https://dailygetaways.ustravel.org/Default.aspx
I always get credit for government as well as AAA rates but then I don’t do anything fancy and book directly on the hotel chain website.
Can the GCs work online, since you mentioned using them during check-in or check-out? Thanks!
Grant: Good point
XW: I assume you mean to ask if you can use the gift cards online to pay for prepaid rates? I believe the answer is no.
@FM,
Thanks for advice on reservation through cash-portal. I will try next week. I have stayed about 400 nights at marriott and have never used portal. If I knew it earlier, I could have earned many refund?!
@XW:
“XW: I assume you mean to ask if you can use the gift cards online to pay for prepaid rates? I believe the answer is no.”
You need a credit card to book online as a guarantee and then you can use GC to pay at check-in or check-out. The restriction is, you can not book pre-paid rate in order to use GC.
You can use GC worldwide. Marriott converts the local currrency into USD to charge on your GC. Last year I stayed at Toronto and I found their conversion rate was very reasonable (no surcharge) — compard to credit card: some cards charge foreign fees plus a above-normal conversion rate. So, at least b/t CAD and USD, using Marriott GC does not hurt you anything.
Andy, many thanks for the reply. That is exactly what I am asking about. Excellent answer!
I bought a $500 Marriott card last year for this promo and still have some balance on it. I’m sitting this one out too.
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Some gift card reseller sites are offering 86% face value for Marriott cards, but don’t count on that lasting long after tomorrow. http://www.giftcardgranny.com/sell-a-gift-card/#marriott
ABC: the gift cards work worldwide