Marriott Bonvoy program: Ways to use your points for hotel bookings, flights, and more
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Want to make the most of your Marriott Bonvoy points? Beyond using these valuable hotel points for complimentary stays at various locations worldwide, transferring them to international airline programs can also be a smart move in certain situations.
This article will delve into the different methods to utilize Marriott points, covering hotel bookings, transferring to airlines, shopping through shopping portals, and other redemption possibilities.
Utilizing Marriott Bonvoy points for hotel accommodations
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You can redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points for stays at Marriott locations across the globe, but the points needed can fluctuate. In 2022, Marriott dropped its Category 1-8 award chart, making it trickier to estimate points required for particular hotel bookings.
Although Marriott's dynamic pricing model has benefits, allowing some locations to provide greater value, many hotels now demand more points than they used to.
For instance, you can reserve a night at a TownePlace Suites in Columbus, Ohio, for only $138 or 10,500 points on select dates, equating to a value of 1.3 cents per point.
At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, the cost could be $4,156 or 140,000 points for a night, translating to nearly 3 cents per point.
Both choices will exceed TPG's August 2024 valuation of 0.85 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point. We typically suggest using points for either budget-friendly or luxury hotels to maximize value.
Besides regular redemptions, Marriott provides Cash + Points awards, enabling you to mix cash and points so you don't have to exhaust all your points for a stay. This option also lets you tailor your experience by redeeming points for one night and paying cash for another, which is beneficial when rates change during your visit.
Additionally, you can utilize your points along with free night certificates available through certain Marriott credit cards. These certificates are often included as part of a welcome bonus or granted on your account anniversary (after the annual fee is paid), covering award stays up to a specified points limit — generally between 35,000 and 85,000. You can also combine these certificates with up to 15,000 extra points from your Marriott Bonvoy account to book pricier rooms.
For instance, if the hotel you wish to book charges 40,000 points per night and you possess a 35,000-point award certificate, you can apply your free night certificate to offset part of the cost for one night and pay an additional 5,000 points.
Enjoy a complimentary fifth night
A fantastic benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy program is that when you book five consecutive nights with points, the cheapest night is free. This complimentary night will automatically appear during your online booking and is applicable across all participating Marriott brands.
However, it becomes complicated if you choose the Cash + Points option for some nights while paying cash for others. To qualify for the fifth night free, you must book at least five award nights. For example, if you plan a seven-night stay and pay cash for two nights, you must use points for the remaining five nights to see your "free" night reflected in the checkout summary online or in the app.
This also impacts how you use the aforementioned certificates. When applied to an extended stay, they do not count as eligible nights for earning the fifth night free. You must redeem points for five (or more) consecutive nights for this benefit to activate.
How to transfer Marriott points to airline partners
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Marriott members can transfer points to 39 airline programs, including exclusive partnerships that aren't available with other loyalty schemes.
You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to most airline partners at a 3:1 ratio, which means that 3 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 1 airline mile. For every 60,000 points transferred, you also earn 5,000 bonus miles, enhancing your effective transfer ratio to 2.4:1. However, there are a few exceptions to this:
- Transfers to Air New Zealand occur at a 200:1 ratio.
- United Airlines grants 10,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points transferred.
- American Airlines, Avianca, and Delta Air Lines no longer provide 5,000 bonus miles.
Although airline transfers might not offer the same value as hotel redemptions, they can be useful for topping up your miles balance or utilizing rare points that are harder to accumulate. You can transfer a maximum of 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to airlines each day, with a minimum transfer of 3,000 points. Additionally, the name on your frequent flyer account generally needs to match the first and last name on your Marriott account. Our previous tests have also shown significant variability in the duration of these transfers, so it's wise to place an award ticket hold if you're concerned about losing your seats before the transfer is completed.
How to redeem points for Marriott Bonvoy Moments
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Marriott Bonvoy Moments presents a variety of location-specific experiences, including concerts, sports events, and culinary adventures in cities where Marriott hotels are situated. These activities can be booked using Marriott Bonvoy points, and some may not be available for cash purchase. To discover these offerings, visit the Marriott Bonvoy Moments site and select your desired category.
Remember that some experiences come with a set point cost, while others operate on an auction basis. Be sure to read the terms and conditions before making a purchase, as most experiences are nonrefundable.
How to use Marriott points for flights, car rentals, and cruises
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You can also redeem Marriott points for flights, car rentals, and cruises, but this option typically offers a lower return.
For instance, we found a one-way flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Alaska Airlines priced at $49.16 or 12,500 Marriott points. This results in a return of only 0.39 cents per Marriott point, which is less than half of our 0.85-cent valuation for Marriott points.
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Car rental redemptions yield a similar return; for example, a rental car in Los Angeles costs $338.56 or 85,000 points.
You can also use Marriott points to book trips through the Cruise with Points program or sail with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Using 180,000 points can provide a $1,000 discount on a voyage with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
After that, members can redeem points in increments of 90,000 for a $500 discount. While it may be possible to fully redeem points for the cruise fare, note that points do not cover taxes, fees, or port expenses. This results in only 0.55 cents per point, which is not a favorable value.
How to purchase merchandise through Marriott Shopping
You can also use your Marriott Bonvoy points to acquire merchandise and gift cards.
Marriott's online store features a variety of products, including Uber gift cards, Bose headphones, and Bluetooth speakers. However, these redemptions are generally not the most advantageous use of your points.
Redemption values vary by retailer; for example, a $25 Apple gift card costs 10,000 points. This translates to a value of just 0.25 cents per point, significantly lower than our valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points.
Top credit cards for booking Marriott hotels
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Earning enough Bonvoy points for your next redemption is simple with a variety of cobranded credit cards that offer numerous features. Here are some of our top picks:
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
- New cardmember bonus: Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Earning rates: 6 points per dollar on eligible Marriott Bonvoy purchases; 3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining; 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
- Benefits: An annual free night certificate (up to 35,000 points) for each cardmember anniversary; 15 elite night credits each year to help achieve a higher Bonvoy status; one additional credit toward elite status for every $5,000 spent.
- Annual fee: $95.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
- New cardmember bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points plus one free night award after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening the account. The free night is valued at 50,000 points, though certain hotels may have resort fees.
- Earning rates: 3 points per dollar on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy participating hotels; 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, rideshare services, select food delivery, certain streaming services, internet, cable, and phone services; 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
- Benefits: Cardholders enjoy complimentary Silver Elite status and receive 5 elite night credits each year.
- Annual fee: $0.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Welcome bonus: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of card membership.
- Earning rates: 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy participating hotels; 3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines; 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.
- Benefits: Primary cardholders receive complimentary automatic Marriott Platinum Elite status. Annually, after the card renewal month, members receive a free night award worth up to 85,000 points (some hotels may have resort fees). Cardholders can also benefit from up to $300 in statement credits (up to $25 per month) when using their card at eligible restaurants globally. The card includes a Priority Pass Select membership, granting you and two guests unlimited access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. Additionally, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant will reimburse the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck when charged to the card (up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years or $120 for Global Entry every four years). Enrollment is necessary for select benefits.
- Annual fee: $650 (refer to rates and fees).
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- Welcome bonus: Earn three free night awards after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Each award is redeemable for up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at participating hotels. Resort fees and terms apply.
- Earning rates: 6 points per dollar on eligible hotel purchases within the Marriott Bonvoy program; 4 points per dollar at restaurants globally, U.S. gas stations, on direct wireless telephone services from U.S. providers, and for U.S. merchant shipping purchases; 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases made with the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
- Benefits: Cardholders receive automatic Marriott Gold Elite status and an annual free night award worth up to 35,000 points (certain hotels may have resort fees).
- Annual fee: $125 (refer to rates and fees).
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
- Welcome bonus: Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases during the first six months of card membership.
- Earning rates: 6 points per dollar on eligible hotel purchases within the Marriott Bonvoy program; 4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 spent annually at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (then 2 points per dollar); 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
- Benefits: Primary cardholders enjoy complimentary, automatic Marriott Gold status for as long as they hold the card (enrollment required). Those who spend at least $15,000 on eligible purchases in their cardmember year can earn a free night award worth up to 50,000 points (certain hotels may have resort fees).
- Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees).
Final thoughts
Despite changes like the removal of award charts impacting the Bonvoy program's value, there are still numerous excellent opportunities to maximize your Marriott points, whether you're aiming for luxurious travel experiences or more budget-friendly options.
We suggest prioritizing hotel stays or transferring points to airline partners, as these choices offer the greatest value for your points and enable you to travel the world affordably.
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