Unlock Your Dream Getaways: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Awards!
Ever dreamt of a luxurious escape, a spontaneous city break, or a relaxing beachfront retreat without breaking the bank? If you're a Marriott Bonvoy member, those dreams are often closer than you think, thanks to your hard-earned Free Night Awards (FNAs)! These valuable certificates can transform your travel aspirations into reality. But if you're new to the world of Marriott Bonvoy, or just need a refresher, knowing how to effectively use your FNAs can seem a little daunting.
Don't worry, you're in the right place! This lengthy guide will walk you through every step, from finding your awards to booking your perfect stay, and even offer some expert tips to maximize their value. So, are you ready to turn those free night certificates into unforgettable experiences? Let's dive in!
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| How To Use Marriott Night Stays |
Step 1: Locating Your Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Awards
First things first: you need to know what you have! Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Awards are typically issued through co-branded credit cards (like those from American Express or Chase) upon account anniversary, or sometimes as an Annual Choice Benefit for elite members. They arrive as e-certificates in your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Sub-heading 1.1: Checking Your Account Online
This is the easiest and most common way to view your awards.
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Log In to Your Marriott Bonvoy Account: Head to
Marriott.com -
Navigate to Your "Activity" or "My Account" Section: Once logged in, look for a section typically labeled "My Account," or you might see your name at the top right of the page. Click on it, and then select "Activity" or "Earned Awards."
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Identify Your Free Night Awards: Under the "Earned Awards" section, you'll see a list of any available Free Night Awards. Pay close attention to their point value (e.g., 35,000 points, 50,000 points, 85,000 points) and, crucially, their expiration dates. These dates are non-negotiable, so mark them in your calendar!
Sub-heading 1.2: Checking via the Marriott Bonvoy Mobile App
For on-the-go convenience, the mobile app is fantastic.
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Open the Marriott Bonvoy App: Ensure you have the latest version installed on your iOS or Android device.
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Tap "Account": At the bottom of the screen, you'll find an "Account" icon. Tap on it.
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Find "Free Night Awards": Look for a section or link specifically labeled "Free Night Awards." This will display your available certificates and their expiration dates.
Step 2: Understanding Your Free Night Award Value and Limitations
Knowing the specifics of your FNA is key to successful redemption. Not all FNAs are created equal!
QuickTip: Use CTRL + F to search for keywords quickly.
Sub-heading 2.1: The Point Value
Each Free Night Award comes with a specific maximum point value. For example, a 35,000-point FNA can be used for a stay at any participating hotel that costs 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or less for one night.
Sub-heading 2.2: The "Top-Off" Feature
This is a game-changer! Marriott Bonvoy allows you to top off your Free Night Award with up to 15,000 additional Marriott Bonvoy points from your account. This means a 35,000-point FNA can be used for a hotel night costing up to 50,000 points (35,000 + 15,000), significantly increasing your options! This applies per award, per night.
Sub-heading 2.3: Important Limitations to Note
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One Night Only: Each FNA is valid for a single night's stay. If you want to stay for multiple nights, you'll need multiple FNAs, or you'll have to pay for the additional nights with points or cash.
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Standard Guest Rooms: Generally, FNAs are redeemable for a standard guest room. While some hotels might offer upgrades at check-in (especially for elite members and based on availability), your FNA primarily covers a standard room.
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Expiration Dates: As mentioned, FNAs have a strict expiration date, typically one year from issuance. They cannot be extended. Plan your travel accordingly!
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Non-Transferable: Free Night Awards are generally non-transferable and can only be used by the account holder to whom they were issued.
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Resort Fees: While your FNA covers the room rate and applicable taxes, some hotels may charge mandatory resort fees that are not covered and must be paid separately (usually in cash at check-in). Always check the hotel's policies!
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Not Combinable with "Stay for 5, Pay for 4": If you're booking a stay with Marriott Bonvoy points for five consecutive nights or longer, you get the fifth night free. However, this benefit cannot be combined with a Free Night Award. If you use an FNA for one night of a 5-night stay, you won't get the "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" benefit for the remaining point nights. This means for a 5-night stay, it's often better to book entirely with points (if you have enough) to maximize the "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" perk, rather than using an FNA for one night.
Step 3: Searching for Your Ideal Free Night Stay
Now for the fun part: finding a hotel! This is where strategic searching comes in.
Sub-heading 3.1: Using the Marriott.com Website
The website is your most robust tool for searching.
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Start Your Search: On the Marriott.com homepage, enter your desired destination and dates.
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Crucially, Select "Use Points / Awards": This is the most important step! Beneath the date fields, you'll see an option to "Use Points / Awards." Make sure to check this box before clicking "Find Hotels." This will display results based on point redemption values, making it easy to identify properties where your FNA can be used.
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Refine Your Search (Optional but Recommended):
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Flexible Dates: If your travel dates are flexible, consider using the "Flexible Dates" option (often found by clicking on the check-in date). This will show you a calendar view of point prices for different days, helping you snag a night that matches or is just slightly above your FNA's value.
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Filters: Use filters to narrow down your search by brand, amenities, or specific areas within a city.
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Review Hotel Options: The search results will show hotels with their nightly point costs. Look for hotels where the point cost for a standard room aligns with your FNA's value, keeping in mind the 15,000-point top-off option.
Sub-heading 3.2: Using the Marriott Bonvoy Mobile App for Search
The app provides a similar, streamlined search experience.
QuickTip: Go back if you lost the thread.
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Enter Destination and Dates: On the app's home screen, input your destination and travel dates.
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Toggle "Use Points / Awards": On the search criteria screen (often after selecting dates), you'll see a toggle for "Use Points / Awards" or "Book with Points." Turn this on.
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Find Hotels: Tap "Find Hotels" or "Check Availability."
Step 4: Selecting Your Hotel and Room Type
Once you have your search results, it's time to choose.
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Choose a Hotel: Click on a hotel that looks appealing and whose point cost is within your FNA's limit (plus any points you're willing to top off).
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Select "View Rates": On the hotel's page, you'll see available room types and their corresponding point rates. Look for the "Redemption" option.
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Confirm Standard Room Availability: Ensure the room you select is a "Standard Room." While other rooms might appear, your FNA is typically only valid for standard redemptions.
Step 5: Applying Your Free Night Award and Completing the Booking
This is the final hurdle to securing your free stay!
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Proceed to Booking Details: After selecting your room, you'll be taken to a reservation review page.
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Look for "Redeem Free Night": On this page, usually under "Redemption Options" or "Summary of Charges," you will see an option to "Redeem Free Night" or "Apply Free Night Award." Click or tap this option.
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Select Your Available Award: A pop-up or new section will appear, showing your available Free Night Awards. Select the award you wish to use.
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Add Points (If Needed): If the selected hotel night costs more points than your FNA's base value (but is within the 15,000-point top-off limit), the system will prompt you to use additional points from your Bonvoy account to cover the difference. Confirm this addition.
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Review and Confirm: Double-check all reservation details, including dates, hotel, room type, and that your Free Night Award has been successfully applied, bringing the cost down to 0 points (or just the top-off points).
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Book Now: Click "Book Now" or "Complete Booking" to finalize your reservation. You'll receive a confirmation email shortly.
Step 6: Managing Your Free Night Award Booking
Even after booking, a few things to keep in mind.
Sub-heading 6.1: Cancellations
If your plans change, you can usually cancel a Free Night Award reservation. The FNA will typically be redeposited into your account with its original expiration date. Always check the specific cancellation policy of your booking to avoid forfeiture.
Sub-heading 6.2: Modifications
Modifying an FNA booking might be possible, but it's often simpler to cancel and rebook, especially if you're changing dates or hotels. If you modify a booking and the new night requires a different point value, you may need to adjust your points or top-off amount.
QuickTip: Don’t just scroll — process what you see.
Maximizing Your Free Night Awards: Pro Tips!
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Target High-Value Redemptions: Aim to use your FNA at properties where the cash rate is significantly higher than the typical value of the points it covers. A 35,000-point FNA used at a hotel that would otherwise cost $400 is a fantastic redemption!
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Off-Peak vs. Peak: Marriott Bonvoy uses dynamic pricing for point redemptions. Search for "off-peak" dates, as these will require fewer points and thus open up more options for your FNAs. The "Flexible Dates" search is invaluable here.
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Consider International Properties: Often, you can find incredible value for FNAs at Marriott properties outside of your home country, where point values might stretch further.
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Combine with Paid Stays: If you're booking a longer trip, you can use an FNA for one night and pay for the remaining nights with cash or points (booked separately, or in some cases, the system might allow a mixed payment on one reservation).
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Don't Let Them Expire! This is the golden rule. If you're approaching the expiration date and don't have a trip planned, consider a "staycation" or a quick overnight trip to a local Marriott property to use it. A free night at any hotel is better than a forfeited one!
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some common questions about using Marriott Free Night Awards:
How to check the expiration date of my Marriott Free Night Award?
You can check the expiration date by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on Marriott.com and navigating to the "Earned Awards" section under "My Account" or "Activity," or by checking the "Free Night Awards" section in the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app.
How to use more than one Marriott Free Night Award for a multi-night stay?
You can use multiple Free Night Awards for a multi-night stay if you have them, but each award will cover only one night. You'll typically apply each award individually during the booking process for each eligible night.
How to combine points with a Marriott Free Night Award?
When booking a hotel night that costs more than your Free Night Award's base value, the Marriott booking system will automatically give you the option to "top off" the award with up to 15,000 additional Marriott Bonvoy points from your account.
How to find hotels that accept my specific Marriott Free Night Award value?
When searching on Marriott.com or the app, select the "Use Points / Awards" option. The search results will then display hotels with their nightly point costs, allowing you to easily see which properties fall within your FNA's value (plus any potential top-off).
Tip: Rest your eyes, then continue.
How to get a Marriott Free Night Award?
Free Night Awards are primarily earned through Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards (as an annual anniversary benefit) or as an Annual Choice Benefit for elite Marriott Bonvoy members who achieve certain qualification thresholds.
How to extend a Marriott Free Night Award's expiration date?
Unfortunately, Marriott Free Night Awards have strict expiration dates and cannot be extended under normal circumstances. It's crucial to use them before they expire.
How to cancel a Marriott Free Night Award booking?
You can cancel a Free Night Award booking online through your Marriott Bonvoy account. The award will generally be redeposited into your account with its original expiration date, provided you cancel within the hotel's cancellation policy.
How to use a Marriott Free Night Award for an upgraded room?
Free Night Awards are typically only valid for standard guest rooms. While you might be able to request an upgrade at check-in (subject to availability and your elite status), the FNA itself does not cover the cost of a premium room upgrade.
How to use a Free Night Award if I don't have enough points for the top-off?
If the desired hotel night exceeds your Free Night Award's base value and you don't have enough additional points for the 15,000-point top-off, you won't be able to use that specific FNA for that particular hotel night. You would need to choose a different hotel that matches your FNA's value or purchase additional points if available and desired.
How to find PointSavers rates for Marriott Free Night Awards?
PointSavers are discounted award rates for specific dates and properties. While there isn't a centralized list, you can discover them by searching for hotels with flexible dates and looking for lower point redemption values, as PointSavers will appear as a rate option if available for your chosen property and dates.
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