To the point
Earn, redeem, compare, and book smart to maximize rewards and enjoy free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points.
Free stays are great! In this article, we will walk you through the steps to earning free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points. It’s essential to know how to maximize your rewards, from earning points with credit cards to taking advantage of promotions and comparing redemption options whether you are looking at a luxury holiday or simple, to save on your accommodation costs.
Free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points - Step one : Earning points
The first step to getting free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points is to sign up for an account and earn enough for the redemption you aim for.
In Canada, there are many ways to accumulate them, as Marriott Bonvoy collaborates with American Express to issue two Marriott Bonvoy credit cards (one for individuals and one for small business owners).
You can earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points by applying for the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card.
You could also earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points if you sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card.
With both credit cards, that is 160,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
You can obtain between 160,000 and 320,000 Marriott Bonvoy points as a couple or with a travel companion!
You can also transfer points from one of these seven American Express Membership Rewards Cards to Marriott Bonvoy.
The transfer ratio is 1:1.2 (or 5:6). This means that moving 10,000 Membership Rewards points will result in 12,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
You can transfer up to 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points from one Marriott Bonvoy account to another for free each year. It is a simple way to book hotels nights from a single account to:
- Points earned on a spouse’s or a travel companion’s Marriott Bonvoy credit cards can be combined.
- Take advantage of your Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.
- Earn elite nights to renew your status.
- Use the “Stay 5 nights, pay for 4” tip to book hotel nights with points.
When redeeming your Marriott Bonvoy points, you can take advantage of the “Stay for 5, Pay for 4” promotion.
With this benefit, you save approximately 20% off your booking price, allowing you to use fewer points for a longer stay!
Free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points - Step Two : How to search?
Once you’ve accumulated enough for your free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points redemption, you must log into your account and search for hotel availability for your destination.
Remember to check the “Use points/certificate” box to see the award space.
You can filter and sort them according to your preferences on the result page. You can also quickly note the total cost in points for the stay versus in cash; use special rates and codes to be able to compare with the lowest available rate!
Therefore, you can also evaluate if it’s more advantageous to pay in cash or get free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points.
Free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points - Step Three: How to choose?
Once you’ve selected the establishment you wish to stay at, click on ‘’view rates” to see the different rooms and prices available at the property.
Then, you can choose the room you want. Notice that there are two types of redemption available:
- Cash & Points Redemption
- Points Redemption
To benefit from the fifth night free, you must select to pay exclusively with points. Also, you can calculate the value of the points difference to know which is the better option.
In the previous example, by saving 14,750 fewer points, you have to cover the difference with ≈ $212; according to our valuation, 14,750 Marriott Bonvoy points are worth $132.75 (0.9¢/point). Consequently, it makes more sense to pay entirely in points to get the cheapest rate.
Free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points - Step Four: Double-checking
The final step in booking free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points is to double-check important reservation details like the number of rooms you selected and the dates of your stay.
Then, you can ensure the summary of charges is right; the lowest night rate will be crossed out when you book five award nights.
Even if you redeem points for your stay, you will have to enter your billing address and a credit card to guarantee your booking. The card on file can also be used for hotel charges such as breakfast costs if you opt for it and don’t have a Marriott Bonvoy status; by employing your Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card or Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card, you can earn 5X on all charges in their properties.
Finally, take note of the hotel cancellation policy before confirming your free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points.
Free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points - Sweet Spots
Some destinations are known to be sweet spots for free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points. Indeed, the following articles concern countries where your points can go really far!
Bottom Line
To book free nights with Marriott Bonvoy points, earning points through credit cards or transfers and taking advantage of the “Stay 5, Pay for 4” perk is the best way to get the most out of your points.
You can effectively leverage your points and enjoy complimentary stays at Marriott Bonvoy properties by following the steps detailed in this article.
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
