#5 Among Hotels
Point Value
0.70 ¢
Hobby Score
7.0
Their poor points redemption value leaves Bonvoy near the bottom of our rankings.
The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is by staying at a Marriott property or opening a co-branded credit card. Marriott is the largest hotel chain in the world, with more than 30 brands and 8,500 properties across 140 countries, so finding a place to earn points is rarely difficult. There are also six co-branded credit cards, though the maze of eligibility rules makes it harder to rely on them as a consistent source of points through signup bonuses.
How many points you earn depends on the brand, your elite status, and how you booked. If you book through an online travel agency, book with points, or redeem a free night certificate, you will not earn points on your stay.
If you book directly with Marriott, you will earn points based on the brand:
You also receive the following elite bonuses if you hold status with Marriott:
Note: Stays at StudioRes do not earn elite bonus points.
You can also earn points on eligible charges billed to your room, such as dining or spa services. Resort fees and tips do not earn points, even when they are charged to the room.
Marriott has six co-branded credit cards — three from Chase and three from American Express — split between five consumer cards and one business card. There is a frustrating and complicated set of eligibility rules based on what cards you currently have, what cards you’ve previously had, and whether you’ve earned a signup bonus on certain cards in the past (even cards that no longer exist can affect your eligibility).
Each card comes with different signup bonuses, annual fees, benefits, and perks. You can earn a strong cache of points through these cards, but you need to be strategic if you want to open more than one.
American Express, Bilt, and Chase all transfer to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio. Because of the high cost of points stays with Marriott, we generally recommend using transferable points only for top ups. Still, transfers can be useful when you need to complete a booking.
Special Offers Related to Marriott Bonvoy. Click the arrow to see more.
- Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card, limited time offer of 150,000 points after spending $3000 in 6 months, $95 annual fee.
- Hilton Honors Amex Business card, limited time offer of 165,000 points after spending $5000 in 3 months, $95 annual fee.
- Hilton Honors Amex, limited time offer of 100,000 points after spending $2000 in 6 months, no annual fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, limited time offer of 100,000 bonus points after spending $3000 in 6 months, $95 annual fee.
-Marriott Bonvoy Bold card, limited time offer of 60,000 bonus points after spending $2000 in 6 months, no annual fee.
- Marriott BonVoy Boundless Chase Card - Limited Time Sign up Bonus - 100,000 Points after spending $3000 in 6 months, $95/annual fee.
- Marriott BonVoy Bold Chase Card - Limited Time Sign up Bonus - 60,000 Points after spending $2000 in 6 months, $0/annual fee.
Chase Limited Time Offer - Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful, earn 125,000 points after spending $4000 in 3 months, $250 annual fee not waived.
Score Marriott points with this Amex card - Marriott Bonvoy Business, earn 100,000 points after spending $4000 in 3 months, $125 annual fee not waived.
Using your Bonvoy points to stay at a Marriott property will almost always give you the best value. To search for stays using points, log in to your Bonvoy account, click “Use Points/Awards,” and enter your city and dates.
Marriott has nearly 40 airline transfer partners, more than American Express, Citi, and Chase combined. Unfortunately, the transfer ratios are poor and rarely offer good value.
Because of these weak ratios, we strongly recommend redeeming Bonvoy points for Marriott stays instead of transferring to airlines. Only consider a transfer for a small top off when no other options are available.
There are a few other ways to use your points, but none are high value uses of them.
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
These options don’t often give the best value, but when points redemptions are high, like they often are at Marriott properties, this can be a good alternative. Not only can you choose a cash+points option per night, but you can customize your stay by redeeming points for one night and cash for another, taking advantage of variable pricing throughout your stay. Unfortunately Marriott no longer allows you to do this online, so you’ll have to call if you want to make this type of reservation
Bonvoy points’ value increases quite a bit when you use your 5th night free for any booking, so try to keep those Bonvoy points for longer stays if possible.
These might not give you outsized value, but many people, especially families, prefer to rent homes for their travels. The biggest vacation rental companies don’t have points transfer partners (Airbnb/VRBO), so using your points for Marriott Homes and Villas is a great way to use rewards for home rentals over hotels
The strength of the Marriott Bonvoy program is the sheer coverage Marriott has around the world. With more than 8500 properties and 30 brands in 130+ countries, you can almost always find a Marriott—whether you want a simple, budget-friendly stay or a luxury resort. If you already have Bonvoy points, odds are good you’ll be able to use them wherever you're headed.
Marriott is best for travelers who stay with the brand often and value consistency. The more frequently you stay, the more you’ll benefit from Bonvoy, especially since redemption rates tend to be higher than other hotel chains. Perks also increase as you climb the elite status tiers, making loyalty more rewarding. Certain co-branded Marriott credit cards provide automatic status and benefits that make repeated stays even more valuable.
Marriott Bonvoy offers five elite status tiers above basic membership, which is free to join. Basic members receive:
You can earn elite status by staying a certain number of nights each calendar year. Some Marriott credit cards fast-track you toward the next tier, and others provide status as a built-in perk. Paid, award, and free night certificate stays all count toward elite night credits, as long as you book directly through Marriott.
Here are the elite status levels for Marriott Bonvoy, what it takes to reach each level, and what benefits you receive from each
Before opening a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, it’s crucial to understand the maze of rules, especially if you plan to earn signup bonuses from multiple cards. When you’re ready to cancel a card, make sure you know which cards you are and aren’t eligible for next, as well as any welcome offers you may or may not qualify for.
Fortunately, any points you earn from a Marriott Bonvoy card are safe for at least 24 months. Any earning or spending activity will reset the clock, but gifting or transferring points, as either the sender or the recipient, does not count as qualifying activity
