Taking a Closer Look at the Marriott Bonvoy Program

How to Earn Points in the Marriott Bonvoy Program: 

Hotel Stays: 

You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points by staying at participating Marriott properties worldwide. However, you will have to stay many nights paying cash to have enough points to earn free nights. The number of points earned is usually based on the amount spent on the hotel, your membership tier, and the credit card used for the stay. Charging Marriott hotel stays to Marriot co-branded cards earns you bonus points, which vary based on the card used.

Co-branded Credit Cards: 

The Marriott Bonvoy Program has partnerships with credit card issuers like American Express (Brilliant and Bevy) and Chase. Members can earn points by using these travel reward credit cards for various purchases, including everyday spending. Marriott Bonvoy credit cards also come with elite benefits for Marriott Bonvoy Members such as elite status levels, certificates for free award nights, room upgrades, and the ability to earn Marriott points on everyday spending. You can then use points earned in your Marriott Bonvoy account for free hotel stays. 

Sign Up Bonuses: 

A major strategy for travel hacking is to earn points by from the sign-up bonuses awarded on cobranded credit cards. Chase and American Express both offer Marriott Co-Branded cards. These sign-up bonuses vary by card, but all come with large chunks of points you can use at Marriott Hotels for free nights. 

Marriott Bonvoy Membership Tiers: 

Marriott Bonvoy has multiple membership levels, each offering escalating benefits. Some credit cards offer Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status, allowing you to reap the benefits of elite members without having to stay many nights a year. The tiers include:

Silver Elite

Gold Elite

Platinum Elite

Titanium Elite

Ambassador Elite

Note:

- All late checkout times are subject to availability

-Enhanced room upgrade subject to availability Annual Choice Benefit options upon achieving 50 Elite Night Credits: five Nightly Upgrade Awards, $1,000 off a bed, give the gift of Silver Elite status to a family member or friend, $100 charity donation, or five Elite Night Credits.

-Lounge access: At hotel brands that have lounges, you’ll have full access and complimentary breakfast. 

Free Night Certificates:

With a Marriott credit card, you can earn free night certificates.

• American Express Brilliant Card: Grants a free night certificate worth 85,000 points.

• American Express Bevy Card: Offers a free night certificate worth 50,000 points after spending 15,000 points on the card in a calendar year.

• Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card: Provides a free night award of up to 35,000 points.

These free night certificates can be used for hotel stays within the specified point range at Marriott properties.  In addition, you can add up to 15,000 points to the certificate. For example, if. you have a 35,000 free night award, you can add up to 15,000 of your Marriott reward points to book a room up to 50,000 points for that night. The 15,000 additional points can be added to any level Marriott free night certificate. 

Points Redemption:

5th Night Free When Booking on Points: 

When booking a stay of five consecutive nights or more using points, the 5th night is free. This provides added value to members who plan longer stays. If you are staying more days, consider using free night certificates or booking the remaining nights in cash. This will have to be done in 2 separate reservations.

No Resort Fees: 

When booking a reservation using Marriott rewards points, members are often exempt from paying resort fees, if applicable.

We stayed at the Residence Inn at Anaheim Resort during our visit to Disneyland in November 2022. They had free breakfast (including Mickey waffles), 1 bedroom suite with a full kitchen, and a nice pool with a splash pad. It was within walking distance of Disneyland, and a fun stay overall. For more info on our free stay using points visit our post Our Travel Hacked Trip to LA, San Diego, Universal Studios, and Disneyland. We are also going to Disney World this year and will be staying at a Marriott Imperial Palms Villa hotel for free using travel reward points. Not only does the Imperial Palms Villa not have a resort fee, when booking using Marriott reward points, but they also do not charge for parking. No parking fee is a rarity in Orlando.  Our budget trip to Disney World will cost only $1,414 including a 7-day park hopper plus tickets for 3 people, airfare, and hotel. Earning Marriott points opens a world of opportunity for your next getaway to be free.  Where will your next dream vacation be?

Other Marriott Options 

We have also stayed at several Marriott locations for staycations, mini trips, etc. Our most recent staycation was at the Residence Inn Long Island Garden City, which provided a great weekend retreat. Even though Residence Inn is a mid-level Marriott chain, I tend to like them for several reasons: many allow dogs (we always like to bring our 2 dogs with us when possible), they have a kitchen, they often have a separate bedroom which allows people to go to bed earlier or sleep in, and they offer free breakfast, often have a decent pool and a gym. As I am writing this, I currently am in the Residence Inn Hazleton with my two dogs. I used points for my stay, enjoyed the free breakfast, and only had to pay a $50 pet fee for the 5-night stay. The pet fee is much cheaper than sending out dogs to doggie daycare and we get to enjoy having them with us. Be sure to check each hotel's pet policy before booking. Some have a weight or pet limit. 

To learn more about our travel reward credit card strategies check out: 

1. Travel Hacking 101: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Getting Started

2. Starting with the Lowest Level Reward Card is Best

3. Using a Partner (Person 2) for Your Credit Card Travel Hacking Strategy

4. Earning Reward Strategically-Use Credit Card Points for Your Next Vacation

5. Travel Hacking- How I Started Part 1 

6. How I Started Part 2 

7. Choosing Your First Travel Reward Credit Card and Begin Travel Hacking 

8. A Guide to Planning Your Disney World Using Reward Points

9. Maximizing your Hilton free night certificates: Tips and Tricks to Get the Most Out of Your Rewards

10. You Reached Your First Travel Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus: Now What?

11. Overview of the Hilton Honors Program

12. Traveling Hacking on a Budget: Our Tips for Saving Money on a Disneyland Vacation

13. Traveling with Kids: How to Pack for a Trip Efficiently

14. Are High-Fee Travel Reward Credit Cards Worth the Price?

15. American Express Hilton Honors Credit Card: Elevating Your Travel Experience