I ended my trip to Israel with a splurge in Tel Aviv at The Jaffa, a recent addition to Marriott’s The Luxury Collection portfolio. My stay was flawless. I will publish a full review as part of my Israel...
Bonvoyed: Deceptive Redemption Prices Frustrate, Annoy
Marriott’s new Bonvoy program has not been the success CEO Arne Sorenson has suggested it is. Bonvoy’s award redemption nights don’t just deceive members, they also frustrate and annoy them. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a...
Whew: Police Arrest Disgruntled Marriott Cook Who Planned Mass Shooting In California Hotel
Good news out of California, where Long Beach Police arrested a disgruntled Marriott employee who planned to shoot “everyone he saw” at the hotel he worked for. Rodolfo Montoya, a cook at the Long Beach Marriott hotel, was upset...
It’s About Time Someone Sued Marriott Over Sham Resort Fees…
For years I have argued that hotels and online travel agencies should be forced to disclose all-in pricing at all points of the hotel search process. We may finally be one step closer to that goal. Mandatory “fees” are...
Marriott Launches Tone Deaf Airbnb Competitor
Marriott didn’t think of Airbnb and the Homeshare market as much competition but has since launched a Homeshare program. It only goes to prove that their leadership is tone deaf, out of touch and still just doesn’t get it. ...
My Dull Sense Of Remorse Over Missed Marriott Redemption
If you have not been living under a rock, you know that Marriott Bonvoy introduced a new Category 8 for hotel redemptions on March 5th. Overnight, many awards dramatically rose in price. We knew this was coming for several months,...
I Did Drop To Marriott Bonvoy Gold Status…
Just a quick follow-up to my post last month about unexpectedly keeping Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status longer than expected. I rarely stay in Marriott/Starwood properties but received Marriott Gold status as a benefit of my 1K status on United....
I’m a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite With ZERO Stays In 2018 Or 2019…
Just want to report a data point. We’re a few days into the Marriott Bonvoy era and I am still a Platinum Elite despite zero stays in the last couple years and no lifetime status. My Marriott elite status comes...
Review: Philadelphia International Airport Marriott Hotel
As part of a long journey, I briefly stayed at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott and ended my stay both pleased and disappointed. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com....
Review: Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel (Marriott)
On a business trip, I had a chance to stay in the very contemporary and dare I say, ‘sassy’ Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel. This hotel had everything, except for an upgrade for a (then) gold member. If you are...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 29, 2018
Greetings from the fairly remote Las Padres National Forrest about 90 minutes north of Los Angeles. It was special weekend for me: my brother is getting married next week and this weekend was his bachelor party. Heidi, don’t worry…it...
Marriott/SPG Devaluation: Fears Confirmed at Freddies
A few days ago I posted my suspicions about Marriott/SPG’s overwhelmingly positive reception. One Mile At A Time posted that there were some great new values in the new award chart that probably wouldn’t last. Friends, readers, strangers –...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 22, 2018
Hello from LA. I’m back from Hawaii after a wonderful, albeit brief, getaway with my wife. In terms of top news for the week, we’ve now learned more about the new Marriott-SPG loyalty program. It looks good (for the...
Review: Aloft Houston by the Galleria
Hotels in Houston can be a difficult nut to crack, it’s all about location and convenience. The Aloft Houston by the Galleria is well positioned, offers premiums that other full-service hotels do not, and a reasonable price point for...
Chinese Cyber Police Block Marriott’s Website for Disrespecting China
Cyber Police from the city of Shanghai have blocked Marriott’s website and mobile app for one week, punishing the hotel chain for “disrespecting” Chinese Sovereignty. Marriott sent out a Mandarin-language survey to Chinese consumers which listed Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet,...
