How to Earn Bonvoy Points
As the largest hotel chain in the world, Marriott makes it easy to earn points. With a huge variety of co-branded credit cards and two major bank transfer partners, you have plenty of ways to build your Bonvoy balance.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Credit Card Transfers | Transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards. |
| Marriott Co-branded Cards | Marriott has a large portfolio of co-branded cards from both Chase and American Express for personal and business use. |
| Hotel Stays | Earn 10 points per dollar on most stays, with bonuses for elite members. |
| Partners | Earn with partners like Hertz, cruises, and through the Eat Around Town dining program. |
How to Use Your Points
Marriott Bonvoy uses a dynamic pricing model, which means the number of points you'll need for a free night can change. However, hotels generally stay within a certain pricing range, so you can still plan ahead.
- Free Night Awards: Redeem your points for free nights at any of Marriott's 30+ brands, from Courtyard to St. Regis.
- Points Advance: This is a great feature. You can book an award stay even if you don't have enough points yet. You just need to earn the required points before your stay.
- Cash + Points: If you're short on points, you can use a combination of cash and points to book your room.
- Use Your Free Night Certificates: Many of the co-branded credit cards come with an annual free night certificate, which is valid at hotels up to a certain point value (like 35,000 or 50,000 points).
Pro Tip: Top Off Your Certificates!
The Best Deals (Sweet Spots)
Here's how to maximize your redemptions with the Bonvoy program:
This is a fantastic perk available to all Bonvoy members. When you book a five-night award stay, you'll only pay the points price for four nights.
Use your points for incredible stays at high-end brands like St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton, and JW Marriott, especially during off-peak times when the point cost is lower.
Keep an eye out for PointSavers rates, which offer discounts of up to 20% off the standard number of points required at select hotels.
You can transfer Bonvoy points to over 40 different airlines. While the 3:1 ratio isn't always the best, you get a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer, making it a great way to top up a hard-to-earn airline mileage account.