Planning a Marriott stay and wondering how many precious Marriott Bonvoy points you'll rake in? You're in the right place! Understanding the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program is key to maximizing your earnings and unlocking incredible travel experiences. Let's dive deep into how you earn points and how you can supercharge your rewards.
Your Marriott Bonvoy Points Journey: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Are you already a Marriott Bonvoy Member? If not, let's fix that!
Before we go any further, tell me, are you already a proud Marriott Bonvoy member? If the answer is yes, fantastic! You're already on your way. If it's no, then your very first step (and one of the most important!) is to join the Marriott Bonvoy program. It's absolutely free and takes just a few minutes. Without being a member, you won't earn a single point for your stays, missing out on incredible benefits like free nights, elite status, and exclusive offers.
How to Join: Simply visit the Marriott Bonvoy website or download the Marriott Bonvoy app. Look for the "Join Now" or "Sign Up" option and follow the prompts. You'll need to provide some basic information, and just like that, you'll have a shiny new Marriott Bonvoy membership number!
Step 2: Understanding the Base Earning Rate: The Foundation of Your Points
This is where the magic begins! For most Marriott properties, you'll earn a standard number of points for every dollar you spend.
The Golden Rule: 10 Points Per Dollar (Generally)
For the vast majority of Marriott Bonvoy participating hotels, you'll earn 10 Marriott Bonvoy points for every $1 USD (or the equivalent in local currency) spent on qualifying charges.
What are "Qualifying Charges"? This is important! It usually includes your room rate, as well as incidental charges like dining at hotel restaurants, spa services, rounds of golf (at participating resorts), and other services that can be charged to your room.
Exceptions to the 10x Rule: While 10 points per dollar is the most common, there are a few exceptions based on brand:
2.5 points per $1 USD: Marriott Executive Apartments
4 points per $1 USD: StudioRes
5 points per $1 USD: Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Element by Westin, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Sonder (apartments).
5 points per $1 USD (per 2 nights): Protea Hotels by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, Four Points Flex by Sheraton.
Step 3: Supercharging Your Earnings with Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status
This is where your loyalty truly pays off! As you stay more nights with Marriott, you can achieve elite status levels, which come with significant bonus points on top of your base earnings.
Elite Status Tiers and Bonus Points:
Member (0-9 nights): 0% bonus (you only earn the base points)
Silver Elite (10-24 nights): Earn an additional 10% bonus points on top of your base earnings.
Gold Elite (25-49 nights): Earn an additional 25% bonus points.
Platinum Elite (50-74 nights): Earn an impressive 50% bonus points.
Titanium Elite (75-99 nights): Enjoy a substantial 75% bonus points.
Ambassador Elite (100+ nights + $23,000 USD qualifying spend): Also receive a 75% bonus points.
Example: If you're a Platinum Elite member and spend $100 on qualifying charges at a Marriott Hotel (which normally earns 10 points per dollar), you'd get:
Base Points: 10 points/dollar * $100 = 1,000 points
Platinum Elite Bonus: 50% of 1,000 points = 500 points
Total Points: 1,000 + 500 = 1,500 points
Step 4: Turbocharging with Marriott Bonvoy Co-Branded Credit Cards
This is arguably one of the fastest ways to accumulate a huge stash of Marriott Bonvoy points, even when you're not staying at a hotel! Marriott offers co-branded credit cards through partners like Chase (in the US) and American Express. These cards provide excellent earning rates on Marriott stays and often offer bonus points on everyday spending categories.
Key Ways Co-Branded Cards Boost Points:
Accelerated Earning on Marriott Stays: Many Marriott credit cards offer significantly more points per dollar spent at Marriott properties than the base earning rate. For example, some cards might give you 6x points per dollar on Marriott purchases, stacking with your elite status bonus!
Bonus Points on Everyday Spending: These cards often reward you for categories like dining, groceries, gas, and travel, allowing you to earn Bonvoy points on your regular expenses.
Welcome Bonuses: A major perk! Credit card welcome bonuses can often be tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of points after meeting initial spending requirements. This alone can be enough for several free nights.
Elite Night Credits: Many co-branded cards provide a certain number of Elite Night Credits annually, helping you achieve or maintain elite status faster, which in turn boosts your points earning!
Always check the specific terms and conditions of the credit card you are interested in, as earning rates and benefits can vary.
Step 5: Leveraging Promotions and Special Offers
Marriott Bonvoy frequently runs promotions that offer bonus points for specific stays, regions, or booking types. These can be incredibly lucrative!
How to Find and Utilize Promotions:
Check the "Promotions" section on the Marriott Bonvoy website or app.
Register for promotions: Most promotions require you to register before your stay to be eligible for the bonus points. Don't miss this crucial step!
Look for targeted offers: Sometimes, you might receive personalized offers via email.
Examples of Promotions: These can include:
Double points on all stays.
Bonus points for staying a certain number of nights.
Extra points for booking premium rooms or suites.
Bonuses for specific brands or regions.
Step 6: Exploring Other Ways to Earn Points Beyond Stays
Marriott Bonvoy offers a surprising number of ways to earn points that don't involve booking a hotel room!
Marriott Bonvoy Events: If you plan meetings or events, you can earn points on eligible charges.
Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities: Book experiences through Marriott's platform and earn points.
Dining Programs: Enroll in "Eat Around Town by Marriott" and earn points when dining at participating restaurants, simply by linking your credit card.
Car Rentals: Earn points when renting with partners like Hertz.
Transferring Points from Other Programs: You can transfer points from flexible rewards programs like American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Bilt Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy, often at a 1:1 ratio.
Purchasing Points: While generally not the best value, you can purchase Marriott Bonvoy points directly, especially during promotional sales.
Refer a Friend: If you have a Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card, you can often earn bonus points by referring friends who get approved for the card.
Maximizing Your Marriott Bonvoy Point Earnings: A Recap
To summarize, earning Marriott Bonvoy points is a multi-faceted process that goes beyond just booking a room. By combining these strategies, you can significantly increase your point accumulation:
Always be a Marriott Bonvoy member.
Understand the base earning rates for different brands.
Strive for elite status to unlock substantial bonus points.
Utilize Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards for accelerated earning and generous welcome bonuses.
Stay vigilant for promotions and special offers and always register!
Explore alternative earning methods like dining programs and partner activities.
By following this guide, you'll be well on your way to earning a wealth of Marriott Bonvoy points, bringing those dream free nights and elite travel experiences closer than ever!
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to calculate Marriott Bonvoy points for a stay?
To calculate, take your qualifying spend (e.g., room rate, dining charged to room) and multiply it by the base earning rate (usually 10 points per $1 USD). Then, add any elite status bonus (e.g., 10% for Silver, 25% for Gold, 50% for Platinum, 75% for Titanium/Ambassador). If using a Marriott credit card, factor in its accelerated earning rate on Marriott purchases.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points without staying at a hotel?
You can earn points without a hotel stay by using a Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card for everyday purchases, dining at participating restaurants through Eat Around Town, booking Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities, transferring points from partners like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, and earning through car rentals with Hertz.
How to find current Marriott Bonvoy promotions for bonus points?
Check the "Promotions" section on the official Marriott Bonvoy website or app. You may also receive email notifications for targeted offers if you are subscribed to Marriott's marketing communications.
How to ensure my Marriott Bonvoy points are credited correctly after a stay?
Always provide your Marriott Bonvoy member number at check-in. Keep your receipts. Points usually post within a few days of checkout, but allow up to 10 business days. If points are missing, contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service with your reservation details.
How to maximize Marriott Bonvoy points on business travel?
If your company allows, book directly with Marriott and ensure your Bonvoy number is attached. Utilize any personal Marriott co-branded credit card for payment (if allowed) to earn additional points. Look for corporate rates that might still be eligible for point earnings.
How to use Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards for the best point earnings?
Use your Marriott Bonvoy credit card for all Marriott stays to earn the highest multiplier. Additionally, strategically use it for categories where it offers bonus points (e.g., dining, groceries, gas, as per your card's benefits) to accumulate points on everyday spending.
How to understand the different base earning rates for Marriott brands?
While most brands earn 10 points per dollar, some extended-stay brands (like Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites) earn 5 points per dollar, and specific brands like Marriott Executive Apartments earn 2.5 points per dollar. StudioRes earns 4 points per dollar. Always check the specific brand's earning rate on the Marriott Bonvoy website if unsure.
How to link my Marriott Bonvoy account with partners for extra points?
Visit the "Earn Points" or "Partners" section on the Marriott Bonvoy website. There, you'll find options to link your account with partners like Uber, Emirates Skywards, and Hertz, allowing you to earn points on qualifying activities with them.
How to get elite status faster to earn more points?
Besides staying nights, you can accelerate elite status by holding a Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card (many offer complimentary elite status or elite night credits annually), or by spending on certain credit cards which grant elite night credits for meeting spending thresholds.
How to redeem points for a free night at a Marriott property?
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the website or app. When searching for hotels, select the option to "Use Points/Certificates" or "Redeem Points." The search results will then display properties and their required points for a free night, or allow you to use a Free Night Award.
