Guide: How to Use the Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Award Certificate

The Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Award is a benefit offered to American Express Marriott Bonvoy cardholders. Worth 35,000 points, this certificate entitles you to a free night’s stay at participating hotels.

Two American Express cards give you access to this valuable advantage in Canada:

• The Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card ($120 per year)
• The Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card ($150 per year)

This annual benefit more than offsets the cost of the card, especially if you use it in hotels where nights can cost upwards of $300.

This annual Free Night Award is worth 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Since May 2022, you can add up to 15,000 points to your account, enabling you to book nights worth up to 50,000 points.

Here is an example of its use at the Sheraton Tribeca New York Hotel, where we stayed in 2019. The cost per night at this hotel was USD 314, which is three times the annual fee of the card!

You’ll need to wait between 8 and 10 weeks after the annual renewal to obtain the one-night free certificate worth 35,000 points directly into your Marriott Bonvoy account.

This certificate can be found in the Activity section of your Marriott Bonvoy account.

The 35,000-point free night award certificate is valid for 12 months. In addition, the stay must take place before the expiry date of the certificate.

During the pandemic, it was possible to extend the period of validity of the certificate. Marriott Bonvoy now refuses to do so.

Reservations with your free night certificate can be made directly on the Marriott Bonvoy website. When searching, select the desired hotel and check that the rate does not exceed 35,000 points (or 50,000 points if you intend to add points).

For example, at the Residence Inn New York Downtown Manhattan/World Trade Center Area, a night’s stay worth USD 319 + tax is available for 35,000 points.

At the time of payment, Marriott Bonvoy will ask you to use the certificate.

If you stay between two and four nights in the same hotel, you can combine the certificate with points to pay for the remaining nights.

Here is an example of a two-night stay in the same hotel:

• The certificate will be used for the most expensive night
• 34,000 points will be deducted for the other night

However, if you’re staying 5 nights or more, read on!

If you stay 5 nights or more in the same hotel, be careful!

If you use a free night certificate worth 35,000 points, you won’t be able to benefit from the Stay 5 nights for the price of 4.

Here is an example of a 5-night stay in the same hotel:

• The Annual Free Night Award will be used for the first night
• Points will be deducted for each of the other nights.
• No “Stay for 5, pay for 4” perk here.

Whereas if you choose to use your points without using the certificate, you can benefit from the Stay 5 nights for the price of 4.

Here is an example of a 5-night stay at the same hotel:

• Points will be redeemed for each night
• One night will be free (the cheapest in points)

Before canceling a reservation made with a certificate, check the hotel’s cancellation policy carefully. Cancellation policies vary according to the hotel, the period of stay and the type of rate. Some hotels require cancellation 24 hours before arrival, others up to 7 days in advance.

If you respect the hotel’s free cancellation period, your Free Night Award Certificate will be automatically returned to your Marriott Bonvoy account a few minutes after cancellation. The original expiration date of your certificate remains unchanged.

If you have any problems with the automatic return of your certificate, please contact Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service. Agents can quickly reactivate your account.