Ever wondered how to turn those coveted Marriott vouchers into a dreamy stay at a luxurious hotel? You've come to the right place! Redeeming your Marriott voucher, whether it's a Free Night Award or a Gift Card, can unlock incredible travel experiences. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, ensuring a smooth and rewarding redemption process. Let's dive in!
Your Ultimate Guide to Redeeming Marriott Vouchers
Marriott offers various types of "vouchers," primarily:
Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Awards (FNAs): These are certificates earned through credit card benefits, elite status milestones, or promotions, allowing you a free night's stay up to a certain point value.
Marriott Gift Cards/eGift Cards: These function like monetary gift cards, usable towards stays, dining, spa services, and other charges at participating Marriott properties.
While both offer tremendous value, their redemption processes differ slightly. We'll cover both to make sure you're fully equipped!
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| How To Redeem Marriott Voucher |
Step 1: Identify Your Voucher Type and Value
Before you do anything else, it's crucial to know exactly what kind of Marriott voucher you possess. Is it a Free Night Award or a Gift Card? This will dictate your next steps.
Sub-heading: For Free Night Awards (FNAs)
Locate Your FNA:
Online: Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website (Marriott.com). Navigate to your "Account" or "Activity" page. You'll typically find your Free Night Awards listed under "Earned Awards" or "Free Night Awards" with their expiration dates.
Marriott Bonvoy App: Open the app, tap "Account" at the bottom, and then look for "Free Night Awards" to see your available certificates and their expiry.
Understand the Value: Each Free Night Award has a specific points value cap (e.g., 35,000 points, 50,000 points, 85,000 points). This value determines which hotels you can book for free. You might also have the option to top off your FNA with up to an additional 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points if the room you desire exceeds the certificate's base value.
Sub-heading: For Marriott Gift Cards/eGift Cards
Physical Card vs. eGift Card: If it's a physical card, you'll have the card number and PIN on it. For eGift Cards, this information will be in the email you received.
Check the Balance:
Visit the official Marriott Gift Card balance check page (usually found on gifts.marriott.com).
Enter your gift card number and PIN.
Click "Get Balance" to view the remaining funds.
Understand Usage: Gift cards function like cash. They cannot be used to make the initial reservation online. You'll use them as a payment method at the hotel during check-in or check-out.
QuickTip: Read actively, not passively.
Step 2: Plan Your Dream Stay (For Free Night Awards)
This is where the excitement truly begins! With your FNA details in hand, it's time to find the perfect hotel.
Sub-heading: Searching for Hotels with Your FNA
Go to Marriott.com or the Marriott Bonvoy App: Start a new hotel search.
Enter Destination & Dates: Input your desired city or hotel name and your travel dates.
Select "Use Points/Awards": This is a crucial step. Instead of selecting "Use Cash," make sure to choose the option to search with points or awards. This will display the hotels and their point requirements.
Filter by Point Value (Optional but Recommended): If your Free Night Award has a specific value (e.g., 35,000 points), look for hotels whose standard room redemption rate is at or below that value. Remember, you can top off with up to 15,000 points if needed.
Be Flexible with Dates: Marriott's award pricing is dynamic. This means the point cost for a room can fluctuate based on demand, season, and events. If your dates are flexible, use the "My dates are flexible" search option to find the best value and maximize your FNA. You might find a higher-category hotel available for fewer points on off-peak dates.
Review Hotel Options: Browse the results. Click on hotels that pique your interest to see room availability and their exact point cost per night. Ensure the room type available is a "Standard Guest Room" as Free Night Awards are typically for this category.
Step 3: Booking Your Reservation (For Free Night Awards)
Once you've found the perfect match for your Free Night Award, it's time to secure your booking.
Select Your Room: Choose the standard room type that corresponds to your FNA's point value (or within 15,000 points if you plan to top off).
Proceed to Checkout: On the reservation summary page, you should see an option to "Use Free Night Award" or "Apply Certificates."
Apply Your FNA: Select the Free Night Award you wish to use. If the room's point cost is higher than your FNA's value, the system will prompt you to use your Marriott Bonvoy points to cover the difference (up to 15,000 points per FNA).
Confirm Your Booking: Review all details carefully, including dates, hotel, room type, and the application of your FNA/points. Once satisfied, confirm your reservation.
Confirmation Email: You will receive a confirmation email shortly, detailing your booking and confirming that your Free Night Award has been successfully redeemed. Keep this email handy!
Step 4: Using Your Marriott Gift Card (At the Hotel)
Marriott Gift Cards operate differently from Free Night Awards. They are essentially a form of payment at the property.
Make Your Reservation (with a Credit Card): You cannot use a Marriott Gift Card to book a reservation online directly. You must use a valid credit card to guarantee your booking on Marriott.com or through a travel agent.
Inform the Hotel (Optional but Recommended): While not strictly necessary, you can contact the hotel directly after booking to inform them you intend to use a Marriott Gift Card for payment. This can sometimes streamline the check-in or check-out process.
Present Gift Card at Check-in/Check-out:
Upon Arrival: Present your physical Marriott Gift Card or the eGift Card details (printout or on a mobile device) to the front desk when you check in. Many hotels can apply the credit to your room folio immediately.
At Check-out: If you didn't apply it at check-in, or if you have remaining balance you wish to use for incidental charges (food, spa, etc.), present your gift card at check-out to cover the eligible expenses.
Eligible Expenses: Marriott Gift Cards are generally accepted for room rates, taxes, and incidental charges like food and beverage, spa services, and golf at participating Marriott properties. Always confirm with the specific hotel if you have any doubts about acceptance for certain services.
Step 5: Post-Redemption Tips and Considerations
Monitor Your Account: After redeeming an FNA, check your Marriott Bonvoy account to ensure the certificate has been removed. If you cancel a reservation made with an FNA, the certificate should be redeposited into your account with its original expiration date. If it doesn't appear, contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service immediately.
Resort Fees: Be aware that even when using a Free Night Award, some hotels (especially resorts) may charge a separate resort fee. This fee is typically paid in cash at the hotel and cannot be covered by points or FNAs.
Expiration Dates: Both Free Night Awards and Gift Cards have expiration dates. Free Night Awards must be redeemed for a stay on or before their expiration date. Gift card expiry policies can vary, but generally, Marriott Gift Cards do not expire. Always check the terms and conditions of your specific voucher.
Cancellation Policy: Understand the cancellation policy of your booking. If you cancel an FNA reservation outside the cancellation window, you might forfeit your certificate.
Combining Vouchers: You can use multiple Marriott Gift Cards for a single transaction. For Free Night Awards, you can generally use multiple FNAs for a multi-night stay, and you can also combine them with Marriott Bonvoy points for longer or higher-value stays.
Step 6: Troubleshooting Common Issues
Tip: Read slowly to catch the finer details.
Voucher Not Appearing: If your Free Night Award isn't showing in your account, first ensure enough time has passed for it to be issued (e.g., after a credit card anniversary). If it's still missing, contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service.
Hotel Not Available for FNA: If a hotel you want isn't appearing when searching with "Use Points/Awards," it might be because there's no standard room award availability for your dates, or the hotel's point cost exceeds your FNA's value (even with topping off). Try flexible dates or different properties.
Gift Card Not Accepted: While rare at participating properties, if a hotel claims they don't accept your Marriott Gift Card, gently remind them of Marriott's policy and, if necessary, contact Marriott customer service for assistance.
Expired Voucher: Free Night Awards cannot be extended past their expiration date. They must be used for a stay with a check-in date on or before the expiration.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check my Marriott voucher balance or expiration date?
Quick Answer: For Free Night Awards, log into your Marriott Bonvoy account on Marriott.com or the Marriott Bonvoy app under "Earned Awards" or "Free Night Awards." For Marriott Gift Cards, visit
How to apply a Marriott voucher online when booking?
Quick Answer: When booking a Free Night Award, select "Use Points/Awards" during your search. At checkout, you will see the option to apply your available Free Night Award certificates. Marriott Gift Cards cannot be applied online for the initial booking; they are used as payment at the hotel.
How to use multiple Marriott vouchers for one stay?
Quick Answer: Yes, you can generally use multiple Free Night Awards for a multi-night stay (one FNA per night). For Marriott Gift Cards, you can combine multiple gift cards to pay for charges at the hotel.
QuickTip: Note key words you want to remember.
How to combine a Marriott Free Night Award with points?
Quick Answer: When booking a room that costs more points than your Free Night Award's value, Marriott allows you to "top off" the difference with up to 15,000 of your Marriott Bonvoy points per FNA. This option appears during the booking process.
How to get an upgrade when using a Marriott voucher?
Quick Answer: Free Night Awards are typically for standard rooms. Elite status benefits (like complimentary upgrades) may still apply based on availability at check-in. Marriott Bonvoy also offers "Nightly Upgrade Awards" for Platinum Elite members and higher, which can be applied to eligible stays (including those booked with FNAs) to request a suite or premium room upgrade in advance, subject to availability.
How to book a Marriott stay for someone else using my voucher?
Quick Answer: For Free Night Awards, you generally cannot directly gift them. However, you can book an "Award Redemption Stay" for another guest by contacting Marriott Bonvoy Member Support after making the reservation. For Marriott Gift Cards, the recipient can simply use the gift card for payment at the hotel.
How to ensure my Marriott voucher doesn't expire unused?
Tip: The middle often holds the main point.
Quick Answer: The best way is to book a stay with a check-in date on or before the Free Night Award's expiration date. For gift cards, most Marriott Gift Cards do not expire, but always double-check the terms and conditions of your specific card.
How to troubleshoot if my Marriott voucher isn't working during redemption?
Quick Answer: First, verify the voucher type, value, and expiration date. Ensure you're following the correct redemption steps (e.g., using "Use Points/Awards" for FNAs). If issues persist, contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service or the Marriott Gift Card customer service line, providing your voucher details and a clear description of the problem.
How to use a Marriott voucher for experiences beyond hotel stays?
Quick Answer: Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Awards are specifically for hotel stays. Marriott Gift Cards can be used for room rates, taxes, and incidental charges like dining, spa services, and golf at participating hotels. Points can also be redeemed for "Marriott Bonvoy Moments" experiences or shopping.
How to find hotels eligible for my Marriott Free Night Award?
Quick Answer: On Marriott.com or the Marriott Bonvoy app, select "Use Points/Awards" when searching for hotels. The search results will show hotels and their point values. You can then filter or manually check if a hotel's standard room rate falls within your FNA's point cap (including the 15,000 point top-off if you choose to use it).
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