How to Redeem Your 35,000-Point Marriott Bonvoy Certificate

This article has been refreshed with the most current details.

Several Marriott cobranded credit cards have been a staple in my wallet for many years due to a few key factors. A major benefit is that many of them come with an annual award certificate worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. For me, the annual fees are justified by the value I receive from these free nights, particularly when I pair them with extra points.

The Marriott cards that offer certificates valid for up to 35,000 points upon each account renewal include:

• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card.

By fully utilizing the annual 35,000-point award at hotels priced between $200 and $300 per night, you can easily cover the cost of the annual fee. (Keep in mind that the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card from Chase does not include a reward night certificate.)

Here’s how to effectively utilize your Marriott 35,000-point certificates.

How to Redeem a Marriott 35,000-Point Certificate

Wait for the anniversary of your credit card account

Within eight weeks following the anniversary of your eligible Marriott credit card, a reward night certificate will typically be automatically credited to your Marriott Bonvoy account. You should receive an email notification when this occurs.

For instance, my Marriott card anniversary falls in mid-September, and I usually see the award added in November.

Review your Marriott account activity

If you haven’t received a notification email, you can verify if your anniversary Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point certificate has been credited. Simply log into your Marriott Bonvoy account and navigate to "Activity."

You should find the certificate listed under "Earned Awards."

If you regularly use the Marriott Bonvoy app, you can view these certificates by logging in, tapping the "Account" link in the bottom right, and then going to the "Free Night Awards" section.

Redeem your Marriott 35,000-point certificate within one year

Marriott anniversary certificates remain valid for one year from the issuance date. Make sure to utilize the certificate before it expires, as its value will drop to zero. The expiration date pertains to your check-in date, not your departure date.

For instance, if your certificate expires on Nov. 5, 2023, you can redeem it for a one-night stay starting on Nov. 5. However, if you try to use it for a stay beginning on Nov. 6, you won’t be able to.

Look for hotels priced at 35,000 points (or less) per night

To utilize the Marriott free night certificate, search for hotels as you typically would using Marriott Bonvoy points. From the results, choose one that costs 35,000 points per night or lower. Additionally, since Marriott allows topping off these certificates with up to 15,000 points, you might find options priced at up to 50,000 points—anything beyond that is not eligible.

Unfortunately, with the current lack of true hotel categories in Marriott, it's impossible to predict hotel pricing without performing searches.

However, you can check award rates for a specific property by using the flexible date search feature. Click on the date field from the Marriott homepage and select the option "My dates are flexible" to view award prices over a range of dates.

After locating a property priced at 35,000 points or less (or within 15,000 points of your certificate's limit if you’re willing to add points), select your preferred room type.

During checkout, you will have the option to apply your Marriott 35,000-point certificate for payment.

If the hotel charges a resort fee, you will still need to pay it, even when using a certificate to cover the points portion of your stay.

Supplement your certificate with up to 15,000 additional points

Unfortunately, 35,000 Marriott points don’t stretch as far as they once did.

Although Marriott hasn’t raised the points value associated with these certificates, you can now add up to 15,000 points to the certificate. For instance, to book a night costing 40,000 points, you would use your 35k certificate along with 5,000 points from your account.

Essentially, hotels priced at up to 50,000 points per night fall within reach of the 35k certificate, provided you’re willing to contribute some of your own Marriott points.

Ensure your 35,000-point certificate is refunded if you cancel your reservation

If your plans change and you need to cancel a booking made with your certificate, monitor your Marriott account closely to confirm that the certificate is returned. Keep track of the number of certificates you had before and after the cancellation.

If you don’t see it restored in your account, contact Marriott customer service to have it manually reinstated.

Top Hotels for a Marriott 35,000-Point Certificate

To maximize the value of your Marriott 35,000-point certificate, aim for higher-priced stays. Since you can add up to 15,000 points, avoid using it for stays significantly below 35,000 points per night—unless you have no other options that year. It's wiser to extract full value (and add a few points if necessary) than to spend it on a much cheaper hotel.

While Marriott award rates fluctuate by date, many desirable properties offer nights at 35,000 points, or close enough that you can supplement your certificate to secure the stay.

Here are some of my preferred ways to utilize a Marriott 35k certificate:

• Fairfield Anaheim Resort: Within walking distance of Disneyland.
• Residence Inn Steamboat Springs: A modern hotel close to the bus service for the ski mountain.
• Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin: A short walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. (Usually requires adding points to the certificate.)
• Gaylord Texan Resort: Features a large water park and festive displays during the holidays.
• Marriott Marquis Houston: Boasts a Texas-shaped lazy river in downtown Houston. (Typically needs additional points added to the certificate.)

If your travel habits don’t match the types of hotels that fall within the Marriott 35,000-point certificate range, you might consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, which offers an 85,000-point certificate each year on account anniversary.

Conclusion

Annual hotel award night certificates significantly enhance the appeal of credit cards with annual fees. It’s common to receive a couple of hundred dollars in value from a Marriott 35k certificate, available each year from credit cards that cost considerably less in annual fees.

If you already hold one of these cards, make sure to utilize the certificate before it expires. If you don’t have one yet, now might be an excellent time to consider adding a Marriott credit card to your collection.

Application link: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card offers 125,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.