Skip to main content

Marriott Bonvoy

The world's largest hotel program: experience 30+ brands and master the 'Stay 5, Pay 4' award benefit.

How to Earn Bonvoy Points

As the largest hotel chain in the world, Marriott makes it easy to earn points through stays, co-branded cards, and major bank transfer partners.

MethodDescription
Credit Card TransfersTransfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards.
Marriott Co-branded CardsMarriott has a large portfolio of co-branded cards from both Chase and American Express for personal and business use.
Hotel StaysEarn 10 points per dollar on most stays, with bonuses for elite members.
PartnersEarn 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, but hotels generally stay within predictable ranges for each category.

  • Free Night Awards: Redeem points for stays at 30+ brands, from Courtyard to St. Regis.
  • Points Advance: Book an award stay even if you don't have enough points yet (terms apply).
  • Cash + Points: Combine cash and points to lower the out-of-pocket cost of your stay.
  • Free Night Certificates: Use annual certificates from co-branded cards for high-value redemptions.

The Best Deals (Sweet Spots)

Maximize your Bonvoy points with these high-value redemption strategies:

Fifth Night Free on Awards

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.

Luxury Stays for Less

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.

Find PointSavers Deals

Keep an eye out for PointSavers rates, which offer discounts of up to 20% off the standard number of points required at select hotels.

Transfer to Airline Miles

You can transfer Bonvoy points to over 40 airlines. The 3:1 ratio includes a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.

awardtrail's editorial content is produced independently. Financial institutions, credit card companies, airlines, and hotel chains do not provide this content and have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed it. The opinions shared are exclusively the author's.

© 2026 awardtrail. All rights reserved.