Have you ever found yourself sitting on a mountain of Marriott Bonvoy points, wondering if there's more to them than just free hotel nights? While hotel stays often offer the best value for your hard-earned points, Marriott Bonvoy actually provides several intriguing ways to "shop" with your points, opening up a world of possibilities beyond just travel. From exclusive experiences to physical merchandise and even gift cards, your Marriott points can be surprisingly versatile.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of how to shop with your Marriott Bonvoy points, ensuring you get the most out of your loyalty. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Understand Your Marriott Bonvoy Point Balance and Value
Before you embark on your shopping spree, the very first thing you need to do is know what you're working with!
Sub-heading 1.1: Checking Your Point Balance
Are you ready to see the fruit of your travels?
The easiest way to check your Marriott Bonvoy point balance is by logging into your account on the official Marriott Bonvoy website or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your point total will be prominently displayed on your dashboard. Make a note of it – this is your shopping budget!
Sub-heading 1.2: Grasping the "Value" of Your Points
Not all points are created equal, especially when shopping!
It's crucial to understand that the "value" you get per point can vary significantly depending on how you redeem them. While hotel stays often yield a value of around 0.7 to 0.9 cents per point, shopping redemptions generally offer a lower value, sometimes as low as 0.4 cents per point. This means that an item costing $100 might require significantly more points than you'd expect if you were converting them to hotel stays.
For example: If an item costs $100 and you're getting 0.5 cents per point, you'd need 20,000 points ($100 / $0.005 = 20,000 points). If you were getting 0.8 cents per point (a good hotel redemption), that same $100 would only cost you 12,500 points.
Therefore, while shopping with points is convenient, it's generally not the most economical use of your Marriott Bonvoy points. Consider it a bonus if you have a surplus or if there's something specific you really want and don't plan on using the points for travel in the near future.
Step 2: Explore the "Shop With Points" Portal
Marriott Bonvoy has a dedicated "Shop With Your Points" portal where you can browse and redeem your points for a variety of merchandise.
Sub-heading 2.1: Navigating to the Shopping Portal
Ready to find your next treasure?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website.
Once logged in, look for a section related to "Use Points and Awards" or "Redeem Points."
Within this section, you should find a link specifically for "Shop with Points" or "Merchandise & Gift Cards."
Alternatively, you can often find a direct link to the "Shop With Your Points" portal by searching for it on the Marriott website or through a quick search engine query. The direct URL is usually
shop-with-your-points.marriott.com.
Sub-heading 2.2: Browse the Merchandise Categories
From gadgets to glam, see what's on offer!
Once you're on the "Shop With Your Points" portal, you'll find a range of categories to explore. These typically include:
Electronics: Think headphones, smart devices, small appliances.
Home Goods: Kitchenware, decor, bedding, and more.
Fashion & Accessories: Bags, wallets, and sometimes apparel.
Gift Cards: This is often a popular option, offering gift cards to various retailers and restaurants.
Outdoor & Leisure: Sporting goods, travel accessories.
Take your time to browse. The selection can change, and new items are regularly added. Pay close attention to the point values listed next to each item.
Sub-heading 2.3: Understanding Point Redemption for Merchandise
Every item has its price in points.
Each item on the "Shop With Your Points" portal will display its cost in Marriott Bonvoy points. This cost is non-negotiable and represents the full point value required to acquire the item. There's generally no option to combine points and cash for merchandise redemptions, unlike with some hotel stays.
Step 3: Redeeming Points for Gift Cards
One of the most practical ways to "shop" with your Marriott points, especially if you're not seeing anything appealing in the merchandise categories, is to redeem them for gift cards.
Sub-heading 3.1: Locating Gift Card Options
Unlock a world of possibilities with gift cards!
Within the "Shop With Your Points" portal, there's usually a dedicated section for "Gift Cards." Click on this to see the available brands. Marriott often partners with a variety of popular retailers, restaurants, and online services.
Sub-heading 3.2: Selecting Your Desired Gift Card
Choose your adventure!
You'll see different gift card denominations and the corresponding point values.
Common options might include gift cards for Amazon, Uber, Starbucks, or various clothing retailers.
Compare the point cost to the cash value of the gift card to determine your effective point value for that specific redemption. Again, expect this to be lower than what you'd get for hotel stays.
Sub-heading 3.3: Completing the Gift Card Redemption
Almost there!
Select the gift card and denomination you wish to redeem.
Confirm the point deduction from your account.
Gift cards are typically delivered digitally to your email address, often within a few hours or up to a few business days. Make sure your email address on file with Marriott Bonvoy is current.
Step 4: Explore Marriott Bonvoy Moments
While not strictly "shopping" for physical goods, Marriott Bonvoy Moments offers a unique and often high-value way to use your points for extraordinary experiences. This can be seen as "shopping" for unforgettable memories.
Sub-heading 4.1: What are Marriott Bonvoy Moments?
Experiences money can't buy... or can they, with points?
Marriott Bonvoy Moments are curated experiences in the world of culinary arts, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. These can range from VIP concert tickets, exclusive dining experiences with celebrity chefs, access to major sporting events, or even fashion show access. Some are fixed-price, while others are auctioned off.
Sub-heading 4.2: Accessing Marriott Bonvoy Moments
Your passport to unique adventures!
You can find Marriott Bonvoy Moments on a separate dedicated website: moments.marriottbonvoy.com. You'll need to log in with your Marriott Bonvoy credentials.
Sub-heading 4.3: Understanding Redemption for Moments
Bid, or redeem instantly!
Auction-Style Moments: Many Moments are offered via an auction system. You bid points against other members, and the highest bidder wins. This can sometimes lead to incredible value if competition isn't high, but it can also escalate quickly.
Fixed-Price Moments: Some Moments are available for a set point amount and can be redeemed instantly on a first-come, first-served basis. These are often popular and can sell out quickly.
Always read the details of each Moment carefully, including what's included, dates, and any restrictions. This is where you can potentially find some of the best "shopping" value for your points, as these experiences are often exclusive and not available for cash purchase.
Step 5: Other Less Common "Shopping" Options
While the "Shop With Points" portal, gift cards, and Moments are the primary ways to shop with your Marriott points, there are a couple of other niche options.
Sub-heading 5.1: Transferring Points to Airline Partners (Indirect Shopping)
Fly high, then shop!
While not direct shopping, you can transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to a wide array of airline loyalty programs. The general transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. Once the points are in your airline account, you can use them to book flights, which is a form of "shopping" for travel. This often offers better value than direct merchandise redemption.
Sub-heading 5.2: Shop Marriott Brands (Physical Stores)
Bring the hotel experience home!
Marriott also has online stores for some of its brands (e.g., Shop Marriott, Shop Westin, Shop Ritz-Carlton). These stores allow you to purchase items commonly found in their hotels, such as bedding, bath products, and decor. While these purchases are typically made with cash, some specific promotions or rare opportunities might allow point redemption, but this is not a standard feature of shopping with points. It's usually a way to earn points, not redeem them.
Important Considerations for Shopping with Marriott Points:
Point Value is Key: Always remember that the value per point for merchandise and gift card redemptions is generally lower than for hotel stays or airline transfers. Prioritize travel if maximizing point value is your goal.
Expiration Policies: Be aware of Marriott Bonvoy's point expiration policy. Points expire after 24 consecutive months of inactivity. Making a redemption (even a small one) can reset this clock.
Shipping Costs: For physical merchandise, check if shipping costs are included in the point price or if they will be an additional charge.
Return Policies: Understand the return and exchange policies for items purchased with points. These may differ from standard cash purchases.
10 Related FAQ Questions: How to Shop with Marriott Points
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy point balance?
You can check your point balance by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the official website or via the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your balance is typically displayed prominently on your dashboard.
How to access the "Shop With Points" portal?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and navigate to the "Use Points and Awards" or "Redeem Points" section. You should find a link for "Shop with Points." Alternatively, you can directly visit shop-with-your-points.marriott.com.
How to redeem Marriott points for gift cards?
On the "Shop With Points" portal, look for the "Gift Cards" category. Select the desired gift card brand and denomination, and proceed with the redemption. The gift card will typically be delivered digitally to your email.
How to use Marriott points for exclusive experiences?
Visit the Marriott Bonvoy Moments website (moments.marriottbonvoy.com). Here, you can bid on auction-style experiences or redeem points instantly for fixed-price events related to culinary, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle.
How to determine the value of my Marriott points when shopping?
Divide the cash price of the item by the number of points required for redemption. For example, if an item costs $50 and requires 10,000 points, your value is $0.005 per point (0.5 cents per point). This is generally lower than for hotel stays.
How to know if shopping with points is a good idea?
Shopping with points is generally not the best value compared to hotel redemptions or airline transfers. It's a good option if you have a surplus of points, don't have immediate travel plans, or find a highly desired item where the convenience outweighs the lower point value.
How to avoid Marriott Bonvoy points from expiring?
Points expire after 24 consecutive months of inactivity. To prevent expiration, you can earn or redeem points, even a small amount, to reset the clock. Shopping with points will count as an activity.
How to transfer Marriott points to airline miles for indirect shopping?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and find the option to transfer points to airline partners. The general ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile, with a bonus for larger transfers. Once transferred, you can use the miles for flights.
How to purchase items directly from Marriott hotel brands' stores?
Marriott hotel brands like Westin and Ritz-Carlton often have their own online stores (e.g., ShopWestin.com). These purchases are typically made with cash, not points, though some promotions might exist.
How to get the best value when redeeming Marriott points?
Generally, the best value for Marriott Bonvoy points comes from redeeming them for hotel stays, especially for luxury properties or when utilizing the "Stay 5, Pay for 4" benefit. Transferring to airline partners can also offer good value for flights. Shopping for merchandise usually yields a lower value.
