So you've been collecting Marriott Bonvoy points, and now you're wondering how to turn them into an incredible hotel stay. You've come to the right place! Using your hard-earned points for a free or discounted hotel night is one of the most rewarding aspects of the Marriott Bonvoy program. But let's be honest, the process can sometimes feel a little overwhelming.
Don't worry, we're going to break it down step-by-step. Get ready to unlock the value of your points and book that dream vacation you've been thinking about!
Step 1: Get to Know Your Points Balance and the Marriott Bonvoy Program
Before you even start searching for a hotel, it's crucial to know what you're working with. This is the fun part, where you see all your travel dreams start to take shape.
Check Your Points Balance: First and foremost, you need to know how many points you have. Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website or through the mobile app. Your points balance will be prominently displayed on your account dashboard. Don't forget to check for any Free Night Awards you may have earned through a co-branded credit card or as part of your elite status! These certificates are a fantastic way to book a free night at a specific points value.
Understand the Value: A key aspect of being a savvy points user is understanding the value of your points. The number of points required for a free night at a Marriott hotel is dynamic and can change based on the hotel, the date, and the demand. A night at a budget-friendly Courtyard in a small town will cost significantly fewer points than a night at a luxurious St. Regis in a major city. Knowing this will help you decide where and when to get the most "bang for your buck" with your points.
Learn the Basics of Point Redemption: Marriott offers a few different ways to use your points for a hotel stay.
Use Only Points: This is the most straightforward option. You book a room entirely with points and pay no cash for the room rate and taxes.
Cash + Points: This is a great way to "stretch" your points if you don't have enough for a full redemption or want to save some for a future trip. You'll pay a combination of cash and points for your stay.
Fifth Night Free: This is one of the best benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy program. When you book a five-night stay using only points, you get the fifth night for free. This can lead to massive savings, so always keep this in mind for longer trips.
Step 2: Find Your Dream Destination and Hotel
Now for the exciting part—planning your trip! Marriott has an extensive portfolio of over 30 brands and thousands of properties worldwide, so you've got a lot of options.
Use the Marriott Website or App: Go to the Marriott website or open the mobile app and start your search. Enter your desired destination and travel dates.
Toggle the 'Use Points / Awards' Option: This is the most important step for point redemption. Before you hit "Find Hotels," make sure you've selected the "Use Points / Awards" checkbox. This will show you the points cost for each available hotel, rather than the cash price.
Browse and Filter Your Results: Look at the different hotels that are available and see the points required for your dates. You can filter your search results by brand, amenities (like a pool or free breakfast), price (in points), and more. This is where you can start to compare options and see where your points can take you.
Be Flexible: If your travel dates are flexible, you can often find better deals. Marriott's search engine has a "Flexible Dates" option that can help you find the best points deals available over a period of time. Consider traveling during the off-season or on weekdays to find lower points rates.
Step 3: Select Your Room and Complete Your Booking
Once you've found the perfect hotel and points rate, it's time to lock it in.
View Rates and Select Your Room: Click on the hotel you want to book. On the next page, you'll see a breakdown of the available room types and their corresponding points cost. Click "Select" next to the room type you want.
Review Your Reservation Details: This page is your last chance to review everything before you book. You'll see the total points required, as well as any applicable taxes or fees (note that award bookings typically cover the room rate and taxes, but sometimes resort fees or other incidental charges may still apply, so double-check the fine print).
Apply Your Free Night Awards (if applicable): If you have a Free Night Award in your account that matches or is lower than the points cost of your room, the system will often automatically apply it. If you have multiple awards, you can choose which one to use. You can even top off a Free Night Award with up to 15,000 points to book a more expensive night!
Confirm Your Booking: Once you've reviewed all the details and everything looks correct, click "Book Now" or "Confirm" to finalize your reservation. You'll receive a confirmation email with all the details of your stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to find the best value for my Marriott points?
The best value is typically found by redeeming points for hotel stays when the cash price is high. For example, using 30,000 points for a night that would otherwise cost $400 is a much better value than using the same 30,000 points for a night that costs $150. Always compare the points cost to the cash cost to determine the best redemption.
How to use a Free Night Award certificate?
To use a Free Night Award, simply log into your Marriott Bonvoy account and book your stay through the website or app. When you select a hotel and dates, the system will automatically show you if an eligible Free Night Award can be used for the booking. The value of your certificate can also be combined with up to 15,000 points for a higher-end redemption.
How to book a hotel for a friend or family member with my points?
Booking a room for someone else with your points is called a "Gifted Award Redemption Stay." This must be done by contacting Marriott Member Support directly, as it cannot be completed online. You will need to provide your membership number and the name of the person staying at the hotel.
How to combine points from two different accounts?
You can transfer points between Marriott Bonvoy accounts. This is a great way to pool your points with a family member or friend for a larger redemption. You can transfer up to 100,000 points per year, and a minimum of 1,000 points must be transferred at a time. This can be done online through the Marriott website.
How to use points for more than just hotel stays?
While hotel stays are often the best value, you can also use your points for other things. This includes booking flights and car rentals, shopping for merchandise, and bidding on exclusive experiences through Marriott Bonvoy Moments.
How to check the expiration date of my Marriott points?
Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 consecutive months of inactivity. Activity includes earning or redeeming points. To keep your points from expiring, make sure to have a qualifying activity at least once every two years.
How to get the fifth night free on a points booking?
To get the fifth night free, you must book a stay of five consecutive nights entirely with points. The discount will be applied automatically, and you will only be charged the points for four of the nights. This is a great perk that significantly increases the value of your points for longer trips.
How to see the number of points needed for a hotel without having enough?
Even if you don't have enough points for a specific booking, you can still see the points cost. The Marriott website will show the required points, and you will have the option to buy the remaining points to complete your reservation.
How to know if a specific room type is available for a points redemption?
When searching for a hotel with the "Use Points / Awards" option checked, the results will show you the lowest points cost for a standard room. To see if a suite or upgraded room is available for a points redemption, you'll need to select the hotel and then view the available rates, as some properties offer points redemptions for enhanced rooms.
How to use a combination of cash and points for a stay?
During the booking process on the Marriott website or app, if you don't have enough points for a full redemption, you will often be given the option to book with "Cash + Points." The website will display the required cash and points amounts for your chosen dates.
