Hotel Points Fairmont Mara or Marriott Mara question?

[Vas2398]

Hi,

Fairmont Mara or JW Marriott Mara:
Which of the two is cheaper and better among the two properties---- games drive, food, Transportation cost from Nairobi airport etc??

I read in a post that Marriott Mara is also All inclusive with points (even without any elite membership). Is that true?




Thanks

 

[Sriim]

Tagging people with experience @anirban.choudhury @sahilgulati5

 

[350modena]

Following . .

 

[sahilgulati5]

Hi,

Fairmont Mara or JW Marriott Mara:
Which of the two is cheaper and better among the two properties---- games drive, food, Transportation cost from Nairobi airport etc??

I read in a post that Marriott Mara is also All inclusive with points (even without any elite membership). Is that true?




Thanks

In short

Fairmont is cheaper and is outside the Mara. JW Marriott is inside the Mara area. Both are all inclusive with daily 2 game drives and food. Alcohol is extra. From Nairobi airport to fairmont the 4x4 jeep cost 350$/way for people upto 8 people and it takes about 5hrs approx.

U need at least 4days to enjoy and see all the big 5. There is daily fee per person excluding this for lemek conservatory where fairmont is charges around 135$/adult/night where as Mara charges 200$/adult/night. Children half the price below 5yrs they don’t charge generally

Best time to visit Mara is between July to sept where u will see wildlife in abundance due to migration season

 

[Vas2398]

In short

Fairmont is cheaper and is outside the Mara. JW Marriott is inside the Mara area. Both are all inclusive with daily 2 game drives and food. Alcohol is extra. From Nairobi airport to fairmont the 4x4 jeep cost 350$/way for people upto 8 people and it takes about 5hrs approx.

U need at least 4days to enjoy and see all the big 5. There is daily fee per person excluding this for lemek conservatory where fairmont is charges around 135$/adult/night where as Mara charges 200$/adult/night. Children half the price below 5yrs they don’t charge generally

Best time to visit Mara is between July to sept where u will see wildlife in abundance due to migration season

1. Since Fairmont is outside Mara, do we need to travel a lot daily for Game drives ?

2. So apart form Hotel and Transportation, we need to pay 135$* 2 per couple per day... So for 4 days, it will be 810 dollars (~69000 INR) per couple. Got clarity now... Thanks.

 

[anirban.choudhuryanirban.choudhury is verified member.]

Hi,

Fairmont Mara or JW Marriott Mara:
Which of the two is cheaper and better among the two properties---- games drive, food, Transportation cost from Nairobi airport etc??

I read in a post that Marriott Mara is also All inclusive with points (even without any elite membership). Is that true?




Thanks

Marriot Masai Mara is the more luxurious one and is expensive than Fairmont Mara.
Marriot Masai Mara is in the Masai Mara game reserve which has a park fees of 200$ per day where as Fairmont Mara is in a private conservatory area with park fees of 150$, if river crossings are your main attraction then Marriot is the option, animal spotting remains same in both but since Marriot is located in the main Mara thus its much larger than Fairmont Mara conservation, the smaller section is actually better for more animal spotting but that being said Main Mara also has a separate stretch of land called Mara Triangle which has escellent river crossings and animal spotting oppurtunity.

Both Fairmont Mara & JW Masai Mara are all inclusive, if you have the required MB points, choosing JW over Fairmont is no a brainer.

 

[Vas2398]

Marriot Masai Mara is the more luxurious one and is expensive than Fairmont Mara.
Marriot Masai Mara is in the Masai Mara game reserve which has a park fees of 200$ per day where as Fairmont Mara is in a private conservatory area with park fees of 150$, if river crossings are your main attraction then Marriot is the option, animal spotting remains same in both but since Marriot is located in the main Mara thus its much larger than Fairmont Mara conservation, the smaller section is actually better for more animal spotting but that being said Main Mara also has a separate stretch of land called Mara Triangle which has escellent river crossings and animal spotting oppurtunity.

Both Fairmont Mara & JW Masai Mara are all inclusive, if you have the required MB points, choosing JW over Fairmont is no a brainer.

Thanks . This helps a lot.

 

[SujeethP]

For value & Accor points hoarders , Fairmont Mara with Accor Preferred rate. For Marriott point millionaires, definetely JW Masai Mara & opening soon Ritz Carlton.

Fairmont Mara starts - 60K Accor points or INR 1.14L for 3N
JW Marriott starts at 800K Marriott points for 5N (5th Night free)
Ritz Carlton starts at 1.4 M Marriott points for 5N (5th Night free)

 

[malavkarkar]

Alcohol is extra.

Alcoholic beverages are included at Marriott, except super premium drinks. I remember Yamazaki being on the complimentary list, and it was unlimited.

 

[malavkarkar]

If you have the points, go with Marriott. Your experience will be more exclusive.

Marriott has some 12 safari vehicles. If they reserve 2 for private safari, that's 10 vehicles for 21 tents, which means each vehicle will be shared between 2-4 people. There's a good chance you'll have the entire vehicle to yourself for a day or two. We got ourselves a private safari for one day at no extra cost, because the couple we shared with were feeling under the weather. Gives you the flexibility to do whatever you want, rather than standard game drives. Last I read, Marriott had ordered 12 more safari vehicles, making each safari private for all guests.

Fairmont Mara on the other hand has 20 safari vehicles. Assuming they reserve 2 for private safari, that's 18 vehicles for 51 tents, which means each vehicle will be shared between 4-6 people. This is as good as a shared safari package.

Marriott is obviously way more expensive than Fairmont, but they have far bigger tents (1076 sqft vs 322 sqft, and you'll be spending some time inside, so it matters), is far more luxurious, and will almost give you a private safari experience. It's 100% worth it for the best national wildlife reserve in the world.

 

[SujeethP]

If you have the points, go with Marriott. Your experience will be more exclusive.

Marriott has some 12 safari vehicles. If they reserve 2 for private safari, that's 10 vehicles for 21 tents, which means each vehicle will be shared between 2-4 people. There's a good chance you'll have the entire vehicle to yourself for a day or two. We got ourselves a private safari for one day at no extra cost, because the couple we shared with were feeling under the weather. Gives you the flexibility to do whatever you want, rather than standard game drives. Last I read, Marriott had ordered 12 more safari vehicles, making each safari private for all guests.

Fairmont Mara on the other hand has 20 safari vehicles. Assuming they reserve 2 for private safari, that's 18 vehicles for 51 tents, which means each vehicle will be shared between 4-6 people. This is as good as a shared safari package.

Marriott is obviously way more expensive than Fairmont, but they have far bigger tents (1076 sqft vs 322 sqft, and you'll be spending some time inside, so it matters), is far more luxurious, and will almost give you a private safari experience. It's 100% worth it for the best national wildlife reserve in the world.

Fairmont has only 38 tents, I dont have exact numbers for safari vehicles. I agree with other things u said about Fairmont & JW. JW is definetly much better luxury resort.