Greatest methods to redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors

Are you seeking to maximize your Marriott Bonvoy factors? Other than redeeming these worthwhile lodge factors for a “free” award keep at one among its many properties world wide, in some circumstances, it could make sense to switch Marriott factors to international airline packages.

This text will discover the varied methods to make use of Marriott factors, together with lodge reservations, airline transfers, purchases by way of buying portals and different redemption choices.

Easy methods to use Marriott Bonvoy factors for lodge stays

You should use your Marriott Bonvoy factors to e book rooms at Marriott properties worldwide, however the variety of factors required can fluctuate. Marriott eliminated its Class 1-8 award chart in 2022, so it has grow to be harder to foretell the variety of factors wanted for a particular lodge keep.

Whereas Marriott’s dynamic pricing mannequin has its upsides, as some properties provide a greater worth, many resorts now require extra factors than earlier than.

For instance, you’ll be able to e book a keep at a TownePlace Suites in Columbus, Ohio, for simply $138 or 10,500 factors per night time on some dates, providing you with a price of 1.3 cents per level.

At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, you could possibly pay $4,156 or 140,000 factors per night time, providing you with a price of just about 3 cents per level.

Each choices gives you effectively over TPG’s August 2024 valuation of 0.85 cents per Marriott Bonvoy level. We often advocate redeeming factors for a low-end or luxurious lodge to get one of the best worth.

Along with customary redemptions, Marriott presents Money + Factors awards, which allow you to mix money and factors so you do not have to make use of your entire factors in your keep. The Money + Factors choice additionally lets you customise your keep by redeeming factors for one night time and paying money for the following, which is beneficial when charges fluctuate all through your keep.

Lastly, you can even use your factors along with free night time certificates provided on particular Marriott bank cards. These awards are sometimes granted as a part of a welcome provide or in your account anniversary (after paying the annual charge), they usually cowl award stays as much as a set variety of factors — sometimes starting from 35,000 to 85,000. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to mix these certificates with as much as 15,000 extra factors out of your Marriott Bonvoy account to e book higher-priced rooms.

For instance, if the lodge you wish to e book has a nightly charge of 40,000 factors and you’ve got a 35,000-point award certificates, you need to use your free night time award to partially cowl the price of one night time and pay a further 5,000 factors.

Associated: Easy methods to use a Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point certificates

Get a fifth night time free

One nice perk of the Marriott Bonvoy program is that in the event you e book 5 consecutive nights on one reservation utilizing factors, the least costly night time is free. This free night time will routinely be mirrored if you e book on-line and applies to stays throughout all of Marriott’s collaborating manufacturers.

Nonetheless, this will get difficult in the event you use the Money + Factors choice to redeem factors for some nights and pay money for others. It’s essential to e book 5 (or extra) award nights to get the fifth night time free. When you e book a seven-night keep and pay money for 2 of them, you may must redeem factors for 5 of the opposite nights, and you may see your “free” night time mirrored in your abstract of costs if you go to take a look at on-line or through the cellular app.

This additionally impacts how you employ the aforementioned certificates. Once you apply these to an extended keep, they do not rely as an eligible night time for the needs of getting a fifth night time free. It’s essential to use factors for 5 (or extra) consecutive nights for this profit to kick in.

Learn extra: Are you able to combine lodge factors and free night time certificates for a fourth or fifth night time free?

Easy methods to switch Marriott factors to airline companions

Marriott members can switch factors to 39 airline packages, together with unique partnerships not out there with different loyalty packages.

You may switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to most airline companions at a 3:1 ratio, which means 3 Marriott Bonvoy factors yield 1 airline mile. You may additionally obtain 5,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 factors transferred, which boosts your efficient switch ratio to 2.4:1. There are a couple of exceptions to this rule, although:

• Factors switch to Air New Zealand at a 200:1 ratio.
• United Airways gives 10,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 factors you switch.
• American Airways, Avianca and Delta Air Traces not provide 5,000 bonus miles.

Whereas airline transfers might not provide you with nearly as good a deal as lodge stays, they’ll come in useful if you want to high up your miles steadiness or leverage extra obscure factors and miles which are tougher to earn. You may solely switch 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors to airways every day; the minimal switch quantity is 3,000 factors. As well as, the title in your frequent flyer account sometimes must match the primary and final title in your Marriott account. Lastly, our earlier exams have proven extensive variation in how lengthy these transfers take — so contemplate inserting an award ticket maintain in the event you’re afraid that the seats will disappear earlier than the switch is processed.

Easy methods to use factors for Marriott Bonvoy Moments

Marriott Bonvoy Moments presents a variety of destination-specific actions, akin to concert events, sporting occasions and culinary experiences, in cities the place Marriott resorts are positioned. These experiences could be booked utilizing Marriott Bonvoy factors. Some actions will not be out there for money buy. To discover these choices, go to the Marriott Bonvoy Moments website and select the class you are enthusiastic about.

Understand that sure experiences have a hard and fast level value, whereas others are auction-based. Overview the phrases and situations earlier than buying, as most are nonrefundable.

Associated: Residing out my ‘Quick & Livid’ fantasy in LA with Marriott Bonvoy Moments

Easy methods to use Marriott factors for flights, automotive leases and cruises

You may also use Marriott factors to e book flights, automotive leases and cruises; nevertheless, this won’t yield one of the best return.

For instance, we priced out a one-way flight from Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) on Alaska Airways for $49.16 or 12,500 Marriott factors. That is a return of simply 0.39 cents per Marriott level — not even half our 0.85-cent valuation of Marriott factors.

Redemptions on rental automobiles present the same return, with a pattern rental automotive in Los Angeles coming in at $338.56 or 85,000 factors.

You may also use Marriott factors to e book a visit utilizing the Cruise with Factors program or for a voyage with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment. You should use 180,000 factors towards a $1,000 financial savings on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment.

After that, members can redeem factors in increments of 90,000 towards a $500 financial savings. Full factors redemption of the cruise fare could also be out there, however factors redeemed don’t cowl taxes, charges and port bills. In any case, that is solely 0.55 cents per level, removed from a great worth.

Associated: Easy methods to e book a cruise utilizing factors and miles

Easy methods to purchase merchandise with Marriott Procuring

Lastly, you need to use your Marriott Bonvoy factors for merchandise and reward playing cards.

Marriott presents a variety of merchandise on its internet retailer, from Uber reward playing cards to Bose headphones and Bluetooth audio system. Nonetheless, these redemptions should not often one of the best use of your miles.

Redemption values fluctuate from retailer to retailer; for instance, a $25 Apple reward card prices 10,000 factors. This offers you simply 0.25 cents per level in worth, effectively beneath our valuation of Marriott Bonvoy factors.

Associated: Your information to maximizing buying portals on your on-line purchases

Greatest bank cards for reserving Marriott resorts

It’s straightforward to earn sufficient Bonvoy factors on your subsequent redemption with an awesome vary of cobranded bank cards filled with options. Listed here are a few of our favorites:

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card

• New cardmember bonus: Earn three free night time awards (every night time valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
• Incomes charges: 6 factors per greenback on eligible Marriott Bonvoy purchases; 3 factors per greenback on the primary $6,000 spent in mixed purchases yearly on grocery shops, gasoline stations and eating; 2 factors per greenback on all different eligible purchases.
• Advantages: An annual free night time certificates (as much as 35,000 factors) for every cardmember anniversary; 15 elite night time credit yearly to assist earn a better tier of Bonvoy standing; one extra credit score towards elite standing for each $5,000 you spend.
• Annual charge: $95.

Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card

• New cardmember bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus factors plus one free night time award after you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. The free night time is valued at 50,000 factors. Sure resorts have resort charges.
• Incomes charges: 3 factors per greenback on eligible purchases at resorts collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program; 2 factors per greenback at grocery shops, rideshare, choose meals supply, choose streaming, web, cable and telephone providers; 1 level per greenback on different purchases.
• Advantages: Cardmembers get complimentary Silver Elite standing and in addition get 5 elite night time credit yearly.
• Annual charge: $0.

Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Specific® Card

• Welcome bonus: Earn 185,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in your card throughout the first six months of card membership.
• Incomes charges: 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at resorts collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program; 3 factors per greenback at eating places worldwide and on flights booked instantly with airways; 2 factors per greenback on different purchases.
• Advantages: Main cardholders obtain complimentary computerized Marriott Platinum Elite standing. Every year after card renewal month, cardmembers obtain a free night time award value as much as 85,000 factors (sure resorts have resort charges). Cardmembers obtain as much as $300 in assertion credit (as much as $25 every calendar month) once they use their card at eligible eating places worldwide. The cardboard comes with a Precedence Go Choose membership, which provides you and two friends limitless entry to greater than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. The Marriott Bonvoy Sensible will reimburse you if you cost the appliance charge for World Entry or TSA PreCheck to the cardboard (as much as $85 each 4 1/2 years for TSA PreCheck or $100 each 4 years for World Entry). Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
• Annual charge: $650 (see charges and charges).

Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card

• Welcome bonus: Earn three free night time awards after you employ your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Every free night time award has a redemption stage of as much as 50,000 Bonvoy factors, for a complete potential worth of as much as 150,000 factors, at resorts collaborating in Marriott Bonvoy. Resort charges might apply.
• Incomes charges: 6 factors per greenback on eligible purchases at resorts collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program; 4 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide and U.S. gasoline stations, on wi-fi phone providers bought instantly from U.S. service suppliers, and on purchases constructed from retailers within the U.S. for delivery; 2 factors per greenback on all different eligible purchases.
• Advantages: Cardmembers obtain computerized Marriott Gold Elite standing and an annual free night time award value as much as 35,000 factors (sure resorts have resort charges).
• Annual charge: $125 (see charges and charges).

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Specific® Card

• Welcome bonus: Earn 155,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases in your card throughout the first six months of card membership.
• Incomes charges: 6 factors per greenback on purchases at resorts collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program; 4 factors per greenback on the primary $15,000 per yr in mixed purchases at eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (then 2 factors per greenback); 2 factors per greenback on different eligible purchases.
• Advantages: Main cardholders take pleasure in complimentary, computerized Marriott Gold standing for so long as they’ve the cardboard (enrollment is required). Cardholders who make at the very least $15,000 in eligible purchases throughout their cardmember yr can earn a free night time award value as much as 50,000 factors (sure resorts have resort charges).
• Annual charge: $250 (see charges and charges).

Backside line

Whereas modifications just like the elimination of award charts have affected the worth of the Bonvoy program, there are nonetheless loads of nice methods to maximise your Marriott factors, whether or not you need luxurious journey or one thing extra modest.

We advocate specializing in lodge stays or transferring factors to airline companions. These choices present one of the best worth on your factors and will let you discover the world affordably.

For charges and charges of the Bonvoy Bevy Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Bonvoy Enterprise Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Bonvoy Sensible Card, click on right here.