Understanding Marriott Bonvoy Points and Their Value
Before we dive into the purchase process, let's establish a foundational understanding of Marriott Bonvoy points and their typical worth. This knowledge is paramount to making an informed decision about buying.
What are Marriott Bonvoy Points?
Marriott Bonvoy points are the loyalty currency of Marriott International, one of the world's largest hotel chains. They are earned through stays at Marriott properties, co-branded credit card spending, and various promotions. These points can be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, unique "Moments" experiences, flights, and more.
The Core Value: What to Expect
On average, Marriott Bonvoy points are valued at approximately 0.9 cents per point (USD). This is a crucial benchmark. When you redeem your points for a hotel stay, you want the cash value of that stay to be higher than the cost you incurred to acquire those points. If you're paying more than 0.9 cents per point to purchase them, you should aim for redemptions that yield a significantly higher value to make the purchase worthwhile.
Why Would You Even Consider Buying Points?
While earning points through stays or credit card sign-up bonuses is generally the most cost-effective method, there are specific scenarios where purchasing points can be a smart financial move:
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Topping off an account: You're just shy of the points needed for a specific redemption, and the cost of buying the remaining points is less than the cash difference for that stay.
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Taking advantage of promotions: Marriott frequently offers bonuses on purchased points (e.g., 40-50% more points). These promotions significantly reduce the effective cost per point, often making it more attractive than the standard rate.
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Aspirational redemptions: For high-end luxury properties, the cash price per night can be exorbitant. Sometimes, even at the standard purchase rate, buying points for these stays can be far cheaper than paying cash, especially if a good promotion is active.
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Last-minute travel: If cash rates for a hotel are exceptionally high due to peak demand, using points (even purchased ones) might offer better value.
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| How Much Do Marriott Points Cost To Purchase |
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility and Account Status
Before you even think about hitting the "buy" button, you need to ensure your Marriott Bonvoy account meets the basic requirements.
Minimum Membership Duration
Marriott Bonvoy has a rule: to be eligible to purchase points, your account must be active for at least 90 days. However, if you've already had qualifying activity in your account (like a paid stay), this waiting period can be reduced to 30 days. This is a safeguard against new members immediately buying points for speculative purposes.
Good Standing Requirement
Tip: Reading in short bursts can keep focus high.
Your account must also be in "good standing." This generally means no suspicious activity, fraudulent behavior, or unresolved issues with Marriott. For most members, this won't be an issue, but it's always good to be aware.
Step 2: Navigate to the "Buy Points" Portal
Once you've confirmed your eligibility, the next step is to find where to purchase these elusive points.
Direct Link vs. Account Navigation
There are two primary ways to access the "Buy Points" page:
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Direct Link: Marriott often provides a direct link to their point purchase portal, usually operated by Points.com on their behalf. A quick search for "Marriott Bonvoy Buy Points" will typically lead you there.
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Through Your Marriott Bonvoy Account: This is often the more intuitive path.
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Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the official Marriott website (marriott.com).
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Once logged in, navigate to your Account Overview page.
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Look for an option related to "Manage Points" or "Buy/Transfer Points." This might be in a sidebar, a dropdown menu, or directly visible on your dashboard.
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Click on the "Buy Points" link. It will usually redirect you to the dedicated purchase portal.
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Locating the "Buy Points" Option
Once on the purchase portal, you'll typically see a straightforward interface. The main section will likely feature a dropdown menu or input field where you can select the number of points you wish to purchase.
Step 3: Evaluate Current Promotions and Determine Quantity
This is where the financial savvy comes in. Don't just buy points at their standard rate unless absolutely necessary!
The Importance of Sales and Bonuses
Marriott frequently runs promotions offering bonus points when you purchase. These bonuses can range from 25% to 50% (and sometimes even higher, though less common).
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Standard Cost: The typical price for Marriott Bonvoy points is $12.50 USD per 1,000 points, which translates to 1.25 cents per point.
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With a 40% Bonus: If you buy points during a 40% bonus promotion, you'd pay $12.50 for 1,400 points. This brings the effective cost down to approximately 0.89 cents per point.
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With a 50% Bonus: A 50% bonus is even better. Paying $12.50 for 1,500 points means your effective cost is about 0.83 cents per point.
Always compare this effective cost per point to NerdWallet's valuation of 0.9 cents per point. If you can buy points for less than their average redemption value, you're potentially getting a good deal.
Tip: Read once for gist, twice for details.
Calculating Your Cost Per Point
When a promotion is active, the purchase portal will often automatically display the bonus points you'll receive and the total cost. However, it's wise to do a quick manual calculation:
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Total Cost / (Base Points + Bonus Points) = Cost Per Point
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Example: You want to buy 50,000 points. With a 40% bonus, you'd receive 50,000 + 20,000 (40% of 50k) = 70,000 points.
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The cost would be $12.50 per 1,000 points, so 50 * $12.50 = $625.
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Your effective cost per point would be $625 / 70,000 = ~$0.0089 per point, or 0.89 cents per point.
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Understanding Purchase Limits
Marriott Bonvoy has annual limits on how many points you can purchase:
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Standard Annual Limit: Members can typically purchase or receive as a gift a combined maximum of 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per calendar year.
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Promotional Limit Increases: During special promotions, Marriott may temporarily increase this limit. For example, in recent times, the cap has been boosted to 150,000 points for the calendar year.
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Reservation Path Exception: If you're specifically booking a reservation and don't have enough points, Marriott sometimes allows you to purchase up to an additional 100,000 points annually through the reservation path, beyond your regular purchase limit. This is a very specific scenario.
Always verify the current limits on the purchase page before proceeding, as they can change.
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Step 4: Complete Your Purchase
Once you've selected the desired number of points and are satisfied with the cost, it's time to finalize the transaction.
Entering Payment and Member Information
The purchase portal will prompt you to:
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Confirm your Marriott Bonvoy account number.
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Enter your payment information: This typically includes your credit card details (card number, expiration date, CVV), billing address, and name.
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Review your order: Double-check the number of points you're buying, the bonus (if applicable), and the total cost.
Confirmation and Point Deposit
After you submit your payment, you should receive a confirmation email. The points are usually deposited into your Marriott Bonvoy account within 24-72 hours, though sometimes it can be quicker. It's rare for it to take longer, but if they haven't appeared after a few days, contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service.
Is Buying Marriott Points Always Worth It? The Cost-Benefit Analysis
While buying points can be a useful tool, it's not a blanket recommendation. A thoughtful cost-benefit analysis is essential.
QuickTip: Let each idea sink in before moving on.
When It Makes Sense (Recap and Expand)
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Bridging a gap for a high-value redemption: This is perhaps the most common and sensible reason. If a room costs 60,000 points, and you have 55,000, buying 5,000 points to secure that room at a good value is a no-brainer.
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"Fifth Night Free" Benefit: Marriott Bonvoy offers a fantastic benefit where if you book four nights on points, the fifth night is free. This dramatically increases the value of your points, making a purchase more attractive if it enables you to utilize this perk for a longer stay.
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Luxurious Stays at a Discount: As mentioned, for properties like The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis, the cash price can be astronomical. If you can purchase points, even with a bonus, at a rate significantly lower than the effective cash cost of the room, it's a win. For example, if a room costs $1,400 but only 80,000 points, and you can buy those 80,000 points for $664 (with a 50% bonus), you're saving over $700!
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Avoiding High Cash Rates: During peak season, holidays, or major events, cash rates at hotels can skyrocket. Points redemptions, while dynamic, might not always increase at the same drastic rate, making purchased points a comparatively better deal.
When to Think Twice
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No specific redemption in mind: Buying points just to "have them" is generally ill-advised. Points can be devalued over time, and you lose liquidity. Only buy when you have a clear plan for their immediate use.
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Low-value redemptions: For budget hotels or times when the cash rate is very low, purchasing points and using them might actually cost you more than simply paying cash. Always do the math!
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Alternative Earning Methods are Better: Consider if you could earn the points more cheaply or effectively through other means, such as:
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Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards: Sign-up bonuses for these cards can easily net you tens of thousands, even over 100,000 points, for a relatively low annual fee and spending requirement.
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Transferring from flexible points programs: If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards points, you can transfer them to Marriott Bonvoy. However, these points often hold higher value when transferred to airline partners, so compare carefully.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are 10 common "How to" questions about purchasing Marriott Bonvoy points:
How to find out if there's a Marriott Bonvoy point purchase promotion?
Quick Answer: Marriott often advertises these promotions directly on their "Buy Points" page, in email newsletters, and on popular points and miles blogs. Check the official Marriott Bonvoy website regularly or subscribe to travel deal alerts.
How to determine if buying points is a good value for a specific stay?
Quick Answer: Divide the cash price of the desired hotel room (excluding taxes and fees you'd pay with points) by the number of points required for that room. This gives you the "cents per point" value you'd be getting for that redemption. If this value is higher than your purchase price per point (especially with a bonus), then it's a good deal.
How to purchase Marriott Bonvoy points for another person?
Quick Answer: When you go through the purchase process, you'll have an option to "Gift Points." You'll need the recipient's Marriott Bonvoy account number and their last name to complete the transaction. The same purchase limits apply.
How to ensure my purchased points are credited to my account quickly?
Tip: Revisit this page tomorrow to reinforce memory.
Quick Answer: Points are typically credited within 24-72 hours. Ensure all your account details are correct during the purchase. If you don't see them after 72 hours, contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service with your transaction confirmation.
How to know my annual limit for purchasing Marriott Bonvoy points?
Quick Answer: The current annual purchase limit is displayed on the "Buy Points" page of the Marriott Bonvoy website when you initiate a purchase. This limit resets each calendar year.
How to use a credit card that earns bonus points on travel to buy Marriott points?
Quick Answer: If you have a credit card that offers bonus categories for "travel" or "hotel" purchases, using it to buy Marriott points might earn you extra rewards. However, since the transaction is processed by Points.com, it might sometimes code as a "shopping" or "other" category, so check your card's terms and conditions or make a small test purchase if unsure.
How to cancel a Marriott Bonvoy points purchase?
Quick Answer: Points.com typically has a strict no-refund policy once points are purchased. It's crucial to be absolutely sure of your purchase before completing the transaction. In rare, exceptional circumstances, you might be able to contact customer service immediately after the purchase to inquire, but a refund is not guaranteed.
How to combine my Marriott Bonvoy points with another member's points?
Quick Answer: While you can't "combine" accounts in a single pool, you can transfer points to another Marriott Bonvoy member's account. Each member can transfer up to 100,000 points and receive up to 500,000 points per calendar year. This is often done by contacting Marriott Bonvoy customer service.
How to multiply points I earned from a recent stay?
Quick Answer: Marriott sometimes offers a "Multiply Points" promotion. This allows you to purchase up to 4X the points you earned on a recent stay, often at a discount. You'd typically find this offer in your Marriott Bonvoy account or via direct email if you're targeted.
How to avoid common pitfalls when buying Marriott Bonvoy points?
Quick Answer: Always do the math to compare the cost of buying points vs. the cash price of your desired redemption. Never buy points speculatively. Be aware of the annual purchase limits, and only buy during promotions to get the best value per point.
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