Marriott Bonvoy points are a fantastic way to unlock incredible travel experiences, from luxurious resort stays to convenient city breaks. But to truly maximize their value, you need to understand how to find the best redemption opportunities, and that often involves consulting the Marriott points calendar. While Marriott no longer has a fixed award chart, the concept of peak, standard, and off-peak pricing still exists, and knowing how to navigate it is key.
Ready to become a Marriott points pro? Let's dive in!
Your Guide to Unlocking Marriott Bonvoy Points Calendar Values
Are you sitting on a stash of Marriott Bonvoy points, dreaming of your next getaway? The good news is that Marriott makes it relatively easy to search for award availability. The challenge often lies in finding those sweet spots where your points deliver the most value. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, step by step, showing you how to view the Marriott points calendar (or its equivalent) and strategically plan your award stays.
Step 1: Let's Get Started – Accessing the Marriott Website
Before we can look at any points, you need to be on the right platform. So, let's open our browsers!
1.1 Navigate to the Official Marriott Website: Open your preferred web browser and go to
www.marriott.com 1.2 Log In to Your Marriott Bonvoy Account (Highly Recommended): While you can search for award availability without logging in, we strongly recommend signing into your Marriott Bonvoy account. Why? Because sometimes, certain promotions or specific award inventory might only be visible to logged-in members. Plus, it just makes the booking process smoother later on. Look for the "Sign In" or "My Account" option, usually in the top right corner of the page.
Step 2: Initiating Your Hotel Search for Award Stays
Now that you're on the Marriott site, it's time to start looking for your dream redemption!
2.1 Locate the Search Bar: On the Marriott homepage, you'll see a prominent search bar. This is where you'll input your travel details.
2.2 Enter Your Destination: In the "Destination" field, type in the city, region, or even a specific hotel name where you wish to travel. Be as broad or as specific as you need to be at this stage. For example, instead of a specific hotel, try "London, UK" to see all Marriott options.
2.3 Select Your Dates – The Key to the "Points Calendar"
For Specific Dates: If you have exact travel dates in mind, input your "Check-in" and "Check-out" dates.
For Flexible Dates (Highly Recommended for Value!): This is where the magic happens for finding the best point values. Under the date fields, you'll often see an option like "Flexible Dates" or "My dates are flexible." Click this! This option is crucial because it allows Marriott's system to display point prices across a wider range, effectively acting as your "points calendar."
2.4 Crucially, Select "Use Points / Awards": Below the date selection, you'll find a checkbox or toggle that says "Use Points / Awards" or similar wording. Make sure this box is checked! This tells the system you want to see prices in points, not cash. If you forget this step, you'll only see cash rates.
2.5 Specify Your Room and Guests (Optional but Helpful): You can also specify the number of rooms and guests at this stage. This can impact availability and pricing, especially for larger groups.
2.6 Click "Find Hotels": Once all your details are entered, hit the "Find Hotels" button to initiate your search.
Step 3: Interpreting the Search Results – Your "Points Calendar" View
After clicking "Find Hotels," you'll be taken to the search results page. This is where you'll see the "points calendar" in action.
3.1 Overview of Hotels and Point Requirements: You'll see a list of Marriott properties in your chosen destination. Each hotel will display its name, brand, and, most importantly, the starting points required per night for your selected dates (or a range if you chose flexible dates).
3.2 The "Calendar" View (Flexible Dates):
If you selected "Flexible Dates," you'll often see a calendar-like display (or a grid) at the top or side of the results page. This calendar will show you the point requirements for each night over a period, often several weeks or even months. This is your effective Marriott points calendar, indicating peak, standard, and off-peak pricing for that specific hotel.
Pay close attention to the dates with lower point values – these are your off-peak opportunities! Conversely, dates with significantly higher point values indicate peak demand.
Some hotels might not display a full calendar initially; you may need to click on an individual hotel to see its specific month-by-month point breakdown.
3.3 Filtering Your Results (Refining the "Calendar"):
By Brand: If you have a favorite Marriott brand (e.g., St. Regis, Marriott, Courtyard), you can filter the results to see only those properties.
By Point Range: Sometimes, you can filter by the number of points you're willing to spend. This is incredibly useful if you have a specific point balance you want to utilize.
By Amenities: Looking for a pool, free breakfast, or a specific type of room? Use the filters to narrow down your options.
3.4 Understanding Dynamic Pricing: Remember, Marriott no longer uses a fixed award chart. This means point prices are dynamic and can change based on various factors:
Demand: High demand (holidays, events, popular seasons) will lead to higher point prices (peak).
Time of Year: Certain times of the year are naturally more expensive in points.
Hotel Category: While the categories are gone for a fixed chart, hotels still inherently fall into general tiers of luxury, which influences their point cost.
Room Type: A standard room will cost fewer points than a suite.
Step 4: Drilling Down to Specific Hotel Availability
Once you've identified a hotel that looks promising on the "points calendar," it's time to examine its specific availability.
4.1 Click on the Hotel Name: Click on the name of the hotel you're interested in. This will take you to that hotel's dedicated page.
4.2 Review the "Flexible Date" View (if applicable): On the individual hotel page, if you chose flexible dates, you'll often see an even more detailed calendar showing the exact point requirements for each night over an extended period. This is the most precise view of your "Marriott points calendar" for that specific property.
Look for consecutive nights at off-peak or standard rates. This is often where you'll find the best value for longer stays.
Note the "Stay 5, Pay for 4" benefit: When you book five consecutive nights on points, the lowest-point night is free! The calendar view helps you visualize this saving.
4.3 Select Your Room Type: The calendar will typically show the point cost for a standard room. If you want to view a suite or a room with a specific view, you'll need to select those options. Be aware that these will almost always cost more points.
4.4 Proceed to Booking: Once you've found the perfect dates and room type at a price you like, you can proceed with the booking. Ensure you have enough points in your account or that you have a Free Night Award certificate to apply.
Step 5: Advanced Tips for Maximizing Your Points Calendar Experience
5.1 Be Truly Flexible: The more flexible your travel dates are, the higher your chances of finding off-peak point redemption opportunities. Consider traveling during the shoulder season or even the off-season for significant savings.
5.2 Check Regularly: Point availability and pricing can change. If you don't find what you're looking for immediately, check back periodically. New availability can open up, or prices might fluctuate.
5.3 Consider "Cash + Points": If you're a bit short on points or want to stretch them further, Marriott offers a "Cash + Points" option. While not always the best value, it can be useful in certain situations. The point calendar will typically display these options as well.
5.4 Look into PointSavers: Marriott occasionally offers "PointSavers" rates, which are discounted award nights at select hotels. These are fantastic deals and will be reflected in the points calendar when available. Look for them!
5.5 Utilize Third-Party Tools (with caution): While Marriott's site is the primary tool, some third-party websites are designed to help you search for award availability across various hotel programs, including Marriott. These can sometimes offer a broader overview or alert you to availability. However, always verify directly on Marriott.com before booking.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to mastering the art of finding the best Marriott Bonvoy point redemption values and making the most of your loyalty! Happy travels!
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about viewing the Marriott points calendar and related topics, with quick answers:
How to: Access the Marriott Bonvoy Website?
Quick Answer: Go to
How to: Search for Hotels Using Marriott Points?
Quick Answer: On the Marriott website, enter your destination, select your dates (or "Flexible Dates"), and ensure the "Use Points / Awards" checkbox is selected before clicking "Find Hotels."
How to: Find Off-Peak Marriott Point Rates?
Quick Answer: Use the "Flexible Dates" option when searching on Marriott.com. This will display a calendar or grid showing different point requirements for various dates, allowing you to identify lower "off-peak" rates.
How to: Apply a Marriott Free Night Award Certificate?
Quick Answer: When searching for a hotel, select "Use Points / Awards." If an eligible night is found within your certificate's point cap, the system will automatically prompt you to apply your certificate during the booking process.
How to: Understand Marriott's Dynamic Point Pricing?
Quick Answer: Marriott's point prices are no longer fixed by category but fluctuate based on demand, season, hotel popularity, and room type. This means prices can change, so checking often is key.
How to: Benefit from the "Stay 5, Pay for 4" Perk with Marriott Points?
Quick Answer: When you book a stay of five consecutive nights using Marriott Bonvoy points, the night with the lowest point value will automatically be free. This benefit applies to all award stays of five nights or more.
How to: Check PointSavers Availability on Marriott?
Quick Answer: When using the "Flexible Dates" search and viewing the "points calendar" for a specific hotel, look for dates marked with significantly lower point values than standard. These often indicate a PointSavers rate.
How to: See Specific Room Types with Points?
Quick Answer: After searching for a hotel with points, click on the desired hotel. On the individual hotel page, you'll typically see options to view and select different room types (standard, upgraded, suites) and their corresponding point costs.
How to: Know if My Marriott Points Will Expire?
Quick Answer: Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 consecutive months of inactivity. To keep them active, simply have any qualifying activity (earn or redeem points) within that period.
How to: Combine Cash and Points for a Marriott Stay?
Quick Answer: During the booking process, after selecting your desired hotel and dates for an award stay, Marriott will present options for "Use Only Points" or "Cash + Points" if available for that specific property and dates.
