Marriott vs Accor points

[ujjwal2024]

That's so untrue. Have a 3 Nights stay in the coming weeks in a Courtyard for 3 Adults. 33,600 MB Points for 3 Nights worth about $500 (Rs. 42,000) and in a South East Asian Country.

These points were transferred during the 30% Bonus. So effectively, 25,800 MB Points for 3 Nights.

Add to it, I am a MB Platinum. Breakfast & Lounge Access included.

I have booked multiple hotels with a value per point over 1 Re. I still value MB Points @ 50 Paise per point for Reward Rate Calculations though.

I stayed in Accor over the past few trips - Mauritius, Europe, Singapore, Vietnam - Except Sofitel in Vietnam, none came close to giving a good service as per the brand. Stayed with Novotel, Grand Mercure, SO Sofitel, Sofitel. The only key point for all the stays was 2000 Accor Points = 40 Euros. 3 Different Novotels in Europe and pretty much all felt like Bed & Breakfast types of South East Asia. Booked the biggest Suite in Novotel Barcelona City and it was smaller than the upgraded room (Not Suite) that I got in Westin Valencia.

On the other hand, booked 2 Rooms in Westin Powai for 4 Adults. One with HDFC Marriott FNA, One with 15,000 Points. As a Platinum Elite, I am eligible for Breakfast and Lounge access to only one room (2 Adults). Westin went beyond this and gave it complimentary for all 4.

These simple things matter.

There is no doubt that the service in Marriott is far far better than in accor..
I have found that in Novotel, you are getting ignored while in marrioot, you are treated well..

and my personal experience, I think the service in Hyatt is best but there is no membership (through Indian credit card) available and also number of hotel is very very less.

 

[cardio_guy]

One of the best threads about hotel stays. For a newbie or a beginner, this is gold++.

 

[vishalgupta2]

HDFC points can no doubt be a very good resource for non flexible travellers as they would anyway give you 1:1 return always

You have to be careful using HDFC points for hotel as I generally find prices on other OTAs to be significantly lower than HDFC Smartbuy. Airfares are same across Smartbuy and OTAs so it's safer (along with good value) to use HDFC points for air tickets.

 

[drsel]

One of the biggest advantage of Accor is ability to burn points on all other incidentals including food, alcohol, spa etc....

In my previous stay, I was able to enjoy some premium alcohols, exotic food items and spa. All these items at 25-33% discount due to Accor Gold. Bill on these items was almost half of my stay price and all was burned on points. You cannot do this at Marriott (May be you can, but at poor value)

People say that Marriott gives good value if dates are flexible... In my opinion that is a BIG IF. Marriott is not meant for impromptu traveller at all. Plus no breakfast is really a big negative (apart from some exceptions on request)

During my recent stay at Ibis, Bangalore, the beer, cocktail, mocktails & non alcoholic drinks had only 15% discount whereas breakfast lunch and dinner had 50% discount for 2 adults.

 

[drsel]

You should use HDFC points only for buying air tickets on Smart buy

You have to be careful using HDFC points for hotel as I generally find prices on other OTAs to be significantly lower than HDFC Smartbuy. Airfares are same across Smartbuy and OTAs so it's safer (along with good value) to use HDFC points for air tickets.

They have to keep the hotel prices at a high level, because they give 33% return on hotels.
So they have to inflate the prices
use HDFC points only for airtickets on Smartbuy

 

[vishalgupta2]

You should use HDFC

They have to keep the hotel prices at a high level, because they give 33% return on hotels.
So they have to inflate the prices
use HDFC points only for airtickets on Smartbuy

Agreed, that's what I am also saying, Smartbuy is best for Air tickets

For Hotels & Cabs, I generally used MMT vouchers from Smartbuy

 

[drsel]

Agreed, that's what I am also saying, Smartbuy is best for Air tickets

For Hotels & Cabs, I generally used MMT vouchers from Smartbuy

Getting 33% return on MMT vouchers for booking hotels is a good idea but I have lot of Accor points to use.
Can you use MMT vouchers for booking flights?

 

[ujjwal2024]

Getting 33% return on MMT vouchers for booking hotels is a good idea but I have lot of Accor points to use.
Can you use MMT vouchers for booking flights?

does MMT voucher gives 33%?
I think it is 16.5% as it is 5X

 

[ujjwal2024]

Getting 33% return on MMT vouchers for booking hotels is a good idea but I have lot of Accor points to use.
Can you use MMT vouchers for booking flights?

one problem is that if you use gift cards in MMT. you will not get any other discount...
Hence, I do not know how it will be profitable?

 

[Card_prof]

Those are the current rates. When they opened award bookings, it was going for around 20k points a night and was sold out for the whole year in like 12 hours.

one problem is that if you use gift cards in MMT. you will not get any other discount...
Hence, I do not know how it will be profitable?

Using gift card in MMT means no other offer. I used it to but tickets when I get MMT vouchers on discounts of more than 20 percent, otherwise not much of use

 

[vishalgupta2]

I now a days also use MMT vouchers for booking outstation cabs. No other place has any offers there (atleast I don't know of any)

 

[drsel]

Using gift card in MMT means no other offer. I used it to but tickets when I get MMT vouchers on discounts of more than 20 percent, otherwise not much of use

How do you get MMT vouchers at discounts of more than 20%

 

[MrMonkey]

I now a days also use MMT vouchers for booking outstation cabs. No other place has any offers there (atleast I don't know of any)

Are coupon codes not allowed when using MMT vouchers for outstation cabs? For example there's NEWCAB coupon code for new customers

 

[ujjwal2024]

Are coupon codes not allowed when using MMT vouchers for outstation cabs? For example there's NEWCAB coupon code for new customers

No discount coupons are allowed when you use the MMT gift cards

 

[Card_prof]

How do you get MMT vouchers at discounts of more than 20%

Good old days when I bought MMT GV through magnus at 5x etc

 

[Lobogris]

You have to be careful using HDFC points for hotel as I generally find prices on other OTAs to be significantly lower than HDFC Smartbuy. Airfares are same across Smartbuy and OTAs so it's safer (along with good value) to use HDFC points for air tickets.

I have booked dozens of hotels in the past year in India and abroad with Smartbuy. In every single case, the hotel was cheaper (often substantially) on Smartbuy vs. booking.com, MMT, Expedia, Cleartrip etc even without the reward points.

 

[ujjwal2024]

I have booked dozens of hotels in the past year in India and abroad with Smartbuy. In every single case, the hotel was cheaper (often substantially) on Smartbuy vs. booking.com, MMT, Expedia, Cleartrip etc even without the reward points.

Actually the best approach is to check the rates at different websites and book at the lowest rate...there is no single statement about one is always cheaper and costlier...

 

[Card_prof]

Actually the best approach is to check the rates at different websites and book at the lowest rate...there is no single statement about one is always cheaper and costlier...

There is a catch. Sometimes hotels in smartbuy or traveledge may be little bit costlier but if you are holding infinia/dcb or m4b credit card then you will receive reward points 10x or 5x. This year I have stayed more than 150 nights in hotels and I found that most of the time, hotels were cheaper in smartbuy/traveledge portal after factoring in the accelerated reward points

 

[drsel]

There is a catch. Sometimes hotels in smartbuy or traveledge may be little bit costlier but if you are holding infinia/dcb or m4b credit card then you will receive reward points 10x or 5x. hotels were cheaper in smartbuy/traveledge portal after factoring in the accelerated reward points

No, we are talking about the price without factoring in any points

 

[ujjwal2024]

No, we are talking about the price without factoring in any points

Why we will not consider the reward point?
I calculate the final price factoring all the discount and rewards or cashback...