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Hotel Points I made a mistake by picking AMEX as my main card - Marriot isn't for me

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kaykayporty

TF Select
I started off with MRCC in February 2024 and eventually got the Plat Travel in July 2024. Why? Because HDFC is a downer when you have regalia. I wanted a reliable banking partner.

I was naive and didn't know the dynamic pricing of Marriot hotels. Sadly, at the end of this financial year, I'll have 80,000 AMEX points with no way to spend them this year.

I was planning a trip to Hong Kong and looks like the hotels are scarce for the points I have and failed to realise that even the cheaper Marriots demand a premium.

---

For now, I'll sadly have to move to Atlas (And hate myself for having AXIS ) as my primary card so that I can get onboard with Accor. Those hotels like Novotel or Ibis are more in my budget specially for eastern countries.

I'll keep my AMEX for a bonus next year or perhaps grab flights to Hong Kong via Kris Flyer or whoever gives me the best redemption.

-

I love their service and their cards and technology. But sadly, AMEX with Marriot partnership isn't for my trips.

Perhaps one day. But for now, I'll stick to Accor. The only saving grace of Axis is that Atlas is a milestone card. The MRCC drama was too much for me.
 
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Why not get HDFC Marriott Bonvoy if you are looking at Marriott hotels? The annual benefits more than compensate for the relatively small joining fee.
 
kaykayporty said:
I started off with MRCC in February 2024 and eventually got the Plat Travel in July 2024. Why? Because HDFC is a downer when you have regalia. I wanted a reliable banking partner.

I was naive and didn't know the dynamic pricing of Marriot hotels. Sadly, at the end of this financial year, I'll have 80,000 AMEX points with no way to spend them this year.

I was planning a trip to Hong Kong and looks like the hotels are scarce for the points I have and failed to realise that even the cheaper Marriots demand a premium.

---

For now, I'll sadly have to move to Atlas (And hate myself for having AXIS ) as my primary card so that I can get onboard with Accor. Those hotels like Novotel or Ibis are more in my budget specially for eastern countries.

I'll keep my AMEX for a bonus next year or perhaps grab flights to Hong Kong via Kris Flyer or whoever gives me the best redemption.

-

I love their service and their cards and technology. But sadly, AMEX with Marriot partnership isn't for my trips.

Perhaps one day. But for now, I'll stick to Accor. The only saving grace of Axis is that Atlas is a milestone card. The MRCC drama was too much for me.
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No worries. Amex points does not expire. So you can let it be. May be it comes to use one day. Otherwise as you said, can transfer to KrisFlyer and enjoy (Business Class on KrisFlyer miles would be an amazing deal). Good luck 👍
 
mj01 said:
Why not get HDFC Marriott Bonvoy if you are looking at Marriott hotels? The annual benefits more than compensate for the relatively small joining fee.
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I'm explicitly not. Unless I get a really, really good deal.

Which I don't see happening.

The card is for better for folks who regularly stay in hotels and can use it well. I travel once a year internationally.
 
thewittypanda said:
No worries. Amex points does not expire. So you can let it be. May be it comes to use one day. Otherwise as you said, can transfer to KrisFlyer and enjoy (Business Class on KrisFlyer miles would be an amazing deal). Good luck 👍
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Yeah, that's the plan. I'll probably stick with economy or premium economy for Hong Kong.
 
Thanks for your views. You are true that not all hotels are for everyone. If you travel international or national occassionally then accor is always a better choice as it has spectrum of hotels from budget to luxury.
In my opinion, Redemption to airlines is only worth if you travel business class. I accumulated lot of points in vistara and it changed to maharaja club with a result that rewards tickets need more points, thereby devaluating my points. Again to take benefit I need to plan business class that too internationally
 
Yeah.. totally agree

If you fix the destination first for vacation and then search for Marriott hotels there, you will almost never get a good value on MR points. I will be in the range of 0.5 - 0.6 max. I have also experienced same for 3 of my last international vacations. Ended up booking Accor hotels. MB points are lying as it is since last year bonus transfers
 
I am in same situation. Inspired by trifecta stories got MRCC and Travel a year back. Now have 75k points and intentionally holding 4lac milestone till it's year end. But haven't found what to do with points. Best option Marriott is not really for who travel once or twice a year as not necessarily will find a Marriott deal at your location and time. Frequent travellers will get deals some of times. Only saving grace is MR points don't expire. May just wait it out for another year but now feel can close atleast MRCC
 
Card_prof said:
Thanks for your views. You are true that not all hotels are for everyone. If you travel international or national occassionally then accor is always a better choice as it has spectrum of hotels from budget to luxury.
In my opinion, Redemption to airlines is only worth if you travel business class. I accumulated lot of points in vistara and it changed to maharaja club with a result that rewards tickets need more points, thereby devaluating my points. Again to take benefit I need to plan business class that too internationally
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You can do redemption of points for economy as well, However at max you will get 1.5 Rs/point value. Business might give you more value per points, however points requirement also shoots up astronomically which might not be realistic for many to chase. One can rather do a round trip in same points than 1 leg in business & trying to justify that they did great redemption by comparing with revenue rates.
 
Card_prof said:
Thanks for your views. You are true that not all hotels are for everyone. If you travel international or national occassionally then accor is always a better choice as it has spectrum of hotels from budget to luxury.
In my opinion, Redemption to airlines is only worth if you travel business class. I accumulated lot of points in vistara and it changed to maharaja club with a result that rewards tickets need more points, thereby devaluating my points. Again to take benefit I need to plan business class that too internationally
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm sure that certain Marriot properties will work out but that's blind luck.

Or perhaps, I keep accumulating them for one more year and stay in good Marriots in Japan. The point of points is to enjoy them and their luxury.

I also acknowledge that I'm being impatient here.

So, maybe Japan will pay off, but Hong Kong won't. I can collect regardless.
 
sourpai said:
Yeah.. totally agree

If you fix the destination first for vacation and then search for Marriott hotels there, you will almost never get a good value on MR points. I will be in the range of 0.5 - 0.6 max. I have also experienced same for 3 of my last international vacations. Ended up booking Accor hotels. MB points are lying as it is since last year bonus transfers
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While all the marketing around them (by folks here and other platforms) works because some can use their referrals to get them and actually like Luxury hotels.

Those of us who are new are probably not going to have those experiences (with or without referrals) for a few years at least.
 
Indrajeet100 said:
I am in same situation. Inspired by trifecta stories got MRCC and Travel a year back. Now have 75k points and intentionally holding 4lac milestone till it's year end. But haven't found what to do with points. Best option Marriott is not really for who travel once or twice a year as not necessarily will find a Marriott deal at your location and time. Frequent travellers will get deals some of times. Only saving grace is MR points don't expire. May just wait it out for another year but now feel can close atleast MRCC
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Best option Marriott is not really for who travel once or twice a year
Click to expand...

You are absolutely right. Peak season will not see great value which is when we want to enjoy our vacations.

Sadly, I wish someone covered this well. Very few people do, and their posts aren't so visible.
 
Vinay13 said:
I think amex MR are better spent on TAJ. as we get 10k voucher also. I also have atlas i plan to use for accor due to fix price. Marriot is not value thing for me
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The sad part is that Atlas doesn't really have competition. Even DCB is 2:1 now for Accor.
 
nikhilesh71 said:
You can do redemption of points for economy as well, However at max you will get 1.5 Rs/point value. Business might give you more value per points, however points requirement also shoots up astronomically which might not be realistic for many to chase. One can rather do a round trip in same points than 1 leg in business & trying to justify that they did great redemption by comparing with revenue rates.
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1.5 Rs/point is fine with me. Can you educate us more where this is possible? How can we get this?

Can you help with an example for Hong Kong?
 
I agree with your views. I also started on the Trifecta journey earlier this year and I realised this when I started itself because when I did a casual search for good Mariott priorities even in India, the point requirement is quite high. Still, I felt it would suit me as my plan is do a trip every 2 years. I guess the average (non-influencer) Amex holder can achieve only this...
 
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