Arriving at 1am any options? Easiest way to 11k points

[ross]

Hi All

I’ve got a night booked in Entebbe, Uganda, using Bonvoy points.

Check in is 2pm on 8 June
But, I arrive at 1am on 8 June.

Is my only option to book an entire nights stay for the day before (check in 7 check out 8 June, in addition to my 8 to 9 June booking)

Or, does Marriott have any thing that might help.

If not a nights stay is:

11,000 Bonvoy points (I have 1k points left)
or
£190

So would it be better to convert Amex MR to Bonvoy?

Many thanks and sorry for all the questions!

[Peter K]

You say you arrive at 1am? Is that at the airport? If so, when will you actually likely arrive at the hotel? And might a cheap hotel by the airport be better?

Just thinking that if you’ll arrive at the hotel at say 3am, you’ll not get much sleep and you’ll have to let them know in advance of your very late check-in or they’ll mark your as a no show.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Arriving at 3am likely to be far too early for a day rate room.

And too early to rely on any sort of early check in benefit.

Sometimes booking the night before is the only way to go to ensure a room is ready for your late arrival time and not require you to move hotels etc

[Matt]

In answer to the points/cash question, 11000 Marriott points are clearly worth much, much less than £190 (at the HfP standard of 0.5p/point they’d be worth £55). Even at the not entirely generous Amex conversion rate you’d still be better off converting Amex points, so I’d do that if you can (would be just under 7500 Amex points).

I would agree with the idea of booking a hotel near the airport, or if not then the one you’re staying at the next night, and warning them in advance that you’ll be there late. No idea about hotels in Entebbe though.

[ross]

Thanks very much all!

Will go for the points and book an extra night.

[strickers]

As said already it’s really important to let the hotel know you will be arriving very late, I’d even give them your flight number in case it’s delayed. There’s a risk they’ll mark you as a no-show if you don’t and they’ll resell your room.

[Rob]

Also check that you get the elite night credit for the extra night. Some hotels have a midnight cut-off in terms of reporting that someone did check-in.

[ross]

Thanks very much all. Am in contact with the hotel. They will be picking me up!