Marriott has been generous to continue to let people take a challenge to Gold/Platinum status. You have 90 days to stay 12/18 nights. Apparently the 90 days starts at the end of the month you apply. I started mine Feb 3rd so I have Feb, March, April and May as a Platinum member.
In short, they treat you like a king, give you 50% more points, access to the club lounge (free food!) room upgrades, etc…
It’s simple. You call and ask about the challenge and they’ll enroll you. It’s called Taste of Platinum (or Taste of Gold). The end. Now your Platinum for your next stays.
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*looks around*
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This is so generous that I hate to take advantage of it. Really, I feel a little guilty sharing this. People traditionally complain that Marriott’s Platinum is too difficult (75 nights) but…
Okay. First of all, they are running a refer-a-friend bonus. So before my stays I signed my wife up for an account and she “referred” me to Marriott. Now everytime I stay we get 2,000 points each (up to 5 stays with each referral). Simple. Then I called Marriott and asked about their status challenge, “A Taste of Platinum”. Trust me, don’t bother with Gold. I’d rather be Platinum for 90 days than Gold for a year. 18 in 90 days, no problem.
*edited out this part*
Anyways, I had an idea. Stay the 5 nights and apply for their credit card that gives you 15 elite qualifying nights (giving 20/18 for the challenge). I’m not sure this will work yet, I’m like 50/50 on it. But if it does I’m Platinum for over a year. I’ll do a post on this when I confirm it. The problem is that next year I have to find another way to get Platinum since I’ll already have the card. But my wife doesn’t yet. 😉
You have a few options. You could complete 18 stays in what is really four months. Or get creative. After my challenge is up, I could refer-a-friend (my wife) and she can take the challenge. Or refer myself. Don’t get greedy. Actually, just don’t abuse this. and DO NOT TAKE THE CHALLENGE UNLESS YOU ARE ABOUT TO STAY AT MARRIOTTS. Please.
Honestly, in my last 5 nights I earned enough for 5 stays. Plus I’m staying at the JW and eating and drinking for free in the lounge. Travel better for the same price.
The next way that I used this is to email Priority Club hotels and to ask for a status match. I sent them a screen shot of it saying Platinum in my Marriott profile and I was made Platinum that day. Which worked out well because then the ChiangMai Holiday Inn upgraded me to a big suite that night. But honestly, Priority Club is already easy to abuse and easy to get Plat.
I’ll cut this off here and do at least another post on abusing their wonderful program. I really do like it. No hard feelings ya know.
