You've had an incredible stay at a Marriott property, the bed is impossibly comfortable, the breakfast buffet is divine, and the pool is just too inviting to leave. Suddenly, the thought hits you: why leave at all? Extending your Marriott stay can be a fantastic way to stretch out your vacation or manage unexpected changes in your travel plans. But how do you go about it, and what should you keep in mind?
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about extending your Marriott stay, from checking availability to understanding potential rate changes and leveraging your Marriott Bonvoy status.
Step 1: Act Fast and Check Availability!
So, you've decided to extend your stay? Excellent choice! The very first and most crucial step is to check for room availability for your desired extended dates. Marriott properties are popular, and rooms can book up quickly, especially during peak seasons or at highly sought-after locations.
Sub-heading: Why Early Action is Key
The sooner you act, the better your chances. Hotels always prefer to keep an existing guest than find a new one, but they can only do so if a room is available. Last-minute requests might mean the room you're currently in is already booked for someone else, forcing you to switch rooms or, worse, switch hotels.
Sub-heading: How to Check Availability
There are a few convenient ways to check if your room or a similar one is available for your extended dates:
At the Front Desk (Recommended for immediate needs): This is often the easiest and quickest way if you're already at the hotel. Simply walk down to the front desk and inquire. They can check their system instantly and often provide you with options on the spot.
Through the Marriott Bonvoy App: If you're a tech-savvy traveler, the Marriott Bonvoy app is a powerful tool.
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Navigate to "Trips" or "My Trips."
Select your current reservation.
Look for an option to "Modify Reservation" or "Change Dates."
Follow the prompts to enter your new desired checkout date. The app will then show you available rooms and rates.
On the Marriott Website (marriott.com): Similar to the app, you can modify your reservation online.
Go to marriott.com and log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Click on "My Trips" at the top of the screen.
Find your current reservation and click "View/Modify Room" or "Modify Reservation."
You'll be able to adjust your departure date and see available room types and rates.
By Calling the Hotel Directly: If you're out and about, or prefer to speak with someone over the phone, you can call the hotel's front desk or their reservations team. Have your confirmation number and desired new checkout date ready.
Step 2: Understand the Implications: Rates and Room Changes
Once you've confirmed availability, it's crucial to understand that extending your stay isn't always as simple as just adding nights at the same rate.
Sub-heading: Potential Rate Changes
Be prepared for a different rate. The rate you initially booked might have been a special promotion, an advance purchase rate, or simply a rate that was available on the day you booked. Hotel rates fluctuate based on demand, seasonality, and occupancy. When you extend, you're essentially making a new booking for those additional nights, and the hotel will apply the current best available rate or a new promotional rate for those specific dates.
Weekends vs. Weekdays: Rates often increase for weekend nights.
Special Events: If a major event or conference is starting in the area, rates will likely skyrocket.
Dynamic Pricing: Marriott, like most hotel chains, uses dynamic pricing, meaning rates change constantly.
Sub-heading: Room Availability and Potential Moves
While the ideal scenario is to stay in your current room, it's not always guaranteed.
Same Room, Different Rate: Often, if your room type is available, you can stay in it, but the price for the extended nights might be different.
Room Change Required: If your specific room is booked for the original checkout date, but other rooms are available, the hotel might offer you a different room type. This could mean a move to a smaller room, a different view, or even a higher category room at an additional cost. Be ready to pack up and move your belongings if this is the case.
No Availability at All: In some unfortunate instances, the hotel might be completely sold out, leaving you with no option to extend your stay at that particular property. This is why checking early is paramount.
Step 3: The Extension Process: Finalizing Your New Reservation
Once you know the availability and understand the potential rate implications, it's time to finalize your extended stay.
Sub-heading: Confirming Your Extension with the Hotel
Direct communication is best. While online and app modifications are convenient, especially if you're a Marriott Bonvoy member, it's always a good idea to confirm your extended stay directly with the front desk if you're already on-site. This ensures there's no miscommunication and the hotel's system is updated correctly.
Verify New Confirmation: After successfully extending, ensure you receive a new confirmation number or an updated confirmation email that reflects the new checkout date and the revised total cost.
Review Your Folio: On your new checkout day, carefully review your hotel folio to ensure the charges for your extended nights are correct according to the rate you were quoted and confirmed.
Sub-heading: Payment for Extended Nights
The payment for your extended stay will typically be handled in one of two ways:
Added to Your Existing Bill: The cost of the additional nights will simply be added to your current hotel bill, and you'll settle the full amount upon checkout.
New Charges Applied: In some cases, especially if there's a significant rate change or a break in your stay (e.g., if you check out and check back in to a different room), you might see separate charges for the extended nights.
Step 4: Leveraging Your Marriott Bonvoy Status (If Applicable)
If you're a Marriott Bonvoy elite member, your status can provide some valuable benefits when extending your stay, particularly concerning late checkout.
Sub-heading: Late Checkout Benefits
Marriott Bonvoy offers tiered late checkout benefits:
Silver Elite: Priority late checkout (subject to availability). This means you'll be considered before non-members, but it's not guaranteed.
Gold Elite: Guaranteed 2 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability). While "guaranteed" for Gold, this is still often subject to the hotel's discretion, especially at resorts and convention hotels.
Platinum Elite & Higher (Titanium, Ambassador): Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout at most hotels, excluding resorts, convention hotels, and Design Hotels. This is a significant perk that can give you valuable extra hours in your room before your extended check-out time or even on your original check-out day if you decide not to extend but still need a few extra hours.
Note: If you're extending your stay, late checkout benefits generally apply to your new checkout date.
Sub-heading: Earning and Redeeming Points
Extending your stay means more qualifying nights and potentially more points earned!
Earn Points: Any paid nights you add to your stay will earn Marriott Bonvoy points and elite night credits, just like your original reservation.
Redeem Points: If you have Marriott Bonvoy points, you might be able to use them to cover the cost of your extended nights, subject to availability and point redemption rates. This can be a great way to save money. You can usually combine cash and points for a stay.
Step 5: Special Considerations and Tips
Beyond the basic steps, a few additional points can help ensure a smooth extension process.
Sub-heading: Non-Refundable Bookings
If your original booking was a non-refundable rate, extending your stay might be trickier or come with specific terms. In such cases, contact the hotel directly as early as possible to discuss your options. They might be more flexible than you anticipate, especially if you're adding more paid nights.
Sub-heading: Long-Term Stays (30+ Days)
For very long extensions (30 days or more), some Marriott brands specialize in extended stays (e.g., Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Element). These properties often have different rate structures for longer durations, which might be more economical. If you're planning a significant extension, it's worth inquiring about these options.
Sub-heading: Be Polite and Flexible
Hotel staff appreciate guests who are understanding and polite. If a particular room or rate isn't available, be flexible and open to alternatives. A positive attitude can go a long way in getting the best possible outcome.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check availability for extending my Marriott stay?
You can check availability by asking at the hotel front desk, using the Marriott Bonvoy app under your current reservation's "Modify" option, or by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on marriott.com and finding your reservation under "My Trips."
How to find out the new rate for an extended Marriott stay?
The new rate for your extended stay will be displayed when you check availability through the Marriott Bonvoy app, website, or provided to you directly by the front desk or reservations agent when you inquire about an extension. Rates are subject to change based on demand and seasonality.
How to use Marriott Bonvoy points to extend my stay?
You can use Marriott Bonvoy points to cover additional nights by modifying your reservation through the Marriott Bonvoy app or website, where you'll see the option to redeem points for the extended dates. Alternatively, you can ask the front desk if they can apply points to your extended stay.
How to guarantee a specific room when extending a Marriott stay?
While you can request to stay in your current room, guaranteeing it depends on availability. The best way to increase your chances is to inquire about extending your stay as early as possible. If your room is already booked, the hotel may offer you a similar room type or another available option.
How to get a late checkout if I can't extend my Marriott stay?
Marriott Bonvoy elite members receive late checkout benefits: Silver Elite gets priority, Gold Elite gets 2 p.m. (subject to availability), and Platinum Elite and higher get guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout at most hotels (excluding resorts, convention hotels, and Design Hotels). You can request this at the front desk.
How to handle a room change when extending my Marriott stay?
If a room change is required, the hotel staff will typically inform you and provide instructions on when and how to move your belongings. You'll usually check out of your current room and check into the new one, sometimes with a brief period where your luggage might be held by the bell desk.
How to extend a Marriott stay booked through a third party (e.g., Expedia, Booking.com)?
For reservations made through third-party sites, you generally cannot modify or extend them directly through Marriott. You will need to contact the third-party booking platform to see if they can assist you, or, in some cases, the hotel might be able to create a new reservation for the extended nights, which would be separate from your original booking.
How to confirm my extended Marriott stay details?
After extending, always request and review a new confirmation number or an updated confirmation email that clearly shows your new checkout date and the total revised cost for your entire stay.
How to pay for the additional nights when extending a Marriott stay?
The cost for additional nights will typically be added to your existing hotel bill and settled upon your new checkout date. In some instances, especially with separate new bookings for extensions, you might be charged separately for the added nights.
How to contact Marriott customer service for extension assistance?
You can find Marriott's global customer service numbers on their website under "Help & Contact Us." For Marriott Bonvoy general inquiries in the US and Canada, you can call 1 (800) 627-7468. For specific hotel extensions, it's usually best to contact the hotel directly.
