Marriott Bonvoy credit cards come with an Annual Free Night Award that you receive on your account anniversary, every year, valid for a one night stay at select Marriott Bonvoy properties:

This is a significant benefit, putting the cost of their annual membership fee ($120 for the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card and $150 for the Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card) back into perspective when renewing.

This Annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. If you redeem it correctly, you could get more than $300 worth of it, especially when you stay in the heart of major American or European cities.

Here is for example with the Sheraton Tribeca New York Hotel, where we stayed recently. The cost per night at this hotel was US$314!

As of May 2022, it is possible to top up a Free Night Award using up to 15,000 points you would have in your Marriott Bonvoy account. You will be able to get a hotel night worth up to 50,000 points.

You will have to wait between 8 and 10 weeks AFTER renewing your credit card to get the Free Night certificate directly into your Marriott Bonvoy account.

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

The Annual Free Night Award is valid for 12 months. This means that the stay must take place BEFORE the expiration date of the Free Night Award.

Previously, it was possible to extend the certificate’s validity period. But increasingly, Marriott Bonvoy is refusing to do so.

To use your Annual Free Night Award, find the hotel where you would like to stay.

For example, here’s a one-night stay during the holiday season at the Residence Inn New York Downtown Manhattan/World Trade Center Area (note the $500+ price per night!).

Upon confirmation of your booking, Marriott Bonvoy will suggest you redeem this Annual Free Night Award.

If you stay between 2 and 4 nights in the same hotel, it is possible to combine the certificate with points that will pay for the other nights.

Here, for example, is a 2-night stay at the same hotel:

• The Annual Free Night Award will be used for the first night
• 35,000 points will be used for the second night.

However, if you are staying 5 nights or more, read on carefully!

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

Indeed, when redeeming an Annual Free Night Award, it is impossible to benefit from the advantage of Stay 5 nights, Pay for 4!

Here, for example, is a 5-night stay at the same hotel:

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

Whereas if you choose to redeem your points WITHOUT using the certificate, you will be able to benefit from the advantage of Stay for 5, pay for 4 !

Here, for example, is a 5-night stay at the same hotel:

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

You may need to cancel a reservation linked to a Free Night Award. If so, it will return to your account within minutes.

However, if you do it directly on the Marriott Bonvoy site, it remains in limbo, due to a bug.

Tip: We recommend that you call Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service. They will make your certificate reappear in a few seconds, in your account.