How Many Marriott Points for a Free Night? Find Out Here!

With over 8,500 hotels and resorts worldwide, Marriott Bonvoy® is the most extensive hotel loyalty program. It’s a go-to for travelers who enjoy checking points through their Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. The appeal? Free night awards start at 5,000 points, allowing travelers to maximize rewards.

However, not all Marriott stays come cheap. For high-end properties, you’ll need up to 100,000 points per night. This makes it challenging for many to accumulate enough points for a luxury getaway. Additionally, achieving top-tier Marriott status demands considerable travel, which is only feasible for some.

We’ll explore how many Marriott points you need for a free night at various property levels, helping you decide whether to use your points for a stay or consider other options.

How Many Marriott Points for a Free Night?

Earning a free night at a Marriott property can range from 5,000 to over 100,000 points. The exact number of Marriott points for a free night depends on factors like the hotel brand, location, room size, and even the time of year. This variability means planning your stay can be tricky, as the points required may shift unexpectedly.

Imagine spending months accumulating points only to find that the redemption rate has changed when you’re ready to book. This unpredictability can make it difficult to plan your hotel stay confidently, leaving you uncertain about many points and the confidence you genuinely need.

How to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points

You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points in several ways, regardless of whether you frequently stay at Marriott properties. Here’s a breakdown of how you can maximize your points:

Marriott Credit Cards

One of the most efficient ways to accumulate Marriott Bonvoy points is through Marriott’s co-branded credit cards. These cards, offered by both Chase and American Express, provide bonus points on everyday purchases and generous welcome bonuses that can quickly increase your point balance.

For example, depending on your chosen card, you could earn enough points for up to three free nights or more from the welcome offer alone.

Transfer Points from Chase Ultimate Rewards

Travel credit cards from Chase, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, allow you to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points directly to your Marriott Bonvoy account at a 1:1 ratio.

This transfer option is an excellent way to quickly increase your Marriott points, especially if you already hold a significant balance in your Chase account.

Earning Points Through Stays

Staying at Marriott properties is an easy way to earn points, with most hotels offering 10 points per $1 spent. Participating hotels include renowned brands like The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and JW Marriott. However, certain brands, such as Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites, earn 5 points per dollar spent.

Marriott also rewards elite members with bonus points depending on their status level. For instance, Platinum Elite members earn a 50% bonus on points for paid stays, while Titanium and Ambassador Elite members receive a 75% bonus.

Earn Points with Hertz Car Rentals

If you rent cars regularly, use your Marriott Bonvoy membership. Renting a car with Hertz can earn you 500 Marriott points per rental, provided you share your Bonvoy number at the rental counter. It’s a simple way to rack up extra points on the road.

Book Events and Meetings for Extra Points

Booking through Marriott can be rewarding for those who plan events or meetings. Members of Marriott Bonvoy™ have the opportunity to accumulate up to 60,000 points, receiving 2 points for every $1 spent, by organizing eligible events at designated properties. This is a great way to earn substantial points, especially for large-scale events.

Marriott Promotions

Marriott frequently offers promotions to help members earn bonus points. These promotions include earning extra points for stays or exploring different participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

Recently, a promotional offer was available where members could gain 1,500 bonus points for each stay and an extra bonus of 3,000 points for booking accommodations across three distinct Marriott brand hotels.

Dining with Marriott Eat Around Town

Marriott’s Eat Around Town program provides another opportunity to earn points. By linking your credit or debit card to the program, you can earn up to 4 points per $1 spent at all participating hotels and restaurants.

If you have elite status, that earning rate can increase to 6 points per $1. New members can earn up to 6,000 bonus points within the first 60 days of joining.

Buying Marriott Points

Lastly, purchasing Marriott points might be an option if you’re just a few points short of redemption. While buying points can be pricey, Marriott occasionally offers promotional deals, such as a 40% bonus on purchased points, which can provide better value.

Transferring American Express Points

You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to your Marriott Bonvoy account at a 1:1 ratio.

This option is available with various American Express cards, including premium cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card, as well as other options like the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express and The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express.

Combine Points with Other Marriott Members

Pooling points with other Marriott Bonvoy members is another strategy for boosting your points. Marriott allows you to transfer up to 100,000 points to another member per calendar year, and a member can receive up to 500,000 points annually. This feature is perfect for couples or families looking to save for a special stay.

Earn Points with Marriott’s Cruise Program

The Marriott Cruise with Points program allows you to earn points while booking cruises. You can earn up to 30,000 Marriott points for each cruise booked through their portal, making it a lucrative option for travelers who enjoy cruising. Special offers may also apply, adding even more value.

Refer Friends and Earn Bonus Points

Marriott Bonvoy offers a refer-a-friend program where you can earn 2,000 points for each stay your referrals complete, with a maximum of five stays per referral (up to 50,000 points).

Moreover, referring friends to a Marriott Bonvoy credit card with Chase can net you 40,000 points per referral, with a yearly cap of 200,000 points. This program benefits both you and your friends, as they too earn bonus points.

Maximizing Marriott Bonvoy Points for Free Stays

Redeem Points for Free Nights

Once you have accumulated enough Marriott Bonvoy points, you can redeem them for free nights at various Marriott properties. To find available stays, enter your travel details on the Marriott website or app and select “Use Points/Awards” to see the required points. The points needed for a free night vary significantly depending on the destination, time of year, and room type.

For example, you might find a stay at a Fairfield Inn & Suites in Atlanta for 16,000 points per night in November 2023, while a night at The Ritz-Carlton New York NoMad on the same date could cost you 126,000 points. By choosing off-peak times or less popular locations, you can stretch your points further and get more value from your redemptions.

If you’re planning an extended stay, be sure to take advantage of Marriott’s fifth-night free offer. When you redeem points for four consecutive nights, Marriott will grant you a free night award for the fifth night at no additional cost.

This benefit is precious for those planning stays multiples of four nights, as it allows you to earn extra nights without spending more points.

For instance, an eight-night stay would get you two free nights, while a twelve-night stay would earn you three award nights. This strategy helps maximize your Marriott Bonvoy points, making travel even more rewarding.

Using Free Night Certificates Wisely

Marriott Bonvoy offers free night certificates for various promotions and credit card benefits. These award night certificates are usually valid for stays up to a certain number of points, such as 85,000 points.

For instance, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Cardholders receive one free night award each year, redeemable for stays valued at up to 85,000 points.

To make the most of these certificates, it’s wise to use them for properties close to the maximum value the certificate allows. Avoid using a high-value certificate for a lower-tier hotel that requires fewer points, as this would waste the potential value.

Additionally, Marriott will enable you to top off these certificates with up to 15,000 points if the cost of your desired hotel exceeds the certificate’s value, providing more flexibility in your redemptions.

Flexible Award Pricing and Points Redemptions

Marriott’s shift to dynamic award pricing means that the points required for a stay can fluctuate based on factors like demand, time of year, and hotel location. This change replaced the previous fixed redemption chart, making predicting the points needed for future stays more problematic.

However, it also creates opportunities to save points by booking during off-peak times or choosing less popular destinations.

While this dynamic pricing model requires more flexibility in planning, it can benefit those who are open to traveling during less busy periods. By monitoring point rates and being strategic about when you book, you can still find great deals and make your points go further.

Combining Points and Free Night Certificates

In the past, Marriott members had to book nights using points and certificates separately, but this is no longer true. Marriott now allows you to combine free night certificates and points in a single booking, making it easier to cover your entire stay without juggling multiple reservations.

When reserving, Marriott will automatically apply your certificates to the highest eligible night to maximize their value. If you prefer not to use your certificates for a specific night-valued stay, you can uncheck the option and save them for later use.

Marriott Credit Cards Offering Free Night Certificates

Marriott offers several credit cards through Chase and American Express, including annual free night certificates. Depending on the card, these certificates can be used to stay up to specific points.

For instance, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card, and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card all offer varying levels of free night benefits.

The points required for a free night will depend on your specific card membership and the hotel you choose.

Alternative Ways to Redeem Marriott Bonvoy Points

1. Book Travel: Redeem your points, or use a blend of points and cash to reserve flights, car rentals, or cruise packages through the Marriott travel portal.
2. Transfer to Airlines: Convert your Bonvoy points to airline miles with 39 partnered airlines. Typically, there is a 3:1 conversion rate for every 60,000 points transferred, and you will receive an additional bonus of 5,000 miles.
3. Marriott Bonvoy Moments: Redeem your points or cash to access exclusive culinary, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle events. Some events are complimentary, while others may have a fixed price or be available through auction.
4. Gift Cards: Use your points to purchase gift cards from popular retailers. This option is not the most valuable, but it’s handy if you don’t have upcoming travel plans. Options range from $10 cards for 5,000 points to $100 for 30,000 points, including retailers like Adidas, Lowe’s, and Sephora.
5. Donate Points: You can support charities by donating your points. For example, 2,500 points can be converted into a $10 donation. Beneficiaries include the American Red Cross and UNICEF.
6. Shop Online: Use your points to shop for goods and services through the Shop With Points portal.
7. TSA PreCheck: You can redeem your points for TSA PreCheck through the Shop With Points portal or use a credit card that offers coverage for the TSA PreCheck application fee and save your points for other redemptions.

Pros and Cons of the Marriott Bonvoy Program

The Marriott Bonvoy program provides numerous benefits, especially for frequent travelers. One of its key advantages is access to an extensive network of over 8,500 hotels and resorts worldwide. This vast selection provides more opportunities for both earning and redeeming points.

Another major advantage is the perks that come with elite status. Frequent travelers can earn and maintain elite status, which is highly valued due to the added perks and recognition it provides during stays.

Earning points is also simple, with a base rate of 10X points per dollar spent on most stays, and additional rewards can be earned through Marriott’s credit cards, making it easy to accumulate points quickly.

However, the program has some drawbacks that may be challenging for specific members. Achieving top-tier elite status can be difficult, especially compared to other loyalty programs like Hilton Honors, where elite status is more straightforward.

Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy imposes resort fees on award stays at certain hotels, a practice that some other hotel brands waive, making it less appealing when using free-night points.

Finally, the program no longer uses fixed point requirements for award stays, which can make it harder to predict how many points are needed, especially during peak travel times.

The lack of dynamic pricing may require members to spend more points than anticipated during high-demand periods.

How to Save Points When Booking a Room

Embrace Flexibility

Flexibility in travel dates can significantly reduce the number of Marriott Bonvoy points required for your stay.

Hotel prices often vary based on holidays, peak seasons, local events, and conferences. Adjusting your dates could lead to substantial savings, as some nights could cost up to 45% fewer points.

Leverage the Fifth Night Free

The “Stay for 5, Pay for 4” benefit available to Marriott Bonvoy members can be a great way to stretch your points further. You only pay for four when booking an award stay of five consecutive nights.

This means you get the lowest-priced night free, which applies even if you book a more extended stay. For instance, a 10-night stay will deduct the two least expensive nights from your total points cost.

Use Cash + Points Options.

When you don’t have enough points for a total award stay or prefer to reserve some points for future use, consider the Cash + Points option. This allows you to pay for part of your stay with cash and the rest with points.

This method effectively purchases points at a lower rate, often making it a cost-effective choice compared to the total points rate.

Achieve Elite Status

Gaining elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program can enhance your point-earning potential. Members with elite status earn bonus points on their stays, with the bonus increasing by tier:

• Silver Elites receive a 10% bonus.
• Gold Elites earn a 25% bonus.
• Platinum Elites get a 50% bonus.
• Titanium Elites and Ambassador Elites benefit from a 75% bonus.

Focusing your travel with Marriott can help you quickly accumulate points and achieve higher status.

Take Advantage of Promotional Points Purchase

Occasionally, Marriott offers promotions for purchasing points, which may include bonus points. For example, buying 10,000 or more points might come with up to a 35% bonus. However, it’s essential to compare the cost of purchasing points with their redemption value.

Currently, a promotion might cost around $1,250 for 135,000 points, which translates to about 0.92 cents per point—higher than the average value of 0.8 cents. This method is generally best for topping off your account rather than making large-point purchases.

What is Marriott Elite Status?

Marriott Elite Status offers travelers a range of benefits to enhance their hotel stays. Elite status can lead to room upgrades, bonus points, late checkout, and personalized welcome gifts.

Typically, this status is earned by staying a certain number of nights at Marriott hotels within a calendar year.

Additionally, some Marriott credit cards grant automatic elite status to their holders, providing these benefits without the need for extensive travel.

Marriott Elite Status Levels

• Member Status: This entry-level status does not require any specific criteria to achieve. All Marriott Bonvoy members start here.
• Silver Elite: To attain Silver Elite status, one must complete a minimum of ten overnight stays at any Marriott property over a calendar year. Benefits include priority late checkout and a 10% points bonus.
• Gold Elite: Achieving Gold Elite status requires staying 25 nights per year. This level offers a 25% points bonus, room upgrades, and enhanced check-in services…
• Platinum Elite: Platinum Elite members must stay 50 nights annually. This tier provides a 50% points bonus, guaranteed room availability, and additional benefits like lounge access where available.
• Titanium Elite: To reach Titanium Elite status, you must stay 75 nights yearly. This level offers a 75% points bonus, suite upgrades, and flexible check-in and checkout options.
• Ambassador Elite: The highest tier, Ambassador Elite, requires 100 nights plus $23,000 in qualifying spend within a year. Members enjoy all Titanium benefits, plus a personal ambassador who helps manage your stays.

How Much Are Marriott Points Worth?

The value of Marriott points can fluctuate significantly, making it challenging to pinpoint an exact worth. With the potential for devaluation over time, the best approach might be to sell your points rather than wait for uncertain future value. 

Why Consider Selling Your Points?

Selling your Marriott points can be smart, especially when considering potential devaluation. This straightforward and efficient process can provide you with quick access to funds rather than risking points depreciation.

How to Sell Your Marriott Points with Top Dollar Payouts

1. Submit Your Information: Begin by completing the form on the Top Dollar Payouts website. Include the number of points you wish to sell, along with your name, email address, award program, and contact number.

2. Receive an Initial Response: After submitting your information, expect a rapid response from us—typically within 15 minutes. This initial email will include a preliminary quote and an easy-to-follow link for the next steps

3. Discuss Your Quote: A representative from Top Dollar Payouts will reach out to discuss your preliminary quote. We focus on transparent communication to ensure you get the most value for your points. We’ll keep the dialogue clear and consistent with follow-up emails.

4. Submit Account Details: You’ll be directed to a secure link to submit your account details. This step is essential for us to verify and authenticate your account, ensuring the transaction is safe and smooth.

5. Account Review: Our team will thoroughly review your account to detect any irregularities or potential fraud. This review is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the transaction.

6. Receive Payment: We move to the payment phase once your account is verified. If you choose PayPal, the funds may appear in your account within a day, though PayPal might place a temporary hold. Alternatively, if you prefer a direct bank wire transfer, we’ll arrange this after confirming a flight booking to ensure a secure transaction.

Final Words

Making the most of your Marriott points can be tricky, but don’t worry! By being flexible, using Cash + Points, and taking advantage of your elite status, you can get the best value out of your points.

But if you want a quick, easy solution, you might consider selling your points through Top Dollar Payouts. This way, you can quickly turn your points into cash and steer clear of any potential devaluation.

FAQs

How much are 50,000 Marriott points worth?

The value of 50,000 Marriott points varies based on how you redeem them. Factors like point devaluation, fluctuating redemption rates, and expiration affect their worth. Selling these points for cash often provides more consistent value.

How many points is the Marriott free night certificate worth?

The Marriott free night certificate typically covers stays up to 35,000 points, but its value depends on the property’s category and timing. With changing point requirements, selling points might be a better option for consistent returns.

How much are 25,000 Bonvoy points worth?

The worth of 25,000 Bonvoy points varies, influenced by the redemption method and potential devaluation. Instead of risking lower value, selling your points could be the better choice to lock in a higher cash return.