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Save 30% when you buy Marriott Bonvoy hotel points – worth it?

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UPDATE – APRIL 2024:  This article is now out of date, but don’t worry.  We produce a monthly summary of the top hotel bonus point offers – please click HERE or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ menu above.

Marriott Bonvoy is offering 1,000 bonus points per night and double elite night credits on stays between 13th February and 29th April. Click here to read more and click here to register.

Keep up to date with new hotel offers by signing up for our free daily or weekly newsletters.

You currently have only your second opportunity to buy Marriott Bonvoy at a discount since the scheme launched in February – and this is more generous than the offer which ran in the Summer.

Via this page of the website, you will save 30% on all points purchases until 18th October

The annual purchase cap of 50,000 points has been doubled to 100,000 points, although the maximum you can buy in one go remains 50,000 points.  At the top end you are paying $437.50 (£351) for 50,000 points under this offer.

My rule of thumb is that a Marriott Bonvoy point is worth 0.5p so this offer is not great at 0.70p per point.

However, you might find it worthwhile if:

you are topping off your account before making a points booking, or

you are planning a stay at a property where you know you will get outsized value

The snag with Marriott Bonvoy is that the annual points buying cap is too low to allow you to exploit the deal.  The St Regis New York, for example, can easily run to $1,300 per night including taxes, which makes 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (on a ‘Standard Reward’ day) a great deal.  The problem is getting enough points.

However …. you CAN transfer up to 100,000 Bonvoy points per year from one member to another.  You need to ring up to do this, which is a bit annoying, but that is the only restriction.  This is one way around the limit on points purchases.

The link to buy is here if you are interested.


How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2024)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points sign-up bonus and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.  We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

and for small business owners:

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)

Comments (103)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Robert SG says:

    Can a BAEC Silver ‘guest’ someone through fast track security @ Heathrow….?

    Think the answer is no 🤔

    • The Original Nick says:

      Yes, If you’re on the same booking. Always worth a try if not.

      • Shoestring says:

        Good time to remind people that if you’re in a party (don’t have to be on the same booking), you can all board in the highest boarding group. Eg somebody is in Group 1 but the other 4 are in Group 4 – you can all board in Group 1, this is official BA guidance.

        • Lyn says:

          Good reminder. Except BA seem to be fussy about this sometimes when the person in the higher boarding group is there due to BA Bronze. Silver seems to be OK.

          • Shoestring says:

            refer them to BA guidance: [It is possible that customers travelling together may receive different group numbers. In this case, please make your way to the gate where you will be able to board together.]
            https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/checking-in-and-boarding/boarding

          • Anna says:

            I suspect BA might argue that “travelling together” means “on the same booking”. I’ll test this next summer when I’m on an avios booking with my nephew and (Bronze) OH and son are on a cash booking! Plan is for them to use fast track to check in our 2 cases, I’ve already booked exit seats for me and nephew and hopefully OH will be able select seats near these 7 days out.

    • stevenhp1987 says:

      Out of curiosity, what levels can use fast track? I don’t see it listed as a benefit on the BA website…

      • Stu N says:

        By One World rules it is OW Emerald = BA Gold. Most UK and many European airports extend access to Silvers. Not much experience elsewhere.

  • AbuCordoba says:

    Question if I have a gold status at Raddison from my Amex Plat…how many nights at Raddison will I need to do to make Plat? Is it 60 or just the 30?

  • Liam says:

    OT — the “15% back on Gett (black cab app) journeys” offer has re-appeared for me on my Platinum and Rewards cards, valid until November 29.

  • Shoestring says:

    Virgin – Manchester – Orland (Economy) adds itself to the list of winter/ spring cheapies – £234 return on Skyscanner (and widely), £250 thru Virgin direct

    • TripRep says:

      Christ that is cheap, wonder how much upgradeable Economy is.

    • Anna says:

      Grrr – and by the time I can take advantage of those kind of prices I won’t want to visit Orlando any more!

  • Yuff says:

    OT: Please can someone remind me which rooms are the refurbished ones at the Gatwick Hilton hotel?

    • TripRep says:

      +1. Staying there in Nov.

      Might email them nearer the time to ask…

      • Chrisasaurus says:

        Best ones are the ones in the sofitel 😋

        • Rob says:

          Probably the Hampton! Unless you have lounge access. I was quite impressed with Hilton Gatwick as a Diamond though.

          • TGLoyalty says:

            Always upgraded to exec room in new wing as a gold

          • Yuff says:

            New rooms in the glass atrium begin 74 on the fourth floor….

          • Nate1309 says:

            +1 for always being upgraded as Gold

          • RedEyeDonkey says:

            I’ll second the Hampton – definitely will be my go to Hilton brand hotel at Gatwick. A year ago was upgraded at the Hilton Gatwick to the ‘new’ wing but the bed was pretty beat up and uncomfortable. The Hampton on the other hand was very comfortable. The family rooms there were spacious too – had plenty of room for our friends to come join and kids play together in the space available. No exec lounge ofc but… I always find unless you’re somewhere in Europe with a high floor, sea view balcony in the exec lounge you’re not missing that much there anyway.

      • Jason says:

        The ones across the glass walk way are the better ones they call it the “new” building

  • Mark says:

    I’m sure with transferring Marriott points you can go this via email/get in touch on the website? Did a transfer this way earlier in the year iirc

    • Freddy says:

      I tried via email and they said I had to phone for security reasons

      • TripRep says:

        Yep I did this a few months ago & they needed to speak with my wife to confirm, so probably best done at home.

        Combined 2* target spends on new SPG cards I applied for just before the Amex rules changed (thanks Harry) into 29k VS Miles.

  • James says:

    OFF TOPIC.

    How likely are Iberia ground staff strikes ?
    I have read that the are balloting on 8 days of strikes to be taken between Sept 30 and Nov 30.

    Is this correct ?

    • Rob says:

      Yes, every Monday.

    • marcw says:

      Yes every monday is planned. But remember that in Spain strike actions are regulated. That means that there are services running. Usually all flights to/from the Canary and Balearic Islands must fly, 25% of mainland Spain flights, and 35% of international flights (these percentages are approx, it depends on the judge, but flights to from the islands are guaranteed).

  • RussellH says:

    > You can also easily justify 0.33p based on 15,000 points for a Park Inn in a regional UK town.

    Are there any of these left?

    Wallsall is now 28 000, which is ridiculous. Birmingham West is now Accor, but unbranded outswith Le Club. Harlow was dire, and, I think, also now with Accor.

    • Rob says:

      Even 28k is only £90 at 0.33p though, which is not uncommon these days.

      • RussellH says:

        Last time I considered Walsall it was under £60 – and that ought to be the most that it charges TBH

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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