How to Use Marriott Bonvoy Points for Travel (Complete 2026 Guide)
The world's largest hotel loyalty program, explained from the ground up — so you can turn those points into stays you'll actually remember.
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If you've stayed at a Marriott, a Westin, a Sheraton, a Ritz-Carlton, or even a Courtyard by Marriott in the last several years, there's a decent chance you have Marriott Bonvoy points sitting in an account somewhere. Maybe a lot of them.
Marriott Bonvoy is the largest hotel loyalty program in the world — over 30 brands, more than 8,500 properties, across 139 countries. And if you also carry the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant credit card, those points have been accumulating every time you buy groceries, fill up the tank, or take the grandchildren out for dinner.
The question isn't whether your points have value. They do. The question is whether you're getting the most value from them — or leaving money on the table.
This guide will walk you through everything: what your Marriott points are actually worth, the smartest ways to use them, the mistakes that cost people hundreds of dollars, and the strategies that stretch your balance further than you'd expect.
How much are Marriott Bonvoy points worth?
Unlike cash, Marriott points don't have one fixed value. Their worth shifts depending on how and where you redeem them. But here's a reliable baseline:
One Marriott Bonvoy point is worth roughly 0.7 to 0.9 cents.
That means 100,000 points are worth somewhere between $700 and $900 in hotel stays — if you use them wisely. Use them carelessly, and that same balance might only get you $400 of value.
Here's how the math works at different properties:
| Property Type | Typical Points Per Night | Cash Rate | Value Per Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courtyard / Fairfield Inn | 15,000–25,000 | $120–$180 | ~0.7¢ |
| Westin / Sheraton | 30,000–50,000 | $250–$400 | ~0.8¢ |
| The Ritz-Carlton / St. Regis | 60,000–100,000 | $600–$1,200 | ~0.9–1.2¢ |
| All-inclusive resorts | 50,000–85,000 | $450–$800+ | ~0.9–1.0¢ |
The pattern is worth noticing: higher-end properties tend to deliver better value per point. A night at a Ritz-Carlton on points often saves you more per point than a night at a Courtyard. This is the opposite of what most people expect — and it's one of the smartest things to know about the Bonvoy program.
The four ways to use Marriott Bonvoy points
1. Book hotel stays (the best use, most of the time)
This is the straightforward approach, and it's usually the right one.
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account at marriott.com or through the app, search for a hotel, and when results appear, toggle the view to show point prices instead of cash prices. You'll see exactly how many points a night costs.
A few things worth knowing:
- There's no fixed award chart anymore. Marriott moved to dynamic pricing in 2023, which means the points price fluctuates based on demand — similar to how airfares work. A hotel that costs 35,000 points on a Tuesday might cost 50,000 points on a Saturday during peak season.
- You can mix points and cash. If you don't have quite enough points for a full stay, Marriott lets you cover part of the booking with points and the rest with cash. This is called Points Advance, and it's genuinely useful.
- The fifth night is free on award stays. Book four consecutive nights with points, and the fifth night costs zero additional points. This is one of the most valuable perks in any hotel loyalty program. On a five-night stay at 40,000 points per night, you'd pay 160,000 points instead of 200,000. That's a 20% discount, automatically applied.
The fifth-night-free benefit alone can save you hundreds of dollars on a single trip. If you're planning a week somewhere, it's worth structuring your stay to take advantage of it.
2. Transfer points to airline miles
This is where Marriott Bonvoy gets interesting — and where many people don't realize they have options.
You can transfer Marriott points to more than 40 airline partners, including American Airlines, Delta, United, British Airways, and many international carriers. The standard transfer ratio is 3:1, meaning 3,000 Marriott points become 1,000 airline miles.
At first glance, that ratio doesn't sound exciting. But here's the detail that changes the math: when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points at once, you receive a bonus of 5,000 airline miles. So 60,000 Marriott points become 25,000 airline miles instead of 20,000.
That 25,000 miles could be worth a domestic round-trip flight on some airlines — effectively turning hotel points into airfare.
When this makes sense:
- You have a large Marriott balance and need airline miles for a specific booking
- You're topping off an airline account that's close to having enough for a flight
- You've identified a particularly valuable award flight that makes the transfer ratio worthwhile
When it doesn't make sense:
- You have a modest balance and would get more value from hotel stays
- You're transferring small amounts (you miss the 5,000-mile bonus below the 60,000-point threshold)
This isn't the right move for everyone, but for travelers with large Marriott balances who also need flights, it's a powerful option that most people overlook.
3. Use points for experiences and activities
Marriott Bonvoy Moments is a lesser-known part of the program that lets you bid on or book unique experiences — cooking classes, concert tickets, sporting events, guided tours, and more — using your points.
Honestly, the value here varies widely. Some experiences are wonderful; others are overpriced relative to what you could book on your own. My recommendation: browse the Moments catalog for inspiration, but check the going rate for similar experiences before committing your points. If the math works, wonderful. If a cooking class in Tuscany costs 50,000 points but you can book an equivalent one for $150 cash, your points are worth more elsewhere.
4. Convert points to gift cards (usually not worth it)
Marriott lets you exchange points for gift cards to various retailers. The value per point drops to around 0.4 to 0.5 cents — roughly half of what you'd get from a hotel stay.
Unless you have points expiring and truly no travel plans, this is the option to avoid. Your points are worth substantially more when they're used for travel.
How to earn Marriott points faster
You don't need to stay at a Marriott every week to build a meaningful balance. Most of the earning happens in everyday life.
Through credit cards:
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card earns 6 points per dollar at Marriott properties and 2 points per dollar on everything else. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card earns 6 points per dollar at Marriott and on flights booked directly with airlines, plus 2 points on everything else.
At 2 points per dollar on everyday spending, a household that puts $3,000 per month on the card earns 72,000 Marriott points per year — enough for two to four free nights, depending on the property — just from normal spending.
Through stays:
Base members earn 10 points per dollar spent at Marriott properties. As your status rises (more on that below), you earn bonus points on top of the base rate. Elite members at the Gold level and above can earn 12.5 to 17.5 points per dollar.
Through promotions:
Marriott regularly runs bonus point promotions — "earn double points on stays this quarter" or "register for 1,000 bonus points per stay." These stack with your credit card earning and can accelerate your balance significantly. Check the promotions page at marriott.com before every trip and register in advance. It takes 30 seconds and the extra points add up.
Marriott Bonvoy elite status: is it worth pursuing?
Marriott has six elite status levels, earned through the number of nights you stay per calendar year:
| Status Level | Nights Required | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Member | 0 | Free wi-fi, mobile check-in |
| Silver | 10 | 10% bonus points, priority late checkout |
| Gold | 25 | 25% bonus points, room upgrade (when available), 2 p.m. late checkout |
| Platinum | 50 | 50% bonus points, lounge access, suite upgrades (when available) |
| Titanium | 75 | 75% bonus points, United Silver status, guaranteed lounge access |
| Ambassador | 100 + $23,000 spend | Personal ambassador, Your24 flexible check-in |
For most travelers, Gold status is the practical sweet spot — and here's the good news: both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant credit cards automatically grant Gold status as a cardholder benefit. No stays required.
Gold status means room upgrades when available, late checkout, and a 25% bonus on points earned during stays. Over a year of travel, those upgrades and bonus points add up quietly but meaningfully.
If you stay at Marriott properties 25 or more nights per year, pursuing Platinum status is worth considering for the lounge access alone. But for travelers who stay 10 to 20 nights annually, Gold through a credit card is the most efficient path.
Three strategies for getting more from your Marriott points
Strategy 1: Book longer stays to trigger the fifth night free.
This is the single most effective way to stretch your points. Plan a five-night stay instead of four, and you save 20% of the points cost. If you're booking a trip that might be four or six nights, see if adjusting to five makes the math work better.
Strategy 2: Be flexible on dates.
Since Marriott uses dynamic pricing, the same room at the same hotel can cost vastly different point amounts depending on the date. Shifting your stay by a day or two — especially avoiding weekends or peak events — can save 10,000 to 30,000 points per night. When your schedule allows flexibility, your points go further.
Strategy 3: Look at off-peak properties in extraordinary locations.
Some of the best Marriott point values are at properties in less obvious locations — a beachfront resort in Thailand for 25,000 points per night, a converted palace in Rajasthan for 30,000, or a mountain lodge in the Swiss Alps for 40,000. The properties where cash rates feel out of reach are often the same ones where points deliver the most dramatic savings.
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistake 1: Letting points expire. Marriott points expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Any qualifying activity — a stay, a credit card purchase that earns points, even a transfer — resets the clock. If you have a Marriott co-branded credit card, this happens automatically. But if your points are just sitting in an account with no activity, set a calendar reminder.
Mistake 2: Redeeming for gift cards or merchandise. As mentioned above, you get roughly half the value compared to using points for stays. Unless you truly have no travel plans, use your points for travel.
Mistake 3: Ignoring promotions. Marriott runs targeted promotions constantly. The points you miss by not registering are essentially points you earned and then threw away. Check the promotions page before every stay.
Frequently asked questions
Do Marriott Bonvoy points expire?
Yes — after 24 months of no account activity. But any activity resets the clock. Earning points through a credit card purchase, making a hotel stay, or even transferring points to an airline partner all count as activity. If you carry a Marriott credit card and use it regularly, expiration is essentially a non-issue.
Can I use Marriott points for someone else?
Yes. You can book an award stay for anyone — a spouse, your children, your grandchildren, a friend. The reservation needs to be in the guest's name, but the points come from your account. There's no fee for this.
How many Marriott points do I need for a free night?
It varies by property and date, but as a rough guide: budget properties start around 15,000 points per night, mid-range properties run 30,000 to 50,000, and luxury properties range from 60,000 to 100,000 or more. The fifth-night-free benefit effectively reduces those costs by 20% on longer stays.
Can I transfer Marriott points to my spouse?
Yes. Marriott allows point transfers between members for a small fee. You can transfer up to 100,000 points per year. If you and your spouse both earn Marriott points, combining balances can help you reach a free stay faster.
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card worth the annual fee?
The Brilliant card carries a $650 annual fee, which sounds steep. But it includes a $300 Marriott statement credit, a Priority Pass lounge membership, 50,000 points on the card anniversary (worth roughly $350–$450 in hotel stays), and automatic Platinum Elite status. For travelers who stay at Marriott properties several times per year, the benefits frequently exceed the fee. For occasional travelers, the Boundless card at $95 per year is usually the better fit.
The bottom line
Marriott Bonvoy is a program built for people who value comfort, consistency, and variety. Whether you prefer a beachside Westin, a historic Ritz-Carlton, or a reliable Courtyard during a road trip, the same points work across the entire portfolio.
The strategies aren't complicated. Earn points through a co-branded credit card on your everyday spending. Book stays during off-peak dates when possible. Take advantage of the fifth-night-free benefit on longer trips. Register for every promotion before you stay.
Your points are already there. They just need a destination.
WanderWise helps experienced travelers get more from credit card points and hotel loyalty programs. Want to see what your Marriott points — and all your other rewards — could be worth? Take the free Travel Score quiz and find out in two minutes.