In November, I went on a unique round-the-world trip to take advantage of a phenomenal promotion that gave 1 million SAS airline points. I was able to do it at a very low *net* cost because I was already planning a trip to Asia to stay at Marriott hotels. So I wanted to share with you my impressions of the 15 Marriott hotels I was able to try.
I’ve already given my general impressions of my trip. A more detailed post is coming; sign up for Flytrippers’ free newsletter to receive all our content.
But I want to start with at least my general impressions of the 15 Marriott hotels, before eventually doing detailed reviews of each one.
Here is a teaser of my hotel reviews from my round-the-world trip (and as a bonus at the end, the 3 hostels I tried too, if you’re interested).
Requalifying for my Marriott Bonvoy elite status is why I was already going to Asia in the fall, so I had to stay at hotels from the Marriott Bonvoy chain, meaning hotels where you can earn or redeem Marriott points.
I had to do this because last year, I missed the winter Marriott promotion that cuts the qualification requirements for status by half. It’s actually in effect right now, which is why I’m heading back to Asia this week!
(I booked my 13-hour transpacific flight in very luxurious business class worth $3603 for just 75,000 Aeroplan points and $93 (CA$133). That’s a value of 6.7¢/pt! That’s why precious Aeroplan points can be worth so much more than the terrible value of barely more than 1¢/pt that many unfortunately settle for on Air Canada flights!)
In the more detailed posts about the trip, I’ll also include the price I paid for each hotel and examples of cheaper prices you can find on other dates; there’s a very good chance you’ll have slightly more flexibility than me who took 21 flights in 24 days and had very fixed dates for each place.
I’m listing the 15 hotels in the approximate order of the interest they’ll generate, in my opinion.
Hotel #1: Bali — Fairfield by Marriott Bali Legian
The Fairfield by Marriott Bali Legian hotel is 1 of 2 beautiful hotels in Bali that often cost less than 30,000 Marriott points for 5 nights. So you’d get almost 10 free nights just with the welcome bonus from the Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card (20 nights if your travel companion gets it too).
The Indonesian island is beautiful, even though it’s even more crowded and touristy than when I went the 1st time. After all this time we’ve been telling you about these good uses of Marriott points in this very popular destination, I was finally able to try them myself. This one was my favorite of the 2 hotels!
In case you didn’t know, everything related to travel is obviously better in Asia. That includes midscale hotel brands like Fairfield, which are pretty much in line with the premium level when you’re in Asia.
The hotel’s location in Kuta, a few minutes walk from the beach, was really ideal. The pool was beautiful. The room was great. I highly recommend it.
By the way, for a bit more luxury at a still-low price, I also recommend the Element Bali Ubud that I loved in 2019! Kevin, the other co-founder of Flytrippers, has also tried 2 other Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Bali last year, so we’ll be able to write a summary post for you on all these options soon.
Stay tuned for more about the Fairfield by Marriott Bali Legian hotel.
Hotel #2: Bali — Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Ungasan
The Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Ungasan hotel costs even less in points. It’s crazy how affordable it is. It’s located in the south of the island, further from the coast.
The room was beautiful, and overall the hotel was certainly not ugly or anything. I found some common areas a bit less well maintained than in the other hotel, but nothing dramatic at all. Just trying to explain why I prefer the other one.
This hotel is also a bit more in the middle of nowhere. Some more vacationer-type travelers who don’t leave their hotel won’t see this as a drawback, but with little time in Bali, I prefer to be in Kuta directly.
However, I would probably spend 5 nights in each if I stayed 10 nights on the island (I’m actually hesitating to go back there next week or go to Java island, where there are plenty of other very cheap Marriotts, to see something different).
The view of the greenery from the infinity pool was great. The huge Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue, one of the largest in the world, is just next to the hotel as well.
Stay tuned for more about the Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Ungasan hotel.
Hotel #3: Ho Chi Minh City — Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection
The Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection hotel is a luxury hotel where I used a precious Marriott annual free night certificate to get my stay for free. Vietnam’s southern metropolis doesn’t have a ton of Marriott options, and the low-price one is poorly located.
I made an excellent choice. It was by far my favorite hotel on this trip. The hotel is located in the country’s tallest tower, nothing less. My corner room on the 62nd floor, with floor-to-ceiling widows, had one of the best views I’ve ever had in a hotel.
It was the ultimate luxury. Everything was so beautiful. I love hotel chain brands that are collections, which are a grouping of unique and non-standardized hotels. These are even my favorite brands.
The only thing I didn’t like …was that my flight’s diversion to Cambodia meant I couldn’t spend more time at the hotel. It’s really an amazing property!
Stay tuned for more about the Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection hotel.
Hotel #4: Taipei — Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel
The Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel is another luxury hotel where I used a Marriott annual free night certificate. For such an affordable city (and I absolutely loved it), Marriott hotels are quite expensive. There are better deals elsewhere on the island of Taiwan.
My friend, who organizes the Chicago travel rewards event where I’m a speaker, was in town at the same time and was staying in this hotel. That definitely tipped the scales, but it’s also one of the most iconic hotels in the city and it was great.
The free dinner in the VIP hotel lounge (for those with elite status) was delicious, with several local dishes. The hotel’s spa is free to access and has a thermal spa, steam room, and sauna.
The hotel is located in the center of the city. I was able to walk to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the Ximending district, Taipei Main Station… and the subway was just 1 block away to reach the rest. An ideal location, as is often the case for luxury hotels.
Stay tuned for more about the Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel.
Hotel #5: Petra — Petra Marriott Hotel
The Petra Marriott Hotel is a luxurious 5-star hotel that costs a bit more points but has one of the best views imaginable. And Petra, one of the 7 wonders of the world, is absolutely worth the trip! I included Jordan on my itinerary specifically for that!
Watching the sunset over the mountains from the hotel was breathtaking. The hotel was in very good condition, even if it was not the most modern in the common areas. The room seemed more renovated and was very nice too.
There was a sauna and a steam room. It was an excellent experience there, too! It’s the only time during the trip that I had a rental car, but if you don’t have one, the hotel even has a free shuttle to the entrance of the Petra archaeological site.
The Jordanian food in the restaurant overlooking the beautiful view was very delicious. Unfortunately, the hotel is not that big so there’s no VIP lounge for elite members, though.
Stay tuned for more about the Petra Marriott Hotel.
Hotel #6: Amman — Amman Marriott Hotel
The Amman Marriott Hotel is also not the best use of points if you want more free nights. But for a more luxurious hotel, it’s still very few points. And it’s very interesting if you want to explore the Jordanian capital a bit.
The hotel wasn’t the most modern either, but it was still very nice. And they treat elite members very well. I got a free upgrade to a huge suite with a dining room and living room.
The hotel’s VIP lounge for elite members didn’t offer meals since it was the weekend, but they offered a complete delicious free meal at the hotel restaurant as a substitute. The hotel spa had an indoor pool and a huge jacuzzi with massage jets, as well as an outdoor pool.
The location was convenient, right next to one of the airport bus’ stops. It’s pretty central, although Amman is a city with a rather strange layout. Overall, it was an excellent hotel that I’d like to revisit since I didn’t have much time in Amman due to my canceled flight.
Stay tuned for more about the Amman Marriott Hotel.
Hotel #7: Bucharest – Moxy Bucharest Old Town
The Moxy Bucharest Old Town hotel is certainly not as luxurious, but it’s one of the best Marriott points redemptions in Europe for those who want to pay as few points as possible.
I loved the city of Bucharest when I went a few years ago, and I loved it again this time. Everything is so much better in the East when it comes to Europe. And I loved the hotel’s location right in the old town. Unbeatable.
Moxy is the most casual and “young” brand of Marriott hotels. Yes, the rooms are more functional and small, but I like that they’re all modern (the Moxy brand has only existed for a few years).
Above all, I like the social atmosphere of the lobby/bar. It’s a bit like a hostel lobby, but one that allows you to have a modern and clean private room and the advantages of hotel chains in terms of rewards and elite privileges.
Stay tuned for more about the Moxy Bucharest Old Town hotel.
Hotel #8: Bangkok — Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11
The Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 hotel is not the most luxurious either, but I know how much many people love the Thai capital and it’s a relatively good points redemption.
The hotel was very nice and especially well located in the central Sukhumvit district.
The rooms were the typical Aloft brand rooms that don’t often vary from one country to another. I personally like them. I rarely travel to stay locked inside my room, so I’m certainly less of a luxury type in that regard.
The view from the pool was excellent, too. I’ll go back without hesitation when I return to Bangkok (but I’d still like there to be a cheaper Marriott option someday in this iconic and popular city).
Stay tuned for more about the Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 hotel.
Hotel #9: Paris — Moxy Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
The Moxy Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport hotel is an airport hotel, so it’s obviously not interesting to visit Paris. But it’s not a bad points redemption, surprisingly.
And Paris is often the ideal destination for the self-transfer tip to go anywhere else in Europe. Especially if you live in Montreal. There’s a new ultra low-cost carrier I talked about on a TV news program, with Montreal–Paris flights often in the $278 (CA$400) roundtrip range, which we spot on our flight deals page (although those land at Paris-Orly airport).
I was able to use my food and beverage credit (a privilege of elite status) to eat for free in the evening and although it’s not a high-end restaurant, I found it perfectly fine.
The advantage of this hotel is not even having to wait for a shuttle: I was able to walk to the hotel in the evening and in the morning (taking the short and free airport train). It’s really right next door.
Stay tuned for more about the Moxy Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport hotel.
Hotel #10: Singapore — Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, Riverview
The Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, Riverview hotel is another one where I used a Marriott annual free night certificate. The city-state of Singapore is obviously the only expensive place in a radius of thousands of kilometers, so it was mainly to save money.
It was very nice; as I said, Four Points by Sheraton hotels are more premium in Asia. But it’s still not the level of luxury I usually dedicate my precious certificates to. But this time, I chose to maximize the amount of money saved rather than maximize the quality of my stay (that’s the perpetual dilemma with hotel points, but even more for airline points due to how business class is so much better than economy class).
The hotel was very nice, with a beautiful room and a nice view of the Singapore River, as the name promised. The location was absolutely ideal; that’s mainly what mattered to me with the little time I had in an amazing city I had loved the 1st time.
I was able to walk to Chinatown to eat at the famous hawker centers and even all the way to the modern Marina Bay district. The metro station was also just 2 blocks away.
Stay tuned for more about the Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, Riverview hotel.
Hotel #11: Xiamen — Sheraton Xiamen Hotel
The Sheraton Xiamen Hotel was a great deal right in the center of the surprising and pleasant city of Xiamen, in the coastal province of Fujian, China (roughly halfway between Hong Kong and Shanghai).
The luxury hotel was very nice, with a beautiful room. Like many older Sheratons, the style is very traditional but this one is very well maintained.
The location allowed for exploring the city, near a station to access the metro that was super affordable, efficient, and well-developed (like in the 9 Chinese cities I was able to discover).
The hotel had an indoor pool. The VIP lounge had a rather limited choice for dinner, but it was more than compensated by the fact that there was a free massage chair (it felt better than I expected from a chair).
Stay tuned for more about the Sheraton Xiamen Hotel.
Hotel #12: Guangzhou — Aloft Guangzhou University Park
The Aloft Guangzhou University Park hotel was one of the cheapest that wasn’t too far from downtown Guangzhou, the city at the center of China’s 2nd-most populous metropolitan area (and the 12th largest in the world). A huge city that nevertheless flies under the radar so much.
I really liked Guangzhou; that’s where I landed on my very 1st visit to Asia (excluding the Middle East). But I decided to go a bit further this time because I found the concept very cool: the hotel is on a unique green island where there are only universities (10 universities with more than 100,000 students).
The hotel was a typical Aloft, very nice and modern. The neighborhood was really cool and dynamic, with plenty of delicious and extremely affordable street food. The metro station was also very close, so it was easy to go downtown, too.
As is the case at almost all Marriott hotel brands, breakfast was free with my elite status, and it was very good. Like almost everywhere outside terrible North America, it’s an elaborate breakfast with a great hot buffet and even a made-to-order omelet station.
Stay tuned for more about the Aloft Guangzhou University Park hotel.
Hotel #13: Nanjing — Marriott Nanjing South Hotel
The Marriott Nanjing South Hotel is a great luxury hotel, but it’s located a bit far from the center of the historic city of Nanjing, in Eastern China. I got it for free, thanks to my credit card’s free flight delay insurance (like I have over a dozen times before).
When my flight to Seoul was canceled, my criteria were the proximity to the airport and the most expensive Marriott hotel possible (to earn more Marriott points for future stays).
The hotel seemed brand new and was stunning. The room had a very yellow ambiance, but it was very luxurious. Like many on this list, they had food as a welcome kit for me (in addition to the mandatory welcome gift for elite members).
It was also close to a metro station, which is convenient to go to the airport or downtown (I really enjoyed exploring this city, which is one of the country’s 4 historical capitals).
Stay tuned for more about the Marriott Nanjing South Hotel.
Hotel #14: Xiamen — Courtyard Xiamen Haicang
The Courtyard Xiamen Haicang hotel is the other hotel I tried in Xiamen, which is even cheaper than the Sheraton.
It was brand new and even shared the common areas (lobby, pool, gym, etc.) with a more luxurious flagship Marriott hotel, so it was really an excellent value for money.
My food and beverage credit with my elite status was redeemable in the upscale restaurant at the Marriott hotel and I ate a delicious beef noodle soup.
The only drawback of the hotel is its location on the shore facing Xiamen Island, and not on the island itself. But it’s literally just one metro stop away from the island, and the station is right next to the hotel.
Stay tuned for more about the Courtyard Xiamen Haicang hotel.
Hotel #15: Seattle — Fairfield Inn & Suites Seattle Sea-Tac Airport
The Fairfield Inn & Suites Seattle Sea-Tac Airport hotel is among the cheapest Marriott options if you happen to need an airport hotel in the Pacific Northwest metropolis.
I put it last because it’s typical of a mid-range airport hotel in the terrible countries that are the United States and Canada. Perfectly fine, but nothing extraordinary.
It was clean, and the airport shuttle arrived quickly. That’s what mattered in this case. It offers free breakfast for everyone, but I didn’t need it because my flight to Miami was early in the morning and I have free access to the superb Amex Centurion airport lounge with much better food.
I stayed at this hotel after getting off my transpacific flight, so it counts as part of the trip… but it’s obviously not one of the highlights!
Stay tuned for more about the Fairfield Inn & Suites Seattle Sea-Tac Airport hotel.
Hostels: Seoul, New York, Taipei (and Miami)
To be exhaustive and cover all the accommodations of my round-the-world trip, here are also the 3 hostels I tried.
(I’m excluding my 2 usual ones in Miami at the end of the round-the-world trip because that was sort of a separate trip. The Viajero Miami and the Generator Miami, at as low as $30 per night, are wonderful to combine with flights often in the $139 (CA$200) roundtrip range and escaping winter for cheap as I do at least once every year!)
It’s certainly less luxurious, but hostels are great to save money and/or meet other travelers.
I extended my trip by 3 more nights than the number of nights I needed to requalify for my Marriott Bonvoy elite status, so I stayed in hostels in the 3 cities where Marriott hotels cost the most (in cash or in points).
This obviously includes New York, like all cities in the terrible expensive countries like Canada and the United States. It includes Seoul (South Korea), which is the only expensive Asian city I visited on this trip, apart from Singapore. And it includes Taipei (Taiwan), which as mentioned, was affordable for everything… except for Marriott hotels (that happens).
Hostel #1: Seoul — Jin’s Paradise
The Jin’s Paradise hostel was in the Hongdae University district, which was very cool to explore.
After my misadventure of a 23-hour delayed flight and the overall unpleasant experience at Seoul airport, I decided to just book the hostel that was closest to the airport.
The experience was fairly typical of a small, cheap hostel. The people were friendly, but I went to bed pretty quickly; my next flight was early the next morning. There was also a rooftop with a nice view.
Hostel #2: New York — NY Moore Hostel
The NY Moore Hostel is in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. I had never visited Brooklyn despite several visits to New York, so I chose a hostel there.
Especially since it’s about halfway between Penn Station (where I arrived by train; what a nightmare) and New York-Kennedy Airport (where my flight itinerary began).
The hostel was very nice, but I experienced one of the strangest anecdotes from my dozens of hostel stays there. Story to come in the post about the trip.
Hostel #3: Taipei — Easymind Guesthouse
The Easymind Guesthouse hostel was actually the most pleasant of the 3. It was very small, but it was super clean, with a nice atmosphere and a friendly owner. It’s located right in the center of the city, near the metro.
To my great surprise, I didn’t take any photos. It shows that I was a bit less alert after all those flights (Taipei was my very last stop). The only photo I took was of a Taiwanese snack a German roommate kindly offered me when I arrived.
This gives me 2 ideas to share to conclude this overview of my accommodations.
First, it’s to illustrate my strategy for saving money with hostels sometimes. My flight arrived late at night in Taipei. The next day, I was going to the luxurious Sheraton and as an elite member, I can almost always get my room very early (often in the morning even). So I was literally just going to the hostel to sleep; I don’t mind saving this way in these situations.
Finally, it illustrates well what I explain about my travel style. I adapt to all situations to always maximize. And I’m flexible. One night I’m in a hostel at $18 (CA$26) per night, and the next in a 5-star hotel at $209 (CA$300) per night. When you want to travel for less, it’s not that difficult. You just have to want to!
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Summary
This teaser of my Marriott hotel reviews from my November round-the-world trip is to share my impressions of each property I tried. If you’re interested, stay tuned for the detailed reviews.
What would you like to know about the hotels from my round-the-world trip? Tell us in the comments below.
See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights
Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards
Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration
Learn pro tricks: Travel tips
