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Are you seeking to maximize your Marriott Bonvoy factors? Apart from redeeming these beneficial resort factors for a “free” award keep at certainly one of its many properties all over the world, in some circumstances, it could actually make sense to switch Marriott factors to overseas airline applications.
This text will discover the varied methods to make use of Marriott factors, together with resort reservations, airline transfers, purchases by way of buying portals and different redemption choices.
Find out how to use Marriott Bonvoy factors for resort 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 eliminated its Class 1-8 award chart in 2022, so it has develop into harder to foretell the variety of factors wanted for a selected resort keep.
Whereas Marriott’s dynamic pricing mannequin has its upsides, as some properties supply a greater worth, many motels now require extra factors than earlier than.
For instance, you may e book a keep at a TownePlace Suites in Columbus, Ohio, for simply $138 or 10,500 factors per evening on some dates, supplying you with a worth of 1.3 cents per level.
At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, you possibly can pay $4,156 or 140,000 factors per evening, supplying you with a worth of just about 3 cents per level.
Each choices will provide you with properly over TPG’s August 2024 valuation of 0.85 cents per Marriott Bonvoy level. We normally advocate redeeming factors for a low-end or luxurious resort to get the most effective worth.
Along with normal redemptions, Marriott gives Money + Factors awards, which allow you to mix money and factors so that you don’t have to make use of your entire factors in your keep. The Money + Factors possibility additionally permits you to customise your keep by redeeming factors for one evening and paying money for the following, which is helpful when charges differ all through your keep.
Lastly, you may also use your factors at the side of free evening certificates provided on particular Marriott bank cards. These awards are usually granted as a part of a welcome supply or in your account anniversary (after paying the annual price), and so they cowl award stays as much as a set variety of factors — usually starting from 35,000 to 85,000. Nevertheless, 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 resort you need to e book has a nightly price 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.
Associated: Find out how to use a Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point certificates
Get a fifth evening free
One nice perk of the Marriott Bonvoy program is that if you happen to e book 5 consecutive nights on one reservation utilizing factors, the least costly evening is free. This free evening will robotically be mirrored while you e book on-line and applies to stays throughout all of Marriott’s taking part manufacturers.
Nevertheless, this will get tough if you happen to use the Money + Factors choice to redeem factors for some nights and pay money for others. You should e book 5 (or extra) award nights to get the fifth evening free. In the event you e book a seven-night keep and pay money for 2 of them, you’ll must redeem factors for 5 of the opposite nights, and also you’ll see your “free” evening mirrored in your abstract of expenses while you go to take a look at on-line or by way of the cell app.
This additionally impacts how you utilize the aforementioned certificates. If you apply these to an extended keep, they don’t depend as an eligible evening for the needs of getting a fifth evening free. You should use factors for 5 (or extra) consecutive nights for this profit to kick in.
Learn extra: Are you able to combine resort factors and free evening certificates for a fourth or fifth evening free?
Find out how to switch Marriott factors to airline companions
Marriott members can switch factors to 39 airline applications, together with unique partnerships not accessible with different loyalty applications.
You’ll be able to switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to most airline companions at a 3:1 ratio, which means 3 Marriott Bonvoy factors yield 1 airline mile. You’ll 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 number of exceptions to this rule, although:
- Factors switch to Air New Zealand at a 200:1 ratio.
- United Airways supplies 10,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 factors you switch.
- American Airways, Avianca and Delta Air Traces now not supply 5,000 bonus miles.
Whereas airline transfers might not offer you nearly as good a deal as resort stays, they will turn out to be useful if you must high up your miles steadiness or leverage extra obscure factors and miles which are more durable to earn. You’ll be able to solely switch 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors to airways each day; the minimal switch quantity is 3,000 factors. As well as, the identify in your frequent flyer account usually must match the primary and final identify in your Marriott account. Lastly, our earlier assessments have proven extensive variation in how lengthy these transfers take — so contemplate putting an award ticket maintain if you happen to’re afraid that the seats will disappear earlier than the switch is processed.
Find out how to use factors for Marriott Bonvoy Moments
Marriott Bonvoy Moments gives a spread of destination-specific actions, corresponding to concert events, sporting occasions and culinary experiences, in cities the place Marriott motels are positioned. These experiences might be booked utilizing Marriott Bonvoy factors. Some actions will not be accessible for money buy. To discover these choices, go to the Marriott Bonvoy Moments website and select the class you’re occupied with.
Remember the fact that sure experiences have a set level price, whereas others are auction-based. Evaluation the phrases and circumstances earlier than buying, as most are nonrefundable.
Associated: Residing out my ‘Quick & Livid’ fantasy in LA with Marriott Bonvoy Moments
Find out how to use Marriott factors for flights, automotive leases and cruises
It’s also possible to use Marriott factors to e book flights, automotive leases and cruises; nevertheless, this won’t yield the most effective 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’s 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 an identical return, with a pattern rental automotive in Los Angeles coming in at $338.56 or 85,000 factors.
It’s also possible to 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 need to 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 accessible, 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: Find out how to e book a cruise utilizing factors and miles
Find out how to purchase merchandise with Marriott Buying
Lastly, you should use your Marriott Bonvoy factors for merchandise and present playing cards.
Marriott gives a variety of merchandise on its internet retailer, from Uber present playing cards to Bose headphones and Bluetooth audio system. Nevertheless, these redemptions usually are not normally the most effective use of your miles.
Redemption values differ from retailer to retailer; for instance, a $25 Apple present card prices 10,000 factors. This offers you simply 0.25 cents per level in worth, properly under our valuation of Marriott Bonvoy factors.
Associated: Your information to maximizing buying portals to your on-line purchases
Greatest bank cards for reserving Marriott motels
It’s simple to earn sufficient Bonvoy factors to your subsequent redemption with a fantastic vary of cobranded bank cards full of options. Listed below are a few of our favorites:
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card
- New cardmember bonus: Earn three free evening awards (every evening 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, fuel stations and eating; 2 factors per greenback on all different eligible purchases.
- Advantages: An annual free evening certificates (as much as 35,000 factors) for every cardmember anniversary; 15 elite evening credit yearly to assist earn the next tier of Bonvoy standing; one further credit score towards elite standing for each $5,000 you spend.
- Annual price: $95.
Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card
- New cardmember bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus factors plus one free evening award after you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. The free evening is valued at 50,000 factors. Sure motels have resort charges.
- Incomes charges: 3 factors per greenback on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program; 2 factors per greenback at grocery shops, rideshare, choose meals supply, choose streaming, web, cable and cellphone companies; 1 level per greenback on different purchases.
- Advantages: Cardmembers get complimentary Silver Elite standing and likewise get 5 elite evening credit yearly.
- Annual price: $0.
Marriott Bonvoy Good® 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 motels taking part 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: Major cardholders obtain complimentary computerized Marriott Platinum Elite standing. Annually after card renewal month, cardmembers obtain a free evening award value as much as 85,000 factors (sure motels 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 Move Choose membership, which supplies you and two friends limitless entry to greater than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. The Marriott Bonvoy Good will reimburse you while you cost the appliance price for International 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 International Entry). Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
- Annual price: $650 (see charges and costs).
Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card
- Welcome bonus: Earn three free evening awards after you utilize your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Every free evening 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 motels taking part in Marriott Bonvoy. Resort charges might apply.
- Incomes charges: 6 factors per greenback on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program; 4 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide and U.S. fuel stations, on wi-fi phone companies bought instantly from U.S. service suppliers, and on purchases comprised of 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 evening award value as much as 35,000 factors (sure motels have resort charges).
- Annual price: $125 (see charges and costs).
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 motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program; 4 factors per greenback on the primary $15,000 per 12 months 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: Major 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 12 months can earn a free evening award value as much as 50,000 factors (sure motels have resort charges).
- Annual price: $250 (see charges and costs).
Backside line
Whereas modifications just like the removing 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 resort stays or transferring factors to airline companions. These choices present the most effective worth to your factors and can help you discover the world affordably.
For charges and costs of the Bonvoy Bevy Card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Bonvoy Enterprise Card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Bonvoy Good Card, click on right here.