Hey there, travel and experience enthusiast! Ever dreamed of going beyond just hotel stays with your hard-earned Marriott Bonvoy points? Well, you're in for a treat because Marriott Bonvoy Moments is exactly that – a portal to unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you can't buy with cash alone.
Instead of just redeeming points for free nights, imagine using them to attend a VIP concert, get exclusive access to a major sporting event, or even enjoy a private culinary masterclass with a celebrity chef! Intrigued? Let's dive in and see how Marriott Bonvoy Moments work, step-by-step.
Step 1: Discover the Magic – What Are Marriott Bonvoy Moments?
Ready to unlock a world of exclusive access? Before we get into the "how," let's truly grasp the "what." Marriott Bonvoy Moments are curated, often money-can't-buy experiences available exclusively to Marriott Bonvoy members. They represent the ultimate redemption for your points, offering a diverse range of activities that transform your loyalty into extraordinary memories.
What Kinds of Experiences Can You Expect?
Marriott Bonvoy Moments are typically categorized to make your search easier:
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Culinary Moments: Think private dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants, hands-on cooking classes with renowned chefs, exclusive wine tastings, or even attending prestigious food and wine festivals. Imagine sipping rare vintages with a master sommelier!
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Sports Moments: Get closer to the action than ever before. This could mean VIP suite access at major sporting events, on-field experiences, meet-and-greets with athletes, or even tickets to premier golf tournaments or grand prix races. Picture yourself courtside at a championship game!
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Entertainment Moments: From front-row seats at sold-out concerts and backstage passes to exclusive award ceremonies, fashion shows, or private art exhibitions. Envision rubbing shoulders with your favorite artists!
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Arts & Lifestyle Moments: These often involve unique cultural immersions, such as private museum tours, wellness retreats, or luxury travel experiences designed to deepen your appreciation for a destination. Consider a private yacht tour along a stunning coastline!
These aren't your run-of-the-mill tourist activities; they are specially curated, high-value experiences that leverage Marriott's vast network and partnerships.
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| How Do Marriott Moments Work |
Step 2: Accumulating Your Ticket to Extraordinary – Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points
Before you can redeem, you need points! If you're already a Marriott Bonvoy member, you likely know the drill. If not, don't worry, it's easy to start.
Reminder: Short breaks can improve focus.
Sub-heading: Becoming a Marriott Bonvoy Member
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Sign Up for Free: The first and most crucial step is to sign up for a free Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website. This is your gateway to earning and redeeming points.
Sub-heading: Multiple Ways to Rack Up Points
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Hotel Stays: This is the most direct way. You earn points for eligible stays at Marriott's extensive portfolio of over 30 brands worldwide. The earning rate varies by brand and your elite status level, but generally, you'll earn 10 points per US dollar spent on most stays.
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Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards: Co-branded credit cards (like those offered by American Express or Chase in various regions) are powerhouses for earning points quickly. They offer significant sign-up bonuses, accelerated earning on Marriott purchases, and often bonus categories for everyday spending like dining and groceries.
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Everyday Spending: Beyond hotel stays, you can earn points through various partnerships:
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Uber Partnership: Link your Marriott Bonvoy and Uber accounts to earn points on qualifying rides and Uber Eats orders.
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Eat Around Town: Enroll in this dining program and earn points when you dine at participating restaurants.
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Hertz Car Rentals: Earn points when you rent a car through Hertz.
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Cruises and Vacation Packages: Booking these through Marriott's platforms can also yield a significant number of points.
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Buying Points: While generally not the best value, you can purchase points if you're just short of a specific Moment.
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The key is to integrate Marriott Bonvoy into your travel and spending habits to maximize your point accumulation.
Step 3: Navigating the Moments Platform – Finding Your Dream Experience
Once you have a healthy stash of points, it's time for the exciting part: finding your Moment!
Sub-heading: Where to Find Marriott Bonvoy Moments
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The Dedicated Website: Head directly to moments.marriottbonvoy.com. This is the central hub for all available experiences.
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Login to Your Account: You must be logged into your Marriott Bonvoy account to view and participate in Moments.
QuickTip: Pause at transitions — they signal new ideas.
Sub-heading: Browse and Filtering Experiences
The Moments platform is user-friendly, allowing you to explore by:
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Categories: As mentioned earlier (Culinary, Sports, Entertainment, Arts & Lifestyle).
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Destination: Looking for something in Paris, New York, or perhaps a unique experience in an unexpected locale?
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Date: If you have specific travel dates in mind.
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Type of Redemption: This is crucial, as Moments are offered in two primary ways:
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Auctions: These are often for the most exclusive, one-of-a-kind experiences. You'll bid using your points, and the highest bidder wins when the auction closes.
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Fixed-Price Experiences: These have a set point cost and are available for instant redemption on a first-come, first-served basis. They are typically for a limited number of packages.
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Take your time Browse! New experiences are added regularly, so it's worth checking back often.
Step 4: The Redemption Process – Bidding or Buying
This is where your points transform into experiences. The process differs slightly depending on whether you're bidding or buying.
Sub-heading: Participating in Auctions (The Thrill of the Bid!)
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Understand the Auction System: Auctions have a starting bid and a closing date. Bids typically increase in set increments.
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Place Your Bid:
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Manual Bidding: Enter a specific point amount you're willing to bid.
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Maximum Bid (Auto-bid): This is a smart strategy. You enter the highest amount of points you're willing to spend. The system will then automatically place bids on your behalf, in the smallest increments necessary, to keep you in the lead up to your maximum bid. Your maximum bid remains hidden from other bidders. This helps you avoid constantly checking the auction and ensures you don't miss out if a bidding war erupts at the last minute.
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Monitor the Auction: Keep an eye on the auction progress. You'll usually receive email notifications if you've been outbid.
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Winning the Auction: If you are the highest bidder when the auction closes, congratulations! The points will be deducted from your account, and you'll receive a confirmation email.
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If You Don't Win: Don't despair! Your points are not deducted, and you can simply look for another Moment.
Sub-heading: Instant Redemption (Fixed-Price)
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Check Availability: For fixed-price Moments, you'll see a set point cost. Check the number of available packages.
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Redeem Instantly: If a package is available and you have sufficient points, you can click to redeem it immediately.
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Confirmation: The points will be instantly deducted from your account, and you'll receive a confirmation email.
Important Note: All Marriott Bonvoy Moments redemptions are final and non-refundable. Once you've won an auction or redeemed a fixed-price experience, the points are gone and cannot be returned. Experiences are generally non-transferable without Marriott's prior written consent.
QuickTip: Pause after each section to reflect.
Step 5: Preparing for Your Moment – The After-Win Details
Winning or redeeming a Moment is just the beginning! There are a few crucial steps to ensure your experience goes smoothly.
Sub-heading: Confirmation and Attendee Information
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Email Notification: You'll receive a confirmation email from Marriott Bonvoy Moments (often from marriottbonvoymoments@marriott.com). This email will contain initial details about your experience.
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Provide Attendee Information: Crucially, the email will often include a link to fill out pertinent attendee information. This might include names of guests, dietary restrictions, special accommodations, or other details necessary for the experience coordinators. Fill this out as soon as possible! Changes within 48 hours of the experience may not be accommodated.
Sub-heading: Receiving Your Itinerary and Day-Of Contact
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Personalized Itinerary: Within a certain timeframe (often 10 business days after the redemption closes), you'll receive a more detailed itinerary via email from your dedicated event contact. This email will provide further information about your experience and is your primary point of contact for any questions.
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Day-Of Contact: A few days before the experience (typically 3-5 days), you'll receive an email from your specific day-of contact. Keep this email handy, as they will be your go-to person on the day of the event.
Remember to check your spam folder, as these emails may sometimes end up there.
Step 6: Enjoying Your Unforgettable Moment!
You've done all the preparation, and now it's time to live the dream! Arrive prepared, follow the instructions from your event contact, and immerse yourself in the unique experience you've secured with your Marriott Bonvoy points. These are designed to be truly memorable!
Tip: A slow skim is better than a rushed read.
Frequently Asked Questions about Marriott Bonvoy Moments
Here are 10 common questions related to Marriott Bonvoy Moments, with quick answers:
How to get started with Marriott Bonvoy Moments?
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Quick Answer: Join the free Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, then visit moments.marriottbonvoy.com and log in with your account details.
How to earn points for Marriott Bonvoy Moments?
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Quick Answer: Earn points through hotel stays, co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, partnerships with Uber and Eat Around Town, and occasionally by purchasing points directly.
How to find specific types of experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments?
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Quick Answer: Use the filtering options on the Marriott Bonvoy Moments website to search by category (Culinary, Sports, Entertainment, Arts & Lifestyle), destination, or date.
How to bid on an auction-style Marriott Bonvoy Moment?
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Quick Answer: Log in to the Moments website, find the auction, and either place a manual bid or set a maximum bid (auto-bid) that the system will bid up to on your behalf.
How to purchase a fixed-price Marriott Bonvoy Moment?
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Quick Answer: Locate the fixed-price experience on the Moments website, check for availability, and click to redeem instantly if you have enough points.
How to know if I won a Marriott Bonvoy Moments auction?
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Quick Answer: You will receive an email notification if you win. You can also check your "Moments Account" on the website.
How to get the details and itinerary for my winning Moment?
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Quick Answer: After winning/redeeming, you'll receive initial confirmation via email, followed by a detailed itinerary and a personal event contact email from Marriott Bonvoy Moments.
How to provide attendee information for my Marriott Bonvoy Moment?
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Quick Answer: The initial confirmation email will include a link to a form where you can provide all necessary attendee details, such as names and any special requests.
How to cancel or refund a Marriott Bonvoy Moment?
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Quick Answer: All Marriott Bonvoy Moments redemptions are final and non-refundable, so be sure of your selection before redeeming.
How to maximize my chances of winning a Marriott Bonvoy Moments auction?
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Quick Answer: Use the "maximum bid" feature to let the system bid for you up to your set limit, especially during the final minutes of an auction. Research past winning bids for similar experiences if possible to gauge value.
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