Have you ever dreamt of luxurious stays at breathtaking resorts, free nights in vibrant cities, or even once-in-a-lifetime experiences that money can't always buy? If so, then accumulating Marriott Bonvoy points is your golden ticket! This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to fast-track your way to a wealth of points, opening up a world of travel possibilities.
The Ultimate Guide: How to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points FAST!
Marriott Bonvoy is one of the largest and most rewarding loyalty programs in the world, boasting an incredible portfolio of over 30 distinct brands, from the opulent Ritz-Carlton to the trendy W Hotels. Earning points quickly means you can enjoy these experiences sooner. Let's dive into the strategies!
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| How To Earn Marriott Points Fast |
Step 1: Become a Bonvoy Member (If You Haven't Already!)
First things first, if you're not already a Marriott Bonvoy member, stop what you're doing and sign up right now! It's absolutely free and takes just a few minutes. This is the foundational step, as you can't earn points without an account.
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Visit the Marriott Bonvoy Website: Head over to
marriott.com/loyalty/createAccount/createAccountPage1.mi -
Fill in Your Details: Provide basic information like your name, email, and create a password.
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Confirm Your Account: You'll typically receive an email to confirm your registration. Click the link, and voila! You're officially a Marriott Bonvoy member, ready to start accumulating points.
Step 2: Maximize Your Hotel Stays
The most obvious, and often most rewarding, way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is by staying at Marriott properties. But don't just book any room; strategize your stays for maximum point accumulation!
Sub-heading: Direct Bookings are Key
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Book Directly: Always book your Marriott stays directly through the Marriott Bonvoy website, app, or by calling their reservations line. Bookings made through third-party online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia or Booking.com generally do not earn Bonvoy points or elite night credits.
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Member Rates: As a Bonvoy member, you'll automatically get access to exclusive "Member Rates" which are often lower than publicly available rates and still eligible for point earning.
Sub-heading: Understand Earning Rates
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Base Points: For most Marriott brands, you'll earn 10 base points per $1 USD spent on eligible charges (room rate, food & beverage charged to your room, spa services, etc.).
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Exceptions:
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Element, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites: Earn 5 base points per $1 USD.
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Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy: Earning rates can vary, so check the specific terms for these bookings.
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Sub-heading: Leverage Elite Status for Bonus Points
This is where the earning really accelerates. Achieving elite status significantly boosts your point-earning potential.
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Silver Elite (10 nights/year): Earn a 10% bonus on base points.
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Gold Elite (25 nights/year): Earn a 25% bonus on base points.
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Platinum Elite (50 nights/year): Earn a 50% bonus on base points.
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Titanium Elite (75 nights/year): Earn a 75% bonus on base points.
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Ambassador Elite (100 nights/year + $20,000 in qualifying spend): Earn a 75% bonus on base points.
Focus on reaching Platinum Elite as quickly as possible; the 50% bonus is a game-changer!
Step 3: Unlock Earning Power with Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
QuickTip: Reading regularly builds stronger recall.
This is, hands down, one of the fastest ways to earn a massive amount of Marriott Bonvoy points. Co-branded credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses and accelerated earning on everyday spending.
Sub-heading: Generous Welcome Bonuses
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Initial Point Boost: Most Marriott Bonvoy credit cards offer substantial welcome bonuses (e.g., 50,000 to 100,000+ points) after meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first few months of card membership. This alone can be enough for several free nights!
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Free Night Awards: Many cards also offer annual Free Night Awards, often valued up to a certain point threshold (e.g., 35,000 or 50,000 points). These are essentially free hotel stays just for holding the card.
Sub-heading: Accelerated Earning Categories
Marriott Bonvoy credit cards offer excellent earning rates for various purchases:
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Marriott Stays: Earn the highest multipliers when using your card at Marriott properties (e.g., 6x points per $1).
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Everyday Spending: Get bonus points on categories like dining, gas stations, grocery stores, and general travel, turning your regular expenses into point-earning opportunities.
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All Other Purchases: Even non-bonus spending earns points, typically 2x points per $1.
Sub-heading: Elite Night Credits for Faster Status
Many Marriott Bonvoy credit cards also provide a significant boost towards elite status by offering:
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Automatic Elite Status: Some cards grant you automatic Silver or Gold Elite status.
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Elite Night Credits: Receive a set number of Elite Night Credits annually (e.g., 15 or 25), which count directly towards your elite status qualification. This can give you a head start towards higher tiers like Platinum.
Step 4: Strategic Point Transfers from Partner Programs
If you're already earning points with other popular rewards programs, you might be sitting on a goldmine of Marriott Bonvoy points!
Sub-heading: American Express Membership Rewards
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1:1 Transfer Ratio: American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio. This is a fantastic option if you have a card like the American Express Platinum Card or Gold Card.
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Transfer Bonuses: Keep an eye out for occasional transfer bonuses from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy, which can offer even more value (e.g., a 20% or 30% bonus on transferred points).
Sub-heading: Chase Ultimate Rewards
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1:1 Transfer Ratio: Chase Ultimate Rewards points also transfer to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio. This is great for holders of cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Sub-heading: United MileagePlus (for Premier Elites)
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1:1 Transfer Ratio: If you have United MileagePlus Premier elite status, you can transfer up to 100,000 miles to Marriott Bonvoy points per calendar year at a 1:1 ratio.
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Step 5: Leverage Marriott Bonvoy Promotions and Offers
Marriott frequently runs promotions that allow members to earn extra points on stays. Always check the "Promotions" section of your Bonvoy account!
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Double Points Promotions: Common offers include double points on eligible stays, or bonus points after a certain number of nights.
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Targeted Offers: Marriott may send personalized offers based on your stay history.
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Vacations by Marriott Bonvoy: Look for bonus points offers when booking vacation packages that include flights and hotels. For example, some offers give 20,000 or 25,000 bonus points on 5+ night vacation packages.
Step 6: Earn Points Beyond Stays
Marriott Bonvoy has expanded its earning opportunities beyond just hotel nights. This allows you to accumulate points on everyday activities.
Sub-heading: Dining Programs
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Eat Around Town by Marriott: If you're in the U.S., link your credit cards to the Eat Around Town program and earn Bonvoy points when dining at thousands of participating restaurants. You don't even need to be staying at a Marriott hotel!
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On-Property Dining (Without a Stay): At many participating Marriott hotels, you can earn points on food and beverage charges even if you're not a registered guest. Just provide your Bonvoy account number when paying.
Sub-heading: Rental Cars and Rideshares
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Hertz Partnership: Earn 500 Bonvoy points on each car rental with Hertz by providing your Marriott loyalty number.
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Uber Partnership: Link your Marriott Bonvoy and Uber accounts (U.S. only) to earn points on eligible Uber rides and Uber Eats orders.
Sub-heading: Book Meetings and Events
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Marriott Bonvoy Events: If you're planning a meeting, conference, wedding, or any group event, consider holding it at a Marriott property. You can earn 2 points per $1 USD spent on eligible charges (room rentals, F&B, A/V). Elite members can earn even more (up to 105,000 points per event for Titanium and Ambassador Elites!). You also earn Elite Night Credits (10 for your first event, and 1 for every 20 room nights booked after that, up to 20 per contract).
Sub-heading: Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities
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Experiences: Explore and book local experiences, tours, and activities through Marriott's dedicated platform and earn points.
Sub-heading: Cruises
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Cruise with Points: Book a cruise through the "Cruise with Points" program and typically earn 3 points per dollar spent, with co-branded credit cardholders earning an additional 2 points.
Sub-heading: Refer-a-Friend Programs (Credit Cards)
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If you already have a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, check if your issuer has a refer-a-friend program. You can often earn a significant bonus (e.g., 20,000-40,000 points) for each friend who successfully applies and is approved for the card. There are usually annual limits on referral bonuses.
Step 7: Consider Buying Points (Strategically!)
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While generally not the best value, buying points can be a useful strategy in specific scenarios.
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Top-Up for Redemptions: If you're just a few thousand points short of a dream redemption, buying a small amount to top up your account can be worthwhile, especially if you're getting outsized value from the redemption.
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Sales and Promotions: Marriott occasionally offers sales on purchased points (e.g., 20-50% bonus points). If the sale brings the cost per point down significantly, it might be a good option for planned redemptions.
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Annual Limits: There are limits to how many points you can purchase per calendar year (typically 100,000-150,000 points, potentially more when booking a stay).
Step 8: Link Accounts with Partner Programs
Marriott has partnerships with various airlines that can offer dual-earning opportunities.
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Emirates Skywards (Your World Rewards): Link your Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards accounts. Depending on your Bonvoy elite status, you can earn additional Bonvoy points when flying Emirates, on top of your Skywards Miles. Similarly, Skywards members can earn miles on Marriott stays.
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United MileagePlus (RewardsPlus): Titanium and Ambassador Elite members can receive enhanced benefits and Premier Silver status with United MileagePlus through this partnership.
By implementing these strategies, you'll be well on your way to earning Marriott Bonvoy points at an accelerated rate, bringing your dream vacations and experiences closer than ever before!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy point balance?
You can easily check your Marriott Bonvoy point balance by logging into your account on the Marriott Bonvoy website or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your current point total is prominently displayed on your account dashboard.
How to use Marriott Bonvoy points for free nights?
To use Marriott Bonvoy points for free nights, log into your account on the Marriott Bonvoy website or app, search for hotels, and select the "Use Points/Certificates" option. The search results will show the point cost for each night. Select your desired hotel and room type, and proceed with the redemption.
How to transfer points to another Marriott Bonvoy member?
You can transfer up to 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per calendar year to another member's account. Both accounts must be in good standing, and the recipient must have been a member for at least 60 days (or 30 days if there has been qualifying activity). This can be done by contacting Marriott Bonvoy Member Support.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for business travel?
Earn Marriott Bonvoy points for business travel by booking directly with Marriott, using a Marriott Bonvoy business credit card for expenses (earning bonus points on Marriott stays, dining, and other business purchases), and by organizing meetings and events at Marriott properties through Marriott Bonvoy Events.
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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points without staying at a hotel?
You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points without staying at a hotel by using a Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card for everyday spending, linking your cards to dining programs like Eat Around Town by Marriott, renting cars with Hertz, using Uber (in the U.S.), and booking cruises through their dedicated program.
How to get Marriott Bonvoy elite status faster?
Get Marriott Bonvoy elite status faster by obtaining a Marriott Bonvoy credit card that offers automatic elite status (like Silver or Gold) and provides annual Elite Night Credits. Participating in Marriott's frequent promotions for bonus elite nights can also accelerate your status progression.
How to maximize Marriott Bonvoy points from credit card spending?
Maximize Marriott Bonvoy points from credit card spending by using your co-branded card for all eligible Marriott stays to earn the highest multipliers. Also, strategically use the card for purchases in bonus categories like dining, gas, and groceries, and for meeting welcome bonus spending requirements.
How to find current Marriott Bonvoy promotions?
To find current Marriott Bonvoy promotions, log into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the website or mobile app and navigate to the "Promotions" section. Marriott also frequently sends out emails to members detailing new offers, so be sure to check your inbox.
How to combine Marriott Bonvoy accounts?
If you have multiple Marriott Bonvoy accounts, you can typically combine them into a single account to consolidate your points and elite night credits. This can usually be done by contacting Marriott Bonvoy Member Support, as there are specific rules and procedures for combining accounts.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points through dining?
You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points through dining by linking your credit cards to the Eat Around Town by Marriott program (U.S. only) and dining at participating restaurants. Additionally, at many Marriott properties, you can earn points on food and beverage charges even if you're not a registered guest, by providing your Bonvoy account number at payment.
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