Unleash the Power of Your Marriott Bonvoy Points: A Comprehensive Guide to Unforgettable Experiences!
Ever wondered how to truly make the most of those hard-earned Marriott Bonvoy points? Do you have a stash accumulating and dream of leveraging them for more than just a standard hotel room? Well, you've come to the right place! This guide will walk you through every exciting way you can redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points, transforming them from a number in your account into incredible travel memories and unique experiences.
Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your Marriott Bonvoy points? Let's dive in!
 |
| How To Use Your Marriott Points |
Step 1: Accessing Your Marriott Bonvoy Account and Understanding Your Balance
Before you can redeem your points, you need to know how many you have and where to find them!
Sub-heading 1.1: Logging In and Navigating Your Dashboard
-
Head to the Marriott Bonvoy Website or App: Open your web browser and go to Marriott.com, or launch the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app on your smartphone.
-
Sign In: Locate the "Sign In" button, usually in the top right corner of the website or prominent on the app's home screen. Enter your Marriott Bonvoy member number or email address and your password.
-
Your Dashboard Awaits: Once logged in, you'll be directed to your personal Marriott Bonvoy dashboard. Here, you'll see your current point balance prominently displayed. Take a moment to admire that number! This is your key to unlocking amazing opportunities.
Sub-heading 1.2: Understanding Your Points and Account Activity
-
Point Balance: This is the total number of redeemable points you currently have.
-
Elite Status: Your elite status (e.g., Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador) is also displayed. This status can influence certain redemption benefits, like complimentary fifth nights on award stays.
-
Activity History: You can typically view your points earning and redemption history under an "Activity" or "My Account" section. This is useful for tracking how you've earned and spent your points.
Step 2: Redeeming Points for Free Nights at Marriott Bonvoy Hotels (The Most Popular Option!)
This is arguably the most common and often the most valuable way to use your Marriott Bonvoy points.
Sub-heading 2.1: Searching for Award Stays
-
Start Your Search: From the Marriott website or app, use the main search bar. Enter your desired destination and travel dates.
-
Crucial Step: Toggle "Use Points/Awards": Before hitting "Find Hotels," make sure to toggle on the "Use Points/Awards" option. This is vital to display redemption rates instead of cash rates.
-
Flexible Dates for Better Value: If your travel dates are flexible, select "Flexible Dates" under the dates field. This allows Marriott to show you point redemption options across a range of dates, potentially revealing lower point requirements for off-peak periods.
Sub-heading 2.2: Understanding Flexible Point Redemption Rates
Marriott Bonvoy no longer uses a fixed award chart with categories. Instead, they have adopted Flexible Point Redemption Rates, meaning the points required for a night are more closely aligned with the cash price and fluctuate based on availability, seasonality, and demand.
QuickTip: Don’t ignore the small print.
-
Off-Peak, Standard, and Peak Rates (Historical Context): While the fixed chart is gone, hotels still generally have periods that align with what were previously considered off-peak (fewer points), standard, and peak (more points). You'll see these variations reflected in the flexible pricing.
-
Comparing Cash vs. Points: As you browse hotel options, you'll see both the cash price and the point requirement. Always compare these values! A good redemption means getting a higher "value per point" (e.g., if a room is $200 or 20,000 points, you're getting 1 cent per point). Generally, aiming for a value of 0.7-1.0 cents per point or higher is considered a good redemption.
Sub-heading 2.3: Maximizing Your Free Nights: The "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" Benefit
This is a game-changer for longer stays!
-
The Perk: When you book a five-consecutive-night award stay using only points, you automatically get the least expensive night free. This effectively gives you 20% off your points redemption for a 5-night stay.
-
Automatic Application: This benefit is automatically applied when you book online. You don't need to do anything special other than ensure your reservation is for 5 (or more) consecutive nights paid entirely with points.
-
Multiple Uses: You can use this benefit multiple times on longer stays. For example, a 10-night stay would get you two free nights (the two least expensive nights).
Sub-heading 2.4: Cash + Points Option
-
Stretch Your Points: If you don't have enough points for a full award stay, or you want to save some points for another redemption, the Cash + Points option can be very useful.
-
How it Works: This allows you to pay for a portion of your stay with points and the rest with cash.
-
Availability: Look for the "Cash + Points" rates when viewing available rooms for your chosen hotel. The amount of points per night may vary, but the cash portion is usually a flat amount.
Sub-heading 2.5: Utilizing Free Night Certificates (FNAs)
Many Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards offer annual Free Night Awards.
-
How They Work: These certificates are typically valid for a free night at hotels costing up to a certain point value (e.g., 35,000, 50,000, or 85,000 points).
-
Booking with FNAs: When you search for an award stay, if an eligible hotel costs less than or equal to your certificate's value, the option to apply your Free Night Award will appear during the booking process.
-
"Top-Off" Your Certificates: A fantastic feature is the ability to "top-off" your Free Night Awards with up to 15,000 points from your account. This means a 35,000-point certificate can be used for a hotel costing up to 50,000 points by adding 15,000 points. This significantly expands your redemption possibilities!
Step 3: Transferring Points to Airline Partners
Marriott Bonvoy points are incredibly versatile, allowing you to convert them into airline miles for a huge range of airlines.
Sub-heading 3.1: Understanding the Transfer Ratio
-
Standard Ratio: For most of Marriott's 40+ airline partners, the transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile.
-
The 5,000 Bonus Mile Perk: This is where the value often gets boosted! For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you receive an additional 5,000 bonus airline miles. This means 60,000 Marriott points become 25,000 airline miles (20,000 standard + 5,000 bonus), improving the effective ratio to 2.4:1.
-
Exceptions: Be aware that a few airlines (e.g., Air New Zealand) have different transfer ratios, and some (e.g., American Airlines, Avianca LifeMiles, Delta SkyMiles) do not offer the 5,000 bonus. Always check the specific partner's details before transferring.
Sub-heading 3.2: The Transfer Process
-
Navigate to "Transfer Points": Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account. Look for a section related to "Use Points" or "Redeem Points," and then specifically for "Transfer Points to Airline Miles" or similar.
-
Select Your Airline Partner: Choose from the extensive list of airline partners.
-
Enter Details: You'll need to enter your frequent flyer program number for the chosen airline. Ensure the name on your Marriott Bonvoy account exactly matches the name on your airline frequent flyer account.
-
Specify Amount: Enter the number of Marriott Bonvoy points you wish to transfer. Remember the 60,000-point increment for the bonus!
-
Confirm and Wait: Confirm the transfer. Note that transfers can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to process. If you're booking an award flight, consider placing a hold on the ticket if possible, as seats can disappear quickly.
Sub-heading 3.3: When to Consider Airline Transfers
-
High-Value Flight Redemptions: If you find a particularly good deal on an airline award ticket (e.g., for a premium cabin or a route that's otherwise very expensive), transferring points can yield tremendous value.
-
Completing a Balance: If you're just short of the miles needed for a specific flight redemption in an airline program, transferring a small amount of Marriott points can be a great way to top off your balance.
-
Avoiding Hotel Blackouts: If you can't find suitable hotel availability with points for your desired dates, transferring to an airline for a flight might be a good alternative.
Tip: Reread sections you didn’t fully grasp.
Step 4: Unforgettable Experiences with Marriott Bonvoy Moments
Beyond stays and flights, Marriott Bonvoy offers truly unique experiences through Marriott Bonvoy Moments.
Sub-heading 4.1: Exploring the World of Moments
-
Visit the Moments Platform: Go to moments.marriottbonvoy.com.
-
Categories of Experiences: You'll find a diverse range of experiences across categories like:
-
Culinary: Exclusive chef's tables, cooking classes, food festivals.
-
Sports: VIP access to major sporting events, meet-and-greets with athletes.
-
Entertainment: Concert tickets, Broadway shows, movie premieres.
-
Arts & Culture: Private museum tours, fashion week access.
-
Lifestyle: Wellness retreats, fashion show access, unique adventure tours.
-
-
Browse by Interest or Destination: You can easily search for Moments based on your interests or where you plan to travel.
Sub-heading 4.2: Bidding vs. Fixed-Price Experiences
Marriott Bonvoy Moments come in two primary redemption types:
-
Auction-Style (Bidding): Many of the most exclusive and high-demand experiences are offered via auction. You bid points against other members, and the highest bidder wins. This can be a thrilling way to use your points if you have a large balance and are targeting a specific, once-in-a-lifetime event.
-
Fixed-Price Redemptions: Other Moments are available for a set number of points, on a first-come, first-served basis. These are often more accessible and can offer great value for specific activities.
-
1-Point Drop Moments: Keep an eye out for special "1-Point Drop" Moments, which offer highly sought-after experiences for just a single point! These are extremely limited and go quickly.
Sub-heading 4.3: Redeeming Your Points for a Moment
-
Find Your Desired Moment: Browse the platform and select the experience that excites you.
-
Review Details: Read the full description, including what's included, dates, and any eligibility requirements.
-
Place Bid or Redeem:
-
For auctions, enter your bid amount.
-
For fixed-price experiences, click "Redeem Now."
-
-
Confirmation: Once your bid is successful or your redemption confirmed, you'll receive a confirmation email with all the necessary details.
Step 5: Other Redemption Options (Less Common, but Still Available)
While hotel stays, airline transfers, and Moments offer the best value, Marriott Bonvoy points can be used for other things. These generally yield a lower value per point, so proceed with caution.
Sub-heading 5.1: Booking Car Rentals and Cruises
-
Through Marriott's Travel Portal: Marriott allows you to redeem points for car rentals and cruises through their dedicated travel redemption portal.
-
Value Consideration: The value here is often not as strong as direct hotel redemptions or strategic airline transfers. Compare the cash cost of the rental/cruise against the points required to ensure it's a worthwhile use of your points.
Sub-heading 5.2: Shop with Points (Merchandise and Gift Cards)
-
Marriott Bonvoy Shopping: You can use your points to purchase merchandise or gift cards from various retailers through the Marriott Bonvoy shopping portal.
-
Low Value Alert: This is generally considered one of the worst ways to redeem your points. The value per point is typically very low (often less than 0.5 cents per point). Only consider this if you have a small, leftover balance and no immediate travel plans.
Sub-heading 5.3: Donate Points to Charity
QuickTip: Revisit key lines for better recall.
-
Give Back: If you're feeling philanthropic, you can donate your Marriott Bonvoy points to various charitable organizations.
-
Tax Implications: Consult a tax professional regarding any potential tax deductions for point donations.
Step 6: Strategic Planning for Maximum Value
To truly master the art of Marriott Bonvoy redemptions, a little planning goes a long way.
Sub-heading 6.1: Research and Compare
-
Always Compare: Before booking with points, always check the cash price of the same room/experience. Calculate the "cents per point" value ($ cash value / points used * 100). Aim for 0.7 cents or more.
-
Flexibility is Key: Being flexible with your travel dates and even destinations can significantly reduce the number of points needed for a hotel stay.
-
PointSavers: While not as prominent with flexible pricing, keep an eye out for "PointSavers" rates when searching for hotels, which offer discounted award rates on specific dates or room types.
Sub-heading 6.2: Combine Points and Certificates Wisely
-
Don't Waste the "Stay for 5, Pay for 4": If you have a Free Night Award, do not apply it to a 5-night points stay if you want to take advantage of the "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" benefit. That benefit only applies when all five nights are paid with points.
-
Strategic FNA Use: Use your Free Night Awards for single nights that maximize their value, especially when topping them off with extra points.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy point balance?
You can check your Marriott Bonvoy point balance by logging into your account on Marriott.com or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your balance is prominently displayed on your dashboard.
How to redeem Marriott points for hotel stays?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account, enter your destination and dates, and make sure to toggle on "Use Points/Awards" before searching. Select your desired hotel and room type, and proceed with the booking.
How to get a free night with Marriott points?
Book a consecutive five-night stay at a participating Marriott Bonvoy hotel using only points, and the least expensive night will automatically be free.
Tip: Avoid distractions — stay in the post.
How to transfer Marriott points to airlines?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account, navigate to the "Transfer Points to Airline Miles" section. Choose your desired airline partner, enter your frequent flyer number (matching your Marriott account name), specify the points to transfer, and confirm.
How to use Marriott points for experiences?
Visit moments.marriottbonvoy.com to explore a variety of culinary, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences. You can either bid on auction-style experiences or redeem points for fixed-price options.
How to use Marriott Free Night Certificates?
When searching for an award stay, if a hotel's point cost is within your certificate's value (plus potential top-off points), the option to apply your Free Night Award will appear during the booking process.
How to know the value of my Marriott points?
To determine the value, divide the cash price of a redemption by the number of points required. For example, a $200 hotel room costing 20,000 points gives you 1 cent per point ($200 / 20,000 = $0.01).
How to combine cash and Marriott points for a stay?
During the booking process for a hotel stay, after selecting your hotel, look for the "Cash + Points" option if available. This allows you to pay a portion with points and the remainder with cash.
How to prevent Marriott points from expiring?
Marriott Bonvoy points expire if your account is inactive for 24 consecutive months. To keep your points active, you need to have a qualifying earning or redemption activity within that period.
How to get more value from my Marriott points?
Focus on redeeming points for hotel stays where the cash price is high (especially during peak seasons), utilize the "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" benefit, strategically top-off Free Night Awards, and consider transferring to airline partners for high-value flight redemptions.
 |
