Marriott Bonvoy: Stay 5 Nights for the Price of 4 Using Marriott Bonvoy Points
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Stay 5 Nights for the Price of 4 with Marriott Bonvoy
The free night offered by Marriott Bonvoy after 4 paid nights with points is one of the most appreciated benefits of the program. This option allows you to maximize the value of your Marriott points, especially during longer stays.
What’s more, all Marriott Bonvoy members are entitled to it, regardless of their status!
We regularly mention this advantage in our Facebook community. But there are a number of rules to follow in order to get a 5-night stay for the price of 4.
A Reservation Paid for Entirely With Points
To get a 5-night stay for the price of 4, you must have paid for your booking entirely with Marriott Bonvoy points.
This means you can’t get a 5-night stay for the price of 4 when one or more nights of this sequence are booked:
- Paid in cash
- Used with a free night’s certificate obtained, for example, with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card or the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card (at the time of annual renewal)
5 Consecutive Nights at the Same Hotel
To obtain a 5-night stay for the price of 4, you must book 5 consecutive nights at the same hotel.
This use is therefore preferable in destinations where your hotel will serve as your “base camp” for 5-6 days! For example, to a seaside resort or a metropolitan area like Tokyo to explore the region.
All Hotels Are Accessible
Unlike the previous Marriott Bonvoy program, which did not offer a 5-night stay for the price of 4 in certain hotel categories, the Marriott Bonvoy program makes this benefit available in all hotel categories.
So you can get a 5-night stay for the price of 4 at any of the 8,000+ hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy group, regardless of the sub-chain, even at a Palace!
Get a 5-night stay for the price of 4, and you’ ll save approximately 20% in points on your entire reservation!
And with Marriott Bonvoy Card Points?
Let’s take a look at what you can get when you combine:
- the welcome offer of the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card which is normally at least 50,000 points
- a 5-night stay for the price of 4
| 1 night | 5 nights | 5 nights for the price of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 | 25,000 | 20,000 |
| 7,500 | 37,500 | 30,000 |
| 10,000 | 50,000 | 40,000 |
| 10,000 | 50,000 | 40,000 |
| 12,500 | 62,500 | 50,000 |
We can aim for 5 nights in a hotel costing 12,500 points and up to 10 nights in a hotel costing 5,000 points with the basic welcome bonus of Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card and more when higher offers are available.
Here’s an example of a stay at a luxury hotel in the Maldives, Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa, where we were able to pay for 4 nights instead of 5.
And here’s another example for a 5-night stay at the very affordable price of 4, at the Fairfield by Marriott Bali Legian in Bali.
Read our article on the Milesopedia team’s best points redemptions for more examples of excellent stays achieved for few points by our team and our Facebook community.
Accumulating Marriott Bonvoy points as a couple
The Marriott Bonvoy program allows you to transfer up to 100,000 points per year from one account to another, free of charge. It’s a great way for spouses or friends to earn points toward one or more reservations!
Via American Express Marriott Bonvoy Cards
By each simply getting the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card, partners can earn a significant number of Marriott Bonvoy points.
For example, if the welcome offer is 50,000 points, a couple could earn 100,000 points (50,000 points per card × 2 people).
And if you want to boost your Marriott Bonvoy points balance, the business version (also accessible to individuals), the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card, allows you to apply the same strategy and multiply the points earned.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120 | |||
| $150 |
Via American Express Membership Rewards Cards
Marriott Bonvoy points can also be earned on American Express Membership Rewards cards.
The transfer is made at a rate of 5:6, i.e. 50,000 Membership Rewards points correspond to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. However, we recommend waiting for the transfer bonus promotion to Marriott Bonvoy to get a more advantageous rate.
The most attractive card is the American Express Cobalt® CardThe most attractive card is the Marriott Bonvoy card, which earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar at grocery/convenience stores (think gift cards) and restaurants. If your goal is to earn Marriott Bonvoy points in other ways, it’s the equivalent of 6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar.
- Annual fee
- $191.88
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $255
- Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months
- Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Bottom Line
Whether you’re an occasional traveler or an avid globetrotter, this fifth-night-free option optimizes your Marriott Bonvoy points and is a great way to take advantage of less expensive hotel stays.
By combining this strategy with other Marriott Bonvoy point accumulation methods and Marriott Bonvoy American Express credit cards, you can quickly earn enough points for free hotel nights, while maximizing the value of each point spent.
Don’t hesitate to consult our other guides on the Marriott Bonvoy program and promotions to discover even more ways to optimize your travels!
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $191.88 | |||
| $120 | |||
| $150 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Marriott Bonvoy 5th night free offer work?
When you book 5 consecutive nights at the same Marriott hotel using only your Marriott Bonvoy points, the 5th night is automatically free. This 20% savings applies to all members, regardless of their status, at all 8,000+ Marriott hotels worldwide.
Can you combine free night certificates with this promotion?
No, all 5 nights must be paid entirely with Marriott Bonvoy points to benefit from the 5th night free. However, you can make a separate reservation to add a 6th night with a certificate and request that the hotel combine your reservations at check-in.
How many Marriott Bonvoy points are needed to take advantage of this offer?
The number of points varies depending on the hotel chosen: expect a minimum of 20,000 points for 5 nights at a hotel in the 5,000 points per night category. With the 50,000-point standard welcome bonus from the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card, you can get 5 nights at a hotel costing up to 12,500 points per night.
Is the 5th night free promotion available at all Marriott hotels?
Yes, unlike the previous program, all Marriott Bonvoy hotels are eligible for this offer, including luxury properties such as Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis. The important thing is to book 5 consecutive nights at the same property with your points.
How to maximize Marriott Bonvoy points accumulation in Canada?
Canadians can maximize their Marriott Bonvoy points as a couple with the welcome offers from American Express Marriott Bonvoy cards. The Cobalt Card from American Express also allows you to transfer Membership Rewards points to Marriott at a 5:6 ratio, offering the equivalent of 6 Marriott points per dollar spent on groceries and restaurants.
Go further with Marriott Bonvoy
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.
