#2 Among Hotels
Point Value
0.7 ¢
Program Score
7.3
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.
Marriott Bonvoy lets you transfer points to any other member at no cost, but there are several rules and restrictions:
Free transfers can be useful for consolidating balances or topping off an account before booking an award stay.
Special Offers Related to Marriott Bonvoy. Click the arrow to see more.
Update: Additional Chase Q3 spending offers and card-specific registration links have surfaced. Offers vary widely by card and account, so it may be worth trying both the card-specific links and Chase’s general MyBonus page even if you were not notified directly.
If you have Chase cards, it's worth checking for targeted third-quarter spending offers, as there are some strong bonuses available on select cards. Here are a few of the best offers we've seen:
Offers are valid on eligible purchases from July 1 through September 30, 2026. You can check here to see if you've been targeted. Our friends over at Frequent Miler have compiled a thorough list of all offers and links to each.
Marriott and United have long had a partnership, and they have a new promotion out for members enrolled in their Preferred Partnership Program. You must hold Marriott Titanium or Ambassador Elite status or United Premier Gold or higher to participate. Earn 2,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points and 1,500 United MileagePlus bonus miles each time you complete <em>both</em> a paid Marriott stay and a paid United flight. The flight and stay do not have to be part of the same trip, but both must occur during the promotion period. Register by August 31, 2026, and complete eligible paid travel by September 30, 2026. If you already qualify for the Preferred Partnership Program and have paid Marriott and United travel planned, this is an easy promotion to register for.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve and J.P. Morgan Reserve cards are offering complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status for three months, with the opportunity to extend it through February 2028. Register by September 30, 2026, then complete three paid nights booked directly with Marriott during your three-month trial period to keep Gold status through February 2028. Marriott Gold includes 2 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability), a 25% points bonus on paid stays, complimentary enhanced Wi-Fi, and space-available room upgrades (excluding suites). If you already have the Amex Platinum or Business Platinum card, this promotion won't provide any additional value since those cards already include Marriott Gold status. We wouldn't book extra stays just to earn Gold, but if you already have Marriott stays planned, it's worth registering.
United is offering a 25% bonus when transferring hotel points to MileagePlus through June 30, 2026. We generally don't recommend transferring between hotel and airline programs because of poor transfer ratios, but Marriott transfers can be interesting thanks to its partnership with United. Transfer 60,000 Marriott points and you'll receive 35,000 United miles after Marriott's standard 10,000-mile bonus and United's 25% transfer bonus. You must register for the promotion before transferring, and bonus miles may not post until January 2027, so this is best suited for travelers who don't need the miles immediately.
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.
Marriott lets you add up to 25,000 points to eligible Free Night Awards, which can unlock higher-priced properties. You are not allowed to top off certificates with cash.
Marriott Cash + Points rates are not always the best value and do not qualify for Stay for 5, Pay for 4. For variable-priced stays, consider paying cash for cheaper nights and points for more expensive nights. You cannot do this online, so you’ll have to call if you want to make this type of reservation.
Homes & Villas lets you redeem Bonvoy points for vacation rentals, which can be useful for families or trips where a hotel does not fit. Value is usually modest, so compare against hotel award stays before booking.
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
It does not cost anything to join Marriott Bonvoy. You simply sign up. Members receive perks like free WiFi on Marriott stays, access to member rates, mobile check-in, and the ability to use your phone as your room key.
There are several ways to get a free Marriott night. You can earn points from co-branded cards and redeem them, transfer points from Amex, Bilt, or Chase, or hold a Marriott card that offers free night certificates as part of its annual benefits.
You can, but you must call to book the room. Marriott calls this a Gifted Award Redemption. The guest will need to show ID and provide a credit card for incidentals at check-in. Neither you nor the guest will earn points or elite night credits for the stay.
Yes. Marriott partners with nearly 40 airlines, so you can transfer points to book flights. Transfer rates are poor, though, making it a bad value. It’s best used only to top up an airline balance rather than covering an entire redemption.
Tracking Points & Transfer Options
