malavkarkar
TF Select
Either take a cab from Delhi airport, or fly from Delhi to Pantnagar and take a cab from there. Gozo Cabs is a good option.
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PSA - Jim Corbett Marriott Resort & Spa Award Bookings are Now Open
- Thread starter malavkarkar
- Start date
- Replies 37
- Views 904
PantNagar is the nearest Airport. Or you can drive from Delhi.
Correct cash payment comes to 140k
With the kind of bookings happening with points, Marriott might increase the redemption points.
Vas2398
TF Buzz
I have 1.2 lakh points got from Amex plat travel and MRCC.
But Marriott didnt provide free breakfast if I stay with points.
My middle class mentality is to have a free heavy breakfast so that we can have little meals later. I usually follow this when staying at Taj or lemon tree etc.
In Marriott,I can get a room free but breakfast and meals are costly and need to spend around 20000 for 3 days for a 3 member family.
Its better to stay in Taj property where there is always breakfast + meal offers.
For example , Taj corbett resort and spa costs 21000 per day with breakfast and a meal(just checked for october). it will be equal to 63000 for 3 days.
if we can use Amex Taj voucher , we will get 60000 voucher for 1.2 lakh points.
Even many Taj resorts provide Evening Tea with snacks for free.
What is the point of getting room for free if you are charged so high for meals?
I think Taj will is same(if not greater) with Marriott in 5 star facilities.
I took Amex only for the purpose of converting them to Marriott points. But never ever I got a good deal to use them.
I got club marriott as well with my HDFC DCB but that is much less useful.
Just my opinion based on my calculations.
But Marriott didnt provide free breakfast if I stay with points.
My middle class mentality is to have a free heavy breakfast so that we can have little meals later. I usually follow this when staying at Taj or lemon tree etc.
In Marriott,I can get a room free but breakfast and meals are costly and need to spend around 20000 for 3 days for a 3 member family.
Its better to stay in Taj property where there is always breakfast + meal offers.
For example , Taj corbett resort and spa costs 21000 per day with breakfast and a meal(just checked for october). it will be equal to 63000 for 3 days.
if we can use Amex Taj voucher , we will get 60000 voucher for 1.2 lakh points.
Even many Taj resorts provide Evening Tea with snacks for free.
What is the point of getting room for free if you are charged so high for meals?
I think Taj will is same(if not greater) with Marriott in 5 star facilities.
I took Amex only for the purpose of converting them to Marriott points. But never ever I got a good deal to use them.
I got club marriott as well with my HDFC DCB but that is much less useful.
Just my opinion based on my calculations.
Attachments
it’s important to have HDFC Mariott Bonvoy if one is into Amex/Mariott these days simply for its silver status. The probability of getting complimentary breakfast increases like anything vis a vis having no status at all especially in properties across Asia pacific. Till recently I used to prefer Taj for this very reason. Used to get direct MAP rates from properties with voucher acceptance. This used to work great since in case of Taj status is not recognized that prominently most of the times vis a vis Mariott hence only option to get the best value is to deal directly with property. Now post pivoting to Mariott have taken up HDFC MB basis existing users feedback.
In your case I would recommend best bang for buck shall be to target at least 5 days of stay to take advantage of 4+1 nights policy. If that’s not possible then try to go for a property whose restaurant accepts EazyDiner (if it’s in India/UAE). Won’t solve the problem fully but to a very good extent.
malavkarkar
TF Select
There's a discrepancy in your calculations.
If you want to stay 3 nights at Taj, it would cost you ₹75k including taxes. This includes breakfast and one meal. So you have to pay additionally for one more meal. Assuming you're using up your ₹10k voucher here, you'll need vouchers for additional ₹65k which would cost you roughly 162k Amex points. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Meanwhile Marriott is offering 5 nights for 120k points. I have a peak season (Nov) booking for 126k points.
Complimentary breakfast actually depends on your status with Marriott. If you're Platinum or above, you get complimentary breakfast along with complimentary lounge access (evening snacks + alcoholic beverages) at Marriott properties, which makes Taj extremely unattractive.
Edit: You have included taxes. However I'm not able to match the rate in your screenshot. I'm seeing ₹26,550 including taxes.
Edit 2: Found the error. Your screenshot includes rate for 1 adult only. When you change this to 2 adults, it becomes ₹26,550 including taxes. And when you include one child, the same room comes to ₹30,090 including taxes.
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Vas2398
TF Buzz
I just gave an example brother. I am not saying Marriott is less or Taj is great.
The convenience of using offers round the year(25% discount or bf+meal offers or 25% shareholder's disc even for 1 IHCL share) and using Amex Taj vouchers are very easy in Taj property.
However in Marriott(without platinum status - ~ 95% of indian Marriott members have only silver status thanks to HDFC marriott card), even for breakfast we have to look at the prices before eating and if we include lunch/dinner as well, then it will be like half of revenue room rate. sorry that is my opinion.
In Taj after I book hotel, atleast I have breakfast and snacks free using which I can manage to spend less money on lunch/dinner.
Not just 5 star, I stayed in multiple 3 or 4 star hotels in many tier-2 cities where I got free breakfast ,
My indian mindset still wants that free when staying in the so called luxury great 5 star hotels by filling the belly full so that I can save on lunch/dinner.
My opinion is Marriott(without Plaitnum status) doesnt suite for Resort properties in India/maldives.
May be in city properties, where we can easily go out and have a normal breakfast it is a good choice.
Even in singapore, Marriott is a very good option as u can just hop on a metro to go and have breakfast on a nearby Mcd or on road side and then continue with travel plan.
malavkarkar
TF Select
I'm a frequent traveler. I hold a very different perspective when it comes to these packages.
You're basically saying that you're okay paying ₹10k extra to include two meals, than paying for it separately. It's more of a psychological thing, and it's always this case because Taj hotels are priced higher than Marriott hotels of equivalent category. I used Taj vouchers earlier this year in Chandigarh, and I also stayed at JW in the same city because I only had vouchers to cover two nights at Taj. JW was like 25% cheaper than Taj and better at the same time.
But coming to half board and full board packages, I avoid these like a plague. This is because these packages always come with limitations, even at places like Maldives and Mauritius. I have visited both (Sheraton Maldives, Le Méridien Mauritus, JW Mauritius which is now being converted to St. Regis) and I've always opted for à la carte. You do get an option to buy these packages even when you book the room using points, it's very similar to the price increment we just saw at Taj Jim Corbett. Buying packages is never a good idea, especially at 5-star resorts. This is because these resorts have multiple restaurants, and every time you choose to visit an upscale restaurant within the hotel, you have to pay extra on top of what you already paid. Plus, drinks packages are always sold separately. Calculate all these expenses and you'll always end up paying more than what you would have paid for for standalone meals. But like I said, it's more of a psychological thing.
When we talk about Jim Corbett, both Taj and Marriott have 3 restaurants and a bar, and the rate you mentioned above will limit you to a single restaurant, after paying ₹10k more in room rate. Breakfast, I can understand, but dinner? Why would anyone want that?
And by the way, I wouldn't call Taj booking process easy. If anything, it's the opposite of easy. Taj doesn't let you book without credit card authorization; Marriott, Hilton, Accor, Hyatt let's you book without credit card authorization. When you want to make an award booking with Taj, that is use Amex vouchers, you have to specifically call or email them and ask them to attach your vouchers to your booking, which can only be redeemed against regular rate and not member rate. No other brand has such complicated procedure or conditions. I book Marriott hotels 11 months out with an expired credit card number on file.
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Vas2398
TF Buzz
I am frequent traveller but I do stay in 3 star hotels when I travel single.
Only when I travel with family (max twice a year on vacation) , I try these 5 star things.
So Taj is very much suitable for me. Till last year May , I was on Epicure membership which gave free nights, multiple discounts and memories for just 25000 a year. Once in Taj Green cove, they upgraded me to a Pool Villa even without asking.
In Coorg, they gave me a 2 Bedroom suite with bonfire as I went along with my sister family. I was shocked to find later that it costs around 90k. This hospitality and warmth might be the reasons I got addicted to their properties.
From last year June, I cant buy that as Epicure price doubled so I am going with these Tata neu or IHCL shareholder discounts offers. I book room+ meals upfront and just keep my checkin/checkout simple.
I will book Marriott when I travel to Singapore as it is the only city which works for me on points.
As you already have platinum status, what you said is right, Marriott works perfectly for you everywhere. For me , no...
malavkarkar
TF Select
Your experience with Taj is completely different than mine because of your status. I'm holding Titanium status with Marriott, and I have had very pleasant experience. Constant upgrades, complimentary breakfast and lounge access, welcome amenities, gifts etc. It's definitely the status that shapes your experience with hotel brands.
My best upgrade so far was at JW Mauritius, where I'd booked the base room for 46k points a night, and I was upgraded to a massive beachfront villa that costs ₹180k a night. Marriott properties, especially the luxury ones are definitely expensive, but that is what I reserve points for, and I can also get the best value out of it that way. Otherwise cash bookings work just fine at budget and premium properties. The program has excellent reward rate too (21% at Titanium level) which works out for me.
I try to single out on a chain because it's easier to maintain a status that way. Reason I picked Marriott was because of its footprint and range of 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star hotels. I travel domestically as well as internationally; roughly 6-7 domestic trips and 3-4 international trips in a year, and 99% of the time Marriott is always an available option. Same goes for Hilton and Accor, both these brands have excellent footprint. Taj as a loyalty program never made sense to me for this reason, it's mostly limited to India only.
If possible can anyone make one good thread on points usage and to extract maximum value of points on hotels and flights, as it will be very beneficial to those who are completely new to this points game..
Vas2398
TF Buzz
I agree. Most of my travel is within India.That may be the reason Taj works for me.
Status wise, I can never get Platinum for me.For some reason, HDFC didnt approve Marriott credit card also. So I will ignore Marriott.
I will try Accor next time as I have lots of edge miles. Planning for Accor Plus & Accor signature as well. Will see.
malavkarkar
TF Select
Actually i am also very new in hotels points part..never used it so if some experienced people will make it will be more beneficial.
