Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is almost done! The last two weeks Greg, Nick, and Stephen competed to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines. But who completed the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
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 (make sure to register!). 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).
I previously posted the best places to use your 7 night travel package certificates: Top 5 Cat 5 Marriotts in the World (even if you read this before, check it out again since I’ve added a 6th property to the top 5 list).
The international top 5 (now 6) list is great, but what if you need to use up free night certificates closer to home? Are there any category 5 Marriotts in the United States worth traveling to? Personally, I don’t find any of them compelling enough to want to stay for 7 nights, but if you have one or more individual free nights from the Marriott credit cards or Megabonus promos, I found quite a few that could make for a nice weekend getaway.
I scoured through Marriott’s list of category 5 properties in the US (found here) to find the gems that were highly rated. My goal was to find hotels that appear to well located for a weekend getaway. My secondary goal was to find the properties that represented good value for your points or free night certificates, so I removed hotels that typically charge less than $150 per night. Next, based on reviews, location, and appearance, I picked the ones I consider to be the best. Note that I have yet to visit most of these, so this collection is based entirely on internet research…
Sorted by state, here we go…
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
This one gets excellent reviews and appears to be in a good location for exploring Hot Springs.
California
Georgia
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
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
North Carolina
This one has all-suites and offers a rooftop bar in downtown Raleigh. Yes please.
Texas
Virginia
This could be a great home base for exploring the Washington DC area.
Washington
Spokane Washington has three (three!) category 5 autograph collection hotels. They all get great reviews. I picked one somewhat randomly. You can find all three here.
Wisconsin
Reader Input
If you have any experience with the category 5 hotels listed here or with any I missed, please comment below! Thank you!
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We used ours at the Renaissance in downtown Detroit. We were upgraded to an amazing room with lounge access where we enjoyed breakfast and snacks. It is a good location for nearly every sports venue in town. They also had a better military rate than what was published available for our other nights.
[…] a little more per mile and make use of the 7-night cert at one of the best places in the world or within the US. But it’s not for me. It’s fun to think about, but I’ll probably sit this one […]
The Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin TN is a nicely renovated brand new hotel. You should add this. We are going to stay there for New Year’s.
I used mine recently at the Courtyard Keeneland in Lexington KY. It’s nice for a courtyard and the best of the Cat 5s in Lexington/Louisville.
Also plan to use one soon at the SHS near the Newark Airport for a cruise. Pretty good exchange considering how expensive NYC area hotels are.
I think CY’s treatment of MR Plat is getting better. I’ve been upgraded twice now in Memphis at CY to a suite without asking. Used to be that never happened.
I just used mine at the Marriott St. Louis Grand. It’s a cat 5, full service Marriott right downtown St. Louis. The staff were fantastic, breakfast buffet well stocked, and in a good location to visit the Arch.
Off the top of my head:
-Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel in Mobile, AL => not as lavish as the nearby Battle House (used to be cat5 also), but respectable.
-Renaissance St. Augustine Resort
I’ll second both of these choices. Stayed at both last year. Mobile was more enjoyable than I expected.
Thanks! Added Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel
The Marriott Warsaw (Poland) downtown is quite delightful, especially if you have status there.
Go Heels! Heading to Chapel Hill this weekend to visit son, staying at the relatively new Hilton Curio. Posted rates $597, but using weekend certificate.
First, putting any Courtyard on that list is wrong. They do not treat Gold or Platinum well.
In my experience you can have a nice stay even if you don’t get free breakfast.
Madison, WI AC Hotel. 6 months old built from scratch. Fabulous location. Arguably the best hotel in the state.
Thanks! I plan to add that one!
Has anyone had any luck in getting their annual free cat 1-5 night exchanged for points instead? Having a hard time using mine right now and it expires in March.
You might have luck asking for an extension but not points.
“Hotels I liked because of the pictures”. Greg, have you visited one these?
I’ve only visited the two in Michigan. I listed the inclusion criteria in the post. It would take decades to compile a list like this if visiting them was a requirement.
Residence Inn at Oceanside, CA is near the beach, close to LegoLand, good shopping and dining. Cannot beat the Southern California beach hotel
Thanks, added
Courtyard downtown Memphis. It is fairly nice but the location is really good. It is right on the Main Street Trolley and across from Court Square Park. If you are in Memphis for the night life, it is located in the heart of it. I think it is 4 or 5 blocks to Beale Street. I don’t suggest drinks at The Bistro Bar, though. I about spit my wine out, when paying, as it was $17.50 for a glass of wine – I know a bottle of that wine costs about $11! The patio is really nice, right on Main Street. We used a free night certificate here, the rooms were running about $230 when we stayed.
Thanks, I’ll take a look at that one too!
How can you recommend a hotel that
1) opened like a week ago, and
2) sucks
specifically the AC Hotel Atlanta Buckhead at Phipps Plaza
technically i’m exaggerating since it’s been open around a year, but it shouldn’t have opened when it did. Elevators and escalators not working, staff completely untrained and “Green” (no experience), extremely high volume music everywhere, motion sensors for lights don’t function properly, only 5 or 6 story hotel on one of the noisiest/busy/traffic corners in Buckhead, no breakfast for elites (AC Hotel).
In short, it’s not a very good hotel, unless you love shopping at Phipps Mall (since you just have to walk across the parking lot). Of the 56 Category 4-5 hotels in GA, this is the best? There’s 4 others I’d prefer to stay at in the ATL area. Even the Atlanta Airport Marriott is better.
Steve,
I based it on positive Trip Advisor reviews and a sense that Buckhead is a desirable area to visit (truthfully, I haven’t spent much time in Atlanta in many years so I could be waaaay off). I’d love to hear suggestions for better options
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlap-atlanta-airport-marriott/
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlpc-atlanta-marriott-perimeter-center/ (If I need a staycation, I typically stay here because it’s convenient, quiet, and near shopping/dining at perimeter mall)
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlrb-renaissance-atlanta-waverly-hotel-and-convention-center/
if I wanted to stay in buckhead (I don’t since it’s mostly shopping and business – the era of Buckhead for social life is over), i’d pick this one http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlcb-courtyard-atlanta-buckhead/
It’s more centrally located to restaurants and shopping. the AC hotel is on the Northside which is good for a mall and Target.
If you want nightlife (and better dining than Buckhead, or if you want to goto anything Downtown) http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlmt-residence-inn-atlanta-midtown-georgia-tech/
If you want to go downtown, this AC Hotel is great (I spent a night there after my wedding). Has a rooftop bar that overlooks Centennial Olympic park, short walk to everything downtown.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlar-ac-hotel-atlanta-downtown/
I’d pick all those over AC Buckhead
Thanks Steve. Better late than never, I updated the post. Picked the AC downtown from your recommendations