Watch out for VAT on Tesco Clubcard stays at Marriott Hotels

njsb14

Just a word of caution, the rates quoted by Marriott when booking Hotel room with Tesco Clubcard Deal tokens don't include 17.5% VAT, or certainly don't include VAT in Marriott London hotels.

Just come back from a stay at 5* London Marriott Hotel Park Lane, booked with clubcard tokens, room rate £199 inc breakfast = £50 clubcard vouchers.
But they then add 17.5% VAT to room rate = £233.83.

I did spot this before the stay, so didn't come as a surprise, only had £140 in Tesco Clubcard Deal Tokens, so topped up with discounted Leisure Vouchers (discounted as I buy then through Countdown Card https://www.countdowncard.com).

Had the most amazing stay, booked basic no view room, arrived for early checking at 12 noon, expected room not to be ready and have to leave luggage in left luggage room. But got upgraded to a Suite (normally costing £600 per night room only), one of only 9 in the hotel, huge seperate sitting room overlooking Marble Arch, Huge Bedroom overlooking Hyde Park, two bathrooms, etc.

It might have helped that I had enrolled on Marriott's reward programme via their website (https://www.marriott.co.uk) and the programme allows the reward points to be automatically converted into Tesco Clubcard Points !!!

I had pre-ordered some chocolate covered strawberry's, but they weren't in room on arrival, had to chase for them, and when they arrived they also delivered a complimentary Birthday Cake for my wife and didn't charge for the Strawberry's.

We had dinner in the hotel's top 140 Park Lane restaurant, booked table via https://www.toptable.co.uk and got 50% discount off the food, charged back to room so able to pay with discounted Leisure Vouchers !!!

Also took my wife to the theatre using discounted (also via https://www.countdowncard.com) Theatre Tokens.

So overall had top weekend but used my money saving skills to reduce price.

The Customer Services Manager checked us out, he didn't seem too amused that we stayed in top suite, and I paid him using Tesco Clubcard Deals Tokens, Discounted Leisure Vouchers and 20p Cash !!!

crd3000

Blimey, that's my sort of weekend )

I go to the ends of the earth to try and find the cheapest, best possible prices for travel. This sounds a great deal that you got. Marriott are very flexible on upgrading you, they will always go the extra mile, but... a suite, well done you!! A fantastic result!

My best deal with Marriott was when someone in their accounts dept. missed a zero off a price on late rooms meaning I paid £14 instead of £140 for a double room with breakfast at the York Marriott, the rates there very rarely go below £130 per night. That rate was for up to 2 people too, but as it happens I was on my own that night, the breakfast alone should've been £17.50 per person!

Regards,
Caroline.