Marriott Bonvoy points tend to spark a little debate in the miles and points world. They’re not quite as powerful as World of Hyatt points, but with over 8,500 hotels around the world (and some killer redemption opportunities), they can still have great value.
When Marriott runs a 100% bonus promotion on purchased points, the price drops to just 0.625 cents per point. Not too shabby, eh?
These sales open the door to discounted stays, fifth-night free redemptions, and even some sneaky award spots. Let’s dig into when buying Marriott Bonvoy points is actually worth it, and how to make the most of your points stash.
Marriott Bonvoy Points Sale Details
Marriott runs points sales like this multiple times a year with either a 30 to 50% discount or a 100% bonus. During the 100% bonus promos, you’ll effectively pay less than half of a dollar per point.
Y’all… that’s a pretty solid deal, considering many redemptions easily exceed that value.
Here’s how it works:
You must buy at least 2,000 points to trigger the bonus
The maximum purchase limit is 100,000 base points per calendar year, not including the bonus
Points typically post within 24 to 72 hours
All purchases go through Points.com (more on that in the credit card section below)
‼️ Heads up: These offers are often targeted, so always log into your Marriott account to confirm your specific deal and make sure the 100% bonus is active for you.
When You Should Buy Marriott Points
Buying points for the heck of it? Probably not the best idea. But if you have a specific redemption in mind (or need to top off for a stay), this sale could be the move. Here are the best use cases.
You’re Eyeing a High-End Redemption
Buying points is especially appealing for stays at luxury brands like St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, or Edition, where cash rates could be more than $1,000 per night. Uh, yeah, I’m not rocking with that.
Booking these with purchased points (especially with a fifth night free) can really lower your out-of-pocket costs.
You Want to Max Out the Fifth Night Free Perk
Marriott gives you every fifth night free on award stays of five consecutive nights or longer. That perk alone can up the value of your purchased points, especially during off-peak dates or at mid-tier properties in places like Southeast Asia or the Middle East.
You’re Just a Few Thousand Points Short
Need to top off your account before an award becomes unavailable? A quick points purchase could be all you need to lock in your redemption before it disappears or gets dynamically repriced.
Examples of Using Marriott Points
Let’s run through a few redemption examples to show how far your purchased Marriott points can take you.
Example One: JW Marriott Phu Quoc, Vietnam
A standard night at this beautiful beach spot goes for 35,000 to 50,000 points, while cash prices are around $275 per night. With a fifth-night free and a 100% bonus, you could book five nights for 200,000 points (or $1,250 in purchased points) versus over $1,375 in cash. You’ll save money and get a pretty boujee stay out of it.
Example Two: The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City
Ok, this one is, in fact, a gem. Award nights can go for around 85,000 points, while cash rates can be $600 to $700+ per night. Using purchased points at 0.625 cents per point would make this redemption cost around $531, giving you a healthy discount, plus a way to get around peak pricing.
Example Three: AC Hotel in New York City
New York is freaking expensive. But mid-tier redemptions can still have great value. A room at the AC Hotel Times Square can go for 40,000 points per night, or about $250 in cash. Buying points during a promo would cost just $250 worth of points, or less if you combine it with existing points or a credit card top-off.
Use the Right Credit Card to Buy Points
Sadly, your purchased Marriott points won’t code as “travel” on most cards. That means no bonus multipliers on hotel spend.
Instead, here are the best types of cards to use:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 2x miles on all purchases
Citi Double Cash® Card: 2% cash back on everything (1% when you buy and 1% as you pay)
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: 1.5% cash back on all non-category purchases (even better if paired with a more premium card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®)
💡 Pro Tip: Trying to hit a minimum spend requirement? Buying points can be a strategic way to bridge the gap. Just be sure you’re not missing out on higher-earning categories in the process.
Other Ways to Earn Marriott Points
Buying points isn’t the only way to build your balance (just the most immediate, if you’re impatient… like me). If you’ve got some time before your next redemption, here are a few other strategies:
Earn With Marriott Credit Cards
Some of our fave options include:
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card – Up to 17x at Marriott properties
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card – Up to 18.5x on stays
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card – Great for small business owners
These cards often come with welcome offers of 100,000 points or more, plus annual free night certificates and automatic elite status.
💡 Pro Tip: Confused about your Marriott Bonvoy card eligibility? Read more about all those details in our comprehensive guide.
Transfer Points From American Express, Chase, or Bilt
You can transfer points from:
Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1)
Bilt Rewards (1:1)
Transfers usually take a few hours to a couple of days, and unlike IHG One Rewards, Marriott can be a decent value transfer partner if you’re topping off for a specific booking. Still, we usually recommend only doing this when you’ve run out of other options.
How to Know If It’s Worth It
Here’s the magic formula:
Cost of points needed x $0.00625 = effective cash price
Compare that number to the hotel’s actual cash rate. If the value is close (or better than cash), then it could be worth it.
✨ Pro Tip: Don’t forget taxes and fees. Award stays often waive resort fees and local taxes, while cash bookings don’t.
Don’t Forget the Fifth Night Free Perk
This perk applies automatically when you book five consecutive nights with points. No elite status or special card required, just book using Marriott Bonvoy points, and you’ll only pay for four (yay!).
It’s one of our favorite ways to stretch the value of purchased points, especially if you’re eyeing a longer stay at a resort or city hotel.
Bottom Line
Marriott Bonvoy point sales can absolutely be worth it… but only when you’ve got a plan.
If you’re topping off your balance for an upcoming stay or booking a high-end hotel where points beat the cash price, then a 100% bonus can give you some real savings. Add in the fifth night free perks (and some strategic credit card swiping), and your Marriott points can go further than you think.
Just remember: The key is to do the math, check your dates, and never buy points without a redemption in mind. Otherwise, you’re better off waiting for your next stay to earn naturally.
