Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is happening now! Follow us as Greg, Nick, and Stephen compete to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines before November 23rd. Who will complete the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
Please find an updated version of this post here: Marriott Platinum Elite Free Breakfast Simplified.
Breakfast Details
The following chart shows my current understanding of the specific breakfast benefit to expect at each brand:
| Hotel Chain | Daily Breakfast Benefit | How to Qualify |
|---|---|---|
| Design Hotels, EDITION, Gaylord, Ritz-Carlton, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Vacation Club | None | N/A |
| AC Hotels, Moxy Hotels outside of U.S., Canada, or Europe | $10 Food & Beverage Credit Per Night | Platinum Elite Welcome Gift choice |
| AC Hotels, Moxy Hotels within U.S., Canada, or Europe | $10 Food & Beverage Credit Per Night for member + 1 guest (e.g. $20 total per night) | Platinum Elite Welcome Gift choice |
| Courtyard | $10 Food & Beverage Credit Per Night for member + 1 guest (e.g. $20 total per night) | Platinum Elite Welcome Gift choice |
| Courtyard w/ lounge Lounge Access (or daily breakfast for 2 if lounge is closed) |
Platinum Elite benefit | |
| JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Delta Hotels, Autograph Collection, and Renaissance Hotels | Hotels (Not Resorts): Lounge Access (or daily breakfast* for 2 if lounge is closed) |
Lounge Access is a Platinum Elite benefit |
| Resorts: Breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1 |
Restaurant breakfast is a Platinum Elite Welcome Gift choice | |
| St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Tribute Portfolio, Four Points, Aloft, Protea Hotels | Breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1 | Platinum Elite Welcome Gift choice |
| Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin | Lounge Access + Breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1 | Lounge Access is a Platinum Elite benefit. Restaurant breakfast is a Platinum Elite Welcome Gift choice |
| Element, Fairfield, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites | Breakfast Buffet | Free for all guests |
* In the U.S. and Canada, when the lounge is closed, you are entitled to continental breakfast for you plus one guest. In Europe, there is no “continental” restriction. It’s unclear what happens outside of the U.S., Canada, and Europe when the lounge is closed. See also the list of properties that are allowed to offer points instead of free breakfast in the “Free Breakfast Exemptions” section of our Marriott Platinum Elite free breakfast guide.
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
[…] keep track of different benefits at different brands/tiers. Marriott’s new breakfast policy requires a chart to figure it out. I value Hilton’s […]
So, am I understanding this correctly that as a Platnium elite, I will NOT be given club access at resorts?
Correct.
How does one obtain lounge access in a resort then?
I should clarify: At Starwood resorts Platinums do get lounge access. At Marriott resorts they get free breakfast but no lounge access. You would have to pay extra for lounge access at Marriott resorts that have lounges.
Thank you. As a random aside, is there an easy way to determine if a hotel even has a lounge?
haha greg. even ur chart is confusing. u need to list out all levels. and clarify Platinum Elite Welcome Gift vs Platinum Elite Benefit. chart makes it look like u get both. also add region data. then add blank cells with TBD items.
[…] Marriott Free Breakfast Simplified by Frequent Miler. Despite FM trying to make this easy, Marriott refuses to make it so. Even though some brands are advertised as having all properties offering free breakfasts, some individual properties are able to opt out. If you need to reference a chart to determine if you get free breakfast, you’re doing something wrong when trying to build brand loyalty. […]
Very helpful chart, thank you!!
[…] Marriott Free Breakfast Simplified by Frequent Miler. Despite FM trying to make this easy, Marriott refuses to make it so. Even though some brands are advertised as having all properties offering free breakfasts, some individual properties are able to opt out. If you need to reference a chart to determine if you get free breakfast, you’re doing something wrong when trying to build brand loyalty. […]
In the existing system, SPG Platinums get both lounge access and a restaurant breakfast (if they choose breakfast as their amenity). I was under the impression that this was continuing in the new unified program.
If so, at most of the SPG brands, you get breakfast at the restaurant, regardless of whether the hotel has a lounge. And at Sheraton, Westin, and Le Meridien hotels you also get access to the lounge (if there is one). At other brands, you typically would get lounge access as well, but it isn’t an official benefit.
Also, are you sure what happens at Marriott, Autograph Collection, etc. when there is no lounge at US locations (as opposed to the lounge being closed), or when the lounge is closed in Europe (as opposed to not having lounges), or at their hotels in other parts of the world? Do you always get a breakfast benefit, if you can’t have breakfast in the lounge? Or are there only limited circumstances where you do?
All of this is instead of points or other item as a welcome amenity, sadly, right? (it’s their way of cutting a little bit of cost)
I think that in hotels with a lounge, the free breakfast in lounge (or in restaurant if lounge is closed) is a benefit that is in addition to a welcome amenity. In hotels without a lounge I think it is a welcome amenity choice.
Greg,
I think when you say breakfast you may need to distinguish between continental breakfast and a full breakfast, as in lounges one get’s a full breakfast of what’s available. But if one uses the restaurant (coz there is no lounge, or lounge closed etc) , normally its continental only with the certificate, and you have to pay extra for the full buffet, or a la carte items.
Sorry to make life even more complicated. See you again in FTU DC
BS If they give me a continental they will get a 1 star rating from me
That would be useful, but impossible to do on a simplified chart. It’s true that the rules only guarantee continental breakfast, but it is up to each hotel to decide what that means. Some will provide full hot breakfast, and others not so much. And some will offer full breakfast for a very small upcharge, and others will charge a lot.
I thought that the free breakfast rules were different for properties in the United States versus those outside of the US. If so, can you please create two versions of the table, or is it as simple as no free breakfast outside of the US at all?
As far as I can tell, the rules are actually the same — or close enough for these purposes. I’ll change the chart if I learn differently.
What about cash or award stays booked by Platinum member for non-Platinum (Gold) spouse? Thanks.
Good to go. Just make sure both of your names are on the rez.
Very ymmv on that. Good chance spouse won’t get any platinum benefits.
Technically, no. You could try booking with your member ID and add a note to the reservation that she will be checking in
I’ve stayed at 2 Courtyards (without lounges) lately (NYC and Munich) where I was told there is no free breakfast at Courtyard, and given vouchers for one free item (a drink or snack) from their “shop” in the lobby. I’m platinum.
This is a new benefit that kicks in when the programs merge in August
Same here!! Very disappointed
What about SpringHill Suites? I believe they should be in the free breakfast for all category
Good catch. I’ll add that one
Bump.
Thanks, added.
So, after 8/1, those resort properties will be required to provide free breakfasts for platinums? I hope so, since almost all nice Marriott beach properties in Thailand currently don’t offer free breakfasts for platinums.
Correct
Is the benefit also on award stays?
Yes