Ready to supercharge your next Marriott Bonvoy adventure? Ever found yourself just a few thousand points shy of that dream redemption at a stunning Marriott property? Or perhaps you're planning a big trip and want to ensure you have enough points to cover a significant portion of your stay? Whatever your reason, buying Marriott Bonvoy points can be a strategic move to unlock incredible travel experiences. But how many can you actually buy, and what's the best way to do it? Let's dive in!
Buying Marriott Bonvoy Points: Your Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
Marriott Bonvoy, one of the world's largest and most popular hotel loyalty programs, offers members various ways to earn and redeem points for hotel stays, experiences, and more. While earning points through stays or co-branded credit cards is common, sometimes purchasing points directly is the fastest way to reach your redemption goal. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
Step 1: Understand the Annual Purchase Limit – How Many Points Can You Buy?
This is often the first question on anyone's mind! Before you even think about hitting that "buy" button, it's crucial to know the limitations.
Sub-heading: The Standard Cap
Typically, Marriott Bonvoy members are allowed to purchase or receive as a gift a combined maximum of 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points per calendar year. This limit applies to purchases made through Marriott websites, the Marriott Bonvoy Mobile Apps, or their Customer Engagement Centers.
Sub-heading: Special Promotions and Increased Limits
However, here's where it gets interesting! Marriott Bonvoy frequently runs promotions where they temporarily increase this annual purchase limit. For example, during some sales, the limit might be increased to 150,000 points (pre-bonus). This means you could buy 150,000 points, and with a bonus on top, you'd receive even more. Always keep an eye out for these special offers, as they can significantly boost your points balance and offer a better value per point.
Step 2: Identify the Right Time to Buy – Look for Promotions!
Buying points at their standard rate (usually 1.25 US cents per point) is rarely the best deal. The real value comes when Marriott offers bonus points on purchases.
Sub-heading: Recognizing a Good Deal
Typical Bonuses: You'll often see promotions offering a bonus between 30% to 50% (and sometimes even higher!). A 45% bonus is considered a strong offer, bringing the cost per point down significantly.
Tiered Bonuses: Some promotions might offer tiered bonuses, meaning the more points you buy, the higher the bonus percentage you receive. For example, you might get a 35% bonus for buying 2,000-9,000 points, but a 45% bonus for buying 40,000 or more points.
Cost Per Point: Always calculate the "cost per point" during a promotion. If the standard cost is 1.25 cents per point, a 40% bonus would bring it down to approximately 0.89 cents per point. Aim for anything under 1 cent per point, especially if you have a specific redemption in mind where you can get a higher value.
Sub-heading: Where to Find Promotions
Marriott Bonvoy Website: The official Marriott Bonvoy website is the primary place where these promotions are advertised and where you'll make your purchase.
Email Newsletters: Sign up for Marriott Bonvoy email newsletters to be notified directly when a points sale is live.
Travel Blogs & Forums: Many popular points and miles blogs regularly report on Marriott Bonvoy point sales, often providing analysis on whether it's a good deal.
Step 3: Access the Purchase Portal – Where to Go to Buy Points
Once you've decided to buy, navigating to the purchase portal is straightforward.
Sub-heading: Online Purchase
Log In: Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website and log in to your account.
Navigate to "Buy Points": Look for a section related to "Earn & Redeem," "Use Points," or specifically "Buy Points" or "Gift Points." This is usually found in the "My Account" or "Loyalty Program" section.
Points.com: Marriott, like many other loyalty programs, partners with Points.com to facilitate point purchases. You'll likely be redirected to a secure Points.com page branded with Marriott Bonvoy. Don't be alarmed; this is normal.
Sub-heading: Alternative Purchase Methods (Less Common)
Marriott Bonvoy Mobile App: Some promotions might also be accessible directly through the Marriott Bonvoy app.
Customer Engagement Centers: You can also call Marriott Bonvoy Customer Engagement Centers, but purchasing online is generally easier and faster.
Step 4: Select Your Quantity and Complete the Transaction – The Final Steps
This is where you decide how many points you want and finalize your purchase.
Sub-heading: Choosing Your Amount
On the Points.com page, you'll see options to select the number of points you wish to purchase.
The page will clearly show the cost and any applicable bonus points.
Carefully review the total cost and the total points you will receive.
Sub-heading: Payment Information
Enter your payment details (credit card information).
Pro Tip: Consider using a credit card that offers bonus points on travel or everyday spending, or one that has a foreign transaction fee waiver if the purchase is processed in USD and your card is in a different currency. Some travel credit cards might also categorize Points.com purchases as "travel," earning you extra rewards.
Sub-heading: Confirmation and Posting
After completing the transaction, you'll receive a confirmation email.
Purchased points typically post to your Marriott Bonvoy account within 72 hours, though it can sometimes be faster. Plan accordingly if you have an urgent redemption in mind.
Step 5: Strategize Your Redemption – Making the Most of Your Purchased Points
Buying points is only half the battle; knowing how to redeem them for maximum value is key.
Sub-heading: Dynamic Pricing and the "Fifth Night Free" Benefit
Marriott Bonvoy moved to dynamic award pricing in 2022, meaning there's no fixed award chart. The number of points required for a free night fluctuates based on factors like demand, season, and hotel category.
Always check the points required for your desired dates and property.
Fifth Night Free: A fantastic benefit for all Marriott Bonvoy members is the "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" offer. When you book an award stay of five consecutive nights, you'll only pay for four nights, effectively getting the fifth night free. This significantly enhances the value of your points.
Sub-heading: Topping Off Free Night Certificates
If you have a Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Award certificate (often earned through co-branded credit cards), and the hotel you want to book costs slightly more points than your certificate's value, you can "top off" the certificate with up to 15,000 points from your account. This is a great way to use those certificates for higher-value redemptions.
Step 6: Understand the Expiration Policy – Don't Let Your Points Disappear!
Marriott Bonvoy points do expire if there's no qualifying activity on your account.
Sub-heading: The 24-Month Rule
Marriott Bonvoy points will expire if your account has no qualifying activity for 24 consecutive months.
Purchasing points is considered qualifying activity and will reset the 24-month clock.
Other qualifying activities include earning points from hotel stays, using a co-branded credit card, transferring points, or redeeming points.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to calculate the value of Marriott Bonvoy points?
To calculate the value, divide the cash cost of a hotel stay by the number of points required for the same stay. For example, if a room costs $200 or 20,000 points, the value is $200/20,000 = $0.01 or 1 cent per point.
How to know if a Marriott Bonvoy points sale is a good deal?
A good deal typically brings the cost per point below 1 cent USD, especially during promotions offering a 40% or higher bonus. Compare the promotional cost per point to NerdWallet's average valuation (currently around 0.9 cents).
How to use purchased Marriott Bonvoy points for hotel stays?
Once points are in your account, simply search for a hotel on the Marriott Bonvoy website or app, select "Use Points/Awards" during your search, and proceed with booking your desired award night.
How to combine Marriott Bonvoy points with a Free Night Award certificate?
When booking an award stay, if the points required exceed your certificate's value, you'll be given the option to "top off" the difference with up to 15,000 points from your account.
How to avoid Marriott Bonvoy points expiration?
Engage in any qualifying activity at least once every 24 months. Purchasing points, staying at a Marriott property, using a co-branded credit card, or redeeming points all count.
How to gift Marriott Bonvoy points to another member?
You can gift points through the same Points.com portal where you buy them for yourself. There will be an option for "Gift Points," requiring the recipient's Marriott Bonvoy account number.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points without buying them?
You can earn points through paid hotel stays, using Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards, transferring points from partners (like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards), or participating in Marriott Bonvoy promotions.
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy points balance and activity?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the website or mobile app. Your current points balance will be displayed on the dashboard, and you can view your activity history for detailed transactions.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles?
Marriott Bonvoy allows you to transfer points to various airline loyalty programs, usually at a 3:1 ratio (3 Marriott points = 1 airline mile). For every 60,000 Marriott points transferred, you often receive an additional 5,000 bonus airline miles.
How to get the best value when redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points?
Aim for redemptions at higher-end properties, especially during off-peak times or when cash rates are exceptionally high. Utilize the "fifth night free" benefit for longer stays, and consider topping off free night certificates.
