Anirban Chowdhury, an Indian man, recently sparked a conversation on social media after sharing his experience at the luxurious JW Marriott Masai Mara in Kenya. His post, featuring a picture with his wife at the ultra-luxury hotel, quickly went viral, with many users expressing their astonishment at the cost of the resort.
One comment, in particular, caught Chowdhury’s attention. An X user inquired about the couple’s income, questioning how they could afford to spend at least ₹ 3.5 lakh per night at the Marriott Masai Mara. The user expressed their own financial comfort while highlighting the sheer cost of the resort, stating, “Almost 10 lakhs for a 3-day stay. What kind of money do folks earn?”
Responding to this, Chowdhury decided to debunk the common misconception surrounding the cost of such luxurious stays. He revealed that their five-night stay cost them ₹ 5.5 lakh per night, including taxes, totaling ₹ 27.5 lakh. He then shared that he is a salaried employee, not a multi-millionaire, and managed to offset the cost by utilizing his Marriott Bonvoy points. He emphasized that he accumulates a significant number of points due to his frequent travels for work.
Chowdhury’s response, aimed at dispelling the myth that only the wealthy can afford luxurious experiences, highlighted the importance of smart planning and utilizing rewards programs. “You don’t need to splurge to cross things off your bucket list. You just need to be smart about it,” he added.
He also clarified that the hotel chain did not sponsor his stay, stating that the resort is usually fully booked. He jokingly remarked that if Marriott wanted to promote such a property, they would likely choose a public figure over him.
In conclusion, Chowdhury encouraged anyone curious about earning more points to seek information from those who have experience in the process. “Instead of sitting behind a screen and contemplating, you can find a lot of good folks who’ve tried to make you understand the process,” he said.
Chowdhury’s post garnered over 472.3K views and nearly 3.7K likes on X. The post sparked a discussion about the Marriott Bonvoy points system, with several users expressing their interest in learning more. Others thanked Chowdhury for sharing his insightful explanation, highlighting the importance of his message about making luxury accessible through smart planning and utilizing reward programs.
