Just hit Marriott Titanium for the first time

Bonvoy Rewards

Just hit Marriott Titanium status! 🎉🥳 Which I understand basically means… nothing! 🤣 My friends don’t give a shit. My wife don’t give a shit.

Spent $92k this year - why is there not an alternate upper tier spend requirement like the airlines have shifted to (that bypasses the number of flight segments/room nights)? 🤷🏽‍♂️

From the forums, which seem to be super down on Marriott status (infrequent upgrades, limited peak points availability, etc) the biggest perk for me right now seems to be the 75% bonus points on stays. I am about halfway through an international trial so a lot more points to rack up here so guessing I should end up well above 2M points when alls said and done.

Let’s hear your recommendations for the best properties in the world to target to take the family (wife and 2 young kids). I have a lot of making up to do for being away.

in marriottby NYC_123_ABC

184

91%

17d

ImpaledRacoon

Ambassador Elite

17d

Jeez are you basically living at a Ritz? I don't think I've seen that high of spend for that many nights.

NYC_123_ABC

17d

Fair question. My firm prefers that I pay the bill for my team (usually 2-4 of us) to make submitting and reimbursement easier for the client as opposed to each person submitting. So I get the spend/points benefit which is a very nice perk.

DifficultMemory2828

Ambassador Elite

16d

I have to ask but does no one else on the team look for the comps? You have a sweet deal going but I’d ask questions

NYC_123_ABC

16d

No, they don’t ask. But it doesn’t matter - the firm / client gets what they want in the end as they are the ones ultimately paying. I am the team lead and pre-negotiated the rate and agreement with the hotel (5* luxury property). The hotel initially tried to push back and say that they don’t allow Marriott credit for a negotiated corporate discount stay but I pushed hard and they wanted our business :) … and I got really lucky.

BestHRA

16d

Some days you are the bug, other days, you’re the windshield! Nice win 🥰

Plastic_Jaguar_7368

-2

16d

Be careful with this, pretty sure it’s against the terms to get points for rooms you aren’t staying in yourself. Mostly they don’t care but if you are hitting ambassador status with it they might have something to say

getwhirleddotcom

16d

Huh? You are allowed to earn points on qualified spend on up to 3 rooms. You only get elite nights for the room you stay in.

https://help.marriott.com/s/article/Article-22685

Plastic_Jaguar_7368

-4

16d

Yep, cool, and if OP kept under that it’s perfect, just wanted them to be careful enough not to draw the attention of corporate audit and get all their points taken away.

NYC_123_ABC

14d

Yup, got it, and the person who replied is spot on. It’s up to 3 rooms and only elite night credit for the room I’m in.

jayv9779

16d

I know meeting planners that demand the points for the business to show up there. Hotels will break pretty much any rule to get business.

[deleted]

17d

Yeah like what the actual fuck?? Were you buying room service bricks of China White #1 with your stays.

PremierLovaLova

16d

Only the finest touches their nose.

[deleted]

16d

If youre snorting heroin that pure, thats a one way ticket to the sleep of the long night

ImpaledRacoon

Ambassador Elite

17d

Also, if your company allows it, why not get a Bonvoy Amex and get 6 points per $?

NYC_123_ABC

16d

Would it be crazy to get the Bonvoy Amex on top of the Chase Boundless (presuming chase doesn’t quadruple the credit limit)? Can still get the 6x on the lower fee card. This all feels like a sick sick game I’ve gotten myself into.

PrismaticCatbird

Titanium Elite

16d

Absolutely not crazy. I have 4 Marriott cards, all of which pay for themselves, particularly once you factor in the free night certificates.

ImpaledRacoon

Ambassador Elite

16d

Also FYI - for the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant you only get the FNA after the first renewal (so start of 2nd year with card). I just found that out yesterday... quite annoyed about it.

NYC_123_ABC

17d

I actually just nabbed this last week the Boundless for the 6x. I’m not interested in any of the other perks but I only now realized it was no brainer. The downside is that the bill is usually >$15k per stay and Chase stupidly put a low limit on the card (I’m a private client and have excellent credit so now I have to call and argue with them).

TimeToKill-

Titanium Elite

16d

Give it a few months of maxing the card and paying it off multiple times and they will raise the limit for you.

NYC_123_ABC

16d

Thanks. Unfortunately my trial and travel will be done in a few months and the bill will be well over the limit they gave me of $12k. Really annoying, esp because I’m a private client and have savings with them as well, but I’ll call them and see what they will do. If nothing else, I may switch to the Marriott Amex and eat the high fee.

beantowndude

16d

That’s weird, I don’t use Chase Private Client and they gave me a $20k+ limit on all 4 cards I signed up for without even asking.

TimeToKill-

Titanium Elite

16d

The Amex is a better card IMO anyway.

silversulfadiazene

15d

If you have other chase cards already you can take credit from them to increase your cards limit

dine-and-dasha

16d

If you have other personal credit cards with them you can transfer your limit from other cards to this. Most cards have a 1-2k min limit and the $500+ annual fee premium cards have a $5k min limit.

User deleted comment

16d

dine-and-dasha

16d

Are you high?

Milton__Obote

16d

Lmao what

nixhomunculus

Titanium Elite

17d

Maldives. Also, just finish the 20 days for ambassador. You got the spend. Might as well finish the milestones. And you got 7 months to do it.

Jay_LV

16d

This, very much this. I did 10 days STR Maldives and it was incredible. Would probably try to stop at Al Maha on the way if I were OP

whiterock001

Platinum Elite

16d

We’re staying at the RC Maldives at the beginning of July. We’re normally big StR fans (especially the one in Punta Mita), but decided to try the newer of the two. Pretty sure you can’t go wrong either way.

Jay_LV

16d

I love STR Punta Mita as well.

It's basically 6 in 1, half a dozen in the other when it comes to luxury properties in Maldives. The breakfast at STR Maldives is what sold me on it, that and room size. I met a couple there that did 5 days STR then 5 days Ritz and loved both.

getwhirleddotcom

16d

We did the StR Maldives for our honeymoon but I honestly couldn’t see myself being able to do 10 nights in Maldives.

NYC_123_ABC

16d

Yes, 💯. I’m returning for my trial in a couple weeks and will hit Ambassador in June for sure with the bonus offer right now.

NYC_123_ABC

16d

Only thing about Maldives is that it is a looong way to go with two small kids from NYC. But maybe just the wife and I - an excellent suggestion to save my marriage, with all the work travel 😂.

nixhomunculus

Titanium Elite

16d

I hope your marriage can be saved. But if you do have to travel with kids why not do all-inclusive resorts?

NYC_123_ABC

16d

💯% would love to travel somewhere with the kids. Any suggestions for properties from NYC less than 10hrs flight?

I generally don’t love all-inclusives as it often feels like lower quality food, etc, but I’m likely scarred from many trips to the Caribbean.

nixhomunculus

Titanium Elite

16d

Then I can't say much since I am based in Asia and not familiar with the NA market. All the best in finding that nice place.

NYC_123_ABC

16d

I will hit it in June but this is indeed sick sick game they have us in, isn’t it. The moment I hit titanium my first thought was, “okay, how quickly to Ambassador” not “yikes, I need to spend more time with the kids.”

nixhomunculus

Titanium Elite

16d

Gameification.

MyNameIsDan_

17d

Can probably do north island for 5 nights

NYC_123_ABC

17d

Thanks! New to all this so had never even heard of it, but looks incredible.

MyNameIsDan_

17d

If you want more mileage with those points can look into Al Maha & Mandapa. Those two are the best in Marriott portfolio that I’ve personally stayed in (Maldives RC being the next best). Heck you can probably do 5 nights in Al Maha + Mandapa + RC Maldives after a bit more business travel. Just burn it before they devalue again.

whiterock001

Platinum Elite

16d

We’re staying at the RC Maldives in early July, really looking forward to it! That, and QSuites.

MyNameIsDan_

16d

If you have done an overwater villa stay elsewhere already (or don’t care for it), push for a beach villa upgrade, or ask for a lagoon villa! The overwater villas on the ring is a bit of a headache to navigate around (the boardwalk is narrow and only room for 1 person/buggy), and you’ll find yourself relying on buggy to get anywhere. And their beach villas are just very nice with the pristine (albeit not natural) sands.

whiterock001

Platinum Elite

16d

Thanks for the feedback! We’ve never done an overwater villa so we are quite keen to give it a go. I hear you about the boardwalk, i noticed that from watching the videos. Otherwise, I definitely see the allure of the beach villas and why those who have already enjoyed the overwater experience would prefer them.

AS100K

17d

Are you staying at residences? The hell you spend $92k on?!?

sdevil713

16d

Congrats, it's essentially worthless in the US though

Appropriate_Target57

16d

Got upgraded to a 2 bedroom suite at Disney Swan for a week.

ame07d

16d

I’m doing st Regis deer valley for a ski trip. Cash value was $21000 and it was only 500k points.

Mylast5bucks

Platinum Elite

16d

Did the wife kick you out of the house lol

Over-Bedroom265

16d

Congratulations I am a lifetime titanium. They don’t seem to give a crap when it comes to making reservations or when I check into a hotel I’m just another guest. I haven’t traveled international but one of my favorite hotels is the Maui Marriott.

Uliq_Mdiq

I thought lifetime platinum is the max. Is lifetime titanium a thing now?

Over-Bedroom265

It used to be and members are grandfathered in but i was told they not offer new ones any longer!

schwa12

16d

Come on you’re close to ambassador with those nights only 20 more

Correct_Perception64

17d

Do you only stay at Ritz-Carltons’ presidential suites lol??

NYC_123_ABC

16d

What are the best properties to stay at in Hawaii with kids? Would love to take the family there for winter break and cash in points (knowing full well the award night space will prob be blocked off, but one can dream).

larrydeatl

16d

Wailea beach resort

NYC_123_ABC

14d

Looking into this. What about the ritz Carlton Maui?

larrydeatl

14d

If you have family / kids Wailea is the place because of their pools and slides. Vicinity to restaurants like monkey pod. Ritz is not directly on water and not near anything. So it depends if you want something with other resorts nearby and shopping / restaurants. Or something far more remote without other resorts around.

DurianInfinite4173

Ambassador Elite

12d

Currently here at Maui, I second the Wailea Beach Resort, close to the beach and have multiple pools for adults/kids

Bonus: There’s a mini adventure pool with multiple slides which I’m sure kids will enjoy

leprakhaun03

17d

Welcome to the club!!!!

Main-Vacation2007

16d

Lies!

MonyGii

16d

congrats!!

legodego

Titanium Elite

16d

stay 20 more days and hit ambassador!

nclpl

16d

I have 92 nights so far this year (including the bonuses) but $7321 in spend. We are different :-)

eznh

16d

92 / $6634 for me

Mylast5bucks

Platinum Elite

16d

Wow Congrats

Mylast5bucks

Platinum Elite

16d

thats alot of points

gaywhenshesaway

16d

But I appreciate about Marriott's program is I find many more hotels to stay at for free with points based on point tier value. I elevate to titanium status pretty much every year but I certainly don't have the kind of spend level that you do!

My biggest frustration is they don't offer rollover nights for whatever difference you have between tiers like Hilton honors. For example if you hit Platinum status for the year but will not make titanium any nights you stay after 50 really don't benefit you from a tier level standpoint. Sure you still get points and whatnot but they really should give you the option of letting in between status nights roll over to credit towards the next year.

As titanium I've had pretty good success at getting upgrades complimentary almost every time I stay. Very rarely are they not able to accommodate. My only other thing is I do wish they did promotions a little more. Typically it's only q1 and Q3 with a random Target promotion if you're lucky. However the best rates to pay for the one that offered the additional bonus points for stay especially when they get up to 5,000 points. You get significant improvement on the point per dollar value so I use it to maximize

RowdyRodH

16d

Congratulations!

Prestigious_Fruit133

Ambassador Elite

16d

Hey OP - similar situation for me a few years ago. Call the titanium desk they can petition it. At the end of the day, points and nights are a proxy to revenue (obviously), especially at this level.

That being said, I think I did end up using one of those select benefit things to push me across the line and not risk it.

xPervypriest

16d

Congratulations!! I was titanium for 2yrs, just got down graded for not staying enough end of last year and beginning of this year. Hilton did the same to me too smh

shfflzilla

16d

With that spend you could've almost been lifetime Globalist at Hyatt.

ConformChild

Platinum Elite

16d

If you spend $200k with Hyatt, I believe it gives you lifetime globalist. If your company is okay with it, you should try finishing up Hyatt globalist and then coming back to Marriott after 23k every year.

Left-Ad-5191

16d

I hit titanium status a year ago still at Platinum now but it’s. Great achievement congrats use all perks while you can dm me for secrets🤫

Different_Sand8717

16d

Nice man!

kveggie1

-5

16d

Nothing to be proud of. You are spending too many nights away from home.

I hope you can use the points to spend time with your family at a nice resort.

Mrs_Tastic

16d

That's kind of rude. My husband, who is NOT OP, is in a very similar boat to him. He travels frequently, already at Titanium, tons of points and lots of nights away with several more on the horizon. We video chat daily. He plays video games with our son a couple nights a week and only misses bedtime stories if he is working. There are many types of employment that require extensive travel and families all over the world have been navigating it for years.

I think you are misreading OP intent. In my experience, most of the people who travel extensively for work typically are saving up their perks for a family and/or spouse trip. I see OP has responded to some suggestions for luxury stays for his wife and kids to enjoy. It's not pride in being away from his family...it's pride in his Marriott status! What better place to do so than this subreddit?

NYC_123_ABC

16d

It’s a very solid point. In fairness, life calls - huge opportunity to take the lead on a very big case that will hopefully be great for my career (and as a result, family). But yes, look forward to spending more time with them.