If youre a frequent business traveler considering Ambassador status, youll want to compare it to other high-end hotel elite levels. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. The Business Platinum Card from American Express. Platinum Elite members also get an annual one-time Choice Benefit upon qualification. The following Marriott brands dont offer elite members complimentary breakfast: Its really a shame that some of Marriotts highest-end brands choose not to offer elite members breakfast. Why do they even call themselves a Marriott? What's the advantage beyond points? I still enjoy the stay overall but theres this residual level of annoyance and frustration that overshadows the stay. The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. The execution of that is highly variable, though, with some hotels offering access to an amazing breakfast buffet without paying a dime, while other hotels offer a cup of coffee and a muffin. It gives you a flexible 24-hour check-in and check-out window, which lets you avoid the hassle of arriving too early. Cologne Marriott Hotel is located in Cologne, Germany's city center, just minutes walking distance from the train station and the Old Town. Learn more: Which Marriott Bonvoy card should I choose? Currently at Westin in Seattle. If you want to feel like you're sleeping in a Marriott even at home, you can select a 40% off coupon for a Marriott mattress as your Annual Choice Benefit. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. NerdWallet's . Marriott isn't just the largest hotel company in terms of the total number of properties it operates; it also has over 30 different brands across its portfolio, ranging from classic luxury to affordable, extended stay properties. You'll almost certainly still be able to get some type of breakfast at those hotels, but there are some exceptions. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. Check here before booking an award fare. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. Previously, he managed the content and social media teams for NBC Sports in Portland for eight years. Review: The Woodward Hotel Geneva, Oetker Collection. Related: Get free breakfast, upgrades and more with the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program. Still, Sheraton, Westin and Le Mridien properties offer breakfast in the restaurant as a welcome amenity, so you're covered even if the lounge isn't open during your stay. Here are our picks for the. It wasnt too tough to decide between $260 worth of breakfast or $7 worth of points. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Sign up today for free. Where the legal guardian or parent enjoys a breakfast buffet covered in the room rate, such legal guardian or parent will be able to enjoy . Lesser-known Marriott Bonvoy perks explained. Read more. We've seen countless stories of hotels playing games with elite breakfast. Additionally, some properties have lounges that aren't open seven days a week and there are a handful of exceptions in certain regions and at individual properties. Sam Kemmis is a travel rewards expert at NerdWallet specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs. With executive lounge access, youll also get complimentary continental breakfast in the lounge. Renaissance Washington, D.C. Stay 10 Nights in a Year to Unlock Silver Elite Status With Marriott Bonvoy. For example, to earn lifetime Gold status, you need 400 total nights and seven years of Gold status. Unfortunately that doesn't mean eligible elite members can expect a full breakfast at every Marriott hotel. While breakfast is only one of many factors that goes into a good hotel experience, I personally find myself gravitating toward brands like St. Regis that go above and beyond to recognize Platinum Elite and Titanium Elite members. I've been Titanium for the last 5-6 years and it's incredibly complicated for me amd everyone I know. According to NerdWallet's comprehensive analysis of hotel elite status, Marriott Gold status lags behind the competition in terms of value provided by a mid-tier hotel elite status. Elina Geller is a Lead Travel Writer at NerdWallet specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs and travel insurance. The Platinum Card from American Express and The Business Platinum Card from American Express offer Gold status not in the form of ENCs, so it is more difficult to earn a higher status level through these cards. Unfortunately, some of Marriott's most iconic brands are missing entirely from this list. Last year I stayed at the St. Regis Aspen for five nights, and as a Titanium member I could select either a $52 daily breakfast credit, or a welcome amenity of 1,000 points. Elite breakfast is complimentary for Platinum Elites and above seven days a week in the airy, modern Tocca Ferro restaurant. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, Book by Saturday: United flights to Australia and Tahiti starting at 42,000 miles round-trip, 27 of the best free things to do in London, Monthly checklist: Credit card perks and benefits you should be using in May, 1st look: Starlux Airlines' stylish premium economy, economy cabins on the new Airbus A350. Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with . Sign In to your account Marriott also gives a more extreme example of staying from midnight to midnight (thought were not sure why youd want to). It often means my breakfast wont be free, but at least Ill get what I actually want at a reasonable cost. How consistent is Marriotts elite breakfast benefit? It seems like there are some harmonization opportunities, though. Marriott brands that offer all guests free breakfast, Marriott brands that dont offer free elite breakfast, Marriott brands that offer free elite breakfast, Marriott brands that offer elite food & beverage credit, How executive lounge access fits into this. I loved my stay at the Mira Moon in Hong Kong, even though it didn't provide any breakfast benefits to elite members as a Design Hotel. They make sure you understand that your status means nothing as they will spell out that you will get no breakfast, early check in, late check out or room upgrades. I used to experience either breakfast in the lounge when they had one, or in the restaurant which always included the full buffet or choice of any menu item and coffee/tea/juice. They offer a brunch on sat/sun in the bar area-- again not included. Heres a breakdown of what status comes with each personal card (You can get an additional 15 ENCs by holding the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card as well. Keep in mind that the value you get from elite status will depend on many factors, including how much you use it (by staying at Marriott properties) and how much you take advantage of the perks, such as free breakfast and upgrade certificates. Best benefits: All of the benefits of Silver Elite status, plus 2 p.m. priority late checkout based on availability, in-hotel welcome gift of extra points and enhanced room upgrade based on availability. But remember it can be obtained hassle-free via getting a credit card instead of spending nearly a month in Marriott hotels. Likewise, Fairfield Osaka Namba doesn't offer breakfast to Titanium member. Related: How to get some of the world's most expensive hotel buffet breakfasts for free. Join Now Sign In document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); As a Titanium elite lifetime member, it seems the longtime benefit of breakfast, which I have enjoyed and kept me choosing Marriott time and time again is no longer. Both are decent properties (though by no means exceptional), but I would have to recommend the St. Regis. Gold member to get free breakfast at four points Sheraton Boston revere. They just say, that they only offer points as the Welcome gift and don't offer breakfast. For how many people does Marriotts breakfast benefit apply? The second, Your24, is an interesting one. The chart below details which brands include breakfast in the options and the compensation to which you're entitled if the hotel doesn't provide this benefit. Heres a comparison table looking at some of the best benefits you get from each Marriott elite status level: These are the extra points you'll earn for each stay once you've achieved that status level. Guide To Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Elite Status, Marriott Bonvoy Member Redeems 2.6 Million Points Now Hotel Wants $17K. Super-dedicated travelers (and extreme Bonvoy loyalists) can earn lifetime status, too. The real value of a given status level depends on both the benefits it offers and how much it costs to earn. At Marriott Vacation Club is even worse than breakfast. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Learn more: NerdWallet's 2023 Best-Of Awards. But even before the pandemic, places like the Westin Jersey City offered breakfast credits but charged so much for plain coffee (I believe it was $6-8) that you couldnt order almost anything else without having to pay extra. Start with a base of yogurt, oatmeal or cereal, then add layers of granola, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes and more. Let me give an example of why. How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2023? 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Finally, for all hotel programs we're evaluating, there are a handful of assumptions we're making to ensure consistency across the various programs: Sign up for our daily newsletter You qualify by completing 20% more nights than the minimum required for the given level. Platinum: 100% bonus multiplier. They do not include stays booked through third-party online travel agencies like. All of the benefits of Titanium Elite status, plus Ambassador Service and Your24 concierge services before and during stays with Marriott Rewards. Important: Qualifying Nights are those booked directly through Marriott.com or most corporate travel services. The art-filled JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort is a 15-minute stroll from Disneyland and next door to the Anaheim GardenWalk. For example, Bonvoy Silver status offers almost no tangible benefits. Meanwhile the 1,000 point welcome amenity is offered once per stay. Maybe this is the "new Bonvoy"? ): Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card (though the card does you one better by also offering automatic, complimentary Gold status). Still, others embraced the cost savings, especially when room rates and occupancy levels were low. The delightful and wide-ranging Marriott elite status benefits (including guaranteed reservations, enhanced room upgrades and late check-out for Gold and higher members, and free massages for Ambassador Elite members) go a long way, too. Now 163 on Tripadvisor: Cologne Marriott Hotel, Cologne. Now you can save points on redemptions at top destinations around the world. Hong Kong is one of the few cities where I don't mind passing up on free hotel breakfast I'd much rather enjoy some dim sum. Breakfast is one of the perks of hotel elite status that people value most, though the policies differ significantly among the major hotel groups. But since it also offers 25 ENCs, you're on a fast track to eventually earn Titanium or perhaps even Ambassador status. Bonus points earned on hotel purchases (including room rates and other incidental charges): 25%. Related: Aloha to free: Where the Marriott Platinum Elite breakfast perk is done right. Not at all. Here's what Marriott Bonvoy elite status is worth, broken down by tier. Stay 25 nights to achieve Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status for room upgrades, extra points, and more. You forgot a category that was very annoying during the last few years. Personalized services. There are several brands where the exact benefit depends on things like the individual property's location and whether it has a lounge, among other factors. Find the right card for you. According to our analysis, Marriott Bonvoy Gold status has a value of $126 and costs $3,650 to earn. Marriott Bonvoy has the least consistent elite breakfast benefit of any major hotel group. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. You spend an average of $150 per night on eligible items. Perfect for your next weekend getaway to Cologne, Germany! As a server explained to me in an Autograph property "Our hotel doesn't participate in that" See how simple and straightforward it is? But since it also offers 25 ENCs, you're on a fast track to eventually earn Titanium or perhaps even Ambassador status. Whether youre road-tripping or globetrotting, the suite life is always better. Mult times i have tried to use the credit for lunch on checkout day after 12 pm and it is not allowed !! For all the Bonvoy elite status tiers, benefits get increasingly better the higher you go. Do Marriott Silver & Gold members get free breakfast? Not complicated. This mainly seems to be an American problem, however, as Marriotts in Europe and Asia always seem to place customer satisfaction first in my experience (offering their top of the line breakfast buffet, even for a third guest in the room, etc.) Even when Hiltons and Hyatts offered to-go breakfast, Marriotts just kept their breakfast restaurants and lounges closed (due to Covid) and offered paltry 1000 points instead. As a result, traveling as a couple to these locations would get you $20 per day toward breakfast (or another meal if you so choose). How to get more flexible hotel check-in/out times, You want a travel credit card that prioritizes whats important to you. Last happened at the Aloft Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga. As a Hilton Gold elite, you'll have access to the following benefits: 80% elite status bonus: Receive an 80% bonus on all the Hilton Honors base points you earn on stays. ;) Related: Ritz-Carlton: The Marriott hotel brand where elite benefits don't really apply. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. 500 points per stay or food and beverage amenity per stay or 7.48 ($10) food and beverage credit per night for member plus one guest. Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador members receive a choice of: Points (at the same rate as Gold member). One benefit in particular has caused some confusion since the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program's launch: complimentary breakfast. Free breakfast, lounge access, suite upgrades, and guaranteed late checkout are the most coveted . Upgrades are subject to availability identified by each hotel and limited to your personal guest room. has been a frequent flier for as long as he can remember. All of the benefits of Platinum Elite status, plus A second Choice Benefit selection upon qualification and a 48-hour room guarantee. offer Gold status not in the form of ENCs, so it is more difficult to earn a higher status level through these cards. , Marriott Bonvoy Gold status has a value of $126 and costs $3,650 to earn. Deciding whether its worth shooting for Bonvoy status depends entirely on your travel preferences and goals. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year. Long story short, you should get lounge access, complimentary breakfast, or a food & beverage credit, at all but five brands. Before getting into the details, let's start with a quick summary for all of the brands that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program: As you can see, this is quite a range. Terms and Conditions Apply. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. The resort's 162 guestrooms and 36 spacious Residences were designed to reflect the brand's central belief - that true luxury is having the time and space to focus on what matters most - oneself. TPG values Hilton Gold status at $1,255, but this valuation assumes you stay enough nights each year to earn the status organically. Their lounge staff were fantastic back before the change. Will be moving my business more to Hyatt, with breakfast being a huge factor. 2x points on all other eligible purchases. Marriott hotels in the United States are being instructed to no longer play games with elite breakfast as of July 1, 2021. There aren't any cards that offer automatic Platinum Elite or Titanium Elite status. The new breakfast program will offer build-your-own breakfast bowls featuring customizable ingredients to fulfill any craving, whether healthy or indulgent. Sign up and well send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money. The first step is to make sure you select breakfast as your elite welcome amenity when you check-in. Hyatt is amazing. Looking at the Marriott Bonvoy terms & conditions: Some take that to mean that you get a full, hot breakfast at hotels with a club lounge. You can fast-track to elite status by opening Marriott credit cards, which come with. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year. One of the reasons I prefer them over the Marriott "luxury" brands that don't offer any breakfast. If you have a personal and a small business credit card from Marriott, you can even stack this for a total of 30 elite night credits per year. F&B credit is definitely much better for me. Or the guest can choose 750 points (mainly if breakfast is already included in the rate), I also find that Resort or Resort Clubs are hard to differentiate. In the United States its a different story, and more often than not, I find one of the following to be the case: I obviously prefer the latter method. The following brands don't offer any form of free, daily breakfast (though I've included the welcome amenity choices): Finally, several brands offer complimentary breakfast for all travelers, regardless of elite status. What has your experience been with Marriotts elite breakfast benefit? Best benefits: All of the benefits of Titanium Elite status, plus Ambassador Service and Your24 concierge services before and during stays with Marriott Rewards. He has spoken about travel rewards at CardCon, the Altitude conference and AwardWallet's "Award Travel 101" podcast. You could still pay for a breakfast there. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. 500 points per stay or restaurant breakfast per night of stay for member plus one guest. There's also Member status, which anyone can receive at no cost. Explore Titanium Not a member yet? Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. See more about our ethics policies here. Food and beverage credit as welcome amenity choice. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. Your ultimate guide to Marriott hotel brands, Marriott Platinum Elite and Titanium Elite, 5 ways to get your hotel breakfast for free, hotel trying to skimp on breakfast benefits, Aloha to free: Where the Marriott Platinum Elite breakfast perk is done right, How to get some of the world's most expensive hotel buffet breakfasts for free, The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection, The 11 hotel breakfasts we'd order for every meal if we could, Breakfast recently got better at 3,000 Marriott hotels in the US, Ritz-Carlton: The Marriott hotel brand where elite benefits don't really apply, Get free breakfast, upgrades and more with the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program, Free nights and easy status: Here's why I have 4 Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Will there be anyone coming to defend that F&B credits is better than breakfast? Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. (though the card does you one better by also offering automatic, complimentary Gold status). Was a highlight of the stay and made me return again and again. @ben would be interesting to see how many folks the past few years now jumped ship from Marriott. Marriott Platinum Elite and Titanium Elite members can choose a welcome amenity upon check-in at most participating hotels. Best benefits: Priority late checkout, member rates, a dedicated elite reservations line, complimentary in-room Internet. Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program can get you perks like free breakfast and room upgrades. Or by noon next day? I don't feel any appreciation anymore as a titanium lifetime member. Very sad, what happened to Marriott's customer service. Members earn a base rate of 10 points for every dollar spent during qualified stays, and award nights are based on a chart with nine tiers ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 points per night. I think the keyword is guarantee. At some hotels you just charge the full amount of breakfast to your room, and its taken off at check-out. Offer ends 5/3/23. Some (like mobile check-in) are basically fluff, while others are highly valuable. Learn More, During your stay at any of our participating hotels, instantly redeem points for cocktails, meals, spa experiences and more anything you can charge to your hotel room. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. The following Marriott brands offer all guests complimentary breakfast: As you can see, there are no incremental breakfast perks at these properties for elite members, since everyone gets breakfast. I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, so to me 1,000 points are worth $7. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card. Now it seems to be a "continental" breakfast that is either only the "cold" side of the buffet and that is it! You want a travel credit card that prioritizes whats important to you. The Lexington Hotel, Autograph Collection. Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Learn more: Why I love the Marriott Bonvoy program. I used to experience either breakfast in the lounge when they had one, or in the restaurant which always included the full buffet or choice of any menu item and coffee/tea/juice. No option even for a menu item. His favorite travel destinations are Las Vegas and the beaches of Mexico. Marriott Vacation Club (1,000 points per stay). As far as status earned through a credit card goes, it's only be worth the same amount if you stay the same number of nights as someone who earns it normally. Elite status: Earning Hilton Honors Gold status with a $95 annual fee on the Hilton Amex Ascend is spectacular, while the complimentary, top-tier Diamond status on the Hilton Amex Aspire could be even more lucrative. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). especially in destinations like The Maldives, most recently experienced on a trip to Florida, The 11 hotel breakfasts wed order for every meal if we could, aren't required to offer breakfast at all, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Gold: 75% bonus multiplier. St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Sheraton, Le Mridien, Westin, Tribute Portfolio. Here is a list of our partners. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, Southwest unveils stunning new Hawaii-themed aircraft, How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value, IHG Rewards Premier Business card review: The annual fee is justified.