Having points never hurts, particularly when you acquire them at the lowest ever prices and turn them into significant savings on inspired hotel stays all around the world. Marriott Bonvoy is currently offering a 60% bonus when you buy points, which is the best deal they’ve offered. Here’s how to weigh up the offer, a few superb hotels which have reopened and more…
Marriott 60% Bonus On Points Purchases
How good is Marriott Bonvoy’s 60% bonus on points purchases? Well, the best ever offer prior was 50%, and most offers have only hovered between 25-30%. With the limited time offer, which has been extended until July 15th, 2020 you can purchase Marriott Bonvoy Points for 0.78 cents per point, which is even lower in other currencies.
Just opened a Marriott Bonvoy account? You’ll have to wait 30 days if you’ve earned any points before you can purchase points, and if you have no activity at all with your new account, you’ll need to wait 90 days. Sadly, this means anyone who hasn’t had an account open for at least a couple weeks will just miss their window to buy points.
This is one of the many reasons to open loyalty program accounts, even if you’re not sure when and if you’ll use them. They’re free, and when opportunity comes along, you don’t want to miss out because you just signed up.
Marriott Hotels Reopening For Travelers
Although Marriott Points won’t expire as long as you continue to earn at least one point within a two year window, it’s obviously more fun to buy points when you can figure out a great way to spend them. A main reason people buy points is when you know can save money on a hotel stay by buying points or topping off a balance, versus the price you’d pay in cash. At many of the best five star hotels, this can be a clever move.
With that in mind, Marriott has reopened many of its flagship properties across Europe as of July 1st, with many more planning to open soon. Here’s a rundown of a few stunning hotels which have now reopened to visitors.
ITALY
- The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice on 1st July
- Hotel Danieli, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice on 1st July
- Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Cortina d’Ampezzo on 3rd July
- The Westin Excelsior Florence on 9th July
SPAIN
- Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Seville on 1st July
- Aloft Madrid Gran Vía on 1st July
- Cotton House Hotel, Autograph Collection, Barcelona on 1st July
- Hotel Marqués de Riscal, Elciego, La Rioja on 1st July
- St. Regis Mardavall Resort, Mallorca on 1st July
- Castillo Hotel Son Vida, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mallorca on 1st July
- The Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa, Benahavis, Marbella on 2nd July
- Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastián on 9th July
- W Barcelona on 9th July
PORTUGAL:
- Sheraton Lisboa Hotel & Spa on 1st July
- Lisbon Marriott Hotel on 1st July
GREECE
- Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Mykonos on 1st July
- Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santorini on 1st July
- King George, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens on 3rd July
- Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens on 3rd July
- Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol, Cyprus on 10th July
AUSTRIA
- Hotel Imperial, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna on 1st July
- Schloss Fuschl, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Fuschlsee-Salzburg on 1st July
- Sheraton Fuschlsee-Salzburg, Hotel Jagdhof on 1st July
SWITZERLAND
- Sheraton Zürich Hotel on 1st July
- W Verbier on 3rd July
Marriott Bonvoy is going all “off peak” when it comes to points rates for stays through July 31st, 2020. If you have travel planned during this typically peak time, you’ll pay lower, off peak rates, and with the potential savings from buying points versus paying straight up cash, you could really win.
At the same time, cash is king, particularly in recession, so someone who would only buy points speculatively for a use much later down the line, who might need the cash in the interim might want to pass. If however you’re you are flush with cash and know you’ll find a way to save down the line, who doesn’t like savings?
Don’t forget, Marriott also offers a wide range of credit cards across many markets, including many in the USA which offer bonuses of over 100,000 points from time to time, just from spending – aka nearly free points. That’s never a bad way to earn either…
This Promo came in VERY handy for a holiday i’ve just booked for June next year where I needed an 80k points top up. It cost me $625 to keep booking considerably simpler and saving me $3k overall! #RightTimeRightPlaceRightPromotion 🙂
I’m still really having a problem with paying 0.0078 per point when valuation is only 0.008 per point. I know for some big redemption you can probably get more value so can someone please try to document a justification.
I have never seen a point buying promotion that was economically sensible, even for some where they offer 100% bonus. When you look at how much it would cost you to buy enough points, even with the promotion, to pay for a room, it has always been cheaper to just pay cash for the room.
You just cannot speak in absolutes like this. There are many instances where it’s cheaper to buy the room, but there are also many more instances where it’s much cheaper to buy the points.
What you say might be true but every time that I have done the comparison it has worked out as I described.
And I just did it again using the Knoxville Residence Inn, a hotel that I have stayed at many times. I can get a room for $115.57, all taxes & fees incl. I need 17,500 points to get the room using only points. With the 60% bonus it will cost me $137.50 to buy 11,000 + 6,600 to get enough to cover this same room.
It all depends on the situation of where you’re staying and when. I was looking at the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton in Orlando and they can go up to 1,100 a night in January and it is way cheaper to buy points at 60,000 a night. The best deal is if you already have points and can buy enough (limited to 100,000 plus 60,000 bonus a year) for a four night stay, then the fifth night is free. That is the best way to use your points. The only problem is I can’t buy enough points to do this at a five star hotel. I had enough points with Hilton where I could buy enough with their 100% bonus to get enough points for four nights and get the fifth free. So for 230,000, I get five nights at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando. Also, the Waldorf has like a 45 dollar per day resort fee which I don’t think people who pay in points have to pay. Which is a lot of additional savings. I know Holiday in didn’t charge me the resort fee when I payed in points. So overall, it depends on the situation.
There is no “aspiration” in a Knoxville Residence Inn. These are properties where it does probably make sense to just pay. The logic is that this can save on stays which might otherwise be out of sight.
I see what you mean.
The only Marriotts that I stay at are Residence Inn. With Hilton they are either Hampton Inn or Homewood Suites.