There are two main ways to book “free” nights at Marriott hotels around the world: You can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points, or you can use a free night award certificate. The latter is earned through activities such as annual renewal of your Marriott credit card membership or meeting annual spending thresholds.
Several Marriott cards offer free night certificates, some worth up to 50,000 points. Depending on which hotel you decide to use your rewards redemption, this could save you hundreds of dollars.
Let’s examine some properties for effective use of these valuable certificates.
Related: The best Marriott hotels in the world you can book with points
How to Make the Most of a 50,000 Point Marriott Free Night Certificate
Marriott no longer has an award chart. Therefore, hotel prices are difficult to predict, but there are several hotels that consistently offer a great redemption experience with 50,000 point gift certificates.
Additionally, Marriott allows you to combine free night awards with up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, meaning you can use them to book hotels with up to 65,000 points per night.
Some Marriott credit cards offer free night certificates every year. Depending on the card, you’ll receive a certificate worth 35,000, 50,000 or 85,000 points. Unfortunately they are only suitable for one night stay. For example, if you want to stay at a hotel worth 40,000 points, you can use a free night award of 50,000 points, but you must use the entire gift certificate, so you lose the value of 10,000 points.
Once you receive your certificate, the booking process is simple. Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and search for award stays of any length. If you find a hotel where an award night costs 65,000 points (or less) per night, your free night award is eligible for redemption.
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JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
Standard point range: 62,000 to 155,800 points per night
Cash rates start at approximately $356 per night.
The JW Marriott Venice is a luxury resort located on a private island in the Venice Lagoon, Italy. You can only access the resort by boat, which makes the experience very James Bond-esque.
The hotel is both upscale and ultra-casual – a world away from downtown Venice, which is about a mile away. Water taxis to and from Piazza San Marco are free, so you can still enjoy the excitement of the city.
While you have to supplement your free night awards with points, it’s still a great option.
JW Marriott Marquis Miami
Standard point range: 44,000 to 84,000 points per night
Cash rates start at approximately $313 per night.
The JW Marriott Marquis is located in a glass tower in downtown Miami, close to many of Miami’s cultural attractions, such as the Wynwood neighborhood, the Design District, and the Pérez Art Museum.
The hotel features two restaurants (one of which is helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Daniel Boulud), a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a rooftop pool with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay. Although the hotel is not on the beach, it is only a short drive from South Beach. The hotel itself is luxurious, with spacious rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and other high-end amenities, such as built-in TVs in the bathroom mirrors.
RELATED: Miami’s best hotels, from luxury beach stays to points hotels
The Ritz-Carlton, Bali
Standard point range: 42,000 to 80,000 points per night
Cash rates start at approximately $300 per night.
The Ritz-Carlton Bali sometimes sells for $700 or even $800 a night. Located in the upscale Nusa Dua area, every room at this Indonesian hotel is a suite or villa, and almost all have private plunge pools.
With six on-site dining options and endless stretches of pristine beach, guests are sure to never get bored. However, the property also offers unique options for those looking for more structure. The Ritz-Carlton offers a program that allows guests to give back to the local community through a variety of service projects, perfect for a meaningful family vacation or a team-building activity at a corporate event.
JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
Standard point range: 42,000 to 76,000 points per night
Cash rates start at approximately $247 per night.
Closer to home, the JW Marriott Cancun, Mexico combines high-end luxury with a touch of history. Relax on pristine white sand beaches or head outside the hotel to explore the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Chichén Itza.
Make your stay even more exciting with a Cirque du Soleil ticket package, or spend time snorkeling and diving in pristine waters. At the end of the day, indulge in tequila and locally caught seafood, or enjoy sushi and Mediterranean cuisine at one of the many on-site restaurants.
Le Méridien Maldives Resort and Spa
Standard point range: 57,000 to 85,000 points per night
Cash rates start at approximately $426 per night.
In our opinion, the price is too low for the quality of product offered by Le Méridien Maldives. As with any luxury resort in the Maldives, you’ll have to pay for expensive island transfers (in this case, seaplane, $565 round trip per person 12 and over), but the points rate here is worth noting.
There are six restaurants and cafes on the island, as well as several swimming pools and a gym overlooking endless turquoise waters. Other Maldivian standard facilities such as a diving center and free water sports are also included.
The Ritz-Carlton, Abama, Nerife Island
Standard point range: 52,000 to 80,000 points per night
Cash rates start at approximately $276 per night.
On Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s famous Canary Islands, you’ll find a beautiful pink Moorish palace also known as the Ritz-Carlton Abama, Tenerife.
Perched on a cliff above the blue sea, this hotel is the perfect place for a laid-back European island getaway. The 459-room resort has six bars and restaurants, including one, MB, which was awarded two Michelin stars for its Basque cuisine. When you’re not busy dining, you can relax in one of the resort’s multiple swimming pools or on the beach, work out in the fitness center, play a round of golf at the nearby Abama Golf Course, or tee off on one of the seven tennis courts at the Abama Tennis Academy.
RELATED: Stay at These Stunning Ritz-Carlton Hotels Around the World
Tambo del Inca, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Sagrado Valley
Standard point range: 49,000 to 85,000 points per night
Cash rates start at approximately $470 per night.
In one of the most beautiful (and mysterious) places in the world, Peru’s Tambo del Inka encourages you to embrace its rugged surroundings while enjoying pampering every step of the way. Use this resort as your base for exploring the ancient homeland of the Incas – making it easier than ever since the hotel has its own train station, which you can use to travel to Machu Picchu.
Admire the majestic Andes from your room or suite, enjoy a meal at one of the two on-site bars and restaurants, or pamper yourself at the spa—a pampering you’ll definitely want after a day exploring the Sacred Valley.
Marriott Card Offers Free Night Award Certificate
If you want to easily earn a free night award certificate (or several), check out some of our favorite Marriott co-branded cards:
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (See Rates & Fees): Earn five free night bonuses (worth up to 50,000 points per night) after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. Plus, get up to $100 in statement credit after you spend $500 on eligible airline purchases. Earn up to $50 in statement credits every six months. Each year after your account anniversary, cardholders will receive a free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points. Some hotels charge a resort fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (See Rates & Fees): Earn two free night awards (each worth 50,000 points) after you spend $1,000 in qualifying purchases within the first three months of account opening. Some hotels charge a resort fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit Card: Earn 85,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases within three months of account opening. After spending $15,000 in qualifying purchases in a calendar year, cardholders will receive free night certificates worth up to 50,000 points. Some hotels charge a resort fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership. After spending $15,000 in qualifying purchases in one year, card members will receive free night certificates worth up to 50,000 points. Some hotels charge a resort fee.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card information is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
bottom line
Marriott’s free night awards have always been valuable, but by combining a gift certificate with up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you can book more hotels than ever before.
Keep in mind that some hotels also charge resort fees, which you must pay on a points basis.
