It's a fantastic question, and one that unlocks a world of travel possibilities! Marriott Bonvoy, the loyalty program for Marriott International, can seem a little complex at first glance, but once you understand the fundamentals, you'll be well on your way to earning free nights, upgrades, and a host of other exciting perks. So, are you ready to dive into the wonderful world of Marriott Bonvoy points? Let's get started!
Demystifying Marriott Bonvoy: Your Comprehensive Guide to Points
Marriott Bonvoy is more than just a points program; it's your passport to experiences across a vast portfolio of over 30 distinct hotel brands worldwide. From luxury escapes at The Ritz-Carlton to extended-stay comfort at Residence Inn, and trendy boutique hotels like Moxy, your points can take you far.
Step 1: Getting Started - Your First Foray into Bonvoy
Are you excited to start earning free stays and exclusive benefits? The very first step is simple and entirely free!
Joining the Program
Sign Up for a Free Account: Head over to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (
marriott.com/loyalty.mi Understand the Basics: As a new member, you'll automatically be at the "Member" tier. This already gives you access to several perks, including:
Exclusive member rates: Often a slight discount on published room rates.
Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi: A small but often appreciated saving.
Mobile check-in/services: Use the Marriott Bonvoy app for convenience.
Ability to earn points and elite night credits: The foundation of the program!
Step 2: Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points - Accumulating Your Travel Currency
Now that you're a member, let's talk about how to pile up those valuable points! There are numerous ways, so you can tailor your earning strategy to your lifestyle.
Sub-heading: Staying at Marriott Hotels
This is the most direct and often most rewarding way to earn points.
Base Earning Rate: At most Marriott Bonvoy participating hotels, you'll earn 10 points for every $1 USD spent on eligible charges. Eligible charges typically include your room rate and other incidentals that can be charged to your room, such as dining and spa services.
Important Note: Some brands have different earning rates. For example, you'll earn 5 points per dollar at brands like Element, Protea Hotels, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Homes & Villas by Marriott. Marriott Executive Apartments earn 2.5 points per dollar, and StudioRes properties earn 4 points per dollar. Always check the specific brand's policy if you're unsure.
Booking Directly: To ensure you earn points and elite night credits, always book directly with Marriott through their official website, mobile app, or by calling their reservations line. Bookings made through third-party online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia or Booking.com generally do not qualify for point earning or elite benefits.
Sub-heading: Boosting Your Earnings with Elite Status
The more you stay, the higher your elite status, and the faster you earn points!
Silver Elite (10 nights/year): Earns a 10% bonus on points.
Gold Elite (25 nights/year): Earns a 25% bonus on points. You'll also get a welcome gift of points and potential room upgrades.
Platinum Elite (50 nights/year): Earns a 50% bonus on points. This is where benefits really kick in, including guaranteed 4 PM late checkout, lounge access at brands with lounges, and enhanced room upgrades (including select suites). You also get an Annual Choice Benefit.
Titanium Elite (75 nights/year): Earns a 75% bonus on points. This tier offers a 48-hour room availability guarantee and a second Annual Choice Benefit.
Ambassador Elite (100+ nights/year + $23,000+ USD qualifying spend): Earns a 75% bonus on points. This top tier comes with a dedicated personal Ambassador and the "Your24" benefit, allowing flexible check-in and checkout times.
Sub-heading: Supercharging Your Points with Co-branded Credit Cards
Marriott partners with credit card issuers (like American Express and Chase in the US) to offer co-branded credit cards. These are fantastic for accumulating points quickly.
Sign-up Bonuses: Many cards offer substantial welcome bonuses after meeting a minimum spending requirement. These bonuses alone can be enough for several free nights!
Accelerated Earning: These cards offer higher earning rates on Marriott purchases and often bonus categories for everyday spending (e.g., dining, groceries, gas).
Automatic Elite Status: Many Marriott credit cards grant automatic Silver or Gold Elite status, immediately giving you a points bonus and other benefits without having to meet the night requirements.
Sub-heading: Other Ways to Earn Points
Marriott Bonvoy offers a surprising variety of ways to earn points beyond hotel stays.
Marriott Bonvoy Events: Host a meeting or event at a participating Marriott property and earn points on eligible charges.
Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities: Book local experiences through Marriott and earn points.
Marriott Bonvoy Dining Programs: Enroll in programs like "Eat Around Town" to earn points when dining at participating restaurants.
Car Rentals (Hertz): Earn points when renting a car with Hertz.
Airline Transfers: Transfer points from partner airline programs to Marriott Bonvoy.
Uber Partnership (US members): Link your Marriott Bonvoy and Uber accounts to earn points on eligible Uber rides and Uber Eats orders.
Cruise Bookings: Earn points when booking cruises through Cruise with Points.
Refer a Friend: If you have a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, you can often earn bonus points by referring friends or family members who apply and are approved.
Step 3: Redeeming Your Marriott Bonvoy Points - Turning Points into Perks
Now for the exciting part – using your hard-earned points!
Sub-heading: Free Night Stays (The Most Popular Redemption)
This is typically where you'll get the best value for your points.
Flexible Point Redemption: Marriott Bonvoy has moved to a more flexible points redemption system, meaning the number of points required for a free night can vary based on demand, season, and the hotel's category.
How to Search:
Go to Marriott.com or use the Marriott Bonvoy app.
Enter your destination and dates.
Crucially, check the box that says "Use Points / Awards" or "Flexible Dates" (if your dates are open to find the best deals).
The search results will display the point cost for each hotel.
"Stay for 5, Pay for 4" Benefit: A fantastic perk for all members! When you redeem points for five consecutive nights at the same hotel, the lowest-point-value night will be free. This effectively gives you a 20% discount on a five-night award stay. Always aim for this if your travel plans allow!
Cash + Points: If you don't have enough points for a full free night, or want to stretch your points further, you may have the option to use a combination of cash and points. This can be a great way to reduce your out-of-pocket cost.
Free Night Certificates: Many Marriott co-branded credit cards offer annual Free Night Certificates (FNCs). These certificates are valid for a one-night stay at participating hotels up to a certain point value (e.g., 35,000, 50,000, or 85,000 points).
How to use FNCs: When booking, your FNC will typically appear as an option if the hotel's point cost is at or below your certificate's value. You can sometimes "top off" an FNC with additional points (e.g., use a 35,000-point FNC for a 45,000-point night by adding 10,000 points).
Sub-heading: Other Redemption Options (Use with Caution!)
While hotel stays generally offer the best value, you have other redemption choices:
Marriott Bonvoy Moments: Bid on or redeem points for unique experiences, such as culinary events, concerts, or sporting events. These can offer exceptional value if the experience aligns with your interests.
Transfer to Airline Partners: You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to over 35 airline loyalty programs, typically at a 3:1 ratio (3 Marriott points = 1 airline mile). You also receive a 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points you transfer, boosting the effective ratio to 12:5. While this offers flexibility, the value per point is often lower than for hotel stays.
Flights, Car Rentals, and Cruises: You can use points to book flights, car rentals, or cruises through Marriott's travel redemption page. Generally, this provides poor value compared to hotel redemptions.
Merchandise and Gift Cards: You can redeem points for merchandise or gift cards through the Marriott Shopping portal. This is almost always the worst value for your points and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
Step 4: Understanding Points Expiration and Account Activity
Don't let your hard-earned points vanish!
The 24-Month Rule: Marriott Bonvoy points expire if your account goes 24 consecutive months without any qualifying activity.
What Counts as Qualifying Activity?
Earning points from a hotel stay.
Redeeming points for a hotel stay or other eligible redemption.
Earning points through a Marriott co-branded credit card.
Earning points through partner programs (e.g., Eat Around Town, Uber).
Purchasing points.
Transferring points from an airline partner.
Hosting an event at a Marriott property.
What DOESN'T Count?
Receiving points as a gift or transfer from another member.
Transferring points to another Marriott Bonvoy member.
Earning points through social media promotions.
Registering for a promotion (without actually completing the activity).
Tracking Your Points: You can easily check your points balance and activity history by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account online or through the app. Make it a habit to check periodically!
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Marriott Bonvoy points:
How to find the value of Marriott Bonvoy points?
The value of Marriott Bonvoy points is subjective, but generally, they are valued by experts at around 0.7 to 0.9 cents per point when redeemed for hotel stays. You can calculate the value for a specific redemption by dividing the cash price of a stay (including taxes and fees) by the number of points required.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points quickly?
The fastest ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points are through Marriott co-branded credit card sign-up bonuses, spending on those credit cards for everyday purchases, and frequent stays at Marriott properties, especially as an elite member.
How to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for the best value?
The best value for Marriott Bonvoy points typically comes from redeeming them for free night stays, especially when utilizing the "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" benefit. High-end properties during off-peak seasons can also offer excellent redemption value.
How to achieve Marriott Bonvoy elite status faster?
You can achieve elite status faster by staying more nights at Marriott properties, getting a Marriott co-branded credit card that grants automatic status (e.g., Silver, Gold), or by holding certain premium credit cards (like The Platinum Card from American Express, which offers automatic Gold Elite status).
How to prevent Marriott Bonvoy points from expiring?
To prevent your Marriott Bonvoy points from expiring, ensure you have any qualifying earning or redemption activity in your account at least once every 24 months. This could be a paid stay, an award stay, a credit card purchase, or even buying a small number of points.
How to combine Marriott Bonvoy points with another member?
You can transfer points to another Marriott Bonvoy member. You can transfer up to 100,000 points and receive up to 500,000 points per calendar year from other members. Both accounts must be in good standing, and you'll need to contact Member Support to facilitate the transfer. Note: Transferring points does NOT reset the 24-month expiration clock for either account.
How to use Free Night Certificates with Marriott Bonvoy points?
When booking a stay online or through the app, if you have an eligible Free Night Certificate, it will typically appear as an option to apply towards a night that falls within its point value. You can also "top off" a certificate with up to 15,000 additional points to book a higher-value room.
How to get complimentary breakfast with Marriott Bonvoy?
Complimentary breakfast is a benefit for Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite members at most participating Marriott brands that offer a lounge or a breakfast benefit as a welcome amenity. At hotels without a lounge, eligible elite members can often choose breakfast as their welcome amenity.
How to get a room upgrade with Marriott Bonvoy points?
Room upgrades are an elite benefit, starting from Gold Elite status and becoming more significant at Platinum Elite and higher. Upgrades are subject to availability upon arrival and may include enhanced rooms, preferred views, or even suites (for Platinum Elite and above). You cannot typically use points to guarantee an upgrade in advance, but Nightly Upgrade Awards (an Annual Choice Benefit for Platinum Elite) can be used to confirm a suite upgrade up to five days prior to arrival.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and navigate to the "Transfer Points to Miles" section. Select your desired airline partner and enter the number of points you wish to transfer. Most transfers are at a 3:1 ratio (3 Marriott points = 1 airline mile), with a bonus of 5,000 miles for every 60,000 points transferred.
