Do you have a stash of Marriott Bonvoy points sitting in your account, wondering how to turn them into unforgettable travel experiences or perhaps something entirely different? You're in the right place! Marriott Bonvoy, with its vast portfolio of hotels and partners, offers a wealth of redemption options. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the best ways to spend your Marriott points, ensuring you get the most value for your loyalty.
Step 1: Check Your Marriott Bonvoy Points Balance and Plan Your Dream
First things first, before you can embark on your redemption journey, you need to know how many points you have.
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How many points do you have? Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website or through the Marriott Bonvoy app. Your current points balance will be prominently displayed. Take a moment to also note any upcoming Free Night Awards you might have.
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What's your travel goal? Are you dreaming of a luxurious escape to the Maldives, a bustling city break, a cozy staycation, or perhaps something entirely non-hotel related? Having a general idea of what you want to redeem your points for will help you focus your search and maximize their value. Think big, think small, think anything in between!
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| How Do I Spend Marriott Points |
Step 2: Redeeming Points for Hotel Stays – The Classic Choice
This is often the most popular and generally the best value redemption for Marriott Bonvoy points. Marriott's dynamic pricing means there isn't a fixed award chart, but there are still ways to find excellent deals.
Sub-heading 2.1: Booking Free Nights (Points Only)
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Searching for Award Stays:
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On the Marriott website or app, enter your desired destination and dates.
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Crucially, make sure to check the "Use Points / Awards" box before searching. This will display the hotel rates in points instead of cash.
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Be Flexible: If your travel dates are flexible, select "Flexible Dates" in the search. Marriott's PointSavers program offers discounted award rates at select hotels for specific dates, which can be a fantastic way to stretch your points further.
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Fifth Night Free: This is a golden rule for Marriott Bonvoy redemptions! When you redeem points for five consecutive nights at the same property, you'll only pay for four nights – the lowest point value night is complimentary. This effectively gives you a 20% discount on a five-night stay. Always aim for this if your travel plans allow!
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Sub-heading 2.2: Cash + Points Bookings
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Stretching Your Points: If you don't have enough points for a full free night, or if the cash rate is particularly low, "Cash + Points" can be a good option. This allows you to combine a portion of points with a cash payment.
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How to Book: When searching for a hotel with "Use Points / Awards" selected, if available, Cash + Points rates will appear alongside the "Points Only" option. Compare the value you're getting carefully.
Sub-heading 2.3: Upgrading Your Stay
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Room Upgrades: You can sometimes use points to upgrade to a better room or suite at participating hotels. This is often done at the time of booking or directly with the hotel upon arrival, based on availability. The cost in points will vary.
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Elite Status Perks: Remember, if you have Marriott Bonvoy Elite status (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador), you may already be eligible for complimentary room upgrades, so always check your benefits first!
QuickTip: Reading twice makes retention stronger.
Step 3: Beyond Hotel Stays – Exploring Other Redemption Avenues
While hotel nights are generally the best value, Marriott Bonvoy offers other ways to use your points that might suit your needs, especially if you have an abundance of points or specific travel requirements.
Sub-heading 3.1: Marriott Bonvoy Moments™
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Unique Experiences: This is where you can truly create unforgettable memories. Marriott Bonvoy Moments allow you to bid on or instantly redeem points for exclusive experiences related to culinary, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle events.
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Examples: Imagine attending a major sporting event with VIP access, taking a cooking class with a renowned chef, or getting backstage passes to a concert. These can offer incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you can't buy with cash alone.
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How to Access: Visit the Marriott Bonvoy Moments website to browse available experiences and participate in auctions or fixed-price redemptions.
Sub-heading 3.2: Transferring Points to Airline Miles
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Flying High with Points: Marriott Bonvoy has a wide array of airline partners (over 40!), allowing you to convert your points into airline miles. The standard transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile.
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Bonus Offer: You'll typically receive a bonus of 5,000 miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This means transferring 60,000 Marriott points gets you 25,000 airline miles (20,000 from the 3:1 ratio + 5,000 bonus).
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Strategic Use: This can be particularly useful for booking premium cabin flights where cash prices are exorbitant, or for topping off an airline mileage account for a specific redemption. Always compare the value you'd get from a hotel stay versus a flight redemption.
Sub-heading 3.3: Car Rentals and Cruises
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Travel Packages: You can use your points for car rentals through partners like Hertz, or even for cruises through the "Cruise With Points" program.
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Value Consideration: While convenient, the redemption value for car rentals and cruises typically isn't as high as for hotel stays. It's often better to save your points for hotels unless you have a specific need or a very high points balance.
Sub-heading 3.4: Shopping with Points and Gift Cards
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Merchandise and Gift Cards: Marriott Bonvoy allows you to redeem points for merchandise and gift cards from various retailers.
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Lower Value Alert! Be aware that this is generally the least valuable way to use your Marriott points. The redemption rate for merchandise and gift cards is significantly lower compared to hotel stays or even airline transfers. It's usually only recommended if your points are about to expire and you have no immediate travel plans.
Sub-heading 3.5: Instant Redemptions
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On-Property Perks: At participating hotels, you can use your points for "Instant Redemption" to cover incidental charges like food and beverages, spa services, or other amenities charged to your room.
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Convenience vs. Value: This offers convenience, but similar to gift cards, the value you get per point for instant redemptions is typically lower than using them for free nights.
QuickTip: Reading regularly builds stronger recall.
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Sub-heading 3.6: Donating Points
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Giving Back: If you're feeling philanthropic, you can donate your Marriott Bonvoy points to various charitable organizations. This is a great way to support causes you care about, though it's purely for altruistic reasons and not for maximizing personal value.
Step 4: Maximizing Your Redemption Value
Not all redemptions are created equal. Here are some pro tips to ensure you're getting the most out of your Marriott Bonvoy points:
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Target High-Value Properties: Generally, you'll get the best value for your points at higher-end Marriott properties, especially luxury brands like The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, or EDITION, where cash rates are often very high.
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Off-Peak Travel: Award prices are dynamic and fluctuate based on demand. Look for off-peak dates or shoulder seasons when demand is lower to find better point rates.
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The Fifth Night Free is Your Best Friend: Seriously, if you can stay for five nights, always do it. It's an automatic 20% savings.
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Compare Cash vs. Points: Always calculate the "cents per point" value. Divide the cash price of a stay (including taxes and fees) by the number of points required. If you're getting 0.7 cents per point or higher, it's generally considered a good redemption. Anything below 0.5 cents per point is usually a poor use.
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Consider Travel Packages (Historically): While less prevalent now, Marriott previously offered lucrative "hotel + air" packages. Keep an eye out for any similar promotions they might run in the future, as these could offer exceptional value.
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Don't Let Points Expire: Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity. Make sure you have some earning or redeeming activity within that period to keep your account active. Even a small points redemption (like for a gift card, if absolutely necessary) can reset the clock.
Step 5: Making the Redemption – The Final Steps
Once you've decided how to spend your points, the process is usually straightforward.
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Online Redemption: Most redemptions, especially for hotel stays, can be completed directly on the Marriott website or through the Marriott Bonvoy app.
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Follow Prompts: Simply follow the prompts, confirm your details, and your points will be deducted. You'll receive a confirmation email.
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Contact Member Support: For more complex redemptions, like certain travel packages or if you encounter any issues, don't hesitate to contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Support. Their contact details are usually available on the Marriott website.
10 Related FAQ Questions (How to...)
How to Check My Marriott Bonvoy Points Balance?
You can check your Marriott Bonvoy points balance by logging into your account on the official Marriott website or by using the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app.
Tip: Keep the flow, don’t jump randomly.
How to Find Hotels Available for Points Redemption?
On the Marriott website or app, when searching for a hotel, make sure to select the "Use Points / Awards" option. This will display properties and their point requirements.
How to Get the "Fifth Night Free" Benefit?
Simply book a stay of five consecutive nights at the same Marriott Bonvoy participating hotel using only points, and the night with the lowest point value will be automatically deducted.
How to Transfer Marriott Points to Airline Miles?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account, navigate to the "Redeem Points" section, and look for "Transfer Points to Miles." Select your desired airline partner and enter the number of points you wish to transfer.
How to Redeem Points for Marriott Bonvoy Moments™?
Visit the dedicated Marriott Bonvoy Moments website, browse the available experiences (culinary, sports, entertainment), and either bid on an auction or instantly redeem for fixed-price events.
How to Use Cash + Points for a Hotel Stay?
Tip: Don’t just scroll — pause and absorb.
When searching for a hotel with the "Use Points / Awards" option selected, if available, "Cash + Points" rates will appear as a booking option alongside "Points Only."
How to Prevent My Marriott Bonvoy Points from Expiring?
Ensure you have eligible earning or redeeming activity in your Marriott Bonvoy account at least once every 24 months. This can include a paid stay, a points redemption, or earning points through partners.
How to Book a Room Upgrade Using Points?
Room upgrades using points are typically offered at the time of booking online, or you can inquire directly with the hotel upon arrival if upgrades are available and can be purchased with points.
How to Donate Marriott Bonvoy Points to Charity?
Visit the "Redeem Points" section on the Marriott Bonvoy website and look for the option to "Donate Points" to choose from their charitable partners.
How to Get the Best Value from My Marriott Bonvoy Points?
The best value typically comes from redeeming points for free nights at high-end Marriott properties, especially when utilizing the "fifth night free" benefit, or for unique experiences through Marriott Bonvoy Moments. Avoid using points for merchandise or gift cards unless absolutely necessary.
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