There are two primary ways to book “free” stays at Marriott properties worldwide: You can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points, and you can use free night awards. The latter are earned from activities like renewing your Marriott credit card membership each year or meeting an annual spending threshold.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card offer a 50,000-point certificate after spending $15,000 per cardmember year (certain hotels have mandatory resort charges). Plus, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card, which typically offers a 35,000-point award stay every year upon account renewal, has a welcome offer of five free night awards — each night is valued up to 50,000 points — after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months.
Depending on which hotel you decide to use the award redemption at, this could amount to several hundred dollars in value.
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issue
Let’s take a look at some properties that represent great uses of these valuable certificates. Seriously, you won’t believe the luxurious hotels you can book with your free night award redemption.
How to use 50,000-point Marriott certificates
Marriott no longer has an award chart. As a result, hotel prices are hard to pin down — but there are several hotels that reliably make for a great redemption with 50,000-point certificates.
Plus, Marriott allows you to combine free night awards with up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, meaning you can use them to reserve hotels that cost up to 65,000 points per night.
Several Marriott credit cards offer free night certificates annually. Depending on the card, you’ll get a certificate worth 35,000, 50,000 or 85,000 points. Unfortunately, they’re only good for one night. For example, if you want to stay at a hotel that costs 40,000 points, you can use a 50,000-point free night award, but you’ll have to use the entire certificate, so you’ll forfeit 10,000 points in value.
Once you receive your certificate, the booking process is simple. Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and search for an award stay of any length. If you find a property with award nights costing 65,000 points per night (or less), your free night award is eligible to be redeemed.
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Related: 5 free nights 12 ways: TPG staffers share how they would use Marriott Boundless’ welcome offer
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
Standard points range: 50,000 to 85,000 points per night
The JW Marriott Venice is a luxury hotel located on a private island in the Venetian Lagoon in Italy. You can only enter the hotel by boat, making the experience extremely James Bond-esque.
The hotel is upscale while remaining extremely relaxed — otherworldly compared to Venice proper, which is about 1 mile away. Water taxis to and from St. Mark’s Square are free to use, so you can still get your fill of the excitement of the city.
JW Marriott Marquis Miami
Standard points range: 42,000 to 76,000 points per night
In a glassy tower in downtown Miami, the JW Marriott Marquis is near many of Miami’s cultural attractions, such as the Wynwood neighborhood, the Design District and the Pérez Art Museum.
At the hotel, you’ll find two restaurants — one helmed by James Beard award-winning chef Daniel Boulud — as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center with a rooftop pool providing sweeping views of Biscayne Bay. While the hotel isn’t on the beach, it’s just a short drive away from South Beach. The hotel itself is luxurious, with spacious guest rooms featuring floor-to-ceiling glass windows and other high-end touches like built-in TVs in the bathroom mirrors.
Related: The best hotels in Miami, from luxury beach stays to points properties
The Ritz-Carlton, Bali
Standard points range: 40,000 to 76,000 points per night
The Ritz-Carlton, Bali can sometimes fetch $700 or even $800 per night. In the upscale Nusa Dua area, every room at this property is either a suite or a villa, and almost all of them feature private plunge pools.
With six on-site dining options and a seemingly endless stretch of pristine beach, guests are sure to never get bored. However, the property also provides unique options for those looking for more structure in their day. The Ritz-Carlton offers a program that allows guests to give back to the local community through various service programs, which are perfect for a meaningful family vacation or team-building activities at a corporate event.
Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa
Standard points range: 44,000 to 70,000 points per night
Le Meridien Maldives is a relatively new hotel that, in our opinion, is priced far too low for the product it delivers. As with any luxury Maldives resort, you’ll have to pay dearly for the island transfer (a seaplane, in this case, for $420 per person round trip) — but the points rates here are a steal.
The island has six restaurants and cafes, plus a handful of pools and a gym overlooking endless turquoise water. Other Maldives-standard amenities, such as a diving center and free water sports, also come standard.
The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama
Standard points range: 43,000 to 76,000 points per night
On Spain’s famed Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, you’ll find a beautifully pink, Moorish-style palace otherwise known as The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama.
Set on cliffs above the blue sea, this property is an ideal spot for a laid-back European island vacation. The 459-room resort has six bars and restaurants, one of them — M.B — holding two Michelin stars for its Basque-inspired cuisine. When you’re not busy eating, relax by one of the resort’s multiple pools or at the beach, get a workout in at the fitness center, play a round of golf at nearby Abama Golf or hit one of seven tennis courts at the Abama Tennis Academy.
Related: Stay at these amazing Ritz-Carltons across the world
Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Valle Sagrado
Standard points range: 42,000 to 70,000 points per night
In one of the world’s most beautiful — and mystical — places, Tambo del Inka in Peru encourages you to embrace the rugged setting while getting pampered every step of the way. Use this resort as your home base for exploring the home of the ancient Inca people — it’s easier than ever thanks to the hotel having its own train station that you can use to reach Machu Picchu.
Gaze at the imposing Andes from your room or suite, enjoy a meal at one of the two on-property bars and restaurants or treat yourself to a service at the spa — you’re going to want one after a day of exploring the Sacred Valley.
Bottom line
Marriott’s free night awards have always been valuable, but with the ability to combine certificates with up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you can book more hotels than ever. Just remember, some hotels have resort fees that you’ll have to pay on top of points.
