Ah, the Marriott Free Night Award! A little golden ticket for travel enthusiasts, often earned through Marriott Bonvoy credit cards or achieving certain elite status tiers. If you've got one of these babies, you're sitting on a valuable opportunity for a "free" night's stay. But how do you actually use it? Don't worry, it's simpler than you might think, and I'm here to walk you through it, step by glorious step!
Ready to turn that digital certificate into a dreamy night away? Let's dive in!
Your Guide to Redeeming Your Marriott Free Night Award
Step 1: Confirm You Have a Free Night Award and Know Its Value
First things first, let's confirm your award is ready for action and understand its limitations.
Where to Find Your Award: Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website (Marriott.com) or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Once logged in, navigate to your account "Overview" or "My Activity" section. You should see a section dedicated to "Free Night Awards" or "Earned Rewards." Click on "View awards" to see your active certificates.
Understanding the Value: Each Free Night Award (FNA) comes with a specific maximum point value. Common values are 35,000, 50,000, and 85,000 points. This value dictates which hotels you can book. For example, a 35,000-point certificate can only be used for a night that costs 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or less.
Check the Expiration Date: These awards typically expire one year from their issuance date. Make a note of this date! You must stay by the expiration date, not just book by it. While extensions are sometimes granted in specific circumstances (e.g., during global pandemics), they are not guaranteed. It's always best to use your award well before it expires to avoid losing its value.
Step 2: Strategize Your Redemption – Finding the Perfect Hotel
This is where the fun begins! Now that you know the value of your FNC, you can start searching for hotels that fit your award's criteria.
Sub-heading: Maximizing Your Award's Value
Aim High (Within Your Limit!): To get the most bang for your (free) buck, try to use your certificate at a property that costs close to or at the maximum point value of your award. Using a 50,000-point certificate for a 20,000-point hotel means you're forfeiting 30,000 points of potential value.
Consider Topping Up: Marriott now allows you to "top up" your Free Night Award with up to 15,000 additional Marriott Bonvoy points. This is a game-changer! If you have a 35,000-point certificate, you can use it for a hotel that costs up to 50,000 points by adding 15,000 of your own points. This significantly expands your options for more luxurious stays.
Beware of Resort Fees: Keep in mind that while your FNC covers the room rate and applicable taxes, it generally does not cover resort fees. These will be an additional cost you'll need to pay at the property. Always check for resort fees before booking if you want to avoid surprises.
Sub-heading: Searching for Availability
Go to Marriott.com or the Marriott Bonvoy App: Start your search as you normally would for a paid stay.
Enter Your Destination and Dates: Input where you want to go and your desired travel dates.
Crucially, Select "Use Points / Awards": This is the most important step to ensure you see award availability. On the search bar, look for the option to toggle or select "Use Points / Awards." This will display hotels with their point redemption rates.
Filter by Point Value (Optional but Recommended): If you have a specific FNC value, you can often filter the search results by the points range to narrow down options that are eligible for your award.
Browse and Compare: Scroll through the list of hotels. Look for properties where the nightly point cost is at or below the value of your Free Night Award, or within 15,000 points if you plan to top up.
Tip: Sometimes, properties that are very expensive in cash might be a great value for points, and vice-versa. Do a quick comparison if you're looking for the best deal.
Step 3: Booking Your Free Night Award
Once you've found the perfect hotel and confirmed award availability, it's time to seal the deal!
Select Your Desired Hotel and Room Type: Click on the hotel you've chosen. You'll then be prompted to select a room type. Make sure it's a "standard" room as premium award redemptions are typically not eligible for FNCs.
Proceed to Checkout: As you move through the booking process, you'll reach the "Review Reservation" or "Payment" section.
Apply Your Free Night Award: This is where your FNC comes into play. If an eligible Free Night Award is available in your account for the selected dates and point value, it will automatically be pre-selected or you'll be given the option to apply it.
If topping up: If the hotel costs more points than your FNC value but is within the 15,000-point top-up limit, the system will prompt you to use your FNC and pay the difference with your Marriott Bonvoy points.
Confirm Your Reservation: Review all the details, including the total cost (which should be $0 for the room night if fully covered by the FNC, plus any applicable resort fees or incidental charges). Click "Confirm" or "Complete Booking."
Receive Confirmation: You'll receive an email confirmation from Marriott Bonvoy shortly after. Keep this email safe! It contains all your reservation details.
Step 4: After Booking – What to Expect and Do
You've booked your free night, congratulations! Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Cancellations: If your plans change, you can usually cancel your Free Night Award reservation. The FNC will be credited back to your account. However, always double-check the cancellation policy for the specific hotel and reservation. If you cancel, monitor your Marriott Bonvoy account to ensure the certificate is re-deposited. If it doesn't appear promptly, contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service.
No Elite Night Credit: Stays booked with a Free Night Award typically do not earn Elite Night Credit. This is important if you're working towards a higher elite status tier.
Elite Benefits Still Apply: If you have Marriott Bonvoy elite status, your benefits (e.g., complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, late checkout) will still apply during your Free Night Award stay.
One Room at a Time: You can only book one room at a time when using your Free Night Award(s). If you need multiple rooms, you'll need to make separate bookings.
Linking Reservations: If you're booking multiple nights, some with a FNC and some with points or cash, you might end up with separate reservation numbers. It's often a good idea to call the hotel directly after booking to have them link your reservations. This helps ensure you don't have to check out and back in, and that your elite benefits apply seamlessly across your entire stay.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check my Marriott Free Night Award balance?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website or app, then navigate to your "Overview" or "My Activity" section to see your available Free Night Awards.
How to extend an expiring Marriott Free Night Award?
Generally, Marriott Free Night Awards expire one year from issuance and cannot be extended beyond a short grace period. It's best to use them before their stated expiration date. Contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service as a last resort, but extensions are rare.
How to find hotels eligible for my Marriott Free Night Award?
When searching on Marriott.com or the app, select "Use Points / Awards" and then filter by the point value of your Free Night Award (e.g., 35,000, 50,000, or 85,000 points).
How to use multiple Marriott Free Night Awards for a longer stay?
You can book consecutive nights using multiple Free Night Awards, but you'll typically make separate one-night bookings. Then, you can call the hotel to link the reservations.
How to combine a Marriott Free Night Award with points?
During the booking process, if the selected hotel costs more than your FNC's value (up to an additional 15,000 points), the system will automatically offer you the option to apply your FNC and pay the difference with your Marriott Bonvoy points.
How to transfer a Marriott Free Night Award to someone else?
Marriott Free Night Awards are generally non-transferable and cannot be re-credited for points. They are intended for use by the member who earned them.
How to know if a hotel has blackout dates for Free Night Awards?
Marriott Bonvoy has a "No Blackout Dates" policy for standard rooms, meaning if a standard room is available for cash, it should be available for points/awards. However, hotels can implement "capacity controls," limiting the number of standard rooms available for award redemption on certain high-demand dates. If a hotel isn't showing award availability for your dates, it's likely due to capacity controls rather than a "blackout date."
How to ensure my elite benefits apply to my Free Night Award stay?
As long as your Marriott Bonvoy member number is attached to the reservation, your elite benefits should automatically apply during your Free Night Award stay, just as they would with a paid stay.
How to cancel a Marriott Free Night Award booking?
You can cancel your FNC reservation online or via the app. The Free Night Award should be automatically redeposited into your account. Always check the specific cancellation policy for your reservation.
How to get another Marriott Free Night Award?
Marriott Free Night Awards are primarily earned through Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards (often as an annual anniversary benefit or spending bonus) or by achieving certain Marriott Bonvoy elite status tiers (e.g., Titanium Elite Choice Benefit).