ALL HANDS: Loyalty Status Levels, Hotels
ALL HANDS: Loyalty Status Levels (Part 2, Hotels).
Greetings, Fellow Travelers!
BLUF: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum (or higher) level is one of the most useful hotel status levels when traveling around Europe.
Today’s ALL HANDS will review which hotel status level brings the most value with it as you travel around Europe.
First, many folks really like AirBnBs or other shared-economy lodging options. Second, the appeal of a secluded guest house or non-chain boutique hotel cannot be denied, and many travelers only opt for these accommodations. If you’re among these groups, stop reading and start planning you next trip now!
I’m a hotel person. I like King-size beds, fresh towels, concierge desks, and, when in the mood, room service. Being stationed in Europe for over six year, one of my travel strategies is to sample not just great locations but also great hotels.
For me, I default to Marriott-branded hotels when I travel. Marriott has the largest global hotel footprint (over 6,500 properties), and their portfolio consist of 30 different brands, from luxury to value options. So, usually, there is a Marriott hotel where I travel.
Of course, maintaining 30 brands, some independently-owned and other owned by Marriott Inc., mean benefits are not standard across all brands. This is a source of frustration to many, but after military life, I’m pretty good at rolling with the punches and adapting when needed. Do your travel research!
Here, I’m specifically focused on the breakfast and executive lounge access benefits. For example, when I visited London in May 2018 as a Marriott Platinum, I booked a USG/military-priced room for $190/night for two nights at the Marriott West India Quay in Canary Wharf. While not in central London, this Marriott is very convenient to public transit. Plus, the Canary Wharf area itself is full of restaurants and other amenities, so I find it a great location.
With that entry-level priced room and with my status benefits, I received executive lounge access. The executive lounge offered tea, coffee, and soft drinks all day, and, at tea time, offered some sweet cakes and scones. At cocktail hour, wine and spirits were offered along with heavy appetizers. I enjoyed the view and the snacks at the lounge throughout my stay.
For breakfast, most Marriott-branded properties offer a continental (sometimes very continental) breakfast in the lounge. However, West India Quay closes their lounge for breakfast and invites Platinum members to enjoy the full buffet in the main restaurant. Here, you can have made-to-order omelettes, a healthy selection of breakfast meats, waffles, juice, and fruit. I definitely enjoyed my “Full English Breakfast” complete with tea, eggs, toast, sausage, and baked beans.
In sum, these two Platinum-level benefits are my favorite of the Marriott Bonvoy program. I greatly value a free breakfast (even if it’s only tea/coffee and a croissant) and access to a lounge to enjoy some free snacks and beverages. Remember, not all Marriott properties offer the benefits exactly the same nor do all properties have lounges, so do your homework.
Happy Travels!
Vr,
Albert
Albert Guerrero, USAF, Ret.
“Let’s Travel Farther, Together!”
Follow my travels on Instagram: @albert_traveler
