[Katherisco]

Hello Everyone,

I looked at the Marriott site and am considering getting their rewards card to use when I travel. I am just trying to figure out if I understand it correctly.

The rewards card is a credit card correct? My purchaces give me points I can use towards rooms when I travel and the number of points depends on the level of the hotel.

Is that basically how it works? I just want to be sure I have all the info and it is worth getting the card.

If my child is not being adopted from the Moscow region, I still end up in Moscow at some point on the adoption journey for a while no matter what correct?

So many things to think about and plan for! Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[papedge]

you can get a credit card where your purches earn you points/ or you can have just an rewards card and any time you stay @ a marriot you get points.

[Katherisco]

One more question to add......

Is the Marriott a good place to stay in Moscow? I don't want to get the card if there are other, cheaper or better places to stay.

[cborsa7]

The rewards card is a credit card correct? My purchaces give me points I can use towards rooms when I travel and the number of points depends on the level of the hotel.

Yes, what you are talking about is the Marriott reward visa and that is how it works. You will get points toward room stays every time you use your card.

You can also get a rewards card that gives you points only when you stay at one of there hotels.

We used our Marriott reward Visa points for our entire stay when we picked up our son from Guatemala. It comes in handy.

[beckyww]

We paid for an entire week at the Renaissance in St. Pete with Marriott points, mostly from card usage. It's our primary credit card. I highly recommend it! But word of caution - look at the point spread required for stays. You really cheat yourself if you use it for only one or two nights. Too many points required. You really want to use your points for 3+ nights.

Becky
The Woodworth Family in Beautiful San Antonio TX

[Kasey]

We did not do the visa thing as I didn't want another credit card, we used the rewards card, we got it close to a year ahead of time and used it for little weekend trips, earned some point. Then earned good points on trip 1 for us, so we had a night on trip 2.

There are quite a few marriotts in Russia, we have stayed at the Grand (very nice, very upscale, they have an indoor pool) and we stayed at tthe Tverskaya (very nice, alot of families stay there. I loved the marriotts, made me feel a step closer to home, especially afte ryou are in region.
The restaurants and hotel bars we enjoyed in both places. Every spoke english, so it made it easier, the conceirage was great as well.

We are finally using the remainder of our points we earned on second adoption and getting free night in Orlando.

[cmmandjam]

we stayed at a mariott in moscow. it was SUPER expensive. had our coordinator who booked it for us told them it was an adoption, it would have been HALF the cost. make sure you mention that. it made me feel good that mariott supports adoption. that being said, after weeks with a very uncomfortable sleeping situation and a 10 hour ride in a van from st. pete to moscow . . . no bed has EVER felt sooooo good!!!!!! the location was convenient. it was clean. the elevator was SUPER fast. kinda fun!! we were quite happy with it.

[MichiAmy]

As a business travelor -- here's the skinney on the Marriott Rewards program.

1) There is a FREE program you can join and get a "Marriott Rewards Number" that gives you points everytime you STAY IN A MARRIOTT. This is NOT a Visa -- basically just like a frequent flyer # -- just a frequent sleeper program!!

2) On top of that - Marriott ALSO has a VISA. Just like many of the airlines. With the VISA you can earn points for purchases. When you stay in a Marriott (let's say a weekend trip in the states) and you pay with your Marriott VISA you earn like 3x the points...

Does that make sense? You can participate WITHOUT the VISA, but unless you stay in hotels a lot, you won't earn many points.

Hope it helps!

[Kasey]

I think to get the cheaper rate the adoption code for marriott for entering online is A20--someone correct me if I am wrong.

[k8c]

Hiya! Everyone, except some families in Vlad, will have to be in Moscow at some point. Even is you are in Moscow region, you will likely be staying in the city.

I have friends who planned to use their Marriot points who found a better way-cheap deal on the Holiday Inn by using priceline. I don't know what the HI is like, but wanted to throw that out there.

I'm planning on apartments when I'm in Moscow--MUCH cheaper.

[punch1]

I think the adoption code is A23. The code reduces the Renaissance Moscow Hotel from $254/night to $169/night using the weekend of June 15th as an example. The same room costs 20,000 points per night using Marriott rewards points.

Pat