Hey there, travel enthusiast! Are you ready to unlock the secrets to maximizing your Marriott Bonvoy points? Whether you're a seasoned globetrotter or just starting your journey into the world of hotel loyalty programs, understanding how many points Marriott gives per night is crucial for getting the most out of your stays. It's not just a simple number; it's a dynamic system with exciting bonuses and opportunities. Let's dive in!
The Ultimate Guide to Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points Per Night
Earning Marriott Bonvoy points is the cornerstone of enjoying free nights, exclusive experiences, and premium travel perks. While the base earning rate is straightforward, a multitude of factors can significantly boost your point accumulation. This guide will break down every aspect, ensuring you're well-equipped to stack up those points like a pro.
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| How Many Points Does Marriott Give Per Night |
Step 1: Understanding the Marriott Bonvoy Base Earning Rate - Your Foundation
First things first, let's establish the baseline. How many points do you earn for simply staying at most Marriott Bonvoy properties?
1.1 The Standard Earning: 10 Points Per Dollar
For the vast majority of Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resorts, you'll earn 10 base points per U.S. dollar spent on qualifying charges. This includes your room rate and other incidentals that can be charged to your room, such as:
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Dining
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Beverages
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Spa services
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Golf
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And more!
Important Note: This 10 points per dollar generally applies to the pre-tax amount of your qualifying charges. Taxes and certain fees typically do not earn points.
1.2 Exceptions to the 10 Points Per Dollar Rule
While 10 points per dollar is the norm, there are a few brands within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio that have different earning structures:
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5 base points per dollar:
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Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy
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Protea Hotels
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City Express
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Four Points Express
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Element
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Residence Inn
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TownePlace Suites
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Sonder Apartments
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Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
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4 base points per dollar:
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StudioRes
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2.5 base points per dollar:
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Marriott Executive Apartments
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Knowing these exceptions can help you strategically choose where to stay if maximizing points is your primary goal.
QuickTip: Don’t skim too fast — depth matters.
Step 2: Supercharging Your Earnings with Elite Status - The Power of Loyalty
This is where things get exciting! Marriott Bonvoy rewards its most loyal members with significant bonus points on every eligible stay. The higher your elite status, the more points you'll earn.
2.1 Marriott Bonvoy Elite Tiers and Their Bonus Points
Once you achieve elite status, your base earning rate is augmented by a percentage bonus:
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Silver Elite: You'll earn 10% more points on eligible hotel purchases. This means for every dollar you spend at a 10 points/dollar brand, you'll get 11 points (10 base + 1 bonus).
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Gold Elite: Enjoy a 25% more points bonus. At a 10 points/dollar brand, that's 12.5 points per dollar (10 base + 2.5 bonus).
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Platinum Elite: Get a substantial 50% more points bonus! This translates to 15 points per dollar (10 base + 5 bonus) at most properties.
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Titanium Elite: Elevate your earnings with a 75% more points bonus, meaning 17.5 points per dollar (10 base + 7.5 bonus).
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Ambassador Elite: The pinnacle of Marriott Bonvoy status also enjoys a 75% more points bonus, mirroring Titanium Elite at 17.5 points per dollar.
Think about it: If you're a Platinum Elite member spending $200 on a qualifying stay at a Marriott Hotel, you're not just getting 2,000 points (10 base points x $200). You're getting 3,000 points (15 points x $200)! That's a significant difference over time.
Step 3: Unlocking Accelerated Earnings with Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards - Your Everyday Booster
Beyond hotel stays, co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards are an incredibly powerful tool to earn points on everyday spending, which then fuels your Marriott stays.
3.1 Co-Branded Credit Card Earning Rates
While specific cards and their benefits can vary by region (e.g., India has the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card, while the U.S. has cards from Chase and American Express), here's a general idea of how these cards can boost your point accumulation:
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Accelerated Earning at Marriott Properties: Many co-branded cards offer even higher earning rates when you use them for purchases at Marriott Bonvoy hotels. For instance, some cards might offer 6 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, on top of what you earn from your stay and elite status!
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Bonus Categories for Everyday Spending: Beyond Marriott, these cards often provide bonus points on common spending categories like:
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Restaurants and dining
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Grocery stores
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Flights booked directly with airlines
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Gas stations
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Select streaming services
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Sign-Up Bonuses: A major perk of getting a new Marriott Bonvoy credit card is the generous sign-up bonus of tens of thousands of points after meeting initial spending requirements. This can be a fantastic jumpstart to your points balance.
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Annual Free Night Awards: Many Marriott Bonvoy credit cards also come with an annual Free Night Award, often valued up to a certain point threshold (e.g., 35,000 or 50,000 points). This alone can offset the annual fee of the card.
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Elite Night Credits: Some cards even offer a certain number of Elite Night Credits annually, which helps you achieve or maintain elite status faster, directly impacting your bonus point earnings from stays.
Pro-Tip: If you're serious about maximizing Marriott points, consider applying for a co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit card. The combination of boosted earning rates, sign-up bonuses, and annual free nights can be incredibly valuable.
Step 4: Leveraging Promotions and Special Offers - Short-Term Gains, Big Impact
QuickTip: Stop scrolling if you find value.
Marriott Bonvoy frequently runs promotions that allow members to earn significantly more points on their stays. These promotions are often for a limited time and require registration, so always keep an eye out!
4.1 Types of Promotions to Watch For
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Bonus Points Per Stay/Night: These are common and can offer anywhere from 1,000 to 25,000+ bonus points per stay or per night, depending on the promotion and specific hotel brands or regions. For example, you might see:
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2,000 bonus points per stay at select brands like Fairfield Inn or Courtyard.
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5,000 bonus points per night in specific destinations like Florida.
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Up to 10,000 bonus points per night for stays in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at premium brands.
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Double Points/Triple Points: Some promotions offer double or triple the base points on eligible stays. This can be a huge earner, especially when combined with elite status bonuses.
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Targeted Offers: Marriott sometimes sends out personalized or targeted offers to individual members. Always check your email and your Marriott Bonvoy account for these exclusive opportunities.
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Booking Packages (e.g., Vacations by Marriott): Booking vacation packages through Marriott's platforms can also yield substantial bonus points. For instance, you might earn 20,000-25,000 bonus points on a multi-night all-inclusive package.
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Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy Promotions: This alternative lodging option within Marriott's portfolio also has its own promotions for bonus point earnings.
Actionable Advice: Make it a habit to check the "Promotions" section on the Marriott Bonvoy website or app before you book any stay. Register for every promotion you're eligible for, even if you don't have immediate travel plans. You never know when your next trip might align with a lucrative offer!
Step 5: Beyond Stays: Other Ways to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points
Marriott Bonvoy understands that not all spending happens within their hotels. They've created numerous partnerships and opportunities for members to earn points in their daily lives.
5.1 Travel Partners
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Car Rentals (Hertz): Earn 500 Bonvoy points on each car rental with Hertz when you provide your Marriott Bonvoy number.
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Flights (Emirates - Your World Rewards): Link your Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards accounts to earn Bonvoy points on eligible Emirates flights, especially if you have elite status.
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Cruises (Cruise with Points): Book a cruise through the "Cruise with Points" program and earn 3 points per dollar spent, with additional points for co-branded credit cardholders.
5.2 Everyday Spending & Lifestyle
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Dining Programs (Eat Around Town): Link your credit cards to the Eat Around Town program and earn Bonvoy points when dining at participating restaurants in the U.S.
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Uber & Uber Eats: Link your Marriott Bonvoy account with Uber to earn points on eligible rides and Uber Eats orders (U.S. based members).
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Meetings & Events (Marriott Bonvoy Events): If you're planning a meeting or event, you can earn 2 points per dollar spent on qualifying event charges (up to 60,000 base points per event), with elite status bonuses applying.
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Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities: Earn points by booking local experiences and tours through Marriott's platform.
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Purchasing Points: While generally not the best value, you can buy Marriott Bonvoy points directly from Marriott. This is typically advisable only if you need to top off your account for a specific redemption.
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Transferring Points from Other Programs: You can transfer points from flexible rewards programs like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy, usually at a 1:1 ratio.
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Referring a Friend for a Credit Card: If you have a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, referring friends or family members who get approved can earn you significant bonus points (e.g., up to 40,000 points per referral, with annual limits).
Putting It All Together: A Hypothetical Scenario
Let's imagine you're a Platinum Elite member with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, staying at a JW Marriott (a 10 points/dollar brand) for one night, and the qualifying room rate plus incidentals totals $300.
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Base Points: $300 x 10 points/dollar = 3,000 points
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Platinum Elite Bonus: 3,000 points x 50% = 1,500 points
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Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Bonus (Example): $300 x 6 points/dollar = 1,800 points (assuming your card offers 6x on Marriott stays)
Total Points for One Night: 3,000 (Base) + 1,500 (Elite) + 1,800 (Credit Card) = 6,300 points!
QuickTip: Don’t ignore the small print.
Now imagine if there was a promotion for an additional 2,000 bonus points per stay. That single night could net you 8,300 points! As you can see, combining these strategies makes a significant difference in your point-earning potential.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to calculate Marriott Bonvoy points for a specific stay?
To calculate, take your qualifying spend (excluding taxes/fees) and multiply it by your base earning rate (usually 10 points per dollar, but check for brand exceptions). Then, add your elite status bonus (Silver: 10%, Gold: 25%, Platinum: 50%, Titanium/Ambassador: 75%). Finally, factor in any points earned from using a co-branded Marriott credit card for the stay and any active promotions.
How to maximize Marriott Bonvoy points earning on business travel?
Ensure your company allows you to link your Marriott Bonvoy number to your business bookings. If possible, pay with a personal Marriott Bonvoy credit card (and get reimbursed) to earn accelerated points. Also, always register for current Marriott Bonvoy promotions.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points without staying at a hotel?
You can earn points through co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit card spending, dining at participating restaurants via Eat Around Town, linking your account to Uber, booking car rentals with Hertz, transferring points from partners like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards, and even by hosting eligible meetings and events through Marriott Bonvoy Events.
How to get elite status faster to earn more Marriott points?
Elite status is earned through qualifying nights. You can accelerate this by: staying more nights, utilizing Elite Night Credits offered by co-branded Marriott credit cards (some give 10-15 annually), and leveraging promotions that offer bonus elite night credits.
QuickTip: Pause to connect ideas in your mind.
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy points balance and activity?
You can check your points balance and view your transaction history by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the official Marriott website or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app.
How to use Marriott Bonvoy points for free nights?
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website or app, search for your desired destination and dates, and select the "Use Points/Awards" option. The system will display the point cost for available rooms.
How to combine Marriott Bonvoy points with another member?
Marriott Bonvoy allows members to transfer points to another member's account. You can transfer a minimum of 1,000 points, up to a maximum of 100,000 points per calendar year. This can be done via the online tool or by contacting member support.
How to purchase additional Marriott Bonvoy points?
You can purchase Marriott Bonvoy points directly from the Marriott website. There's typically a limit to how many points you can buy in a calendar year (e.g., up to 100,000 points). Watch for promotions that offer a discount or bonus when buying points.
How to find current Marriott Bonvoy promotions?
Visit the "Promotions" or "Offers" section on the official Marriott Bonvoy website or log into your account and navigate to the "Promotions" tab. You'll usually need to register for each promotion to be eligible.
How to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for experiences beyond hotel stays?
Beyond free nights, you can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for unique experiences through Marriott Bonvoy Moments (exclusive events, concerts, culinary experiences), car rentals, flights with airline partners, and merchandise/gift cards through their shopping portal.
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