Have you been saving up your Marriott Bonvoy points, dreaming of a luxurious getaway or a much-needed escape? The moment has arrived! Using your hard-earned points for free nights is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a Marriott Bonvoy member. It's a fantastic way to experience the world without paying for your stay. But if you've never done it before, the process can seem a little intimidating. Don't worry, we're here to walk you through it, step by step. Let's turn those points into a memorable trip!
Step 1: Checking Your Point Balance and Understanding Your Awards
First things first, you need to know what you're working with. This is where your journey begins!
Log in to Your Marriott Bonvoy Account: Head to the
Marriott website Locate Your Free Night Awards (FNAs): If you have a Marriott co-branded credit card, you may also have "Free Night Awards" (FNAs) in your account. These are separate from your point balance and are a fantastic perk. You can often find them in your "Activity" or "Awards" section. Each FNA has a specific point value cap, so it's essential to know what that is. For example, you might have a certificate valid for a free night at a hotel costing up to 35,000 points.
Step 2: Finding Your Dream Hotel
Now for the fun part: finding a place to go!
The Marriott Bonvoy Search Engine: On the Marriott website or app, use the main search bar to look for a destination. Enter your desired location and dates.
Toggle "Use Points/Awards": This is a crucial step! On the search results page, you will see an option to "Use Points/Awards." Be sure to check this box. The search results will then display the price of each hotel in points, rather than cash.
The Power of Flexible Dates: Since Marriott moved to a dynamic pricing model, the number of points required for a free night can fluctuate based on demand. To get the best value, consider checking the "Flexible Dates" option in your search. This will show you a calendar with point costs for an entire month, allowing you to easily spot lower-cost nights.
Step 3: Selecting Your Hotel and Room
You've found a hotel you love, now it's time to make your selection.
Review the Point Costs: Once you've chosen a hotel, click on it to see the different room types and their corresponding point costs. The points required for a standard room will be displayed. Remember, a Free Night Award is typically only valid for a standard room.
Check for "Stay for 5, Pay for 4": A fantastic benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy program is the "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" promotion. When you book a stay of five consecutive nights using points, the cheapest night will be complimentary. This is an excellent way to stretch your points even further! The discount is applied automatically when you book your reservation.
Step 4: Finalizing Your Reservation
You're so close to booking your free stay!
Apply Your Points or Free Night Award: On the checkout page, you'll be prompted to use either your points or any available Free Night Awards. If you have a Free Night Award, it will be automatically preselected for an eligible night.
Using Points to "Top Off" an FNA: Marriott allows you to add up to 15,000 additional points to a Free Night Award. This is a game-changer! If the hotel you want to book costs 45,000 points, but your FNA is only good for up to 35,000 points, you can simply "top off" the certificate with 10,000 points from your account to cover the difference.
Review and Confirm: Double-check all the details of your reservation, including the dates, room type, and the total points being redeemed. Be aware of any potential resort fees, as these are often not included and must be paid in cash at the hotel. Once everything looks good, click "Book Now" to confirm your free night!
Congratulations! You have successfully used your Marriott Bonvoy points for a free night. Now all that's left is to pack your bags and enjoy your well-deserved trip.
10 FAQ Questions with Quick Answers
How to book a free night with points for a multi-night stay? You can book a multi-night stay using a combination of a Free Night Award and points for the remaining nights. When you book online, the system will apply the award to the highest eligible night, and you can then use points for the others.
How to find hotels that accept my specific Free Night Award certificate? The best way is to search for your desired destination and dates while the "Use Points/Awards" filter is selected. The search results will show you the number of points required for each night, so you can easily see which hotels fall within your certificate's point cap.
How to use my points and a Free Night Award for the same reservation? When you go to book your stay, if you have a Free Night Award and enough points to cover the other nights, the system will automatically prompt you to use your available awards.
How to extend the expiration date of a Free Night Award? Unfortunately, the expiration dates on Free Night Awards are generally firm and cannot be extended. You must book and complete your stay by the expiration date listed.
How to book a room for another person using my Marriott points? You can book a room for another person using your points by making the reservation in your name and then adding their name to the reservation. The person staying there will need to present their ID and a credit card for incidentals.
How to cancel a reservation made with points? Canceling a reservation made with points is straightforward. As long as you cancel within the hotel's cancellation policy (usually 24-48 hours before check-in), your points and/or Free Night Award will be credited back to your account.
How to tell if a hotel has a resort fee? Resort fees are not always included in the point redemption and must be paid in cash at the hotel. The hotel's details page on the Marriott website should mention any additional fees, so be sure to check that information before booking.
How to use a Free Night Award for a room that costs more than the certificate value? Marriott allows you to "top off" a Free Night Award with up to 15,000 points from your account to cover the difference if the room costs more than your certificate's value.
How to book a reservation with points if I don't have enough? Marriott used to have a program called "Points Advance," which allowed you to book a points reservation without having all the points. However, this program is no longer available. You must have the full number of points required at the time of booking.
How to find the best point deals for a free night? To find the best deals, search with "Flexible Dates" and be on the lookout for "PointSavers" rates, which are discounted point redemptions for specific dates and properties. Traveling during off-peak seasons is also a key strategy.
