Ready to unlock a world of incredible travel experiences? Earning Marriott Bonvoy points is your golden ticket to free nights, exclusive upgrades, and unforgettable moments. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just starting your points journey, this comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to fill your Bonvoy account and make the most of every opportunity.
Let's dive in and start building your points empire!
The Ultimate Guide to Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points
Step 1: Join Marriott Bonvoy (If You Haven't Already!)
First things first, if you're not already a member, you need to join the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. It's completely free and takes just a few minutes. This is the foundational step, as you cannot earn points without an active membership.
How to Join: Visit the official Marriott Bonvoy website (
marriott.com/loyalty/createAccount/createAccountPage.mi
Step 2: The Obvious & Most Rewarding Way – Staying at Marriott Hotels
This is the most direct and often the most lucrative way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. Every eligible stay at one of Marriott's 30+ distinctive brands worldwide puts points in your pocket.
Sub-heading: Understanding Earning Rates for Stays
Base Earning: Generally, you earn 10 points per US dollar spent on eligible charges at most Marriott Bonvoy participating hotels.
Exceptions:
Element, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites: These brands typically earn 5 points per US dollar.
Marriott Executive Apartments and ExecuStay: These brands usually earn 2.5 points per US dollar.
Eligible Charges: This includes your room rate and other incidentals that can be charged to your room, such as dining (excluding alcoholic beverages or tobacco where prohibited by law), in-room telephone and fax, in-room movies, and video games.
Important Note: Only qualifying rates booked directly through Marriott's official channels (Marriott.com, Marriott Bonvoy App, or Marriott reservations) are eligible for points earning. Third-party bookings (e.g., Expedia, Booking.com) generally do not earn points or elite night credits.
Sub-heading: Maximizing Points with Elite Status
One of the biggest advantages of frequent stays is achieving Marriott Bonvoy Elite status. Higher status tiers come with significant bonus points on every eligible stay:
Silver Elite (10 nights/year): Earn 10% more points (11 points per USD at most brands).
Gold Elite (25 nights/year): Earn 25% more points (12.5 points per USD at most brands).
Platinum Elite (50 nights/year): Earn 50% more points (15 points per USD at most brands). This is where the earning really accelerates!
Titanium Elite (75 nights/year): Earn 75% more points (17.5 points per USD at most brands).
Ambassador Elite (100 nights/year + $20,000 in qualifying spend): Earn 75% more points (17.5 points per USD at most brands) and enjoy personalized Ambassador Service.
Pro-Tip: Aim for Platinum Elite if you can. The 50% bonus points, along with other perks like complimentary breakfast and lounge access, make it incredibly worthwhile.
Step 3: Supercharge Your Earnings with Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
Co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards are arguably the fastest way to accumulate a massive amount of points, often without even stepping foot in a hotel. Both American Express and Chase offer a variety of cards in different markets, each with its unique benefits.
Sub-heading: Understanding Credit Card Welcome Offers
Sign-Up Bonuses: The most attractive feature of these cards is the generous welcome bonus. You can often earn tens of thousands, or even over a hundred thousand, Marriott Bonvoy points after meeting a specified spending requirement within the first few months of card membership. Always keep an eye out for elevated offers!
Actionable Tip: Consider applying for a card when a high sign-up bonus is available. These bonuses can sometimes be enough for several free nights.
Sub-heading: Everyday Spending for Points
Beyond the welcome bonus, these cards offer excellent earning rates on your daily purchases:
Marriott Stays: All Marriott Bonvoy credit cards offer accelerated earning on purchases made at participating Marriott hotels. This can be anywhere from 6x to 8x points per dollar, on top of the base points and elite status bonuses you earn from the stay itself! This is how you truly maximize hotel spending.
Bonus Categories: Many cards also offer elevated earning rates on common spending categories like:
Dining at restaurants
U.S. supermarkets/grocery stores
Gas stations
Flights booked directly with airlines
Rideshare and select food delivery
Internet, cable, and phone services
Everyday Spending: Even on non-bonus categories, you'll typically earn 1x or 2x points per dollar, ensuring every purchase contributes to your points balance.
Sub-heading: Credit Card Perks That Earn You Points (and Save You Money!)
Annual Free Night Awards: Many Marriott Bonvoy credit cards come with an annual Free Night Award, which can be redeemed for a free night at a Marriott property (up to a certain point value). This benefit easily offsets the annual fee of many cards.
Elite Night Credits: Several cards provide a set number of elite night credits each year, helping you achieve or maintain elite status faster. For example, some cards offer 15 elite night credits annually.
Automatic Elite Status: Some premium cards offer automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold or Platinum Elite status, immediately boosting your earning potential and providing valuable on-property benefits.
Step 4: Diversify Your Earning - Beyond Stays and Credit Cards
Marriott Bonvoy offers numerous other ways to earn points, many of which don't require a hotel stay.
Sub-heading: Dining Programs
Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy: This program allows you to earn points when dining at thousands of participating restaurants across the U.S. Simply link your credit card to your Marriott Bonvoy account and earn points automatically when you pay at participating establishments. You'll typically earn 4 points per US dollar, and elite members earn even more (e.g., 6 points per USD).
Sub-heading: Travel Partners
Uber Partnership: Link your Marriott Bonvoy and Uber accounts to earn points on eligible Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. You can earn 6 points per US dollar on Uber Eats when delivering to a Marriott property and 3 points per US dollar on Uber rides.
Hertz Car Rentals: Earn 500 Bonvoy points on each car rental from Hertz when you provide your Marriott Bonvoy number.
Cruise with Points: Book a cruise through the "Cruise with Points" program and typically earn 3 points per US dollar spent, with co-branded credit cardholders often earning an additional 2 points (for a total of 5 points).
Emirates "Your World Rewards": If you're a Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite member or higher and an Emirates Skywards member, link your accounts through "Your World Rewards." You'll earn 3 points per US dollar spent on eligible Emirates flights (in addition to Skywards miles).
Sub-heading: Hosting Events & Meetings
If you organize meetings, conferences, or even family reunions, hosting them at a participating Marriott property can earn you significant points. You'll typically earn 2 points per US dollar spent on room rentals, food, beverages, and audio/visual charges, up to a maximum of 60,000 points for general members. Elite bonuses can increase this significantly.
Sub-heading: Shopping & Experiences
Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques: Purchase Marriott brand bedding, bath, and other home items from their online boutiques and earn points.
Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities: Explore local experiences and tours through Marriott's dedicated platform and earn points on your bookings.
Marriott Bonvoy Homes & Villas: Book private home rentals through Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy and earn points, similar to hotel stays.
Step 5: Strategic Point Accumulation – Leveraging Transfers & Promotions
Beyond direct earning, there are smart strategies to boost your Marriott Bonvoy balance.
Sub-heading: Transferring Points from Flexible Rewards Programs
American Express Membership Rewards: Transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio (in most regions). This is a fantastic way to top off your Marriott account if you have a significant balance of Amex points.
Chase Ultimate Rewards (USA): Chase Ultimate Rewards points can also be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy, usually at a 1:1 ratio. If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred card, this is a valuable option.
Consider Promotions: Occasionally, these programs offer transfer bonuses, meaning you'll get more than a 1:1 ratio. Always keep an eye out for these limited-time offers to maximize your transfer value.
Sub-heading: Taking Advantage of Promotions
Global Promotions: Marriott Bonvoy regularly runs global promotions that allow members to earn bonus points on eligible stays. These can include extra points per stay, double points, or bonus points after a certain number of nights. Always register for these promotions even if you don't have immediate travel plans, as they often apply to future bookings.
Targeted Offers: Keep an eye on your email and your Marriott Bonvoy account dashboard for targeted offers, which can be even more rewarding.
Point Purchase Promotions: Marriott also frequently offers discounts or bonus points when you purchase Marriott Bonvoy points directly. While generally not the best value, these can be useful if you need to top off your account for a specific redemption, especially during a discounted sale.
Sub-heading: Referring Friends
If you're already a Marriott Bonvoy member with a co-branded credit card, you can often earn bonus points by referring friends or family members to apply for a Marriott Bonvoy credit card. The bonuses can be substantial, sometimes up to 40,000 points per approved referral (with annual limits). Your friends also benefit from the welcome offer!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - How to Earn Marriott Points
How to Earn Marriott Points Quickly?
The quickest ways to earn a large number of Marriott points are by applying for a Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card and meeting its welcome offer spending requirements, and by taking advantage of global and targeted Marriott Bonvoy promotions when booking stays.
How to Earn Marriott Points Without Staying at a Hotel?
You can earn Marriott points without staying at a hotel by using a Marriott Bonvoy credit card for everyday purchases, dining at participating Eat Around Town restaurants, linking your Marriott Bonvoy and Uber accounts for eligible rides and food orders, booking car rentals with Hertz, hosting meetings or events at Marriott properties, and by transferring points from flexible rewards programs like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards.
How to Earn Marriott Points on Business Travel?
Ensure your business travel bookings are made through eligible channels that allow points accrual (ideally directly with Marriott). Use your Marriott Bonvoy credit card for all eligible business expenses, and ensure your Marriott Bonvoy member number is attached to every reservation. If you host business meetings or events, book them through the Marriott Bonvoy Events program.
How to Maximize Marriott Points Earning on Stays?
To maximize points on stays, achieve a higher Marriott Bonvoy Elite status (Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador) to earn significant bonus points. Always book directly with Marriott, and pay with a Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card to earn additional accelerated points on your hotel spend.
How to Use Transfer Partners to Earn Marriott Points?
You can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards (in the U.S.) directly to your Marriott Bonvoy account, typically at a 1:1 ratio. Keep an eye out for transfer bonuses that occasionally offer more points per transfer.
How to Keep Marriott Points from Expiring?
Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity in your account. To prevent expiration, you need to have qualifying earning or redemption activity at least once every 24 months. This includes a paid stay, earning points from a credit card, transferring points into your account, dining at an Eat Around Town restaurant, or even purchasing points.
How to Earn Elite Night Credits for Marriott Status?
You earn Elite Night Credits by completing eligible paid stays at Marriott properties. Many Marriott Bonvoy credit cards offer a set number of elite night credits annually (e.g., 15 nights), which can significantly fast-track your path to higher status.
How to Earn Marriott Points by Referring Friends?
If you hold a Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card, you can often refer friends or family members to apply for the same card. If they are approved and meet the spending requirements, you will typically receive a referral bonus in Marriott Bonvoy points.
How to Earn Marriott Points by Dining Out?
Enroll in the Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy program and link your eligible credit cards. When you dine at participating restaurants and pay with your linked card, you'll automatically earn Marriott Bonvoy points.
How to Buy Marriott Points?
You can purchase Marriott Bonvoy points directly from the Marriott website (
