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How to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Points
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any credit card issuer.
Members of the Marriott Bonvoy™ rewards program can earn points and book award stays at nearly 7,000 properties across the world. Since the integration of Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest and Ritz-Carlton Rewards under the Bonvoy umbrella, frequent hotel guests have more options to maximize value in this loyalty program than ever before. Below, we've broken down the top eight ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.
1. Book hotel stays at Bonvoy properties
The best — and simplest — way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is to stay at a hotel that participates in the loyalty program. Currently, there are more than 6,700 hotel properties in the Bonvoy network, in addition to the 2,000 rental properties recently added through the new Marriott Homes and Villa program. For most hotel stays, as shown in the screenshot below, you'll earn 10 points per dollar on all qualifying charges. For long-term hotel options, you'll earn 5 points per dollar at Element, Residence Inn and Towneplace Suites and 2.5 points per dollar at Marriott Executive Apartments and Execustay.
You should have no problem maximizing your hotel stays if you're a semi-frequent traveler and your goal is to earn Marriott points. The hotel chain has a variety of brands that cater to every price point and vacation style, so you'll likely be able to find a property that's right for you. You can search for hotels on the Marriott website.
2. Earn more on stays with elite status
Depending on how often you stay at Marriott hotels, you may be eligible to earn more than the regular 10 points per dollar on your expenses. Members of the Marriott Bonvoy elite status program can earn anywhere from a 10% to 75% bonus on points earned per stay, meaning the highest level loyalists can net up to 17.5 points per dollar on a hotel stay.
| Status level | Requirements | Points bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Member | 0 to 9 | — |
| Silver Elite | 10 nights | 10% bonus |
| Gold Elite | 25 nights | 25% bonus |
| Platinum Elite | 50 nights | 50% bonus |
| Titanium Elite | 75 nights | 75% bonus |
| Ambassador Elite | 100 nights and $20k annual spend | 75% bonus |
While the upper echelons of elite status may be hard to reach, Silver and Gold are doable for light to moderate travelers — provided that you comparison shop and can get a solid deal on a Marriott booking. We don't recommend booking a more expensive hotel stay just to earn points, and it's always best to consider all of your accommodation options instead of chasing status.
3. Spend with a co-branded credit card
If you'd like to earn points outside of your normal hotel spending, opening a Marriott credit card is a great option. You can earn Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases, plus you'll qualify for a welcome bonus after meeting a certain spending requirement. However, keep in mind that all three of these Marriott rewards cards come with an annual fee, so you'll have to make sure the card you choose works for your spending and financial situation.
All four Marriott cards are good options for loyalists of the hotel chain, but they're designed to serve different types of travelers. Below, we've broken down the benefits of each card.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card: With an annual fee of $95, this card is best for newcomers to the rewards credit card world and for moderate spenders. In terms of points-earning power, you'll earn 6X points per dollar on all Marriott purchases, 2X points on everything else and a 75,000-point welcome offer after spending $3,000 in the first three months. Plus, you'll get perks like an annual free night award (on redemption worth up to 35,000 points), automatic Silver Elite status and automatic 15 elite night credits each year.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
- Earn 75,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- An additional Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn 6X Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 6,900 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Earn unlimited Marriott Bonvoy points and get Free Night Stays faster.
- Earn 75,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- An additional Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn 6X Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 6,900 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Earn unlimited Marriott Bonvoy points and get Free Night Stays faster.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card: This card is the most feature-filled option of the Marriott Bonvoy card lineup: It comes with a $300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit, a free night award worth up to 50,000 points, complimentary Gold Elite status and more. The earning potential here is also fantastic: 6X Bonvoy points per dollar at Marriott, 3X points per dollar on airfare and at restaurants and 2X Bonvoy points on everything else. All of these perks will cost you an annual fee of $450.
The information related to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card has been collected by ValuePenguin and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card: Small-business owners who are loyal to Marriott will find plenty of value in this card. For an annual fee of $125 (See Rates & Fees), you'll earn 6X points per dollar on Marriott Bonvoy purchases, 4X points per dollar on restaurants and gas stations in the U.S., cell phone services from U.S. providers and shipping purchases in the U.S., and 2X points per dollar on everything else. You can also qualify for 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points by spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card
- Earn 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
- 6x points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- 4x points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status with your Card. Plus, earn Gold Elite status after making $35,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Terms apply.
- Earn 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
- 6x points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- 4x points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status with your Card. Plus, earn Gold Elite status after making $35,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Terms apply.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, please click here.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card: This Marriott card comes with no annual fee and provides Silver Elite status. While it doesn't earn as many points as the other Marriott cards, it's a solid entry-level option.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card
- Introducing the New Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card from CHASE® with no annual fee!
- Earn 50,000 Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 3X Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 6,900 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains) and 1X point on all other purchases.
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Earn unlimited Marriott Bonvoy points and get Free Night Stays faster.
- Introducing the New Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card from CHASE® with no annual fee!
- Earn 50,000 Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 3X Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 6,900 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains) and 1X point on all other purchases.
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Earn unlimited Marriott Bonvoy points and get Free Night Stays faster.
4. Open an American Express Membership Rewards card
If you'd like to earn Bonvoy points but don't want to commit to the hotel chain long-term, you should consider opening a general rewards card. American Express has a range of rewards card options that allow you to transfer your points to the Marriott Bonvoy program — and other reward programs like Delta SkyMiles and British Airways Executive Club. Below, we've highlighted some of the most popular Amex cards for earning Bonvoy points.
| Card | Highlight | Annual fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express® Gold Card | 4X points at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants | $250 (See Rates & Fees) | |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels | $550 (See Rates & Fees) | |
| American Express® Business Gold Card | 4X points on categories that adjust to your spending | $295 (See Rates & Fees) | |
| The Business Platinum® Card from American Express | 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels | $595 (See Rates & Fees) | |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | 2X points on up to $50,000 in purchases | $0 (See Rates & Fees) | |
For most people, we'd recommend going with the American Express® Gold Card for its points-earning potential and statement credits. With the card, you'll earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide, 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, and 1X point on everything else. Plus, you'll get $100 in annual airline fee credits and $10 in monthly restaurant credits at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. You'll also be able to earn 35,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
5. Open a Chase Ultimate Rewards credit card
Chase Ultimate Rewards cards have the same appeal as Amex Membership Rewards cards: They allow you to earn points that can be transferred to the Marriott Bonvoy program or used for other travel redemptions. As such, we suggest opening a Chase rewards card if you're interested in earning Bonvoy points for a specific redemption but don't necessarily want to be locked into the Marriott ecosystem forever. The table below lists all of the card options that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
| Card | Highlight | Annual fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom®* | 5X on rotating categories ($1,500 quarterly cap) | $0 | |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited®* | 1.5X on everything | $0 | |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 2X points on dining and travel | $95 | |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 3X points on dining and travel | $450 | |
| Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card* | 5X points on select business categories ($25,000 annual cap) | $0 | |
| Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card* | 1.5X points on everything | $0 | |
| Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card | 3X points on travel and select business categories | $95 | |
*These cards must be paired with a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card in order to transfer points to the Marriott Bonvoy program.
We'd recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® for people looking to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with a $95 annual fee, earns 2X points per dollar on dining and travel and 1X point on everything else, and offers a 60,000-point welcome offer for spending $4,000 in the first three months. This is a good choice for moderate spenders or people looking for their first rewards card.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a more expensive $450 annual fee and offers a lower welcome offer of 50,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first three months, but it earns a better rate of 3X points per dollar on dining and travel and comes with travel perks like an annual $300 travel credit, free Global Entry or TSA Precheck and priority pass lounge access. Choose the Chase Sapphire Reserve® if you're a high spender and value travel perks.
Note that you can also maximize your earning potential by pairing one of the Sapphire cards with either or both the Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Unlimited®. The Chase Freedom® earns 5% cash back, up to $1,500 in spending, on popular spending categories that rotate each quarter like gas stations, ride-sharing services and pharmacies. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns 1.5% back on all purchases. While neither the Chase Freedom® nor the Chase Freedom Unlimited® allow you to transfer points on your own, you can do so if you also have one of the Sapphire cards.
6. Book a rental car with Hertz
Consider renting your next car with Hertz if you're looking to earn Bonvoy points. You can earn up to 2,000 Bonvoy points on each car rental, plus you may qualify for a discount as high as 35% on the base rate of the car. This promotion is available at participating Hertz locations in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia and New Zealand. For most car rentals, you'll earn 2,000 points for rentals of two or more days and 500 points on rentals of one day — on top of your regular credit card rewards.
7. Host an event at a Marriott hotel
As a member of the Bonvoy rewards program, you can earn points for hosting special events at a Marriott property. You'll earn 2 points per dollar up to 60,000 points (105,000 points for Titanium Elite members) on eligible charges, which include room, food, beverage and audio/visual expenses. For your first booked event, you'll also earn 10 elite night credits, which is enough for Silver Elite status. On top of that, you'll always earn 1 elite night credit for every 20 room nights you book (up to 20 elite night credits per event).
8. Refer friends to the Marriott Bonvoy program
You can earn up to 50,000 points simply by referring your friends to the Marriott Bonvoy program. Here's how it works: You'll earn 2,000 points per stay for up to five stays, and you can refer up to 5 friends (2,000 points per stay x 5 five stays = 10,000 points, and 10,000 points x 5 friends = 50,000 points). While this won't be an entirely reliable way to earn Bonvoy points, it can serve as a nice addition to the points you'll get through your own stays and credit card spending.
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Advertiser Disclosure: The products that appear on this site may be from companies from which ValuePenguin receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). ValuePenguin does not include all financial institutions or all products offered available in the marketplace.
How We Calculate Rewards: ValuePenguin calculates the value of rewards by estimating the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using the card less any associated annual fees. These estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone, not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.
Example of how we calculate the rewards rates: When redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards, Chase Sapphire Preferred points are worth $0.0125 each. The card awards 2 points on travel and dining and 1 point on everything else. Therefore, we say the card has a 2.5% rewards rate on dining and travel (2 x $0.0125) and a 1.25% rewards rate on everything else (1 x $0.0125).