How to Buy Marriott Points Cheap: Your Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Maximizing Value!
Are you dreaming of that luxurious Marriott stay but your points balance isn't quite there? Or perhaps you're just looking for a smart way to snag some incredible travel deals. Buying Marriott Bonvoy points can be a fantastic strategy, but only if you do it wisely. It's not always about just clicking "buy" – it's about timing, strategy, and knowing the true value. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to buy Marriott points cheap and unlock amazing travel experiences.
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| How To Buy Marriott Points Cheap |
Step 1: Engage and Evaluate - Is Buying Points Right For You?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of how to buy points cheaply, let's address the most fundamental question: Is buying Marriott points even a good idea for you? Many people jump into buying points without a clear redemption plan, which can lead to wasted money.
Think about this for a moment: Do you have a specific Marriott redemption in mind? Maybe it's that overwater villa in the Maldives, a chic city break in Paris, or simply topping off your account for a free night award at a favorite local hotel. If you have a clear, high-value redemption in mind, buying points can be incredibly strategic. However, if you're just buying them "just in case," you might be better off exploring other earning methods first.
Consider this: Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued by experts at around 0.9 cents per point. This means if you're buying them for more than that, you need to ensure your redemption value significantly outweighs your purchase cost.
Step 2: Master the Art of the Sale - Timing Your Purchase for Maximum Discount
This is perhaps the most crucial step in buying Marriott points cheaply. Marriott frequently offers promotions, and buying points outside of these sales is almost always a bad idea.
QuickTip: Focus on one paragraph at a time.
Sub-heading 2.1: Keep a Close Eye on Marriott's Official Sales
Marriott regularly runs promotions on buying points, often offering bonuses ranging from 25% to 50% (and occasionally even higher!). These sales typically reduce the per-point cost significantly.
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How to find them:
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Check the official Marriott "Buy Points" page: This is your primary source. Bookmark it and check it regularly.
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Subscribe to Marriott Bonvoy emails: They will often notify you of current promotions directly to your inbox.
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Follow travel hacking blogs and forums: Many dedicated websites and online communities track these sales and share them as soon as they go live. This can give you an edge!
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Sub-heading 2.2: Understand the "Per Point" Cost During Sales
When a bonus is offered, calculate your effective per-point cost. For example:
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If Marriott usually sells points at $12.50 per 1,000 points (which is 1.25 cents per point), and they offer a 40% bonus:
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You buy 10,000 points for $125.
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You receive a 40% bonus, so an additional 4,000 points.
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Your total points are 14,000 for $125.
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Your effective cost per point is $125 / 14,000 = approximately 0.89 cents per point. This is generally a decent deal, especially if you have a high-value redemption in mind.
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Aim for promotions that bring the cost down to 0.85 cents per point or less. Anything around or below this usually represents a good value proposition.
Sub-heading 2.3: Be Aware of Purchase Limits
Marriott has limits on how many points you can buy in a calendar year.
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Typically, members can purchase up to 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per calendar year through the "Buy Points" storefront.
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However, this limit is often temporarily increased during promotions. For example, in 2025, the cap has been boosted to 150,000 points.
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You can also purchase an additional 100,000 points annually when booking a hotel stay if you don't have enough points for that specific redemption. This is a separate limit!
Step 3: Strategic Earning Beyond Direct Purchase - Alternative Avenues for Cheap Points
Buying points during a sale is one fantastic way, but it's not the only way to accumulate points cheaply. Combining these strategies can lead to an even more robust points balance!
QuickTip: Revisit posts more than once.
Sub-heading 3.1: Leverage Marriott Co-Branded Credit Cards
This is arguably the most common and often the most lucrative way to earn Marriott points, especially for U.S.-based individuals. The sign-up bonuses alone can provide tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of points.
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Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards: Banks like Chase and American Express offer a variety of Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. These cards come with significant welcome bonuses after meeting a minimum spending requirement.
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Examples include: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card (availability and specific offers vary by region).
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Earning Rates: These cards also offer accelerated earning rates on Marriott stays and often on everyday spending categories like dining, groceries, and gas.
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Always read the terms and conditions carefully for annual fees, earning caps, and specific bonus requirements.
Sub-heading 3.2: Transfer Points from Flexible Rewards Programs
If you have other travel credit cards, you might be sitting on a goldmine of transferable points!
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Chase Ultimate Rewards®: These points can be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio. Keep an eye out for transfer bonuses, which occasionally happen and can sweeten the deal even further (e.g., a 25% or 50% bonus on transfers to Marriott).
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American Express Membership Rewards®: Similar to Chase, Amex MR points can also be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio. Again, look for transfer bonuses to maximize your value.
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Other Partners: While less common for direct cheap point acquisition, some airline programs like United MileagePlus (for Premier members) also allow transfers to Marriott Bonvoy, though the transfer rates might not always be ideal unless you have a specific need.
Sub-heading 3.3: Maximize Marriott Promotions and Stays
While not "buying" points directly, these methods effectively reduce the cost of your future redemptions by increasing your points balance through strategic earning.
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Global Promotions: Marriott frequently runs global promotions that reward you with bonus points for stays. These can be anything from extra points per stay/night to specific bonuses for certain brands or regions. Always register for these promotions even if you don't have immediate travel plans, just in case!
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Elite Status Bonuses: As you climb the Marriott Bonvoy elite status ladder, you'll earn a higher bonus on eligible hotel purchases.
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Silver Elite: 10% bonus
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Gold Elite: 25% bonus
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Platinum Elite: 50% bonus
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Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite: 75% bonus
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This means your paid stays become much more efficient at generating points, effectively reducing the "cost" of those points.
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Marriott Bonvoy Events: If you organize meetings or events, you can earn substantial Marriott Bonvoy points for eligible spending on room rentals, food, beverages, and A/V.
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Partnerships: Link your Marriott Bonvoy account with partners like Uber or Hertz to earn points on everyday activities or car rentals.
Step 4: The Redemption Sweet Spot - Getting the Most Value for Your Points
QuickTip: Look for patterns as you read.
Even if you buy points cheaply, their ultimate value depends on how you redeem them. This is where you truly "buy" Marriott points cheap by getting disproportionate value.
Sub-heading 4.1: Aim for High-Value Redemptions
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Luxury Properties: Often, the best value for Marriott points is found at high-end luxury properties where cash rates are exorbitantly expensive. Think St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, or Luxury Collection hotels. A stay that might cost $800-$1000 per night in cash could be just 50,000-80,000 points, yielding well over 1 cent per point in value.
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Peak Season/Events: During peak travel seasons or major events in a city, cash prices for hotels skyrocket. This is a prime time to use points, as the points cost often doesn't inflate as dramatically as the cash price.
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"Fifth Night Free" Benefit: When you redeem points for four consecutive nights at any Marriott Bonvoy property, you automatically get the fifth night free. This effectively gives you a 20% discount on your points redemption, significantly increasing the value of each point. Always factor this in when planning longer stays!
Sub-heading 4.2: Utilize PointSavers
Marriott occasionally offers "PointSavers" rates, which are discounted points redemptions at select hotels for specific dates. These can be incredible deals and allow you to stretch your points even further. Keep an eye on the Marriott website for these limited-time offers.
Sub-heading 4.3: Be Flexible with Dates
Marriott uses dynamic pricing for award nights, meaning the points required can fluctuate based on demand. Being flexible with your travel dates, especially avoiding weekends, holidays, and major events, can lead to significantly lower points requirements.
Step 5: Pitfalls to Avoid - Don't Undermine Your Cheap Points Strategy
QuickTip: Reading regularly builds stronger recall.
Even with the best intentions, there are mistakes that can diminish the value of your cheaply acquired points.
Sub-heading 5.1: Don't Buy Points Without a Plan
As emphasized in Step 1, randomly buying points without a specific redemption in mind is generally a poor strategy. Points can be devalued, and you want to use them relatively quickly to avoid potential loss of value.
Sub-heading 5.2: Avoid Transferring Points to Airlines Without a Bonus
While Marriott allows you to transfer points to over 40 airline partners (typically at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred), this often yields a lower value than redeeming for hotel stays. Only consider this if:
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You desperately need a small top-up for an airline redemption.
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There's a significant transfer bonus from Marriott to a specific airline (which is rare).
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You value a specific airline redemption much more than any potential hotel stay.
Sub-heading 5.3: Be Mindful of Point Expiration
Marriott Bonvoy points do expire if your account goes 24 months without qualifying activity. Buying points does count as a qualifying activity and will reset the 24-month clock. However, don't rely solely on buying points to keep your account active if other, cheaper methods are available (like a small paid stay, using a co-branded credit card, or linking to partners like Uber).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common "How to" questions related to buying Marriott points, with quick answers:
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How to find Marriott Bonvoy points sales?
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Check the official Marriott "Buy Points" page regularly and subscribe to Marriott Bonvoy email newsletters. Travel hacking blogs also frequently announce these sales.
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How to calculate the "cents per point" value when buying?
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Divide the total cost of your points purchase by the total number of points you receive (including any bonus points). For example, $125 / 14,000 points = ~0.89 cents per point.
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How to know if a Marriott points sale is a good deal?
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Aim for an effective purchase price of 0.85 cents per point or less. Compare this to the average redemption value of 0.9 cents per point.
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How to use credit card points to get Marriott points?
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Transfer points from flexible reward programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards directly to your Marriott Bonvoy account, typically at a 1:1 ratio.
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How to get additional Marriott points beyond the annual purchase limit?
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You can often purchase an additional 100,000 points per year when you are in the process of booking a hotel stay and don't have enough points.
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How to ensure my Marriott points don't expire?
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Engage in a qualifying activity at least once every 24 months, such as earning points from a stay, using a co-branded credit card, redeeming points, or buying points.
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How to get the most value when redeeming Marriott points?
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Target high-end luxury properties, book during peak cash rate periods, and always utilize the "Fifth Night Free" benefit for stays of five nights or more. Look for PointSavers.
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How to earn Marriott points without staying at a hotel?
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Use Marriott co-branded credit cards, transfer points from other loyalty programs, earn through partnerships (Uber, Hertz), or participate in Marriott Bonvoy Events.
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How to find out when my Marriott points expire?
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Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account, go to "Activity," and you should see your recent points earnings and redemptions, as well as the points expiration date.
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How to determine if buying Marriott points for flights is worth it?
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Generally, it's not recommended as the transfer ratio to airlines (3:1) often yields poor value compared to hotel redemptions. Only consider it if there's a significant transfer bonus or you have a critical need for a small number of airline miles.
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