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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.
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:
Milesopedia tip: You can book 5 nights at the price of 4 with your points, then make a separate booking for a sixth night paid for with a free night certificate, points or cash. The constraints of the Marriott Bonvoy system don’t allow you to combine everything in one transaction, so make separate reservations instead.
When you check in at the hotel, tell the agent at reception to group your reservations together so that you can stay in the same room for the duration of your stay.
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.
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!
Let’s take a look at what you can get when you combine:
We can target 5 nights at a hotel costing 12,500 points and up to 10 nights at a hotel priced at 5,000 points with the base welcome bonus of the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card and more when higher offers are available, as is the case until April 7, 2026.
Marriott hotels are an ideal choice for both budget and luxury travellers. Indeed, with thousands of establishments worldwide, you can use as little as 5,000 points per night in places like Bali or South Africa, or treat yourself to a sumptuous night in the famous Emirates Suite at Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, in Dubai.
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.
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!
By simply each getting the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card, spouses can therefore earn 220,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (110,000 points per card x 2 people).
And if you would like to boost your Marriott Bonvoy points balance, the small business version (also available to individuals), the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card, also offers 110,000 points (or 220,000 for 2 people)!
In a couple where each spouse were to get both versions of the Marriott Bonvoy cards, that is 440,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, with a value that can exceed $5,278 in the first year. Enough to secure a series of free hotel nights.
What’s more, each year you’ll get four free night certificates.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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