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The Marriott Bonvoy free night certificate is the best benefit offered by American Express Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. It allows cardholders to stay for free at a participating Marriott Bonvoy hotel, typically for a night worth up to 35,000 points. To take advantage of it, simply log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and apply it when booking the most expensive night of your stay. With this certificate, you can save over $300 per night at participating hotels.
In this detailed guide, find out how to obtain and maximize this certificate worth 35,000 points, which can save you over $300 for a night at participating hotels.
The Marriott Bonvoy annual one-night free certificate is a benefit offered to American Express Marriott Bonvoy cardholders. With a value of 35,000 points, this free night certificate allows you to stay one night at no cost at participating hotels in the program.
Two American Express cards give you access to this valuable advantage in Canada:
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 benefit can also allow you to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.
Note that annual one-night free certificates vary by country and credit card. In Canada, the maximum value of the certificates is 35,000 points for both Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.
Be aware that elsewhere in the world (notably in the United States), there are several types of annual one-night free certificates:
In Canada, this the annual one-night free certificate is worth 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Since March 2026, you have the option to top it up by adding up to 25,000 points from your Marriott Bonvoy account, allowing you to book nights worth up to 60,000 points.
Between May 2022 and March 2026, Marriott Bonvoy offered the possibility of topping up this certificate with up to 15,000 points from your Marriott Bonvoy account.
For example, here is a use at the Sheraton Tribeca New York Hotel, where we stayed in 2019. The cost per night at this hotel was US$314, which is three times the card’s annual fee!
Here is another example of use for a certificate worth 50,000 points, topped up with 25,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, thus allowing the booking of a room worth 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
To get the best possible value, focus on stays in major cities such as New York, London or Paris, especially in high season when rates are highest.
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.
Previously, it was possible to extend the certificate’s validity period. Now, Marriott Bonvoy refuses to do so.
Booking with your free night certificate is done directly on the Marriott Bonvoy website. During your search, select the desired hotel and check that the rate does not exceed 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (or 60,000 points if you plan to add 25,000 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.
For example, here is a two-night stay at the same hotel:
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.
For example, here is a 5-night stay at the same hotel:
Whereas if you choose to use your points without using the certificate, you can benefit from the Stay for 5 nights, pay for 4 advantage.
For example, here is a 5-night stay at this same hotel:
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.
The Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Certificate is the most attractive benefit of American Express Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. With nights that can be worth over $300, you can easily make your card’s annual fee worthwhile. You can even add up to 25,000 points to access even more luxurious hotels within the Marriott network.
And if you have both cards, you get two free nights per year!
For ideas on where to stay for free with your free night certificate, take inspiration from our guides:
To maximize your stays and points earning, check our complete Marriott Bonvoy program guide and our best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards ranking. For personal use, see the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. For business expenses, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card earns points on every business purchase. And if a points purchase promotion is running, take advantage via our Marriott Bonvoy points purchase guide.
Savings this way:
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