Over the summer season, we rented a villa in Greece by way of the Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy platform. I wished to share my expertise with that on this put up. We truly had a terrific expertise, and it turned out to be fairly rewarding by way of the variety of factors earned.
Let me begin with some background on the Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy platform, after which I’ll clarify why we booked by way of it, and the way it all went.
The fundamentals of Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy is Marriott’s trip rental platform. It might sound counterintuitive for a world resort group to attempt to hire you properties, however that is clearly meant as a manner for Marriott to have interaction its (200+ million) Bonvoy members preferring a house rental to a resort room for a selected journey.
So, how does Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy work?
- That is primarily a platform that white labels the properties obtainable by way of different house sharing platforms; so nearly all of the properties obtainable by way of the platform are additionally obtainable by way of different companies
- Marriott clearly takes a fee on the bookings, and in flip, presents Bonvoy members advantages, like the flexibility to earn elite qualifying nights plus 5x factors per greenback spent
- Notice that Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy typically has larger costs for a similar properties than you’ll discover by way of different platforms, so that you’ll at all times wish to crunch the numbers for your self
Personally I feel the Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy platform falls into the class of “good to learn about,” however it’s not some constant slam dunk that’s going to vary your life.
Why we booked by way of Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
Over the summer season we wished to hire a villa close to Porto Heli, Greece, as we had been visiting some pals within the space. We had been touring as an enormous group, each with household and pals, so we valued having a number of area. It was additionally our son’s first transatlantic journey, and coincided along with his second birthday, so it was a particular journey.
Ford had researched villas on-line, and located one which he cherished, so he was going to go forward and e-book it. Nevertheless, we realized that another person had reserved it simply hours earlier, so he was discouraged and annoyed.
Attempting to be a good husband, I stated “don’t fear, let me determine it out.” Then I noticed I do know principally nothing about trip leases. However I do love factors, and I used to be conversant in Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, so I figured I ought to begin my search there (that is maybe the prime instance of why these platforms work… hah).
To my shock, I discovered a villa within the space that met all of our wants — it had loads of bedrooms, a pool, and had location. As soon as we determined that we appreciated that villa, I after all spent some extra time researching on-line, to verify there wasn’t something that was a greater match for us that was obtainable.
So we actually lucked out, as a result of this was the most suitable choice I might discover. I wouldn’t count on that to at all times be the case, after all.
The Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy worth proposition
For these curious, right here’s the itemizing of the property that we booked. Let me emphasize that it wasn’t low cost, as you’d count on for a rental in Greece in early August. Nevertheless, it had eight bedrooms, and the fee was break up throughout a number of individuals (although I lucked out by way of being rewarded with the factors).
As you’ll be able to see, the fee was 2,950 EUR per evening, so every week rental value 20,850 EUR, together with a 200 EUR cleansing payment. Ordinarily you earn 5x factors per greenback spent, and on the time of this rental, I had Marriott Bonvoy Platinum standing, which presents a 50% factors bonus (I’m now again as much as Titanium standing, which might’ve provided a 75% factors bonus).
How did this value examine to reserving the identical villa by way of different platforms?
- The villa was additionally bookable by way of Vrbo, and the speed was 20,250 EUR, so it was round 3% cheaper
- I later came upon that the administration firm for this property is VillaRentals, and the itemizing there had it for 19,950 EUR, in order that was round 5% cheaper
Nonetheless, I discovered it nicely price it to e-book by way of Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy. This system often has promotions, which supply a greater return than simply the usual 5x factors. Humorous sufficient, after I initially booked, the promotion wasn’t that nice. Nevertheless, the villa we booked allowed free cancelations up till 30 days earlier than check-in (50% needed to be paid on the time of reservation, with 50% was due 30 days out).
Simply over a month earlier than check-in, Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy was working its finest promotion ever (not less than for longer stays at costlier properties), so after all I rebooked. With this deal, you could possibly earn 5x the standard variety of factors:
- Because you ordinarily earn 5x Bonvoy factors per greenback spent, this meant I’d earn 25x Bonvoy factors per greenback spent
- I then earned an additional 2.5x Bonvoy factors per greenback spent for being a Platinum member
In different phrases, I earned a complete of 27.5x Bonvoy factors per greenback spent, which translated to 616,119 Bonvoy factors. That’s fairly a haul!
For context, I worth Bonvoy factors at 0.7 cents every, so I’d worth 27.5x factors per greenback spent at roughly a 20% return. In terms of redeeming Bonvoy factors, 600K+ factors is sufficient to e-book not less than 5 nights at nearly any of Marriott’s prime properties, which might retail for nicely over a thousand {dollars} per evening.
However wait, there’s extra! I then earned 6x Bonvoy factors per greenback spent by paying with the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Categorical® Card (overview), for an additional 135,510 Bonvoy factors.
I additionally began the acquisition by way of Rakuten, which presents 1.5% money again for these purchases (although I select to earn Amex factors, in order that’s 1.5x Amex factors per greenback spent). That was an additional 33,877 Membership Rewards factors.
So if you add all of it, I earned a complete of 751,629 Bonvoy factors, plus 33,877 Membership Rewards factors. That’s fairly a haul, and I’m certain you’ll be able to perceive the way it was price paying a couple of further p.c for the keep to unlock these rewards.
Based mostly on my valuation of Bonvoy factors and Membership Rewards factors, I worth this at a return of $5,837, which interprets to a roughly 25% return on spending. Let me emphasize that if it hadn’t been for the 5x factors promotion on the time I used to be reserving, I’d’ve as an alternative earned 448,089 fewer Bonvoy factors. That might clearly make an enormous distinction by way of how rewarding that is.
One cool factor is that the usual factors for the keep posted the day after I checked out, so I used to be impressed by how rapidly these rewards posted.
Additionally take into account that spending with Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy counts towards Ambassador standing, so now I’ve to determine if I’m getting again on that hamster wheel or not. I’m within the odd place of getting met the income requirement, however not having met the nights requirement (the other of the way it has at all times been for me prior to now).
Our Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy pre-stay expertise
If you undergo the reserving course of, Marriott primarily white labels the entire expertise, and doesn’t inform you which property administration firm is chargeable for the villa. Now, you could possibly usually determine this out by looking out on-line for among the property’s attributes, and on the lookout for listings by way of different comparable platforms.
As quickly as I confirmed the reserving, the affirmation e mail revealed that VillaRentals was the “trusted property administration accomplice,” and their contact data was offered. I’ve gotta say, they had been superior to take care of, and had been very communicative earlier than and in the course of the keep, so I’ve nothing however good issues to say.
Now, it’s essential to acknowledge that I’ve seen loads of damaging evaluations of Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, the place clients had been annoyed by the shortage of buyer assist on the Marriott facet when issues go improper.
I can’t say that surprises me one bit, and if one thing had gone improper, I’m certain it will’ve been a whole headache making an attempt to get Marriott to intervene in any manner. So going into this, I hoped we’d have expertise, and considered it the identical as if I had made a direct reserving with the property administration firm. I wasn’t anticipating that Marriott would one way or the other assist me if one thing went improper.
In order that’s one thing to pay attention to. I don’t assume we had a terrific expertise as a result of Marriott one way or the other vets essentially the most superb companions, however reasonably it was only a good property administration firm to work with, and it so occurred to be a part of Marriott’s portfolio.
Our Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy Greek villa keep
I’m not going to do an in-depth, airline-style overview of 1 particular villa, as a result of that appears pointless. Nevertheless, I wished to briefly discuss our expertise with renting a house. Normally I desire accommodations to house leases, since I recognize the companies and facilities that they provide.
That being stated, for this journey a villa was the higher choice. There have been a number of us (we had eight bedrooms), we wished to all have the ability to simply spend time along with household and pals, and wished Miles (our son) to have the ability to spend time outside, together with in a pool.
For that matter, we wished to be in Porto Heli to satisfy pals, and the one first rate resort there may be Amanzoe, the place a single room prices as a lot we had been paying for the villa. 😉
The indoor area of the house was fairly good good, and was unfold throughout three flooring (there was a basement stage, which you’ll’t see above). The principle shared space was a lounge and eating space.
The property administration firm gladly offered a excessive chair and crib for our son, a number of pool toys, and had the largest basket of snacks for us that I’ve presumably ever seen (the image doesn’t do justice to only how a lot stuff was in there), plus a present for Miles.
The bedrooms had been additionally adequate, although nothing thrilling. In the meantime the loos might’ve used some work, however I wasn’t anticipating a lot, primarily based on the images on-line, and that is additionally form of what I count on in Greece.
However what made this place so superior was the outside area, which is the place you wish to spend your time in Greece in summer season anyway. There have been infinite locations to take a seat, so we had been barely indoors besides to sleep.
Then there was a pool, plus a beautiful backyard space.
Final however not least, simply exterior the gate of the house was a quiet, secluded seaside. The seaside was a bit rocky reasonably than having tremendous sand (as is widespread in Greece), however gaining access to such an empty seaside was fairly cool.
On the finish of the day, a visit is barely nearly as good because the reminiscences you might have of it, and we had an incredible time. This wasn’t an expertise we might’ve had in a resort, however after all this was a very completely different sort of trip.
Some individuals might surprise about how we dealt with the meals state of affairs. We ended up hiring a chef for the week, who did all of the buying and cooking for us. He was unimaginable, and ready us breakfast after which both lunch or dinner. We couldn’t have been happier with that call.
Backside line
We rented a villa in Greece by way of Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, and had a optimistic expertise. For one, we obtained worth in comparison with reserving direct, however that’s largely due to the superb promotion that Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy was providing on the time that I booked. I ended up incomes over 750,000 Bonvoy factors and over 33,000 Membership Rewards factors, in order that’s fairly a haul.
So far as the villa rental itself goes, it was precisely what we hoped for, and we had no points by any means. Nevertheless, that comes right down to the property administration firm being nice, reasonably than something that Marriott particularly did. So I wouldn’t view reserving by way of this platform to essentially add a lot of a layer of safety within the occasion that issues go improper.
I’m not all of a sudden some convert who plans to persistently hire properties rather than staying at accommodations going ahead, however for the form of journey we had been on, this was the appropriate transfer.
Should you’ve used Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, what was your expertise like?
