Marriott’s IT has a reputation—most of it… not great. From glitchy apps to loyalty points that vanish into the void, it’s usually the kind of thing that makes travelers grumble.
But every now and then, it works in your favor. That’s exactly what happened when I accidentally stumbled into a secret discounted rate, just by searching for one extra night.
The Setup: A Courtyard Stay That Got Pricey Fast
I was pricing out a 4-night stay at a Courtyard by Marriott. The cash and points rates were climbing with each night:
- $197 – 35,000 points
- $224 – 35,000 points
- $246 – 40,000 points
- $265 – 40,000 points
With the fifth-night-free perk on award stays, I figured I’d stretch the trip and see what happened if I searched for five nights instead.
That’s when I spotted something surprising: a “Long Term Stay” rate of just $139 per night—less than half the discounted AAA rate.
Marriott’s system offered me this rate without even asking for a full week.
The fine print suggested this deal was meant for longer trips:
Apparently, 5 nights counts as “long term”… sometimes.
But I didn’t modify anything. I searched for five nights, and this rate popped up. Marriott confirmed it, and I booked immediately.
Not a One-Time Fluke
After seeing that, I got curious. Was this a system glitch or something Marriott intended?
Turns out, this type of discount shows up at lots of properties—often hidden behind names like “Long Term Stay,” “Linger Longer,” or “Stay More, Save More.”
Take the Hotel Drover in Fort Worth, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Searching for a longer stay brought up a “Linger Longer” rate that slashed over $70 off the nightly price:
And the rules? They vary:
The Trick: Search Longer Even If You’re Staying Shorter
Hotels have long copied tricks from the rental car world. It’s well known that a weekly car rental rate often beats the daily price, even if you’re not renting for seven days. Now, it seems like Marriott’s doing the same.
If you’re flexible or already staying a few nights, try bumping your search to 5–7 nights. You might unlock:
- Deeply discounted nightly rates
- Lower prepaid options
- Bonus offers under “Deals and Packages”
And no, not every property offers them. But when they do? The savings are real.
The Bottom Line
Extended stay discounts aren’t just for week-long vacations or business trips—they show up more often than you’d think, even on shorter bookings. Marriott calls them all sorts of things, such as“Long Term Stay” or “Linger Longer” —and while the fine print might mention a 7-night minimum, the rate sometimes applies to shorter stays too.
The key is knowing these rates exist and taking a few extra seconds to look for them. Try adjusting your dates, exploring the “Deals and Packages” section, and reading the rate details. You might be surprised by what shows up, especially if the system is feeling generous.
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