Are you trying to maximize your Marriott Bonvoy factors? Except for redeeming these invaluable lodge factors for a “free” award keep at one of many program’s many properties world wide, it could generally make sense to switch Marriott factors to overseas airline packages.
This text will discover the varied methods to make use of Marriott factors, together with lodge reservations, airline transfers, purchases by procuring portals and different redemption choices.
The right way to use Marriott Bonvoy factors for lodge stays
You need to use your Marriott Bonvoy factors to e-book rooms at Marriott properties worldwide, however the variety of factors required can differ. Marriott changed its Class 1-8 award chart with dynamic award pricing in 2022, so it has change into tougher to foretell the variety of factors wanted for a selected lodge keep.
Marriott’s dynamic pricing mannequin has its upsides, as some properties provide a greater worth than others, however many lodges now require extra factors than earlier than.
For instance, you may e-book a keep at a TownePlace Suites in Columbus, Ohio, for simply $136 or 12,000 factors per evening on some dates, supplying you with a worth of 1.1 cents per level. At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, some dates price $6,175 or 198,000 factors per evening, which comes out to over 3 cents per level.
Each choices will provide you with properly over TPG’s April 2025 valuation of 0.70 cents per Marriott Bonvoy level. We often advocate redeeming factors for a low-end or luxurious lodge to get the most effective worth.
Along with commonplace redemptions, Marriott presents Money + Factors awards, which allow you to mix money and factors so you do not have to make use of all your factors in your keep. The Money + Factors choice additionally means that you can customise your keep by redeeming factors for one evening and paying money for the following; that is helpful when charges differ all through your keep.
Lastly, you should use your factors together with free evening certificates provided by particular Marriott bank cards. These awards are usually granted as a part of a welcome provide or in your account anniversary (after paying the annual payment), they usually cowl award stays as much as a set variety of factors — usually starting from 35,000 to 85,000. Nonetheless, you may mix these certificates with as much as 15,000 further 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 fee of 40,000 factors and you’ve got a 35,000-point award certificates, you should use your free evening award to partially cowl the price of one evening and pay an extra 5,000 factors.
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Associated: Greatest lodges to maximise an 85,000-point Marriott award evening certificates
Get a fifth evening free
One nice perk of the Marriott Bonvoy program is that for those who e-book 5 consecutive nights on one reservation utilizing factors, the least costly evening is free. This free evening is routinely mirrored once you e-book on-line and applies to all of Marriott’s collaborating manufacturers.
Nonetheless, this will get difficult for those who use Money + Factors or free evening certificates. To get a fifth evening free, you have to e-book a minimum of 5 nights of your stick with factors. Should you redeem factors for 4 nights and use money or certificates for extra nights, you will not qualify for the fifth evening free perk.
Learn extra: Are you able to combine lodge factors and free evening certificates for a fourth or fifth evening free?
The right way to switch Marriott factors to airline companions
Marriott members can switch factors to 39 airline packages, together with unique partnerships not obtainable with different loyalty packages.
You possibly can switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to most airline companions at a 3:1 ratio, that means 3 Marriott Bonvoy factors yield 1 airline mile. You will additionally obtain 5,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 factors transferred, which boosts your efficient switch ratio to 12:5. There are just a few exceptions to this rule, although:
- Factors switch to Air New Zealand at a 200:1 ratio, with 75 bonus miles for each 60,000 you switch.
- United Airways offers 10,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 factors you switch.
- American Airways, Avianca and Delta Air Strains now not provide 5,000 bonus miles.
Whereas airline transfers might not provide you with nearly as good of a deal as lodge stays, they will turn out to be useful if it’s worthwhile to prime up your miles steadiness or leverage extra obscure factors and miles which can be tougher to earn.
You possibly can switch as much as 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors to airways day by day; the minimal switch quantity is 3,000 factors. Moreover, the title in your frequent flyer account usually must match the primary and final title in your Marriott account. Lastly, our earlier assessments have proven vast variation in how lengthy these transfers take. So, contemplate inserting an award ticket maintain for those who’re afraid the seats will disappear earlier than the switch is processed.
The right way to use factors for Marriott Bonvoy Moments
You possibly can e-book these experiences utilizing Marriott Bonvoy factors. Some actions will not be obtainable for money buy, making it onerous to pinpoint their worth. To discover these choices, go to the Marriott Bonvoy Moments website.
Remember that sure experiences have a hard and fast level price, whereas others are auction-style. Evaluate the phrases and circumstances earlier than buying, as most are nonrefundable.
Associated: Dwelling out my ‘Quick & Livid’ fantasy in LA with Marriott Bonvoy Moments
The right way to use Marriott factors for flights, automobile leases and cruises
You need to use Marriott factors to e-book flights, automobile leases and cruises and pay for TSA PreCheck by Marriott’s journey redemption web page. Nonetheless, this is not going to yield the most effective worth to your factors.
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 $80 or 22,500 Marriott factors. That is a return of simply 0.36 cents per Marriott level — roughly half our 0.70-cent estimate.
Redemptions on rental automobiles present the same return, with a pattern one-day rental in Los Angeles coming in at $93.50 or 25,000 factors.
It’s also possible to use Marriott factors to e-book a visit utilizing the Cruise with Factors program or to e-book a voyage with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment.
For many sailings, you may redeem factors towards a cruise certificates for a greenback quantity off your cruise reserving. The minimal redemption is 63,000 factors, which equates to a $250 certificates. In case your factors do not cowl all the price, you may pay out of pocket for the remainder and earn 3 Marriott factors per greenback spent. Sadly, you will solely get round 0.4 cents per level in worth this fashion.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment requires a minimum of 180,000 factors, which you’ll redeem for $1,000 off your cruise fare. This offers a barely higher worth of 0.55 cents per level, however you may nonetheless get way more out of your factors by redeeming them for lodge stays.
Associated: The right way to e-book a cruise utilizing factors and miles
The right way to purchase merchandise with Marriott Buying
Lastly, you should use your Marriott Bonvoy factors for merchandise and present playing cards — however we do not advocate it.
Marriott presents a variety of merchandise on its internet retailer, from Uber present playing cards to Bose headphones and Bluetooth audio system. Redemption values differ, however they are not often the most effective use of your miles.
As an illustration, a Stanley Journey Stacking Beer Pint cup, which retails for round $15, will set you again 12,500 Marriott Bonvoy factors. That is sufficient for a one-night keep on the TownePlace Suites in Columbus, Ohio, value $136.
Associated: The right way to use factors and miles to offer presents with zero out-of-pocket price
Greatest bank cards for reserving Marriott lodges
It is easy to earn sufficient Bonvoy factors to your subsequent redemption with an amazing vary of cobranded bank cards full of options. Listed below are a few of our favorites, together with their present welcome presents:
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card (see charges and charges): Earn three free nights (every evening valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Sure lodges have resort charges. Plus, earn 50,000 factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening.
- Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card (see charges and charges): Earn 30,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Specific® Card: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus factors after spending $6,000 in purchases inside the first six months of card membership.
- Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card: Earn three Free Night time Awards after you utilize your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases inside the first six months of Card Membership. Every Free Night time Award has a redemption degree as much as 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® factors, for a complete potential worth of as much as 150,000 factors, at lodges collaborating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Sure lodges have resort charges. Phrases apply.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Specific® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus factors after spending $5,000 in purchases inside the first six months of card membership.
Remember you may switch factors to Marriott from three bank card packages: Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Chase Final Rewards. It’s also possible to enhance your Marriott steadiness with the Eat Round City eating program.
Backside line
Whereas Marriott Bonvoy factors have been devalued lately, there are nonetheless loads of nice methods to maximise your factors, whether or not at an opulent all-inclusive resort or on a budget-friendly household journey (or each).
We advocate specializing in lodge stays or transferring factors to airline companions. These choices present the most effective worth to your factors and assist you to discover the world affordably.
