Unlock Your Next Dream Getaway: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Your Free Night on the Marriott Bonvoy App
Have you earned a coveted Free Night Award with Marriott Bonvoy and are wondering how to turn that into a fantastic stay? You're in the right place! Leveraging your Marriott Free Night Award (FNA) through the Marriott Bonvoy app is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance your travel experiences. This lengthy guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you maximize the value of your award and enjoy a truly rewarding stay.
Let's dive right in and get that free night booked!
Step 1: Confirming Your Free Night Award (and Getting Ready!)
Before you can book your amazing free night, you need to confirm that your Free Night Award has been deposited into your Marriott Bonvoy account and understand its value and expiration date. This crucial first step ensures a smooth booking process.
Sub-heading: Verifying Your Award in the App
Open the Marriott Bonvoy App: Launch the Marriott Bonvoy app on your smartphone. If you don't have it, download it from your device's app store (iOS App Store or Google Play Store).
Log In to Your Account: Enter your Marriott Bonvoy member number or email and password to log in.
Navigate to Your Account: At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a navigation bar. Tap on the "Account" icon (it usually looks like a person's silhouette).
Locate "Free Night Awards": Within your account overview, look for a section titled "Free Night Awards" or "Earned Awards." Tap on it.
Review Your Award Details: Here, you will see all your available Free Night Awards. Pay close attention to two key pieces of information for each award:
Points Value: Each Free Night Award has a maximum point value (e.g., 35,000 points, 50,000 points, 85,000 points). This dictates which hotels you can book for free.
Expiration Date: Free Night Awards typically expire one year from their issuance date. It's absolutely critical to book and complete your stay before this date.
Sub-heading: Understanding Your Free Night Award's Value
Your Free Night Award's value corresponds to the number of Marriott Bonvoy points it can cover for a one-night stay in a standard guest room. For instance, a 35,000-point Free Night Award can be used for any standard room that costs 35,000 points or less.
Good to know: Marriott now allows you to "top off" your Free Night Award with up to 15,000 additional points from your Bonvoy account. This means a 35,000-point certificate can be used for a hotel costing up to 50,000 points, as long as you have the extra 15,000 points in your balance. This flexibility can significantly expand your hotel options!
Step 2: Searching for Your Ideal Hotel
Now that you know what you're working with, it's time for the exciting part – finding the perfect hotel for your free night!
Sub-heading: Initiating Your Search with Awards in Mind
Return to the Home Screen: From anywhere in the app, navigate back to the home screen or the "Find & Reserve" section.
Enter Your Destination and Dates: Input your desired destination (city, landmark, or specific hotel) and your travel dates.
Crucial Step: Toggle "Use Points / Awards": This is where the magic happens! On the search criteria screen (often after selecting dates), you'll see an option to "Use Points / Awards" or "Book with Points." Make sure this toggle is switched ON. This will filter your search results to show hotels available for point redemptions, which includes your Free Night Award.
Tap "Find Hotels": Once your criteria are set, tap on "Find Hotels" to see the available options.
Sub-heading: Filtering and Browse Results for Best Value
The search results will now display hotels along with their nightly point costs.
Sort by Points (Optional but Recommended): To quickly find hotels that align with your Free Night Award's value, you can often sort the results by "Reward Points" (or a similar option). This helps you see properties from lowest to highest point cost.
Filter by Point Range (If Available): Some app versions might offer a filter option to narrow down hotels by point range. This is especially useful if you have a specific point value in mind for your award (e.g., under 35,000 points).
Identify Suitable Properties: As you browse, look for hotels whose standard room point cost matches or is slightly below your Free Night Award's value (e.g., if you have a 35,000-point FNA, look for hotels at 35,000 points or less). Remember the 15,000-point top-off if you're willing to use some of your points!
Tip: Sometimes, off-peak dates for higher-category hotels might fall within your FNA's value. Be flexible with your dates if you're aiming for a specific, more upscale property.
Step 3: Selecting Your Hotel and Room Type
Once you've identified a promising hotel, it's time to drill down and select your room.
Tap on Your Chosen Hotel: Select the hotel that best fits your needs and your Free Night Award's value.
View Rates: On the hotel's detail page, you'll typically see a "View Rates" or "Select Room" button. Tap this.
Choose the "Redemption" Rate: You'll be presented with various room types and their corresponding rates. Crucially, look for the rate that displays the point value and is labeled as a "Redemption" rate. This is the rate eligible for your Free Night Award.
Important Note: Free Night Awards are generally valid for standard guest rooms only. If you select a higher room category, you might not be able to apply your FNA, or it might convert to a points-only booking at a higher point cost.
Confirm Room Availability: Ensure the room type you select is available for your chosen dates at the displayed point rate.
Step 4: Applying Your Free Night Award
This is the moment of truth where your Free Night Award comes into play!
Proceed to Booking Summary: After selecting your room type, you'll be taken to the reservation details or "Complete Your Booking" page.
Locate the "Apply Free Night Award" Option: On this page, review your reservation details. You should see a section or option that allows you to "Apply Free Night Award" or "Use Certificate." It might be pre-selected if you're booking a single night that matches your FNA's value.
Select Your Award: If you have multiple Free Night Awards, you'll be given the option to choose which one you want to apply. Select the appropriate award.
Observe the Price Change: Once you apply the Free Night Award, the points cost for that night should change to 0 points (or reflect the remaining points if you're topping off).
If you're topping off: The system will automatically calculate the difference and prompt you to use points from your account to cover it. Make sure you have enough Bonvoy points for the top-off!
Step 5: Review and Confirm Your Booking
You're almost there! A final review is essential before you confirm.
Review All Details Thoroughly: Before hitting "Book Now," carefully review all reservation details:
Hotel Name and Location: Double-check you're booking the correct property.
Check-in and Check-out Dates: Ensure the dates are accurate.
Room Type: Confirm it's the standard room you intended to book.
Guest Information: Verify your name and any other guest details.
Total Cost: Confirm that the Free Night Award has been applied correctly and the total cost in points (and any additional points for top-off) is as expected.
Resort Fees/Taxes: Be aware that while your Free Night Award covers the room rate and applicable taxes, some hotels have mandatory resort fees that are not covered by the award and must be paid separately at the hotel. This information should be displayed during the booking process.
Read the Cancellation Policy: Understand the cancellation policy for your booking. Free Night Award bookings typically have similar cancellation policies to points bookings.
Tap "Book Now" (or "Complete Booking"): Once everything looks correct, tap the final confirmation button to secure your free night!
Confirmation Email: You will receive a confirmation email from Marriott Bonvoy shortly after booking. Keep this email for your records.
Congratulations! You've successfully booked your free night!
Variety of Styling Throughout
You might have noticed how we've used italics for emphasis and bold text for important steps and keywords. This variety helps make the information more digestible and highlights critical details for a better user experience. Combining these with clear headings and sub-headings creates a well-structured and easy-to-follow guide.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about using Marriott Free Night Awards, with quick answers to help you navigate common scenarios:
How to check the expiration date of my Free Night Award?
Go to the "Account" section in the Marriott Bonvoy app, then tap on "Free Night Awards" or "Earned Awards" to see the expiration dates listed for each certificate.
How to top off a Free Night Award with points?
When selecting a hotel that costs more points than your Free Night Award, the Marriott app will automatically prompt you to use up to 15,000 of your existing Bonvoy points to cover the difference.
How to use multiple Free Night Awards for a longer stay?
You typically need to book each free night award as a separate reservation. However, you can then call Marriott customer service or the hotel directly to link the reservations together so you don't have to check in and out daily.
How to find hotels that accept my specific Free Night Award value?
After entering your destination and dates and toggling "Use Points / Awards," browse the search results. Look for hotels whose standard room point cost aligns with your certificate's value. Sorting or filtering by points can help.
How to cancel a reservation made with a Free Night Award?
You can cancel a Free Night Award booking directly in the Marriott Bonvoy app, similar to a regular points or cash booking. The Free Night Award will be returned to your account with its original expiration date (provided you cancel within the specified cancellation window).
How to deal with resort fees when using a Free Night Award?
Mandatory resort fees are not covered by Free Night Awards and must be paid by the guest at the hotel upon check-in or check-out. This should be clearly stated during the booking process.
How to use a Free Night Award for an upgraded room?
Free Night Awards are generally valid only for standard guest rooms. Upgrades are usually not included, but you might be able to inquire about a paid upgrade at check-in or use Nightly Upgrade Awards if you have them from your elite status benefits.
How to get more Free Night Awards?
Free Night Awards are typically earned through co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards (often as an anniversary benefit or through spending thresholds) or as an Annual Choice Benefit for reaching certain elite status tiers.
How to troubleshoot if my Free Night Award isn't showing up in the app?
First, ensure you're logged into the correct Marriott Bonvoy account. If it's still missing, try refreshing the app, reinstalling it, or contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service directly as there might be a processing delay or an issue with your account.
How to extend the expiration date of a Free Night Award?
Generally, Marriott Free Night Awards cannot be extended beyond their original expiration date. It's crucial to use them before they expire. In rare circumstances, Marriott customer service might offer a very short extension, but this is not guaranteed and often depends on specific situations.
