~800 Marriott Hotels Changing Award Prices, Book Soon to Lock-In Rates

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    More big news!  Marriott announced they’re adjusting award prices for ~800 Marriott hotels starting March 25, 2016.

    Over 500 hotels are going up a category (a change of 5,000 Marriott points per night except category 1 hotels), while the rest are dropping a category.  Hotels in the US will be most affected by these changes.

    The Courtyard Los Angeles Downtown L.A. LIVE Is 1 of Over 500 Hotels Going Up a Category Beginning March 25, 2016

    But, reservations made before or on March 24, 2016, will be honored at their current prices.

    I’ll explain the changes.  Because for certain hotels it’s best to book now.  But for others it’s better to wait!

    What’s Happening?

    Link:   List of Marriott Hotel Award Changes

    Effective March 25, 2016, award prices of ~800 Marriott hotels will increase or decrease by a category (5,000 Marriott points per night, except for hotels moving between category 1 and 2).

    Of the ~800 Marriott Hotels Changing Prices, 560 (Like the Courtyard West Palm Beach) Are Going up by 2,500 or 5,000 Marriott Points, While the Others Are Going Down
    560 Marriott hotels are going up in price.  Some notable increases are:
    Fun and Sun in Arizona Will Soon Cost More Points! Most of the Hotels Going up Are in the US. Phoenix in Particular Will See 24 Hotels Increasing in Price

    A few international hotels will jump a category, including:

    2 Hotels in London, Including the London Marriott Hotel Kensington, Will Require 5,000 More Marriott Points per Night

    Here’s the full list of changes.

    And here are my favorite Marriott hotels in the US, Europe, and the Caribbean & Mexico!

    Marriott hotels include:

    If you want to lock-in the current prices, reservations made on or before March 24, 2016, will be honored.

    It’s Not All Bad News!

    Marriott will soon be the world’s largest hotel chain after they merge with Starwood.  As it stands, Marriott runs ~4,000 hotels world-wide.

    But it’s interesting that Starwood announced their hotel category changes on the same day as Marriott.  Prices at over 80% of their hotels are NOT changing.  And some are going down in price, including:
    Your Marriott Points Will Go Farther in Toronto Where 6 Hotels Are Going Down in Price, Including the Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville Hotel

    And if you travel mostly internationally, most Marriott hotels outside of the US will either stay the same price or decrease.

    So check the hotels you’re interested in.  If they’re decreasing in price, you should wait to book until after March 25, 2016.  Unless there are very few award rooms available, in which case it might be worth booking sooner to lock-in your dates.

    Want More Marriott Points?

    Link:   Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card

    Link:   Marriott Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

    With the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier card, you’ll earn 80,000 Marriott points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of account opening.

    And an extra 7,500 Marriott points when you add an authorized user who makes a purchase in the 1st 3 months of account opening.  The $85 annual fee is NOT waived the 1st year.

    And with the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Small Business card, you can earn 80,000 Marriott points when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of opening your account.  The $99 annual fee is NOT waived the 1st year.

    To earn more Marriott points consider:

    Bottom Line

    ~800 Marriott hotels are changing prices effective March 25, 2016.  560 hotels are going up in price, while the others are decreasing.  All of the changes are 1 category (5,000 Marriott points, except between category 1 & 2) up or down.

    Considering Marriott has over 4,000 hotels world-wide, this isn’t a huge number of hotels.  But most of the hotels going up in price are here in the US. 

    Any reservations made on or before March 24, 2016, will be honored at their current rates.  So if you have a hotel in mind that’s scheduled to increase, book soon.

    If you need more Marriott points, you’ll earn 80,000 Marriott points when you open the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier (personal) card, and spend $3,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of account opening.

    Or consider the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier small business card, which also has an improved 80,000 Marriott point sign-up bonus.

    Starwood also announced category changes yesterday, so it will be interesting to see what happens after Marriott merges with Starwood later this year.   I’ll update y’all when I have more details!
    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)
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