Unlocking the World of Travel: Your Comprehensive Guide to Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points!
Ever dreamt of staying in luxurious hotels around the globe without breaking the bank? Or perhaps enjoying exclusive benefits like late check-out, room upgrades, and even complimentary breakfast? The secret often lies in loyalty programs, and one of the most rewarding for travelers is Marriott Bonvoy. Imagine unlocking a world of incredible travel experiences simply by earning points. Sounds exciting, right? Let's dive in and show you exactly how you can start accumulating those valuable Marriott Bonvoy points today!
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| How Do I Get Marriott Points |
Step 1: Become a Marriott Bonvoy Member (It's Free!)
The absolute first step on your journey to earning Marriott Bonvoy points is to join the program. It's completely free and takes just a few minutes.
How to Join:
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Online: Visit the official Marriott Bonvoy website (
marriott.com/loyalty.mi -
Via the App: Download the Marriott Bonvoy app on your smartphone and register directly through the application.
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At a Marriott Property: Simply ask the front desk at any Marriott hotel to sign you up.
Once you're a member, you'll receive a Marriott Bonvoy membership number. This number is crucial for ensuring all your eligible activities count towards your point balance. Make sure to always provide it when booking stays or engaging with partners.
Step 2: The Most Obvious Way – Staying at Marriott Hotels
This is the cornerstone of earning Marriott Bonvoy points. Every eligible stay at one of Marriott's 30+ brands worldwide will earn you points. The more you stay, the more you earn!
Understanding Earning Rates:
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Base Earning: Most Marriott brands earn you 10 points per $1 USD spent on eligible charges (room rate, food & beverage charged to your room, etc.).
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Exceptions:
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Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Element hotels earn 5 points per $1 USD.
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Marriott Executive Apartments and ExecuStay properties earn 2.5 points per $1 USD.
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Elite Status Bonuses: This is where the earning really accelerates! As you achieve higher elite status tiers within the Marriott Bonvoy program, you'll earn bonus points on top of your base earnings:
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Silver Elite: 10% bonus points
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Gold Elite: 25% bonus points
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Platinum Elite: 50% bonus points
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Titanium Elite: 75% bonus points
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Ambassador Elite: 75% bonus points
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Tips for Maximizing Points from Stays:
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Book Directly: Always book your stays through Marriott's official channels (website, app, or phone) to ensure you earn points and elite night credits. Bookings made through third-party online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia or Booking.com generally do not earn points or elite night credits.
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Eligible Charges: Remember that points are typically earned on your room rate and other incidentals charged to your room. Make sure to charge dining, spa treatments, and other services to your room to accumulate more points.
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Promotions: Keep an eye out for Marriott Bonvoy promotions! These often offer double points, bonus points per stay, or other lucrative incentives. Always register for these promotions when they are announced to qualify.
Tip: Reading twice doubles clarity.
Step 3: Supercharge Your Earnings with Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
For many, co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards are the fastest and most efficient way to rack up points. These cards offer generous welcome bonuses and accelerated earning rates on everyday spending.
Key Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards:
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Welcome Bonuses: New cardholders can often earn tens of thousands, or even over a hundred thousand, points simply by meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first few months. These bonuses can be enough for multiple free nights!
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Accelerated Earning: Earn multiple points per dollar spent at Marriott properties, and often bonus points on other common spending categories like dining, gas, or groceries.
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Elite Status: Many Marriott Bonvoy credit cards offer automatic elite status (e.g., Silver Elite, Gold Elite) or provide elite night credits annually, helping you climb the status ladder faster.
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Free Night Awards: Some cards offer an annual Free Night Award, valid for a stay at a Marriott property up to a certain point value.
How to Choose the Right Card:
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Research: Different cards (issued by American Express or Chase in the US, and other banks globally like HDFC Bank in India) offer varying benefits, annual fees, and earning structures. Compare them to find one that aligns with your spending habits and travel goals.
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Understand Spending Categories: Pay attention to where each card offers bonus points. If you dine out frequently, a card with bonus points on dining might be ideal.
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Read the Fine Print: Always review the terms and conditions, including annual fees, foreign transaction fees, and any spending caps on bonus categories.
Step 4: Leverage Transfer Partners – Convert Other Points to Marriott Bonvoy
Do you collect points with other flexible rewards programs? Great news! Marriott Bonvoy partners with several popular programs, allowing you to convert your existing points into Marriott Bonvoy points.
Popular Transfer Partners:
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American Express Membership Rewards: Transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy, often at a 1:1 ratio or sometimes with transfer bonuses.
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Chase Ultimate Rewards: Similarly, Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy, usually at a 1:1 ratio.
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Other Airline Partners: While less common for transferring to Marriott, some airline programs, like United MileagePlus (for Premier elite members) and Emirates Skywards, allow you to convert their miles into Marriott Bonvoy points.
How to Transfer:
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Link Accounts: You'll typically need to link your external rewards account to your Marriott Bonvoy account through the respective program's website.
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Initiate Transfer: Follow the instructions on the partner's website to initiate the transfer. Be aware that transfers are usually irreversible.
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Check Transfer Ratios and Times: Note the transfer ratio (e.g., 1:1, 2:1) and the estimated time it takes for points to post to your Marriott Bonvoy account (typically a few business days).
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Step 5: Diversify Your Earning – Beyond Stays and Credit Cards
Marriott Bonvoy offers a variety of other avenues to earn points, many of which can be seamlessly integrated into your daily life.
Tip: Break it down — section by section.
Sub-heading: Dining Programs
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Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy: If you're in the U.S., link your credit cards to this program and earn Bonvoy points when you dine at thousands of participating restaurants. It's an easy way to earn points on expenses you already have!
Sub-heading: Travel Partners
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Car Rentals (Hertz): Earn Bonvoy points on Hertz car rentals by providing your Marriott Bonvoy number when booking.
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Uber & Uber Eats: In the U.S., link your Marriott Bonvoy and Uber accounts to earn points on eligible Uber rides and Uber Eats orders. This is a fantastic way to earn points on everyday transportation and food delivery.
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Cruises: Book cruises through the "Cruise with Points" program and earn Bonvoy points per dollar spent.
Sub-heading: Meetings and Events
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Marriott Bonvoy Events: If you organize meetings, conferences, or events, you can earn points for eligible charges when hosting them at Marriott properties. This can be a very lucrative way to earn a large sum of points.
Sub-heading: Referring Friends
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Refer-a-Friend Programs: If you have a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, you can often earn bonus points by referring friends or family members who apply for and are approved for the same card. These referral bonuses can be substantial!
Sub-heading: Buying Points
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Direct Purchase: You can directly purchase Marriott Bonvoy points through the Marriott website. While generally not the best value unless you need a small top-up for a redemption, keep an eye out for promotions where you can buy points at a discounted rate. Members can typically purchase up to 100,000-150,000 points per calendar year.
Step 6: Maintain Activity to Prevent Point Expiration
It's important to remember that Marriott Bonvoy points do expire if your account is inactive for 24 consecutive months. Don't let your hard-earned points vanish!
How to Keep Your Account Active:
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Earn Points: Any eligible earning activity (a stay, credit card spending, dining program, etc.) will reset the 24-month clock.
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Redeem Points: Redeeming points for a free night, a Marriott Bonvoy Moment, or transferring them to an airline partner will also reset the clock.
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Smallest Activity Counts: Even a small transaction, like earning points through Eat Around Town or purchasing a few points, can keep your account active.
Tip: Read carefully — skimming skips meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy points balance?
You can easily check your Marriott Bonvoy points balance by logging into your account on the Marriott Bonvoy website or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your balance is typically displayed prominently on your dashboard.
How to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for free nights?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the website or app, search for your desired destination and dates, and select the "Use Points/Awards" option. The system will then show you properties available for point redemption.
How to find Marriott Bonvoy promotions?
Marriott Bonvoy typically announces global and regional promotions via email to members and on their website. It's a good practice to regularly check the "Offers" or "Promotions" section on the Marriott Bonvoy site and ensure your email preferences allow for marketing communications.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles?
You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to over 40 airline loyalty programs. Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account, navigate to the "Use Points/Awards" section, and look for the "Transfer Points to Miles" option. Select your desired airline and the amount of points you wish to transfer.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy elite status faster?
Earning elite status can be accelerated by using a Marriott Bonvoy credit card that offers automatic status or annual elite night credits, focusing your stays at Marriott properties, and participating in promotions that offer bonus elite night credits.
QuickTip: Stop scrolling if you find value.
How to get complimentary breakfast with Marriott Bonvoy?
Complimentary breakfast is a benefit typically offered to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite members at participating brands. Silver and Gold Elite members may receive it as a welcome gift choice at select brands.
How to combine Marriott Bonvoy accounts?
If you have multiple Marriott Bonvoy accounts, you may be able to combine them by contacting Marriott Bonvoy Member Support. This is generally allowed if the accounts belong to the same individual.
How to use Free Night Awards from my Marriott Bonvoy credit card?
Free Night Awards appear in your Marriott Bonvoy account online or in the app. When searching for a stay, select the "Use Points/Awards" option, and if an award is applicable to the chosen property and dates, it will appear as an option to redeem.
How to earn points on multiple rooms when traveling with family?
You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points on up to three rooms booked under your name, provided you are staying in one of the rooms and all rooms are paid for. Ensure your Marriott Bonvoy membership number is attached to each room reservation.
How to ensure my points post after a stay?
Points typically post to your account within a few days of check-out. If they haven't appeared after 7-10 business days, contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Support with your reservation details, including your membership number and stay dates.
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