You've accumulated a stash of Marriott Bonvoy points, and now the exciting part begins: redeeming them for incredible experiences! Whether you're dreaming of a luxurious getaway, a unique adventure, or simply want to cover your travel expenses, your Marriott Bonvoy points are your key to unlocking a world of possibilities. But where do you even start? Don't worry, we're here to guide you, step-by-step, on how to make the most of your hard-earned points.
Your Ultimate Guide to Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy Points
Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points is a straightforward process once you understand the various options available. From free nights at stunning hotels to exclusive experiences and even flights, your points hold significant value. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Check Your Marriott Bonvoy Points Balance and Plan Your Redemption Strategy
Before you start fantasizing about that overwater villa, the very first thing you need to do is know how many points you have.
Access Your Account: Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the official Marriott website (Marriott.com) or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your points balance will be prominently displayed on your dashboard.
Understand Point Value: While the value of Marriott Bonvoy points can vary depending on how you redeem them, a general benchmark is around 0.9 cents per point when used for hotel stays. However, you can often get much higher value with strategic redemptions, especially for luxury properties or during off-peak times.
Consider Your Goals: What kind of redemption are you aiming for?
Free Night Stays: This is often the most popular and value-driven redemption.
Cash + Points: If you don't have enough points for a full free night, this option allows you to combine points and cash.
PointSavers: Look out for these deals that offer discounted point rates for specific destinations and dates.
Experiences (Marriott Bonvoy Moments): For unique, once-in-a-lifetime events.
Flights and Car Rentals: Convert your points for other travel needs.
Gift Cards & Merchandise: While generally offering lower value, these are options if you have excess points.
Remember, the best redemption strategy is the one that aligns with your travel goals and desires!
Step 2: Redeeming Points for Free Night Stays (The Most Popular Option!)
This is where the magic truly happens for most Marriott Bonvoy members! Free night awards are often the sweet spot for maximizing your points' value.
Sub-heading 2.1: Searching for Award Nights
Navigate to the Marriott Website/App: Go to Marriott.com or open your Marriott Bonvoy app.
Log In: Ensure you are logged into your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Enter Your Destination and Dates: In the search bar, enter your desired destination, check-in, and check-out dates.
Crucial Step: Select "Use Points/Awards": This is paramount! Before clicking "Find Hotels," make sure to check the box or toggle that says "Use Points/Awards" or "Flexible Dates" (if your dates are open to find the best deals). This will display hotels and room rates in terms of points instead of cash.
Browse Hotels: A list of participating Marriott properties will appear, along with the required points per night.
Tip: Use the filters to narrow down your search by brand, category, amenities, and more.
Look for PointSavers: These are promotional rates that require fewer points for certain dates and hotels, offering excellent value.
Dynamic Pricing: Be aware that Marriott uses dynamic pricing, meaning point costs can fluctuate based on demand, seasonality, and the hotel's cash rate.
Sub-heading 2.2: Booking Your Free Night
Select Your Desired Hotel and Room Type: Once you find a hotel and a room type that suits your needs and point balance, click on it.
Review Details: Carefully review the reservation details, including the total points required, taxes (which are often covered by points for award stays, but always double-check), and any applicable resort fees (which may not be covered by points).
Apply Free Night Awards (If Applicable): If you have any Free Night Awards (often earned through co-branded credit cards or elite status), the system will typically automatically pre-select them if they align with the point value of your chosen stay. You can often combine a Free Night Award with up to 15,000 points to cover a higher-value room.
Confirm Your Reservation: Once everything looks correct, proceed to confirm your booking. You'll receive a confirmation email shortly.
Step 3: Exploring Other Redemption Avenues
While free nights are a primary redemption, Marriott Bonvoy offers several other ways to utilize your points.
Sub-heading 3.1: Cash + Points Bookings
Stretch Your Points: If you're a bit short on points for a full free night, or you want to save some points for a future trip, the Cash + Points option is fantastic.
How to Book: When searching for hotels, after selecting "Use Points/Awards," you'll often see an option to book with a combination of points and cash. The system will display different combinations available.
Value Check: Always compare the cash portion of the Cash + Points redemption against the regular cash rate to ensure you're still getting good value for your points.
Sub-heading 3.2: Marriott Bonvoy Moments (Experiences)
Unforgettable Adventures: Marriott Bonvoy Moments allow you to redeem points for unique, exclusive experiences that money often can't buy. These can range from private concerts and culinary classes to VIP access at major sporting events or fashion shows.
How to Access: Visit the dedicated Marriott Bonvoy Moments website (
moments.marriottbonvoy.com Bidding or Fixed Price: Moments are typically available through auctions where you bid points, or as fixed-price redemptions.
Keep an Eye Out: New Moments are added regularly, so check back frequently if you have a specific interest. Some "1-Point Drops" offer incredible value for just a single point!
Sub-heading 3.3: Transferring Points to Airline Partners
Fly for Free (or Nearly Free): Marriott Bonvoy has a wide network of airline transfer partners. This can be a great way to top off your airline mileage account for a flight redemption.
Transfer Ratio: The standard transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile.
Bonus Perk: For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you'll generally receive an additional 5,000 bonus miles with most airline partners, making it a 60,000 Marriott points to 25,000 airline miles transfer (a 2.4:1 ratio effectively).
How to Transfer: Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account, go to "Use Points and Awards," and then select "Transfer Points to Miles." Choose your desired airline and enter the number of points you wish to transfer.
Time It Right: Transfers can take a few business days to process, so plan accordingly.
Sub-heading 3.4: Redeeming for Flights and Car Rentals (Directly)
Simplified Travel: Marriott Bonvoy also allows you to directly redeem points for flights and car rentals through their "Air + Car" portal.
How to Book: Visit the Air + Car section on the Marriott Bonvoy website (https://www.google.com/search?q=airandcar.marriottbonvoy.com).
Less Value, More Convenience: While this option offers convenience, the redemption value per point is generally lower compared to hotel stays or transferring to airline partners. It's often best for when you need to cover a flight or car rental and don't have enough airline miles or prefer to keep your cash.
Sub-heading 3.5: Gift Cards and Merchandise
Alternative Uses: If travel isn't on your immediate horizon or you have a surplus of points, you can redeem them for Marriott gift cards or merchandise.
How to Redeem: Look for the "Shop with Points" section on the Marriott Bonvoy website.
Lower Value: Be aware that these redemptions typically offer the lowest value per point. It's generally recommended to prioritize hotel stays or experiences for better returns.
Step 4: Maximizing Your Marriott Bonvoy Redemptions
To truly get the most out of your points, consider these tips:
The Fifth Night Free: When you book four consecutive award nights, your fifth night is free! This is a significant perk that dramatically increases the value of your points for longer stays.
Off-Peak vs. Peak: Marriott's dynamic pricing means that hotels will cost fewer points during off-peak seasons and more during peak times. Flexibility with your travel dates can lead to substantial savings.
Look for Sweet Spots: Some luxury properties, especially those that command very high cash rates, can offer disproportionately good value when redeemed with points. Conversely, some lower-category hotels might also be excellent value if their cash rates are high for their category.
Elite Status Benefits: If you have Marriott Bonvoy elite status (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador), remember to factor in your benefits. Complimentary breakfast, lounge access, and room upgrades can further enhance the value of your award stay.
Combine Points: You can combine points from different Marriott Bonvoy accounts (yours and another member's) for a single redemption, up to a maximum of 100,000 points per year. This is useful if you're pooling points for a larger redemption.
By following these steps and strategies, you'll be well on your way to enjoying unforgettable experiences using your Marriott Bonvoy points! Happy redeeming!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy Points
Here are 10 common questions related to Marriott Bonvoy point redemption, with quick answers:
How to Check My Marriott Bonvoy Points Balance?
You can easily check your Marriott Bonvoy points balance by logging into your account on the official Marriott website (Marriott.com) or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your balance will be displayed on your account dashboard.
How to Redeem Marriott Points for Free Nights?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account, enter your destination and dates, and most importantly, select the "Use Points/Awards" option before searching for hotels. Then, choose your desired hotel and room type, and confirm the booking.
How to Use Cash + Points for My Stay?
When searching for hotel stays with points, if you don't have enough for a full free night, the system will often present a "Cash + Points" option alongside the full point redemption. Select this to pay with a combination of points and cash.
How to Redeem Marriott Points for Flights?
You can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for flights directly through the "Air + Car" portal on the Marriott Bonvoy website (https://www.google.com/search?q=airandcar.marriottbonvoy.com). Alternatively, you can transfer your points to one of Marriott's many airline partners.
How to Transfer Marriott Points to Airline Miles?
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account, navigate to "Use Points and Awards," and select "Transfer Points to Miles." Choose your desired airline partner and specify the number of points you wish to transfer. Remember the 3:1 transfer ratio and the 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points transferred.
How to Find Marriott Bonvoy Moments Experiences?
Visit the dedicated Marriott Bonvoy Moments website (moments.marriottbonvoy.com) to browse available experiences. These can be redeemed by bidding points in auctions or for a fixed points price.
How to Get the Fifth Night Free with Marriott Bonvoy Points?
When you book four consecutive award nights at a participating Marriott Bonvoy hotel, the fifth night will automatically be free. This applies to standard room redemptions.
How to Combine Marriott Points with Another Member?
You can transfer up to 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per calendar year to another member's account. This can be done through the Marriott Bonvoy website or by contacting member support.
How to Understand the Value of My Marriott Bonvoy Points?
While the value can vary, a general benchmark for Marriott Bonvoy points is around 0.9 cents per point when redeemed for hotel stays. However, you can often achieve higher value, especially for luxury properties or through strategic redemptions like PointSavers.
How to Avoid Marriott Points Expiration?
Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 consecutive months of inactivity. To keep your points active, simply have a qualifying activity within that timeframe, such as earning or redeeming points, staying at a Marriott property, or using a co-branded Marriott credit card.
