It has been a yr since Marriott retired its eight award classes in favor of dynamic pricing for award stays.
Earlier than the mega-chain phased out its award classes, it provided commonplace Class 5 lodge stays for 35,000 factors. In some ways, this system’s free night time certificates are a flashback to the Marriott award class period, as they’re capped at a sure variety of factors primarily based on these outdated thresholds.
However these certificates, which come from a number of of Marriott Bonvoy’s cobranded bank cards, are nonetheless worthwhile, and Marriott added the flexibility to high off free night time certificates, as much as 15,000 factors. So if a lodge is 38,000 factors per night time, you’ll be able to redeem your 35,000 level certificates and three,000 factors to remain.
This is a have a look at a few of our favourite resorts the place you need to use these certificates.
Playing cards that provide a 35,000-point free night time certificates
Marriott Bonvoy provides two bank cards that include an annual 35,000-point certificates upon renewing your account.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card: Earn 100,000 factors after you spend $3,000 within the first three months of cardmembership. After your first anniversary, you will obtain one 35,000-point certificates. The cardboard has a $95 annual payment.
- Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card: Earn 125,000 factors after you spend $5,000 within the first three months of cardmembership. After your first anniversary, you will obtain one 35,000-point certificates and a second certificates after spending $60,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr. The cardboard has a $125 annual payment (see charges and costs).
These playing cards additionally supply complimentary elite standing, elite qualifying nights, no international transaction charges (see Bonvoy Enterprise charges and costs) and bonus factors on choose spend classes.
Observe that different Marriott playing cards embrace the chance to earn free night time certificates with larger values. For instance, you obtain an 85,000-point certificates with the Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Specific® Card annually upon account renewal, when you can earn a 50,000-point certificates on the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Specific® Card after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in your card in a calendar yr.
Lastly, it is price noting that you’re going to nonetheless have to pay resort and vacation spot charges at properties that impose them when utilizing these certificates.
Associated: The award traveler’s information to Marriott Bonvoy
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The St. Regis Bangkok
Common money fee: $350
Customary factors fee: 33,000 to 42,000.
With luxurious facilities like St. Regis’ signature butler service and tasteful Thai-inspired decor, the St. Regis Bangkok provides a handy location and Michelin-starred meals at IGNIV. Utilizing factors, you will routinely get round 1 cent per Marriott level, above TPG’s valuation. It is a fantastic place for a 35,000-point free night time certificates, however you may want to make use of a couple of thousand factors to high off an award keep right here.
Associated: Bangkok Escape: The St. Regis Bangkok
W Chicago Lakeshore
Common money fee: $275.
Customary factors fee: 30,000 to 42,000.
Located on Chicago’s famed Lakeshore Drive, the W Lakeshore combines the noxiously psychedelic lighting typical of the W model with sweeping views of Navy Pier and Lake Michigan. Only a brief stroll from the meals and procuring on the Magnificent Mile, this lodge might be a super wager in your Chicago getaway.
Associated: Battle of the Chicago W Lodges: W Lakeshore vs. W Metropolis Middle
The Westin Georgetown, Washington D.C.
Common money fee: $325.
Customary factors fee: 26,500 to 42,000.
Positioned a couple of blocks from the Georgetown Waterfront and Dupont Circle, the Westin Georgetown is usually a nice use for a 35,000-point certificates. Whereas the lodge has begun to indicate its age, it provides a full health middle and a seasonal out of doors pool, and with town’s notoriously-high lodge charges, eradicating these prices with a certificates might be a fantastic choice.
Associated: Appreciating the Small however Monumental Treasures on the Journey
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa
Common money fee: $300.
Customary factors fee: 32,000 to 42,000.
Are you trying to outsmart excessive money and factors costs for a spring journey to Scottsdale? Think about using a 35,000-point free night time certificates on the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson. The property provides breathtaking views of the Sonoran Desert and Santa Catalina Mountains. There are 5 out of doors swimming pools and a Mexican-inspired restaurant on-site.
Associated: How I nearly got here out forward on my luxurious lodge keep
Walt Disney World Dolphin and Swan
Common money fee: $300.
Customary factors fee: 40,000 to 63,000.
Though you will have to high off your certificates when you select this route, there’s a lot to like in regards to the Walt Disney World Dolphin and Swan. Each resorts take part in Marriott Bonvoy and supply complimentary boat transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. There’s additionally a more moderen property known as the Swan Reserve, however discovering a room right here for 50,000 factors (the 35,000-point certificates and the utmost 15,000-point top-off) is not straightforward.
Associated: Who’s the fairest of all of them? Evaluating Marriott’s Dolphin, Swan and Swan Reserve Disney resorts
JW Marriott Lodge Rio de Janeiro
Common money fee: $250.
Customary factors fee: 26,400 to 43,000 factors.
Positioned proper throughout from Copacabana Seashore and inside strolling distance from Sugarloaf Mountain, it is onerous to beat the JW Marriott Rio de Janeiro’s location. The rooms and public areas right here cry for a renovation (prepare for plenty of Nineteen Nineties marble), however the property provides the comforts you’d count on from a luxurious lodge, together with a full-service concierge lounge (open to Platinum Elite and better members) and expansive breakfast buffet. It is no marvel why the lodge was Obama’s alternative when he visited town a number of years in the past.
Associated: 8 tricks to keep protected whereas visiting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Backside line
With Marriott Bonvoy’s dynamic pricing, you might need to juggle round some dates to discover a time when you need to use your 35,000-point certificates. That stated, Marriott enables you to high off these certificates with as much as 15,000 factors per night time.
As at all times, we recommend redeeming your 35,000 level certificates early on, as they typically expire a yr after they have been earned.
Even when you wind up utilizing these certificates at less-than-exciting properties (close to an airport or an interstate freeway, for instance), it ought to prevent a minimum of $150 or $200. Usually, that is greater than sufficient to justify the annual charges from bank cards that provide them.
Further reporting by Chris Dong and Ethan Steinberg.
For charges and costs of the Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise American Specific Card please click on right here.