Do you have Marriott Bonvoy points burning a hole in your pocket? Excellent! You've accumulated a valuable currency that can unlock incredible travel experiences and more. But how exactly do you turn those hard-earned points into unforgettable moments? This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of using your Marriott Bonvoy points, ensuring you get the most out of your loyalty.
How to Pay Using Marriott Points: Your Ultimate Guide
Marriott Bonvoy points offer a fantastic way to stretch your travel budget, whether you're dreaming of a luxurious resort stay, a quick city escape, or even unique experiences. Let's dive into the various ways you can redeem your points.
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| How To Pay Using Marriott Points |
Step 1: Assess Your Point Balance and Goals
Before you even start searching, let's get you acquainted with your current point standing and what you want to achieve. This is crucial for planning the best redemption strategy.
1.1 Check Your Marriott Bonvoy Account
Log in: Head to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (marriott.com) or open the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app.
Locate your balance: Your current point balance will be prominently displayed on your account dashboard. Take note of it!
Understand your status: Your Elite status (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador) can also impact certain redemption benefits, such as complimentary upgrades or bonus points.
1.2 Define Your Redemption Goal
What are you hoping to "pay" for with your points?
Hotel Stays: This is the most common and often the most valuable use of Marriott Bonvoy points.
Marriott Bonvoy Moments: Unique, curated experiences like culinary events, sporting events, or concerts.
Flights & Car Rentals: Book travel through Marriott's travel portal.
Gift Cards & Merchandise: For shopping, though generally a lower value redemption.
Donate Points: Give back to charitable causes.
Knowing your objective will help you navigate the various redemption options efficiently.
Tip: Skim only after you’ve read fully once.
Step 2: Redeeming Points for Hotel Stays (The Most Popular Option)
This is where your points truly shine! Marriott Bonvoy has a vast portfolio of brands, offering everything from budget-friendly options to ultra-luxury resorts.
2.1 Using the Marriott Website or App
The process is quite similar on both platforms.
Search for your desired destination and dates: On the Marriott homepage or within the app, enter your destination, check-in, and check-out dates.
Activate "Use Points/Awards": This is a critical step. Look for a toggle or checkbox often labeled "Use Points/Awards" or "Book with Points." Make sure this is selected before you click "Find Hotels" or "Search."
Tip: If you have flexible travel dates, selecting "Flexible Dates" can help you find better point deals.
Browse available hotels: The search results will now display hotels with their corresponding point costs per night.
Filter and sort: You can sort by "Reward Points" to see the cheapest point redemptions first, or filter by brand, amenities, or point range.
Select your desired hotel and room type: Click on a hotel that interests you. You'll see various room types and their point costs. Choose the one that best suits your needs.
Review your reservation details: Before finalizing, double-check all the details, including dates, room type, and the total points required.
Confirm your booking: Click "Book Now" to confirm your reservation. You'll receive an email confirmation.
2.2 Understanding Point Redemption Variations
Standard Award Nights: The most straightforward redemption, where a fixed number of points is required per night.
Cash + Points: If you don't have enough points for a full award night, or want to conserve them, this option allows you to combine points and cash for a stay. Look for "Cash + Points" rates when viewing hotel options.
Free Night Awards: If you have a Free Night Award certificate (often earned through co-branded credit cards or elite status), you can combine it with up to 15,000 points to book a higher-value room. Marriott will automatically apply your certificates to the highest eligible night when booking multiple nights.
PointSavers: Keep an eye out for "PointSavers" rates, which offer reduced point requirements for select hotels and dates. These can be a fantastic way to maximize your points!
2.3 Fifth Night Free Benefit
One of the absolute best perks of redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points for hotel stays is the "Fifth Night Free" benefit. When you book a stay of five consecutive nights using only points, the night with the lowest point value will be free. This effectively gives you a 20% discount on a five-night award stay! To take advantage, simply book five nights with points, and the system will automatically apply the discount.
QuickTip: Scan for summary-style sentences.
Step 3: Exploring Marriott Bonvoy Moments
Beyond traditional hotel stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments offer exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you can bid on or redeem with a fixed number of points.
3.1 How to Find and Redeem Moments
Visit the Marriott Bonvoy Moments website: Go to moments.marriottbonvoy.com.
Browse categories: Explore culinary, sports, entertainment, and arts & lifestyle experiences.
Bidding vs. Fixed Price:
Auction Experiences: These allow you to bid your points on unique packages. The highest bidder wins at the close of the auction.
Fixed-Price Experiences: These have a set point value and are available for immediate redemption on a first-come, first-served basis.
Select and redeem: Choose the Moment that excites you and follow the prompts to place your bid or redeem your points.
Keep an eye out for "1-Point Drop Moments" – these are extremely limited, highly sought-after experiences available for just 1 point! Follow Marriott Bonvoy on social media for announcements.
Step 4: Using Points for Flights, Car Rentals, and More
While generally not the best value compared to hotel redemptions, these options provide flexibility.
4.1 Flights & Car Rentals
Visit the "Air + Car" portal: Marriott Bonvoy partners with various airlines and car rental companies. You can access this through the Marriott Bonvoy website under the "Use Points" section or directly via https://www.google.com/search?q=airandcar.marriottbonvoy.com.
Search for travel: Input your flight or car rental details.
Redeem points: You can use points to cover the entire cost or combine them with cash.
Note: The point value for flights and car rentals can fluctuate and is often lower than for hotel stays.
4.2 Shopping with Points
Visit the "Shop with Points" portal: Accessible via the Marriott Bonvoy website.
Browse merchandise and gift cards: You can redeem points for various items, including electronics, fashion, and gift cards from popular retailers.
Consider carefully: This is generally considered a low-value redemption for your points. You'll typically get much more value by using your points for hotel stays.
QuickTip: The more attention, the more retention.
4.3 Transferring Points to Airline Partners
Marriott Bonvoy has an extensive list of airline transfer partners. You can convert your Marriott Bonvoy points into airline miles.
Transfer Ratio: For most airlines, points transfer at a 3:1 ratio (3 Marriott Bonvoy points = 1 airline mile).
Bonus Miles: You'll often receive a bonus of 5,000 miles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer. This can make it a more attractive option if you need to top up an airline mileage account for a specific flight redemption.
How to Transfer: Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and look for the "Transfer Points to Miles" option under "Use Points." Select your desired airline and the amount of points you wish to transfer.
4.4 Donating Points
Marriott Bonvoy allows you to donate your points to various charitable organizations. This is a great way to give back if you have a surplus of points or simply wish to contribute to a good cause.
You can typically find this option under the "Use Points" section of your account.
Step 5: Maximizing Your Marriott Bonvoy Point Value
To truly "pay" smartly with your points, understanding their value is key.
5.1 Aim for High Point Value Redemptions
While the average value of a Marriott Bonvoy point is often cited around 0.7 to 0.9 cents per point, you can often get much higher value for aspirational stays.
Best Value: Often found at higher-end Marriott properties (Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Luxury Collection) during peak seasons or when cash rates are exceptionally high. Compare the cash price of a room to the points required.
Consider the 5th Night Free: As mentioned, this significantly boosts your per-point value for longer stays.
5.2 Be Flexible with Dates and Locations
If your travel dates are flexible, you're more likely to find better point redemption rates. Weekends and holidays typically require more points.
Consider traveling during the off-season to your desired destination for lower point costs.
5.3 Look for PointSavers and Promotions
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Marriott periodically offers PointSavers awards, which are discounted point redemptions. Keep an eye on your email and the Marriott Bonvoy website for these promotions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions about paying with Marriott Bonvoy points:
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy point balance? You can check your point balance by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the official website (marriott.com) or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your balance is typically displayed prominently on your dashboard.
How to book a hotel room using only Marriott Bonvoy points? On the Marriott website or app, search for your desired destination and dates, then ensure the "Use Points/Awards" or "Book with Points" option is selected before you search. The results will then show point costs.
How to combine cash and Marriott Bonvoy points for a stay? When searching for hotels, after selecting "Use Points/Awards," look for "Cash + Points" rates among the available options for a given hotel and room type.
How to use a Marriott Free Night Award certificate? Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account and book your stay by selecting the "Use Points/Awards" option. If an eligible Free Night Award is available for your booking, it will automatically be applied or available for selection during the reservation process. You can also add up to 15,000 points to increase the certificate's value.
How to get the "Fifth Night Free" benefit with Marriott Bonvoy points? Simply book a consecutive stay of five nights entirely with Marriott Bonvoy points. The system will automatically deduct the points for the lowest-priced night from your total.
How to use Marriott Bonvoy points for flights or car rentals? Visit the dedicated "Air + Car" portal on the Marriott Bonvoy website (https://www.google.com/search?q=airandcar.marriottbonvoy.com). You can search for flights or car rentals and choose to pay with points, or a combination of points and cash.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles? Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the website, go to the "Use Points" section, and select "Transfer Points to Miles." Choose your preferred airline partner and enter the number of points you wish to transfer (usually in increments of 3,000 for a 3:1 ratio).
How to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for unique experiences? Visit the Marriott Bonvoy Moments website (moments.marriottbonvoy.com). You can bid on auction packages or redeem a fixed number of points for curated culinary, sports, entertainment, and arts & lifestyle experiences.
How to find the best value for my Marriott Bonvoy points? The best value typically comes from redeeming points for hotel stays, especially at higher-end properties or during peak seasons when cash rates are high. Always compare the cash price to the points required to calculate the per-point value. Utilizing the "Fifth Night Free" benefit is also an excellent strategy.
How to buy more Marriott Bonvoy points if I don't have enough? You can purchase additional Marriott Bonvoy points through the Marriott website. Look for the "Buy Points" option in your account or on the redemption page. There are usually limits on how many points you can purchase per calendar year.
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