Unlocking Marriott’s Your24: Worth It?

At the top of the Marriott Bonvoy elite ladder stands Ambassador status, proudly perched above the Titanium and Platinum levels. On paper, this shiny status might not seem too different from Titanium, but in practice, there are whispers of better perks, like higher upgrade priority and such, though you’ll have to take those with a pinch of salt. Yet, two official perks are bestowed upon Ambassadors: a dedicated Marriott representative—your personal genie—and access to the elusive Your24. Today, let’s dive into what Your24 brings to the table.

Basics of Marriott Ambassador Your24 Benefit

What on Earth is Your24, you ask? It’s a rather exclusive party to which only Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador members are invited. Essentially, it lets you pick a check-in time that best suits your schedule for your stay—giving you a 24-hour window in your room, from whatever hour you choose.

Imagine rolling into a hotel at 1AM and hanging around until 1AM the following day, or perhaps checking in at 8PM and lingering until 8PM the next day. Sounds dreamy, no? But don’t go packing your bags just yet, there are rules, and they’re as riveting as legal disclaimers:

• Your24 isn’t a free-for-all. You’ll need to chat with your dedicated Ambassador or ring up their hotline to make this magical request.
• You’ve got until 3PM two days before your arrival to make that request, sharp!
• Availability rules the roost here—the hotel gets the final say on whether or not to grant your humble wish.
• Fancy a 31-hour stay? Check-in between 9AM and 4PM, and you might just nab a late check-out at non-resort hotels.
• Got catfished by a room type? The hotel might slot you into a temp room until your dream suite is ready.
• Oh, one last thing: tons of fancy properties don’t offer Your24, like those decked under the Ritz-Carlton Residences and MGM Collection. Sorry, thrill-seekers!

Does the Your24 Benefit Actually Work?

The million-dollar question! If you’ve got Ambassador status, how often does Your24 deliver? I’ll throw my two cents in, but I’m dying to hear what others have experienced.

The snag with Your24 is its whimsical nature—it’s essentially at the hotel’s mercy. The Ambassador service might pull a few strings with your chosen hotel, but whether they dance to the sweet melody of Your24 is another story altogether.

Many Marriott hotels aren’t exactly known for religiously honoring elite perks, so temper your expectations and have a backup plan. Often, you might just receive a polite reminder that Your24 is on a tightrope of availability.

It’s no easy task for hotels either; you’re essentially asking them to give a room for a whole extra night while ensuring they won’t go full capacity. Hotels tread carefully here—they’d rather not risk a guest revolt for an empty room.

I’ve recently earned my Ambassador stripes again, with some pre-pandemic flair. Back then, my Your24 charm mostly fizzled out, except for a rare spark in Abu Dhabi, where some hotels swim in lower occupancy rates.

Here’s a fresh success tale: I’m slated for one night near Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, and after giving them a ring, Ambassador service dutifully requested a 7AM-to-7AM stay for me. The hotel must’ve had loads of empty rooms stacked up, and lo and behold, they confirmed the early bird check-in.

“I reached out to my pals at the hotel, requesting your 7:00 AM check-in. It’s a go! Your room will be ready for touchdown at 7:00 AM, and you’ve got a 7:00 AM departure time. Holler if you need anything else. Have a blast in Paris!”

A pleasant surprise indeed, especially after being spat out of a long-haul flight. No one likes haunting hotel lobbies, waiting for rooms to be dressed for guests. I suspect they would’ve thrown in an early check-in anyway, but having that peace of mind was like finally getting a decent Wi-Fi signal in an airport.

Bottom Line

As a Precious Marriott Ambassador, you’ve got the Your24 wildcard: a flexible perk to check you in at any hour and check out 24 hours later, perhaps stretching into dreamier hours if you fully embrace the daytime check-in.

However, be wary—the hotel’s discretion trumps all, and as any seasoned Marriott loyalist will warn, not every property leaps to please. But hey, I’ve had one happy outcome lately, scoring that early entry for an airport pitstop.

If you’ve ventured down the Your24 road as an Ambassador, what’s been your tale of the unexpected?