Limited time offer: Earn 10x points when booking with Homes and Villas by Marriott

While vacation home rentals aren't a new idea, they have surged in popularity over the past few years. With hotels continuing to restrict amenities this year and travelers seeking more space, vacation home rentals remain a favored choice.

Even during "normal times," many hotels—especially in certain international destinations—fail to provide affordable accommodations suitable for four or more guests. This means families and larger groups can greatly benefit from the added space that a home rental offers. However, this often comes with drawbacks: no housekeeping or room service, limited shared amenities, and more.

Currently, many of those typical hotel services are still suspended, and almost everyone desires the ability to be self-sufficient and avoid crowds, even while on holiday. A full rental home can provide a spacious and appealing alternative to a hotel, yet many travelers still yearn for the reliability and consistency of a recognized hospitality brand. That's where Homes and Villas by Marriott comes in. Continue reading for details on how to earn 10 points for every dollar spent on these rentals if you use the right credit card.

Marriott initially ventured into the vacation rental sector with a pilot program called Tribute Portfolio Homes but has established the brand Homes and Villas by Marriott since 2019. This home rental initiative may serve as an ideal link between staying loyal to a travel brand you trust and enjoying the space and amenities of a rental property.

Although certain brand standards are meant to apply to all listings under Homes and Villas by Marriott (including 24/7 support, high-speed Wi-Fi, and premium linens and towels), Marriott does not directly manage or maintain the vacation properties worldwide. Instead, they present a curated selection of homes that allow you to earn or redeem Marriott Bonvoy points, among other benefits.

If you're thinking about reserving a stay with this offer (or at any point in the future), here are six key things to understand about the Homes and Villas by Marriott program.

You can earn and redeem Marriott points

When you book a home or villa through Marriott, you’ll earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points for every dollar spent, along with one Marriott elite night credit for each night of your stay.

If you hold elite status with Marriott, you’ll receive bonus points corresponding to your elite status tier, as well as a welcome bonus ranging from 500 to 1,000 points, again depending on your tier. If you charge your booking to a co-branded Marriott card, like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you typically earn an additional 6 points per dollar on eligible Marriott purchases at participating hotels.

Through a new promotion valid until the end of 2021, you can earn 10 points per dollar spent on Marriott Homes and Villas when using your co-branded Marriott credit card, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card. This offer applies to up to $7,500 in spending. The card currently provides a welcome bonus of three free nights (each valued at up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Keep in mind that only charges processed through the Marriott Homes & Villas platform will likely qualify for the 10 points per dollar promotion. In my experience, payments made directly to the property management company didn’t earn bonus points, but payments made through the Marriott Homes & Villas platform will earn the bonus until December 31.

Based on various firsthand tests, it may take several weeks for the points and credits to reflect in your Marriott account. In fact, my own experience with a Marriott Home and Villa stay didn't automatically post, prompting me to contact customer service to have the points manually credited.

If you’re looking to use points for your booking, our research indicates that Marriott points are valued at approximately 0.6 cents each for a stay, though this figure has fluctuated slightly over time. When redeeming points, be aware that you must book entirely with points or entirely with cash; mixed bookings of points and cash for the same reservation are not permitted.

The current valuation for Marriott Bonvoy points according to TPG is 0.8 cents per point. Therefore, while 0.6 cents isn't the highest value, it's not low enough to entirely dismiss the option. For instance, obtaining $600 worth of value for a home rental from a 100,000-point Marriott welcome bonus is hardly a poor outcome.

Marriott does not own or manage the homes listed.

Surprisingly or not, Marriott Homes and Villas is simply a collection of upscale home rentals featured on an online platform. Marriott does not own, operate, clean, or manage these properties.

These properties are operated and overseen by property management companies, including well-known names like TurnKey Vacation Rentals. There are also smaller, regional management firms available on the platform, such as my recent rental in Florida through Panhandle Getaways, which I had never encountered before my trip.

As a result, while there are certain standards for the homes, you may notice some differences between properties and management companies. Don’t expect Marriott housekeepers to come by for towel refreshes or find all beds outfitted with Marriott-branded white linens.

This also implies that a property can choose to leave the management company that handled your booking, potentially putting you in a difficult position. While this occurrence is rare, it can happen in the vacation rental market.

Additionally, be aware that charges for your deposit and any follow-up payments on your credit card may originate from the property management company. This might not always register as a travel expense and may or may not qualify for the 10x promotional offer on Marriott cards. You can request your card issuer to make an exception and award bonus points as if it had been coded as a travel charge, but in some cases, our tests categorized it as 'professional services' instead of travel.

Ensure you have a flexible booking option.

Although Marriott takes a somewhat hands-off approach to these properties, there are several advantages to booking through Homes and Villas by Marriott.

Many (but not all) of the homes and condos listed on the site provide the option for a full refund (minus a $75 credit card processing fee) up until 10 days prior to arrival for travel dates through June 30, 2021.

What each rental includes

In addition to earning or redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points and accumulating elite night credits, a major advantage of booking with Marriott is having reliable expectations for your vacation rental.

Every home and condominium available through the Marriott platform is expected to offer 24/7 support, high-speed Wi-Fi, a television, essential kitchen items (like cookware and utensils), an in-unit washing machine, premium linens and towels, bathroom supplies (toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, soap), a hairdryer, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors where applicable, along with professional cleaning before and after your stay.

In our (limited) trial rentals, these amenities have generally held true, though it's wise to keep a level of skepticism.

During my latest rental at the end of summer, the Wi-Fi signal was weak on the lower level, and I'm not convinced the bed linens were truly "premium" by my standards. However, it was perfectly acceptable, and we certainly didn't find ourselves in a situation where we had to bring our own sheets or scrounge for soap, which can sometimes happen with home rentals.

Pricing varies widely

When booking a Springhill Suites by Marriott or a St. Regis, you likely have a rough idea of the nightly rates. In contrast, with Homes and Villas by Marriott, you can find beachside condos starting at under $99 per night, while luxurious multi-bedroom ski villas can soar to $10,000 per night.

Upon its launch, the program offered 2,000 homes across 100 destinations, which was quite small compared to Airbnb's 5 million listings in nearly 200 countries. However, the program is rapidly expanding and now features over 30,000 properties—an impressive 15-fold increase. Although this growth is significant, it still represents a smaller platform that targets more upscale rentals.

Despite its upscale focus, there is still a wide variety of properties available on Marriott's platform, and not all of them come with a hefty price tag. In fact, don’t overlook this option if you're on a budget. While many properties do command several hundred (or even thousands) of dollars per night, you can also find listings like a two-bedroom beach condo in Panama City with a kitchen and living area for just $88 or 15,000 Marriott points per night.

While it may not offer luxury, you'll likely enjoy more space compared to a standard Marriott hotel within a similar price point.

Is it a good deal?

There's no single ideal method for renting a vacation home or condo.

You may come across the same property listed on various booking sites, sometimes at differing prices.

I initially chose to book with Marriott Homes and Villas during the summer due to their favorable cancellation policy, which allows guests to cancel up to 10 days before their stay with just a $75 fee—far more flexible than most options. I also appreciated the chance to earn Marriott points and elite nights, along with the reassurance that the home would come equipped with essential features and amenities.

While my first stay wasn't flawless, I decided to book with them again in the winter for many of the same reasons.

The prices on the Marriott booking platform often match those you'd see if booking through Airbnb's Plus program, although they can vary based on the specific location or property. Personally, I'm not eager to spend Marriott points at a value of 0.6 cents each for a home rental, but I still value having that option available.

Overall, I'm really enjoying the trend toward home rentals, and the prospect of earning 15,000 Marriott points on a home rental, as TPG's Scott Mayorowitz did, is a delightful bonus. Plus, with the ongoing promotion of earning 10 points per dollar when using Marriott credit cards, the experience could be even more rewarding than before.

In conclusion

I’m a huge advocate for home rentals, whether it’s for trips with multiple generations or families, or simply to have more space to relax and enjoy.

That being said, I like to have a clear understanding of what to expect, ensuring that basic amenities like towels and Wi-Fi will be provided upon arrival. This is why I appreciate Marriott's curation and support in the vacation rental market. While I don’t exclusively book through Marriott’s program, I find it to be a valuable tool for researching accommodations, particularly during sales or when competitive cancellation policies are in place.

Plus, earning Marriott points and status along the way is definitely a perk you can’t overlook.