6 Great Values In the New Marriott Award Chart
Last month Marriott released the complete award rates for the new Marriott loyalty program, giving us the next piece in this ongoing puzzle. Overall the news was promising, as 70% of the 6,800+ hotels will require the same or fewer points per night moving forward. However, a deeper dive also showed that properties at the very top and the very bottom were more likely to have increased in price than those in the middle.
We still don't know how Marriott will choose to implement off-peak, peak and standard redemption rates starting in 2019, but on the surface at least, there are a number of hotels that stand out as incredibly good value redemptions in the new program, even beyond the fantastic all-suite redemptions that will be available for the rest of this year. Here are a few of our favorites.
W Paris Opera
Average nightly rate: $650
Standard award rate: 60,000 points
The W Paris Opera is perhaps the "quietest" hotel in Starwood's obnoxiously bright and loud brand, at least from a design perspective. But don't let that fool you. Located just a few blocks away from the Galeries Lafayette, this hotel oozes refined luxury with a modern twist. Rooms are on the cozy side, as is the norm for space-constrained European hotels, but bright splashes of color and views of classically Parisian architecture across the narrow streets make sure you never forget where you are. Paris has one of the most comprehensive metro systems of any major city, so while the hotel is within walking distance of the Champs Elysees and the Louvre, the entire city is at your fingertips.
Ritz-Carlton Macau
Average nightly rate: $550
Standard award rate: 50,000 points
The "Las Vegas of Asia," as Macau is often called, is known for high-rolling gambling and opulent luxury, as the name would suggest. But whether you're there to test your luck, conduct business or just shop and eat, the all-suite Ritz Carlton Macau has your every need covered. Suites start at over 800 feet and offer sweeping views of the Cotai Strip of casinos that defines Macau's skyline. On-site dining options run the gamut from Cantonese to French to poolside dining. With rates here routinely topping $800 a night, this is an excellent use of your Marriott points.
St. Regis Langkawi
Average nightly rate: $450
Standard award rate: 50,000 points
The Andaman ocean is home to some of the most stunning tropical islands, including well-known tourist destinations like Phuket and Koh Phi Phi. But further south off the west coast of Malaysia lies the hidden gem of Langkawi. The St. Regis Langkawi, one of the newest hotels on the island, encapsulates this natural beauty while adding its own modern luxurious finishes. From plunge pools to overwater villas, scuba to snorkeling, parasailing to spa days, this hotel offers the ultimate relaxing getaway. As an added bonus, Langkawi is much easier to get to (logistically) than remote islands like the Maldives or Bora Bora.
New York EDITION
Average nightly rate: $650
Standard award rate: 60,000 points
New York has no shortage of luxury hotels. Under the new Marriott program alone, it will be home to a St. Regis, two Ritz Carltons, the New York EDITION and seven other category 7 or 8 hotels. The EDITION is one of the best value redemptions in the city, as it gets you into a high-price, high-quality hotel without costing you all your points. While the building maintains its original facade as an early 20th century clocktower, the interior is as modern as it gets with airy, well designed rooms and a Michelin-starred restaurant on site. In a city as big as New York, location is everything, and the New York EDITION is located on Park Avenue, right next to Madison Square Park, and just a mile away from TPG's offices if you want to stop by to visit Miles and Hootie!
W Miami
Average nightly rate: $375
Standard award rate: 35,000 points
Not to be confused with the W South Beach, the W Miami is one of the few South Florida hotels without its own beach. But with a 50th story WET DECK that features both indoor and outdoor pools, you might not even mind. The hotel's 346 guest rooms and suites feature the colorful quirkiness you'd expect from a W, with nice aquamarine tones to remind you of the water just outside. Located in Miami's vibrant Brickell neighborhood, you'll have 24/7 access to art, music, dining and shopping. And don't worry, there are plenty of beaches nearby if you start craving sand.
DO & CO Hotel Vienna, Design Hotels
Average nightly rate: $330
Standard award rate: 35,000
Here's the point where I have to come clean and admit that my "deep dive" into the new Marriott award chart went a little too deep. I didn't read through all 6,800+ hotels, but I came pretty close... and my heart skipped a beat when I discovered the DO & CO Hotel in Vienna, a member of design hotels. Aviation enthusiasts know DO & CO as the provider of some of the world's best in-flight catering, with clients including Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Singapore, Asiana and many more. Turns out they also run a hotel! And of course, the DO & CO restaurant on the top floor features the same catering we've all grown to love in the air. The hotel also has an incredible location right next to St. Stephen's cathedral, so you can take in the historic views while you dine.
Bottom Line
Every successive piece of news to come out of the new Marriott program has made me more and more confident that the sweeping devaluations we all feared might not actually materialize. These are just six examples, but in cities around the world, you can find luxury hotels that are as good or even better deals than they were before. As long as Marriott makes a decent amount of standard and off-peak dates available, there's plenty of value to be had in this new program.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.