It seems like an odd question to ask: can buying Marriott points actually save you money?
Most people treat hotel points as an afterthought, rather than what they really are: an alternative currency for hotel nights at a fixed rate.
I’ve previously reviewed the value in purchasing points in the World of Hyatt program, so today is the turn of Marriott Bonvoy.
In this post:
How Many Points Do I Need For A Free Night At Marriott?
Bonvoy, the frequent guest program of Marriott Hotels, has an eight category award chart with a night at a hotel ranging from 5,000 points for an Off-Peak Category 1 to 100,000 for a Peak Category 8.
Each of the eight award categories has an Off-Peak, Standard and Peak points price per night.
Buy Marriott Points To Save Money
Multiple times per year, Marriott Bonvoy offers up to 50% bonus when buying points. There is a current offer until 25 March 2020 which brings the price down to 0.83 US Cents per point or US$8.33 per 1000 points.
This means anytime the paid rate for an Off-Peak Category 1 Hotel is above US$41.50, you will save money by buying points. Similarly with a Category 2 Hotel above US$83.30 and so on.
You are able to purchase up to 100,000 points under this promotion for a total of 150,000 points.
| Category | Off-Peak | Cost Per Night At 50% Bonus (0.83 US Cents Per Point) | Standard | Cost Per Night At 50% Bonus (0.83 US Cents Per Point) | Peak | Cost Per Night At 50% Bonus (0.83 US Cents Per Point) |
| 1 | 5,000 | $41.50 | 7,500 | $62.25 | 10,000 | $83.00 |
| 2 | 10,000 | $83.00 | 12,500 | $103.75 | 15,000 | $124.50 |
| 3 | 15,000 | $124.50 | 17,500 | $145.25 | 20,000 | $166.00 |
| 4 | 20,000 | $166.00 | 25,000 | $207.50 | 30,000 | $249.00 |
| 5 | 30,000 | $249.00 | 35,000 | $290.50 | 40,000 | $332.00 |
| 6 | 40,000 | $332.00 | 50,000 | $415.00 | 60,000 | $498.00 |
| 7 | 50,000 | $415.00 | 60,000 | $498.00 | 70,000 | $581.00 |
| 8 | 70,000 | $581.00 | 85,000 | $705.50 | 100,000 | $830.00 |
Case Study: W Chicago City Centre
The W Chicago City Centre is a four star hotel in downtown Chicago, located right in the Loop and within a historic building.
Summer in Chicago is peak season with a random night in June starting at US$519 or 40,000 points.
Upon closer inspection, the true rate after taxes and fees comes in at US$609.31.
An award night for 40,000 points all in (as taxes aren’t charged on redemptions), which we know costs US$332 to purchase.
So in this situation you are saving 46% by purchasing points.
Tip: Marriott Bonvoy redemptions are fully flexible and able to be cancelled within 24/48 hours of the stay without penalty.
Things To Remember Before You Buy Marriott Points
While there is great value to be had from purchasing Marriott points, I always keep the following in mind:
- Determine if the paid rate is higher than the amounts in the table above
- Check there is award availability for the nights you want to stay at a particular property
- Do not buy points unless you have a specific redemption in mind
- Remember the 150,000 purchased point per year limit
- Remember if you redeem for four nights, you get the fifth night free
Summary
Purchasing Marriott points can be a no brainer for the savvy traveller. Do your research before committing to a paid rate and you could be enjoying excellent Marriott hotels for less!
