Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
With the travel industry recovery in full swing, you may be considering a trip, though you don't want to break the bank (trust us, we know how expensive those gardening and home-improvement projects can be).
Fortunately, we can use points and miles to travel for almost entirely free — or at least at a much lower cost than paying cash for everything. One of the most expensive parts of traveling, of course, is staying at a hotel. Once you stay for multiple nights, stays can get pricey — and fast. But if you have points in your loyalty account, you can dramatically lessen the amount you pay out of pocket for a given stay.
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And right now, there's an easy way to earn a whole lot of points without leaving your house: the limited-time increased Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card offer of 100,000 Marriott points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
But what do you do with those points if you decide to apply for the card and then earn the sign-up bonus? Obviously, you'll want to stretch the points as far as they'll go, getting the most value out of every point used.
Generally speaking, Category 6 Marriott properties tend to be "sweet spot" hotels (depending on the location, of course). They often are higher-end properties that can become expensive during various times of the year but can be had for 50,000 Marriott points per night on standard nights. But don't discount lower-category properties where the value to be had can be compelling, especially for a longer stay.
Here are 11 different ways to redeem 100,000 Marriott points for potentially more than $1,000 in value.
Related: How to get up to 25 award nights from 100,000 Marriott points
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Theme park stays
Anaheim, California
If you've been dying to visit Disneyland to check out Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge but don't want to spend a fortune on lodging, the Delta Hotels Anaheim Garden Grove is a fantastic pick. As a Category 4 hotel, you can snag off-peak dates for just 20,000 points per night. If you've got 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, that will cover six nights — pay for nights one through four with points and get the fifth night free as a Marriott Bonvoy member. Then pay with points for the sixth night. Nearly a week is more than enough time to explore the Star Wars attractions and well beyond.
And you can't beat the location, which is just a 10-minute drive to Disneyland (the hotel offers a shuttle service). This Delta Hotels property also has a pool, fitness center, grab-and-go market and a wine bar in the lobby.
Related: How families can stretch 100,000 Marriott points
Related: What a Disneyland vacation costs on 3 budgets
Orlando, Florida
Home to the most magical place on earth, Orlando is one of the world's top travel destinations. The area has all sorts of hotels, from budget brands to five-star luxury properties. If you're staying on or adjacent to the Walt Disney World property, though, your options are fairly limited to Disney's own properties.
However, two properties in the Marriott portfolio — the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin — are located just steps from the major theme parks and offer travelers who have Marriott points a very well-located option that won't cost a ton out of pocket. Best of all, both of these properties (the Swan falls under the Westin brand and the Dolphin under Sheraton) are Category 6 properties that require 50,000 points per night under standard availability.
We were able to find plenty of nights in the late summer and through the fall with standard — and even off-peak — availability. And, given that many nights are showing cash rates of about $300-plus per night, you'll get around $1,000 in value for those 100,000 points (or less!) when you factor in taxes and fees on top of the nightly room rate. (Just remember that you'll still pay a resort fee on Marriott award stays.)
If you're not dead-set on staying on Disney property, check out the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, another Category 6 property with plenty of off-peak and standard award availability in peak visiting periods. Cash rates are often around $350 per night but can go a lot higher, so if you're able to find standard or off-peak award availability, you'll get a great return for your points.
Related: The best points hotels near Disney World
Hitting the world's best beaches
Curaçao
While this island doesn't get as much attention as its neighbor Aruba, Curaçao is a spectacular island destination offering year-round beautiful weather, gorgeous beaches, vibrant culture and so much more. And the recently upgraded Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort is the place to stay. It offers two pools, multiple dining options, newly designed guest rooms and more.
The resort is a Category 5, meaning you can get a great return on your points, especially when booking off-peak or standard award nights at 30,000 or 35,000 points, respectively, per night.
Miami, Florida
Though not located right on the beach, the recently renovated Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove is a great option for anyone visiting the Miami area who wants a high-end, laid-back property away from the hustle and bustle of South Beach. A Marriott Category 6 hotel, it's a great value on points — rooms consistently hover between $350 and $500 per night, so when you can find a room for off-peak or standard award pricing, you're really maximizing your Marriott points.
Cancún, Mexico
The Category 6 Ritz-Carlton, Cancun is a beachfront resort in one of Mexico's most popular vacation spots. It's very accessible, especially from the eastern half of the U.S., with many cities featuring nonstop flights multiple times per week, if not daily. Since this is a Category 6 hotel, you'll be able to book nights for 50,000 points during standard availability. And while cash rates at this property aren't typically sky-high, rates do approach $500 per night during the peak winter months and around holidays.
If you're a fan of planning far in advance, you could score the coveted Christmastime redemption, where cash rates exceed $1,000 per night. Even if you have to pay 60,000 points per night for peak nights, you'll get great value out of them, given how pricey it is to travel during that time of year.
Los Cabos, Mexico
We love the for its stunning location, high-quality rooms, gorgeous public spaces and superb staff. Oh, and the fact that it's a great deal on points. Similar to the Ritz in Cancún, cash rates at this property aren't especially high for most of the year. Still, if you have your eye on a more peak time of the year, you can get an amazing value for your points — especially if you can find standard availability where you'll pay 50,000 points per night.
Thailand
How does a private island in Thailand on points sound to you?
Yeah, it sounds pretty great to us, too. is located on its own island off the coast of the popular city of Phuket — though it feels like a million miles away. You can only reach the island by speedboat — and once you do, you won't want to leave. Each of the resort's villas is gorgeous and very private, and the resort's pools and private beach are drop-dead gorgeous.
The best part? It's a Category 6 property, meaning you can book rooms for 50,000 points per night during standard availability.
Langkawi, Malaysia
An archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, Langkawi is emerging as a hot spot for travelers to Southeast Asia looking for a beach getaway. And it's where you'll find some spectacular deals with your Marriott points. The St. Regis Langkawi is a jaw-dropping luxury resort that consistently shows cash rates around $500 per night. Fortunately, there appears to be plenty of nights available at the standard rate for a Category 6 property: 50,000 points per night.
Tip: If you can't find availability at The St. Regis, there's also a Ritz-Carlton in Langkawi, and it too is a Category 6 property.
Europe's top properties
Austria
Explore Austria's capital city from the Vienna Marriott Hotel, a Category 6 property. Vienna isn't known to be particularly cheap, so when rates eclipse $500 per night during the peak summer travel season, you'll be sure to get a great value for your points, especially if you can find off-peak or standard nights.
Spain
Fancy a trip to Spain's Canary Islands off the coast of Northwest Africa? Park yourself at The Ritz-Carlton, Abama on the island of Tenerife to soak up some sun and the relaxed Spanish lifestyle. Summer is high season in Europe, but on a quick search of availability, we're seeing plenty of days with standard award availability, giving you a great return for your points at "one of Spain's best-kept secrets," according to TPG senior writer Lori Zaino.
Portugal
Explore the Douro Valley in Portugal from the city of Porto, famous for its port wineries and many beautiful bridges spanning the Douro River. The Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa is a Category 4 property located in the city's business district, which likely wouldn't be your first choice for a leisure trip to the area. Still, ride-sharing services like Uber are easy to use and very cheap in Portugal.
Since the Sheraton is a Category 4 hotel, you could potentially stay six nights on points, assuming you're able to find off-peak award availability (20,000 points per night) and take advantage of Bonvoy's fifth award night free perk.
Current Marriott credit card offers
If the Bonvoy Boundless limited-time increased welcome offer isn't quite right for you, there are plenty of other ways to earn a hefty amount of Marriott points:
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card: Earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first three months. Plus, earn up to $200 in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants within the first six months of card membership.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn up to $150 back in statement credits on eligible purchases made within the first three months of card membership.
Bottom line
If you're looking to go on a long-overdue vacation but just have the 100,000 bonus points available from the limited-time Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card offer available to you, you still have plenty of options available to you. You'll have to be willing to put the time and effort into doing the appropriate research, but there's no reason you can't squeeze a lot of value out of each one of your Bonvoy points.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
FAQs
How to maximize 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points - The Points Guy - The Points Guy? ›
If you've got 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, that will cover six nights — pay for nights one through four with points and get the fifth night free as a Marriott Bonvoy member. Then pay with points for the sixth night.
What to do with 100k Marriott points worth? ›If you've got 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, that will cover six nights — pay for nights one through four with points and get the fifth night free as a Marriott Bonvoy member. Then pay with points for the sixth night.
How much does 100000 Marriott points get you? ›Marriott Bonvoy's 100,000-Point Welcome Offer Means Up to 13 Free Nights at a Hotel. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is a great card for those who want to turn day-to-day expenses like groceries and gas into free hotel stays.
How much is a Marriott point worth the points guy? ›Point are worth 1.25 cents apiece when redeemed for travel through Chase, but can also be transferred to 11 airline and three hotel partners for even more choices, including those first-class flights and fancy suites you've been dreaming of.
How much is 1 000 Marriott Bonvoy points worth? ›| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Value of 1,000 Points | $9.1 |
| Minimum Value of 1 Point | 0.43 cents |
| Maximum Value of 1 Point | 1.63 cents |
| Value of 1 Point Toward Travel | 0.91 cents |
As long as you keep earning points consistently, your Marriott Bonvoy points won't expire.
Can you transfer more than 100k Marriott points? ›Click here to see our article on Qualifying Activity. The Minimum Transfer amount is 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Points and transfers must be completed in 1,000 Point increments. You can transfer up to a maximum of 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Points, per calendar year, to other Accounts.
How many Bonvoy points do I need for a free night? ›Marriott Bonvoy is also known for its popular rewards credit cards, and how easy it is to rack up points for a free stay. Free night awards also start at just 5,000 points, which is a major plus for travelers who want to stretch their rewards as far as they can go.
How do I convert my Marriott points to cash? ›You can sell Marriott Vacation Club points through the Marriott Vacation Club repurchase program. Their timeshare exit specialists will guide you through the process of resale. You can also sell these points with online traders like MilesBuyer for competitive prices.
How many Marriott points do you get per night? ›You earn 10 hotel points for every dollar spent at Marriott hotels, including its higher-end brands like JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Autograph Collection Hotels and St. Regis Hotels. Meanwhile, you'll earn five points per dollar spent at Element Hotels, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites properties.
Is Bonvoy Platinum worth it? ›
You'll earn 50% more points on top of the base rate of 10 Marriott Bonvoy points per USD spent at Marriott properties. This represents 25% more than the Gold Elite bonus of 25%. Over the course of the year, this amounts to a slightly higher return on your spending.
Why is Marriott so expensive now? ›Hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, the hotel industry has bounced back alongside the larger travel industry thanks to pent up demand, delayed trips and increased consumer savings. That hot market has led to rising room prices, something major hotel chain executives say will not subside soon.
Do I get Marriott points if I book through Amex? ›There are examples of people receiving stay credits with Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors, for example, on rooms booked through Amex Travel. However, it's not guaranteed that the hotel will recognize your elite status in these programs or provide status-qualifying stay credits in your loyalty account.
How much is 85000 Marriott points worth? ›What is the 85,000-point Free Night Award worth? The 85,000-point award is provided each year to those with a Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Terms apply. NerdWallet values Marriott points at 0.7 cent each, making this award worth $595.
How many Marriott points per $1? ›5 Points Per $1 USD Spent
Earn one elite night credit for every two nights stayed.
Marriott Platinum members receive 50% bonus points on eligible spending at Marriott properties. Ordinarily, Marriott Bonvoy members receive 10 points per dollar at most brands, meaning that Platinum members receive an additional five points per dollar spent.
Is Marriott Bonvoy ending? ›Now, Marriott Bonvoy is ending them altogether on March 28, 2023, citing low demand as a reason.
How do I get my lifetime status on Bonvoy? ›- Lifetime Silver Elite: 250 lifetime nights and five years as a Silver Elite member or higher.
- Lifetime Gold Elite: 400 lifetime nights and seven years as a Gold Elite member or higher.
- Lifetime Platinum Elite: 600 lifetime nights and 10 years as a Platinum Elite member or higher.
Each year, Marriott Bonvoy® works to ensure that all Members' Elite status reflects all previous year's qualifying activity.
Can my wife use my Bonvoy number? ›Can I share my Marriott Bonvoy® Account? No, Marriott Bonvoy® is an individual membership. Marriott Bonvoy® Memberships can not include other individuals, including family members.
Can husband and wife combine Marriott points? ›
There's no need to be related to the person you're sharing points with, or even to share the same address. Rather you can transfer your points to any member. The only limitation is how long accounts have to be active: With qualifying activity, you can combine points with someone after they've had an account for 30 days.
What is a good conversion on Marriott points? ›We found the average value of Marriott's luxury properties to be 0.77 cents per Bonvoy point. Based on data collected in July 2022, this is the most valuable category for redemptions with your Marriott points.
How to get free stay at Marriott? ›- Search for a stay with the preselected “Use Points / Awards.”
- Select hotel and room type.
- Review the reservation details. If an award is available for your stay, it will be preselected.
- Book your free nights.
You need anywhere from 5,000 to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a free night at Residence Inn. There are roughly 900 Residence Inn locations worldwide, and the points needed for a free night vary by hotel category and the season.
Can I use Bonvoy free night for someone else? ›No, a Free Night Anniversary Award issued by Marriott Bonvoy® Partner Credit Cards cannot be transferred or gifted to another Guest, They can only be used by the Member. A Free Night Award is for the Account Holder's primary use. A Free Night Award cannot be transferred from one Member to another.
How many Marriott points is $100? ›It's easy to earn Marriott points for award stays. Every stay at a Marriott hotel will earn you 10 Marriott points per dollar spent. So a $100 hotel stay earns 1,000 Marriott points. There are three exceptions: Element, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites hotels earn just five Marriott points per dollar spent.
Can I pay with points and cash on Bonvoy? ›Marriott Bonvoy® Members can combine Cash and Marriott Bonvoy® Points to make a Reservation in two ways: Cash & Points Rate = A fixed combination of Cash and Points per Night. Customized Cash + Points = A multi-night Stay in which Marriott Bonvoy® Points are used for 1+ Nights and 1+ Nights are on a Paid Rate.
Does Marriott Bonvoy offer cash back? ›No, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is not a cash back credit card. Although the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card does not offer cash back, it does have rewards, giving 2 - 6 points per $1 spent on purchases. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card also has a $650 annual fee.
How many points equal a free room at a marriott? ›This property averages about 60,000 points per night, but there are times when you can snag a free night for as few as 41,000 points per night. With the three nights earned from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, you can get three nights for free, depending on the time of year.
How many points is an average Marriott stay? ›Most Marriott hotels earn 10 points per dollar spent on stays. Unfortunately, long-term stay hotels — including Element, TownPlace Suites, Residence Inn and Protea Hotels — only award 5 points per dollar. This lower earn rate applies to vacation rentals booked with Homes and Villas by Marriott International, too.
Is 70000 Marriott points a lot? ›
On the other end of the spectrum, you'd need around 70,000 points for a free night at a Category 8 hotel during off-peak rates, around 85,000 points during standard rates and around 100,000 points if you book during peak rates.
What is the highest Bonvoy status? ›At Bonvoy's highest level, Ambassador elites receive two valuable perks. The first, Ambassador Service, provides “personalized service” for each stay. This is essentially a personal travel concierge who can help plan your stay and organize activities.
What is the highest Bonvoy tier? ›The top tier in the Marriott program is Bonvoy Ambassador Elite. You must reach 100 elite qualifying nights and $23,000 in qualifying spending to qualify for this tier.
Is Marriott Titanium higher than Platinum? ›Titanium status is Marriott Bonvoy's 75-night elite tier, between Platinum and Ambassador status. It offers limited incremental perks over Platinum status, including 75% bonus points (rather than 50% bonus points), suite upgrades at Ritz-Carltons, United MileagePlus Silver status, and access to more Choice Benefits.
Is Marriott considered a luxury hotel? ›Marriott International is known as an innovative leader in luxury hospitality. Each of our globally recognized luxury brands offer owners long term value through category leadership, engagement with loyal and coveted consumers, and dedicated luxury expertise to support operations.
Is JW Marriott considered luxury? ›JW Marriott is a luxury hotel brand owned by Marriott International.
Do hotel prices go up the more you search? ›Hotel prices are dynamic, fluctuating based on supply and demand — that means the price you see when you're searching for hotels one day might change the very next, even if the dates of your stay remain the same.
What is the minimum credit score for Marriott Bonvoy Amex? ›Marriott Bonvoy credit card credit score requirements
You will need a Good to Excellent credit score rating of 690-850 to improve your chances of approval. Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
As a Platinum Cardmember you are eligible to enroll in complimentary Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite Status.
How much is 100k Amex points worth? ›...
How Much American Express Points Are Worth.
| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 100,000 | $670 |
| 90,000 | $603 |
| 80,000 | $536 |
| 70,000 | $469 |
How many nights is 100 000 Marriott points worth? ›
If you've got 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, that will cover six nights — pay for nights one through four with points and get the fifth night free as a Marriott Bonvoy member. Then pay with points for the sixth night. Nearly a week is more than enough time to explore the Star Wars attractions and well beyond.
Can I transfer my Bonvoy points? ›Can I transfer Marriott Bonvoy® Points to another Marriott Bonvoy® Member? Great news, Yes you can now transfer your Marriott Bonvoy® Points to another Member's Account, through the new Points Transfer tool online. Read all about it here. How Do I Transfer Points To Another Member?
How much does it cost to buy 10000 Marriott points? ›| Points | Regular Price | Bonus Points |
|---|---|---|
| 2,000 | $25.00 | 800 |
| 6,000 | $75.00 | 2,400 |
| 10,000 | $125.00 | 4,000 |
| 14,000 | $175.00 | 5,600 |
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Value of 100,000 Points | $910 |
| Minimum Value of 1 Point | 0.43 cents |
| Maximum Value of 1 Point | 1.63 cents |
| Value of 1 Point Toward Travel | 0.91 cents |
Yes, Marriott Bonvoy® Members must remain active in the Marriott Bonvoy® Loyalty Program to retain Points they accumulate. If a Marriott Bonvoy® Member Account is inactive for twenty-four (24) consecutive months, that Marriott Bonvoy® Member Account will forfeit all accumulated Marriott Bonvoy® Points.
How many Bonvoy points do you need for a free night? ›Marriott Bonvoy is also known for its popular rewards credit cards, and how easy it is to rack up points for a free stay. Free night awards also start at just 5,000 points, which is a major plus for travelers who want to stretch their rewards as far as they can go.
What is a Marriott bonus night? ›Bonus Elite Night Credits make each night of a stay count twice, allowing registered members to reach higher Marriott Bonvoy membership tiers more quickly.
Does Marriott Gold get lounge access? ›The simple answer: No, you don't get executive lounge access with Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. Executive lounge access is only complimentary for Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador Elite status members.
How much is 80 000 Marriott points worth? ›How much are 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points worth? , 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points are worth about $560. How much are 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points worth? , 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points are worth about $700.
What is the dollar value of 10000 Marriott points? ›How many Marriott points do you need for a free room? ›
| Minimum | 4,500 |
|---|---|
| Average | 52,250 |
| Maximum | 100,000 |
Whether you're not planning on traveling in the near future or you have a surplus of points that you're unlikely to use before they expire or lose their value ,or if you need to generate quick cash for an emergency or unexpected expense - selling your Marriott Bonvoy points can be a relatively easy way to do so.
How many Bonvoy points per dollar? ›You'll earn: 6 points per dollar of eligible purchases spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
How many points is a dollar titanium Marriott? ›Marriott Titanium elite benefits
Earn 10 base points per dollar at most Marriott properties, plus 75% additional bonus points as a Titanium member. That means you'll earn up to 17.5 points per dollar on paid Marriott stays, including eligible room charges.
Gold members receive points at check in. Most properties offer 500 points, but these brands only offer 250: Courtyard, Four Points, SpringHill Suites, Protea Hotels, Fairfield, AC Hotels, Aloft, Moxy, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and Element hotels.
How many points is a Marriott mattress? ›The Four Points Bed is designed to give you a great night's sleep, so you wake up ready to take on the day.
Do Marriott workers get free rooms? ›After 25 years of service at Marriott or Marriott-managed properties, associates are eligible to receive complimentary hotel rooms through our Quarter Century Club (QCC) to explore the world around us.