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Last week we reported the latest devaluation in Marriott’s program. Marriott announced new hotel category assignments (which determine the number of points required for a stay): 1,082 properties will move up a category, and only 247 properties will move down.
Previously I’ve compiled lists of the best Category 5 Marriott properties:
Unfortunately, two of the properties on the best in the world list are moving up to category 6; and six of the US properties are moving up to category 6.
Why Category 5 Matters
Marriott provides many opportunities to earn free category 1-5 nights. Their credit cards each offer a free cat 1-5 night per year. They frequently run “Megabonus” promotions in which two stays results in 1 free cat 1-5 night. And, the best value Marriott Travel Package results in a certificate for up to 7 nights in a category 1-5 hotel (see: 12 things you need to know about Marriott Travel Packages).
Book these category 5 hotels by March 5th 2018
What follows are all of the category 5 Marriott hotels from my original posts that will move up to category 6 after March 5th. As long as you book by March 5th, you’ll still get the category 5 award price and can still use your category 5 free night certificates even if the actual stay is much later in the year.
Category 5 Marriott hotels in the US don’t tend to be inspirational properties. But, quite a few look like great choices for a weekend getaway.
New Brunswick Canada
The Algonquin Resort St. Andrews by-the-Sea, Autograph Collection
The best vacation destination category 5 property I could find in North America is in New Brunswick Canada (not far from Maine). This looks like a very nice spot to stay while exploring the area.
Unfortunately this property will move up to Category 6, so book it by March 5th.
Vietnam
JW Phu Quoc
Our own Nick Reyes stayed here early this year and has great things to say about this new resort (see: Marriott Cat 5 Sweet Spot: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa). Unfortunately you’ll have to book by March 5th to use free night certificates or to lock in the current Category 5 award price.
Arizona
California
Florida
This one doesn’t exactly offer a beach getaway, but if you want easy access to shopping and/or to Palm Beach, it might be right for you.
Idaho
Virginia
This could be a great home base for exploring the Washington DC area.
Wrap Up
If you’ve had plans to book any of the above Marriott hotels, book them by March 5th if possible. After that time, you’ll no longer be able to use Category 1-5 free night certificates for these properties.
The good news is that 45 hotels that used to be category 6 will be dropping to category 5, and a few of these look quite interesting. I’ll follow up soon with more information about these:
Courtyard Anaheim Resort/Convention Center
Courtyard Miami at Dolphin Mall
Courtyard Naples
Courtyard Pittsburgh Downtown
Courtyard Pittsburgh Shadyside
Courtyard Sarasota University Park/Lakewood Ranch Area
Fairfield Inn & Suites Anchorage Midtown
Fairfield Inn & Suites Austin South
Fairfield Inn & Suites Brunswick Freeport
Fairfield Inn & Suites Louisville East
Fairfield Inn & Suites Nashville at Opryland
Fairfield Inn & Suites New Buffalo
Fairfield Inn New York Long Island City/Manhattan View
Fairfield Inn Portland Maine Mall
Irvine Marriott
Knoxville Marriott
Long Island Marriott
Norfolk Waterside Marriott
North Charleston Marriott
Phoenix Marriott Mesa
Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel
Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel
Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel
Renaissance Philadelphia Airport Hotel
Residence Inn Bozeman
Residence Inn Denver Downtown
Residence Inn Kingston
Residence Inn Lake Charles
Residence Inn Miami Aventura Mall
Residence Inn New Bedford Dartmouth
Residence Inn Temecula Murrieta
Seattle Marriott Bellevue
SpringHill Suites Lake Charles
SpringHill Suites New York LaGuardia Airport
TownePlace Suites Anaheim Maingate Near Angel Stadium
TownePlace Suites Lake Charles
TownePlace Suites Nashville Airport
JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square
Courtyard Rio de Janeiro Barra da Tijuca
Residence Inn Rio de Janeiro Barra da Tijuca
Bonn Marriott World Conference Hotel
Hotel Nassau Breda, Autograph Collection
The Hague Marriott Hotel
Courtyard Seoul Namdaemun
Courtyard Madrid Princesa
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In fairness Oceanside is the name of the town so can’t really blame the hotel for a misleading name…
True. It’s definitely not the hotel’s fault that the name is misleading. When I wrote “despite the name it is not near the ocean” the purpose wasn’t to complain but to warn readers that it was not near the ocean.
[…] Book these category 5 Marriott hotels before it’s too late […]
[…] post this morning about the Marriott properties to book before the coming devaluation (See: Book these category 5 Marriott hotels before it’s too late) probably has some people reconsidering the value of their Marriott Rewards Premier credit card now […]
Why no Barbados? Cash rates were over $300 when we stayed a few weeks ago. Right across the street from the beach, also handy for public transport.
Thanks, good suggestion.
long beach is good for a pre-cruise stay, but expensive parking and a large homeless population in the area made it look bad on trip advisor reviews.
Yeah, there are very slim pickings in California!
Can we please stop calling these devaluations? Cash rates go up over time. So do award rates. CPP remains the same.
You have to pay more points per stay, it IS a devaluation. Perhaps not to you, but any time you get the same thing for more points, it’s a devaluation for most people.
You know what else you have to pay more of per stay, over time? Cash.
For anyone who measures the value of reward currency against cash (which is pretty much everyone), it is NOT a devaluation.
knoxville marriott should be a cat 3
That bad?
I figured the JW Marriott on Phu Quoc island would be on the hit list. My wife and I are returning in less than a month for our second stay. I booked nine months ago, a couple months after we first visited the resort. No worries, there are plenty of new hotels opening up and many other excellent properties. If you’re and I-C fan, there’s a new one that recently opened up and substantially cheaper.