***THIS LIST IS NO LONGER VALID UNDER THE NEW PROGRAM***
With most of us earning a category 1-5 certificate each year with our Marriott Rewards credit card or occasionally from a MegaBonus, it's important to know some places to redeem it.
Many have lamented the fact that there are few (if any) category 5 or lower properties in desirable locations, so I've put together a list of suggestions. Many may not be in the most popular destinations, but there are probably more options than most people realize.
I used the following criteria
- Only full service properties are included (Marriott, Renaissance, Delta, Autograph, MVC, and even one JW Marriott).
- Located in the USA (I welcome others to make similar lists for other areas it they are so inclined)
- Category 5 or lower
This list is not comprehensive. I've included as many of the of the full service category 5 properties as I could find. There are even some category 4 and 3 locations. I hope I got most of them, but if not, remember this is just a guide to possible places to use certificates.
There are certainly gaps across the country. Hopefully there are some interesting places where Insiders might put their certificates to good use. I've marked the few properties at which I've stayed with
Category 5 properties
Alabama
Luxury Hotels in Downtown Mobile, AL | Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel
Montgomery, Alabama Luxury Hotel | Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa
Hotels in Prattville, AL | Montgomery Marriott Prattville Hotel Capitol Hill
Arizona
Marriott Mesa AZ Hotel near Convention Center & Best Reception Hall in Mesa AZ
Tucson Marriott University Park: Tucson hotel accommodations
California
Hotels In Irvine CA | Irvine Marriott Hotel
Hotels in Pleasanton, CA | Pleasanton Marriott |Hotels near Dublin, CA
Rancho Cordova Hotels - Luxury Hotels in Rancho Cordova near Sacramento, CA
Riverside Hotels | Riverside CA Hotels | Riverside California Hotels
Hotels in San Ramon, CA | San Ramon Marriott
Colorado
USAFA & Colorado Springs Luxury Hotel | Colorado Springs Marriott
Denver Stapleton Hotels | Renaissance Denver Hotel
South Denver Hotels Near Park Meadows I Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows
Downtown Hartford Hotels | Hartford Marriott Downtown | Connecticut Convention
Florida
Coral Springs Hotels | Hotels Coral Springs, Florida
Hotel in Pompano, Florida - Near Cypress Creek | Fort Lauderdale Marriott North
Orlando Marriott Lake Mary: Lake Mary hotel accommodations
Villa Rentals in Miami, Florida | Marriott's Villas at Doral (a Marriott Vacation Club )
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Hotel | Palm Beach Gardens Marriott
World Golf Village Hotel | World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort
Georgia
Hotels in Alpharetta, GA | Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta
The Hotel at Avalon, Autograph Collection: Alpharetta Unique Hotels
Atlanta, GA Hotel Near Atlanta Airport | Atlanta Airport Marriott
Hotels in Northwest Atlanta by Marietta | Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria
Cobb Galleria Hotel | Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center
Hotels in Augusta, GA | Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center
Illinois
Chicago Airport Hotel | Chicago Marriott O’Hare
Hotels Near O’Hare | Renaissance Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel
Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Conference Center
Indiana
Delta Hotels Indianapolis East: Indianapolis Hotels and Resorts
Iowa
Hotels in Des Moines Iowa | Des Moines Marriott Downtown
Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel, Iowa Hotels
Kansas
Hotels In Overland Park KS | Overland Park Marriott
Unique Wichita, KS, Hotel | Autograph Collection Hotels
Kentucky
Cincinnati Airport Hotels - Hotel near CVG Airport - Cincinnati Airport Park Here, Fly There Hotel https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ictak-ambassador-hotel-wichita-autograph-collection/
Baton Rouge Hotels | Renaissance by Marriott | Hotel in Baton Rouge
Hotel in Baton Rouge | WATERMARK Baton Rouge, Autograph Collection
Maryland
Hotel in Bethesda, MD | Bethesda Marriott
Hotel in Bethesda, MD | Bethesda Marriott Suites
Hotels near College Park, MD | Greenbelt Marriott
Delta Hotels Baltimore Hunt Valley | Hunt Valley, MD Hotels near Towson
BWI Airport Hotel | BWI Airport Marriott
Hotels in Bethesda, MD | Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
Massachusetts
Downtown Springfield, Massachusetts Hotel | Tower Square Hotel Springfield
Michigan
Hotel in Baton Rouge | WATERMARK Baton Rouge, Autograph Collection (former Ritz-Carlton)
Hotels in Dearborn | The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel (several Insiders recommend this property)
Delta Hotels Grand Rapids Airport: Grand Rapids Hotels and Resorts
Detroit Area Hotels | The Baronette Renaissance Detroit - Novi Hotel
Minnesota
Hotels Near MSP Airport with Shuttle Service | Minneapolis Airport Marriott
Downtown Minneapolis Hotel | Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot
Missouri
Hotels in Kansas City MO | Kansas City Marriott Downtown
Hotels In Omaha NE | Omaha Hotels | Omaha Marriott
New Jersey
Hotel in Bridgewater, NJ - New Jersey | Bridgewater Marriott
Hotels in Woodbridge, Iselin, NJ | Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel
Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel - Hotel Meadowlands
Bergen County Hotels in Saddle Brook, NJ near Garfield | Saddle Brook Marriott
Hotel in Morristown, NJ - East Hanover | Hanover Marriott
New York
Hotel Near Airport on Wolf Road in Albany, NY | Albany Marriott
Renaissance Albany Hotel: Albany Distinctive Hotels
Buffalo Hotels near Niagara Falls | Buffalo Marriott Niagara | Amherst NY Hotels
Hotels Near West Point, NY - Tarrytown Hotels | Westchester Marriott
Garden City, Long Island Hotel | Long Island Marriott
Delta Hotels Utica: Utica Hotels and Resorts
Westchester Hotel Near Rye, NY | Renaissance Westchester Hotel
North Carolina
Charlotte, NC Hotel | Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel
Hotels in Charlotte, NC | Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel
Greensboro Airport Hotel – Greensboro-High Point Marriot Airport
Raleigh, NC Hotels | Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley
Welcome to the Winston-Salem, NC Marriott Hotel.
North Dakota
Delta Hotels Fargo: Fargo Hotels and Resorts
Ohio
Columbus Airport Hotels | Columbus Airport Marriott Hotel
German Village Hotel | Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel
Dayton Hotel: Marriott Hotel in Dayton, Ohio, Located Near UD and Wright-Patt AFB
Hotels in Mason, OH – Cincinnati Marriott Northeast
Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel: Toledo Distinctive Hotel
Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel: Westerville Distinctive Hotels (opens April 2018)
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Convention Center | Renaissance | Cox Convention Center Hotels
Boutique Hotels in Oklahoma City, OK | Renaissance Waterford Oklahoma City Hotel
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Airport (PHL) Hotel | Renaissance Philadelphia Airport Hotel
South Carolina
Hotels in Greenville, SC - Marriott Greenville SC - Greenville Marriott
North Charleston Marriott Hotel - Marriott hotel near Charleston Airport
Spartanburg, SC Hotels near Greenville – Spartanburg Marriott
Tennessee
Downtown Knoxville, TN Hotel | Knoxville Marriott (soon to be a Delta Hotel)
Texas
Dallas Suites | Dallas Marriott Suites Medical/Market Center
Hotels in Dallas TX | Renaissance Dallas Hotel
Luxury Houston Galleria hotels | JW Marriott Houston (Yes, a category 5 JW )
DFW airport hotel | Dallas Fort Worth Airport Marriott
Plano, Texas Hotel | Dallas/Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center
Luxury Hotel in Plano, TX| Renaissance
San Antonio Hotels | Marriott Plaza San Antonio
Sugar Land Hotels | Sugar Land Marriott Town Square
Utah
Hotel in Provo, Utah | Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
Virginia
Dulles Airport Hotels | Marriott Washington Dulles Airport
Glen Allen Hotels in Short Pump, VA | Richmond Marriott Short Pump
City Center Hotels in Newport News, VA | Newport News Marriott at City Center
Hotel in Downtown Norfolk, VA | Norfolk Waterside Marriott
Hotel Portsmouth VA | Renaissance Portsmouth-Norfolk Waterfront Hotel
Tysons Corner, VA Hotel | Tysons Corner Marriott
Washington
Bellevue Hotels in Washington | Seattle Marriott Bellevue
Delta Hotels Seattle Everett: Everett Hotels and Resorts
Spokane Hotels | The Davenport Grand, Autograph Collection
Spokane, Washington Boutique Hotels | The Davenport Lusso, Autograph Collection
Luxury Hotels Spokane, WA | The Davenport Tower, Autograph Collection
West Virginia
Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place: Morgantown
Wisconsin
Madison Marriott West: Middleton
Not enough? Here are some more options.
Category 4 properties
Alabama
Birmingham Hotels – Luxury Hotels In Birmingham - Marriott in Birmingham, Alabama
Arkansas
Hotels in Little Rock, Arkansas | Little Rock Marriott
California
Hotels in Visalia, CA | Visalia Marriott at the Convention Center
Colorado
Denver Marriott Tech Center | Denver Tech Center Hotels
Connecticut
Stamford Hotel | Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa, Hotel Stamford, CT
Hotels in Trumbull, CT | Trumbull Marriott Merritt Parkway
Windsor, CT Hotels - Bradley International Airport Hotels – BDL Airport Hotels
Florida
Hotels in South Jacksonville, Florida | Jacksonville Marriott
Georgia
Hotel near Atlanta GA - Atlanta Marriott Century Center
Hotels in Dunwoody, GA | Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center
Hotels in Downtown Columbus, GA | Columbus Marriott
Illinois
Hotels near Southwest Chicago | Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge
Hotel in Downers Grove, IL | Chicago Marriott Suites Downers Grove
Chicago Marriott Naperville: Naperville hotel accommodations
Hotel in Northbrook, IL | Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel
Hotels in Oak Brook, IL | Chicago Marriott Oak Brook, IL, Hotel
Hotel in Schaumburg | Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel
Iowa
Cedar Rapids Marriott: Cedar Rapids hotel accommodations
Marriott West Des Moines Hotel | Hotels in West Des Moines IA
Kentucky
Cincinnati Airport Hotels - Hotel near CVG Airport - Cincinnati Airport Hotel
Louisiana
Hotels Baton Rouge Downtown | Baton Rouge Marriott
Maryland
Hotels in Gaithersburg, MD | Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center
Detroit Marriott Livonia Hotel at Laurel Park | Livonia, MI hotel
Detroit Airport Hotels | Detroit Metro Airport Marriott
Hotel in Troy, MI | Detroit Marriott Troy
Minnesota
Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park Hotels | Minneapolis Marriott Northwest
Minneapolis Hotels - Marriott Minneapolis West/St. Louis Park
Minneapolis Marriott Southwest Hotel in Minnetonka
Missouri
Hotels near Kansas City Airport KCI | Kansas City Airport Marriott
Marriott Hotel in St. Louis Missouri, a Convenient St. Louis, MO Airport Hotel
Hotel in St. Louis, MO - Near Chesterfield | Marriott St. Louis West
Hotel Near Lambert-St. Louis Airport | Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel
Nebraska
Delta Hotels South Sioux City Riverfront: South Sioux City Hotels and Resorts
New Jersey
Hotel in Bergen County, NJ | Park Ridge Marriott
New Mexico
Hotel in North Albuquerque, NM Near Downtown | Albuquerque Marriott
Albuquerque, New Mexico Hotels | Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North
New York
Rochester NY Hotels | Rochester Airport Marriott
North Carolina
Durham Hotels | Durham, NC Hotels | Research Triangle Park Hotels in Durham
Tuttle Crossing Hotels in Dublin – Columbus Marriott Northwest
Hotels In Beachwood Ohio | Cleveland Marriott East
West Chester Hotels between Dayton and Cincinnati | Cincinnati Marriott North
Oklahoma
Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center: Tulsa Distinctive Hotels
Pennsylvania
Hotel Near Pittsburgh International Airport | Pittsburgh Airport Marriott
Cranberry Township Hotels | Pittsburgh Marriott North
Texas
Renaissance Dallas Galleria Hotel: Addison Distinctive Hotels (opening March 2018)
Hotels in Fort Worth, TX | DFW Marriott Hotel & Golf Club at Champions Circle
Hotel Paso Del Norte, Autograph Collection: El Paso Unique Hotels
Galleria Houston 4-Star Hotel | Houston Marriott West Loop by The Galleria
Hotel Las Colinas Irving, TX | Dallas Marriott Las Colinas
Hotels in Round Rock, Texas near Austin | Austin Marriott North
Southlake hotel | Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Solana
Virginia
Chantilly, VA Hotel - Northern Virginia | Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles
Delta Hotels Chesapeake: Chesapeake Hotels and Resorts
Fairfax Hotels in Fair Oaks, VA | Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks
Hotels in Falls Church, VA | Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park
Herndon, VA Hotel - Near Reston | Washington Dulles Marriott Suites
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/phfoy-newport-news-marriott-at-city-center/
West Virginia
Hotels in Charleston, West Virginia | Charleston Marriott Town Center
Wisconsin
Hotels in Milwaukee, WI | Hotels Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee, WI Hotels
There are even a couple dozen category 3 full service properties. Here are some. (this is not a complete list)
Huntsville Marriott at the Space & Rocket Center
Mobile Hotels - Hotels in Mobile Alabama | Mobile Marriott
Bakersfield Hotels: Bakersfield Hotel - Bakersfield, CA Hotels
West Hartford, CT Hotel - Newington | Hartford Marriott Farmington
Atlanta Hotels | Atlanta Marriott Norcross
Deerfield hotels - Deerfield, Illinois hotels - hotels in Deerfield, IL
Delta Hotels Chicago North Shore: Glenview Hotels and Resorts
Hotels near Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg, Illinois | Chicago Marriott Northwest
Lincolnshire Hotels - North Shore Chicago Hotel | Lincolnshire Marriott
Hotels in Peoria | Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette | Peoria Hotels
Hotels in Schaumburg, Illinois | Chicago Marriott Schaumburg
Hotel in East Wichita, KS | Wichita Marriott
Hotels in Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Baton Rouge Marriott
Auburn Hills Hotels in Pontiac, Michigan I Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac
Detroit Hotels | Detroit Marriott Southfield Hotel
Hotel in Jackson, MS | Jackson Marriott
Hotel Near Cleveland Hopkins | Cleveland Airport Marriott
Hotel Tulsa, Oklahoma | Marriott Tulsa Hotel Southern Hills
Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum Galleria | Addison, TX Hotels
El Paso, TX Hotel | El Paso Marriott
DFW Airport Hotel near Irving, TX – Fort Worth Hotels near DFW Airport
West Houston Energy Corridor Hotels | Houston Marriott Energy Corridor
Hotel in Richardson, TX | Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel
San Antonio Marriott Northwest | Hotel Near San Antonio Airport
Racine Architect Hotel & Conference Center: Racine Hotels and Resorts
How about a few category 2 full-service locations?
North Houston Hotels near George Bush Airport | Houston Marriott North
Houston Galleria Hotels | Houston Marriott Westchase
Historic Hotel in McAllen, TX | Renaissance Hotels
This list doesn't eveninclude the hundreds (probably over a thousand) of Fairfield Inns, Courtyards, Residence Inns, AC Hotels, SpringHill Suites, or TownePlace Suites.
Certainly this list won't please everyone. We all know areas of the country with no full service properties below category 6 (like NYC, San Francisco, Hawaii, and many other popular destinations). I hope it gives Insiders some ideas and allows all of us to redeem the certificates we get each year from the MR Visa card. It would be sad if too many of those certs go unused
Happy Travels
Message was edited by: bejacob to update the list to reflect 2018 hotel categories
Marriott at Sugarland Tx Towncenter is a cat 5 worth checking out.
I stayed there 4 days last week and the location was perfect. Plenty of restaurants, shopping and activity. The rooms were ok (like cat 3), the staff was great. Only about 20 minutes from downtown Houston.