Thinking about a luxurious getaway or that dream vacation but a few Marriott Bonvoy points short? You've landed in the right place! Buying Marriott Bonvoy points can be a strategic move to unlock incredible experiences, but it's crucial to understand the costs involved to ensure you're getting the best value. Let's dive in and break down everything you need to know about purchasing Marriott Bonvoy points.
Unlocking Your Dream Stays: The Cost of Purchasing Marriott Bonvoy Points
Have you ever found yourself eyeing a fantastic Marriott property, perhaps in the Maldives or a chic city center, only to realize you don't quite have enough points for that free night? It's a common scenario for many Marriott Bonvoy members! The good news is, Marriott allows you to purchase points to top up your account, making those dream redemptions a reality. But how much does it actually cost, and more importantly, is it worth it? Let's find out!
Step 1: Understanding the Base Cost of Marriott Bonvoy Points
The foundational cost of purchasing Marriott Bonvoy points is fairly straightforward, but it's essential to grasp this baseline before considering any discounts or promotions.
The Standard Price Per Point
Marriott Bonvoy points are typically sold in increments, and the standard rate is $12.50 USD per 1,000 points. This means that each point costs you 1.25 cents ($0.0125) per point.
For example, if you wanted to purchase 10,000 points, it would cost you $125 USD (10 x $12.50).
Maximum Purchase Limits
Marriott Bonvoy has annual limits on how many points you can purchase:
Members can generally purchase or receive as a gift a combined maximum of 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per calendar year through Marriott websites, mobile apps, or customer engagement centers.
You can purchase up to an additional 100,000 points annually when booking a hotel stay if you don't have enough points for your desired redemption. This means a theoretical total of 200,000 points in a year, with half of that being tied to an actual booking.
Step 2: The Art of the Deal - Looking for Promotions and Bonuses
This is where buying Marriott Bonvoy points can become truly strategic! Marriott frequently offers promotions that significantly reduce the effective cost per point.
How Promotions Work
Marriott regularly runs promotions that offer a bonus on purchased points. These bonuses can range from 25% to 50% or even higher.
For instance, a "50% bonus" means that if you buy 10,000 points, you'd actually receive 15,000 points for the same price.
Let's do the math on a common scenario:
Standard purchase: 10,000 points for $125 (1.25 cents/point)
With a 50% bonus: For $125, you'd get 15,000 points.
This brings your effective cost down to approximately 0.83 cents ($0.0083) per point ($125 / 15,000 points).
This is a substantial discount! Always aim to buy points during a promotion. If you're not in a hurry, it's often worth waiting for one of these sales to maximize your value.
Where to Find Promotions
Marriott Bonvoy "Buy Points" Page: The official "Buy Points" section on the Marriott Bonvoy website is the primary place where these promotions are advertised.
Email Newsletters: Make sure you're subscribed to Marriott Bonvoy email updates. They often announce these sales directly to members.
Travel Blogs and Websites: Many frequent flyer and loyalty program blogs closely track and report on Marriott points sales. A quick search for "Marriott Bonvoy points sale" will usually turn up current offers.
Step 3: Determining if Purchasing Points is Worth It – The Value Proposition
Now that you know the cost, the critical question remains: Is it a good idea to buy points? This depends entirely on the value you'll get from your redemption.
What's a Marriott Bonvoy Point "Worth"?
The value of a Marriott Bonvoy point is not fixed; it fluctuates based on how you redeem it. Travel experts often estimate the average value of Marriott Bonvoy points to be around 0.7 to 0.9 cents per point.
If you can purchase points for less than this average redemption value, it's generally a good deal. For example, buying points at 0.83 cents during a 50% bonus sale and redeeming them for a stay where they yield 1.0 cent per point means you're getting a positive return.
If you're buying points at the standard rate of 1.25 cents per point, you'll need to find a redemption that yields at least 1.25 cents per point to break even, and ideally more to make it worthwhile. This is often harder to achieve.
Scenarios Where Buying Points Makes Sense:
Topping Off for a Specific Redemption: This is arguably the most common and sensible reason to buy points. If you're just a few thousand points short of booking that dream hotel, buying the remaining points (especially during a sale) can be a great way to secure the stay without paying cash.
"PointSavers" and Off-Peak Redemptions: Marriott's dynamic pricing means that point requirements can vary. "PointSavers" and off-peak dates often offer significantly better redemption value. If you can leverage these, buying points might be a good move.
High Cash Price vs. Low Point Price: Sometimes, a hotel stay has an extremely high cash price but a relatively modest points requirement. In these cases, buying points can represent substantial savings compared to paying cash. Always compare the cash price to the points price (and your cost to acquire those points).
Avoiding Point Expiration: While not ideal for maximizing value, if your Marriott Bonvoy points are about to expire due to inactivity, and you have no other quick way to generate activity, purchasing a small amount of points can reset the expiration clock. Note: Transferring or gifting points to another member, or receiving a transfer, does not count as qualifying activity to reset expiration.
When to Avoid Buying Points:
Without a Specific Redemption in Mind: Never buy points speculatively. Marriott's dynamic pricing means values can change, and you might end up with points that aren't worth what you paid for them.
If the Effective Cost is Higher than Redemption Value: If the cost per point (after any bonuses) is higher than the value you expect to get from your redemption, you're essentially losing money.
If You Have Other Earning Options: Consider if earning points through Marriott co-branded credit cards, hotel stays, or transferring from partners like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards (often at a 1:1 ratio) would be more cost-effective. These methods often yield points at a much lower effective cost.
Step 4: The Step-by-Step Guide to Purchasing Marriott Bonvoy Points
Ready to make that purchase? Here’s a detailed guide:
Sub-heading: Accessing the Purchase Portal
Log In to Your Marriott Bonvoy Account: Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (marriott.com) and sign in with your member number or email and password. This is crucial as you must be logged in to purchase points.
Navigate to the "Buy Points" Section:
Once logged in, look for a "Buy Points" or "Purchase Points" link. This is often found under "Marriott Bonvoy" in the main menu, then "About Marriott Bonvoy" or "Use Points."
Alternatively, you can often find a direct link on the Marriott Bonvoy offers page or by searching "buy Marriott Bonvoy points" on the Marriott website.
If there's an active promotion, you'll usually see it prominently displayed on this page.
Sub-heading: Making Your Selection
Choose the Quantity of Points: You'll see various pre-set increments for purchasing points (e.g., 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, etc.). Select the amount you wish to purchase.
Remember the annual maximum limits discussed earlier.
If there's a bonus offer, the total points you'll receive (including the bonus) will typically be shown clearly.
Review the Cost: The system will display the total cost in USD for your chosen points quantity. Double-check that this aligns with the current rate and any applicable promotions.
Sub-heading: Completing the Transaction
Enter Payment Information: Provide your credit card details for the purchase. Marriott processes point purchases securely.
Consider using a credit card that offers bonus points on travel or everyday spending to earn even more rewards on your purchase!
Confirm and Purchase: Review all the details one last time – the number of points, the total cost, and your payment information. Once everything looks correct, confirm your purchase.
Confirmation and Processing: You'll receive a confirmation message. Purchased points typically post to your Marriott Bonvoy account within 72 hours after the transaction is complete, though it can sometimes be faster. Keep this in mind if you're buying points for an urgent redemption.
Sub-heading: Purchasing Points During a Reservation
Marriott also allows you to purchase points directly when you're making an award reservation and don't have enough points.
Start an Award Reservation: Go through the booking process for a hotel stay using points.
"Complete Your Booking" Screen: If you don't have enough points, an option to "Purchase Points" will appear on the "Complete Your Booking" screen.
Select Needed Points: Choose the number of points required to complete your booking. This specific purchase usually counts towards a separate 100,000 point limit for purchases associated with a reservation, effectively doubling your annual purchase capacity for that specific use case.
Complete Payment and Booking: Pay for the purchased points and then finalize your hotel reservation.
Step 5: Important Considerations After Purchase
Points are Non-Refundable
Once you purchase Marriott Bonvoy points, they are non-refundable. Be absolutely certain of your need before completing the transaction.
Purchased Points and Elite Status
Purchased points do not count toward Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status. Elite status is earned through qualifying nights stayed or through specific credit card spending.
Expiration of Points
Remember that Marriott Bonvoy points typically expire if your account goes 24 months without any qualifying activity (earning or redeeming). Purchasing points is considered a qualifying activity and will reset your points' expiration clock.
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to Calculate the Value of Your Marriott Bonvoy Points?
To calculate the value of your points, divide the cash price of a hotel stay (in USD) by the number of points required for that same stay. For example, if a room costs $200 or 20,000 points, your points are worth $200 / 20,000 = $0.01 or 1 cent per point.
How to Find Out When Marriott Bonvoy Points Sales Happen?
Marriott Bonvoy typically holds points sales several times a year. You can find out by subscribing to Marriott Bonvoy email newsletters, regularly checking the "Buy Points" section on the Marriott website, or following popular travel rewards blogs that announce these promotions.
How to Know if Buying Marriott Bonvoy Points is a Good Deal for My Trip?
Compare the effective cost per point (after any bonuses) to the value you'd get from your desired redemption. If the cost to buy is lower than the value you'll redeem for, it's a good deal. Always compare the cash price of the stay against the cost of buying the points needed.
How to Maximize the Value of Purchased Marriott Bonvoy Points?
Maximize value by purchasing points during promotional sales (aim for 40-50% bonuses), and then redeeming them for high-value redemptions like expensive luxury hotels, stays during peak seasons where cash rates are very high, or by leveraging "PointSavers" awards if available.
How to Transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points to Another Member?
You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to another member's account. There is no fee for transferring points, but there are limits: you can transfer a maximum of 100,000 points and receive a maximum of 500,000 points per calendar year. This can be done via your Marriott Bonvoy account online or by calling customer service.
How to Gift Marriott Bonvoy Points to Someone Else?
You can "gift" points by purchasing them directly for another member through the "Buy Points" portal. The recipient's account must be in good standing and at least 30 days old. The cost is the same as buying for yourself, and the transaction counts against the recipient's annual points purchase/receive limit.
How to Prevent Marriott Bonvoy Points from Expiring?
Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity. To prevent expiration, you need to have a qualifying activity at least once every 24 months. This includes earning points (from stays, credit card spending, partners), redeeming points, or purchasing points.
How to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points Without Staying at Hotels?
You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points without hotel stays through various methods: using Marriott co-branded credit cards, transferring points from partners like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, dining at participating restaurants via "Eat Around Town," booking cruises, or utilizing partnerships with Uber and Hertz.
How to Use Purchased Marriott Bonvoy Points for Free Nights?
Once purchased points are posted to your account (usually within 72 hours), they are indistinguishable from points earned through other means. Simply log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and proceed to book your desired hotel stay using your points, just as you would with any other points balance.
How to Combine Cash and Points for a Marriott Bonvoy Stay?
Marriott Bonvoy offers a "Cash + Points" option for booking hotel stays. This allows you to use a combination of a smaller number of points and cash to cover the cost of a night, which can be useful if you're slightly short on points or want to conserve your points balance. The specific cash and points combinations vary by property and date.
