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Bid on bargain Michelin-starred restaurant experiences with Marriott Moments

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Marriott Bonvoy has launched a number of culinary experiences in Europe on its ‘Marriott Moments‘ site.  Full details are here.

These are all available via auction – but you can only pay with Marriott Bonvoy points.  Frankly, most look hugely underpriced so far.

None of the experiences are in the UK, but you don’t need to worry about that as they all include at least a two night stay for two people.  

You can currently bid on experiences in Barcelona, Mallorca, San Sebastian, Tenerife, Geneva and Wolfsburg, so not bad places to travel to!  Further Culinary Moments are due to launch in 2020 in other parts of the world.

Don’t think that these experiences are simply a hotel stay with a free meal included on one night.  There is a LOT of extra stuff included, varying by package.  The Geneva package, for example, currently includes:

  • Cooking Masterclass with our Michelin-starred Chef Michel Roth in the kitchen of his Bayview restaurant
  • Chocolate workshop and tasting at “la Bonbonnière” chocolate factory
  • Tasting Lebanese menu at the Arabesque Lebanese restaurant
  • Visit of wine cellar of Domaine Château-du-Crest followed by a wine tasting including premium Swiss specialties
  • An eight-course tasting menu at the Michelin-starred Bayview restaurant with wine parings

It is also worth noting that most packages have very few bids so far – quite a few have none.  There is the potential for a genuine bargain here.

The experiences currently offered in Europe are:

Es Fum with Chef Miguel Navarro at the St Regis Mardavall, Mallorca: 12th – 14th October, lowest bid currently 90,000 Bonvoy points, 2-night stay included

M.B & Kabuki with Chef Martín Berasategui at the The Ritz‐Carlton, Abama, Tenerife: 27th – 30th October, lowest bid currently 150,000 Bonvoy points, 3-night stay IN A VILLA included

Marqués de Riscal with Chef Francis Paniego at the Hotel Maria Cristina & Marqués de Riscal, Rioja: 4th – 9th November, lowest bid currently 200,000 Bonvoy points, 4-night stay included (2 nights at each hotel)

La Barra de Carles Abellan with Chef Carles Abellán & Enoteca Paco Pérez with Chef Paco Pérez at the Hotel Arts Barcelona: 15th – 17th November, lowest bid currently 150,000 Bonvoy points, 2-night stay included

Bayview with Chef Michel Roth at the Hotel President Wilson, Geneva: 22nd – 24th November, lowest bid currently 150,000 Bonvoy points, 2-night stay in a JUNIOR SUITE included

AQUA with Chef Sven Elverfeld at the The Ritz‐Carlton, Wolfsburg: 3rd ‐ 5th December, lowest bid currently 152,000 Bonvoy points, 2-night stay in a SUITE included

All experiences include a minimum two night stay for two people at the hotel, a unique multi-course dinner at the Michelin starred restaurant and a chef masterclass, meet and greet or other bonus.

You can find out more about these Marriott Bonvoy Culinary Experiences here. You will also find a number of Culinary Experiences in the US, China, Dubai and Egypt in case those work with your travel plans in the near future.

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

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (March 2025)

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 for signing up 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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

and for small business owners:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 60,000 points. You receive 40,000 points when you spend £6,000 within three months and a further 20,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to 120,000 points. You receive 80,000 points when you spend £12,000 within three months and a further 40,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

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.

Category

Marriott Bonvoy

Comments (16)

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

  • ee says:
    25 Sep25 September 08:51

    OT – yesterday the ‘GEM’ discount code for Buyagift was mentioned. Can anyone clarify what this is?

    • JenT says:
      25 Sep25 September 09:06

      Just a promo code on the Buy a Gift site. Seems to get you £10 off most orders. I also see that you get £10 off your first order if you are a new customer and sign up for the newsletter, so that may be better for you.

    • Craig says:
      25 Sep25 September 10:36

      Used it twice yesterday to stack with the Amex offer than most of us have, worked out at £16 for 3 courses and a glass of wine for 2 at Prezzo.

      • ee says:
        26 Sep26 September 07:10

        Thanks all. Also went with the Prezzo deal, stacked with Amex offers. 18% also tracked at the top tracking place but as was said previously it may not payout.

  • Down the Back says:
    25 Sep25 September 10:34

    Is there currently a Bonvoy promo running ? I don’t see anything in my account except Endless Earning which finished on Sep 16th. Rob / Rhys any idea when a new promo will launch ?

    Thanks

    DtB

  • memesweeper says:
    25 Sep25 September 10:41

    … but less than half that if you collect reward nights, which I expect most here will do 🙂

    • Doug M says:
      25 Sep25 September 13:16

      Still a good deal, I’m assuming it’s 5 with reward nights. Flying Club were offering 10 and 4.

      Incidentally much more annoying despite the trivial amount is the new $5 redemption fee they’re imposing.

  • Ben E says:
    25 Sep25 September 13:27

    Did anyone get in on the Bonvoy auction for chef’s table at Core? I was bidding up to my balance of 41k points but missed out

  • Down the Back says:
    25 Sep25 September 13:38

    The company I work for has just implemented a new expense system, Concur and I’ve been told today that we will all be issued an Amex card (the green one) would Amex count this as you having a personal card in terms of when you can apply for the bonus on say the SPG card or the BA card etc I’ve been told that the card comes with both the company name and your name on it.

    Does anybody have any experience of applying for say BA or SPG card when you have a company issued one in terms of do you get the sign up bonus ?

    Thanks

    DtB

    • Rob says:
      25 Sep25 September 14:15

      Do you earn MR points from it? That is the key issue.

    • E says:
      25 Sep25 September 15:04

      I’ve not had any problems in holding a green corporate card and applying for other Amex cards, but I haven’t done so since the Amex rules changed. There are two types of green corporate cards though so suggest you ring Amex and check (both look the same apparently). One allows MR accumulation and the other doesn’t.

      I spoke to Amex about getting MR points on my corporate card as they can add that option for a nominal sum per year (can’t remember the actual amount) and your corporate card spend then earns MR points. Unfortunately mine was the other type of corporate card where I wasn’t allowed to add the option for MR points. I would think if your card isn’t the type which earns MR points then you’d be OK, and if it’s the one which gives you the option then maybe not.

    • Lady London says:
      25 Sep25 September 15:14

      Got a feeling you become jointly liable with your employer for the bills.
      So, for example, if your employer collapses you could theoretically at least, be left with the bills to pay.

      I believe one employer who mandated a particular card to be issued to all staff, had to accept that some employees refused the card because of this issue in the terms. Which I do think are within Amex’s terms as a matter of routine. I think it’s a legal issue that they can’t make you accept that liability.

      Unfortunately then, those employees had to continue spending on their own cards and claiming back…I guess.

      • Lady London says:
        25 Sep25 September 15:16

        btw: apart from that, I like Concur a lot. You can photograph your receipts on your phone on the way to the airport (excellent OCR and auto-upload to a claim form), and, if your company has its act together, they can be submitted and approved so quickly you could be repaid in a matter of days before you have to shell out for more hotels in the next place. So helps personal liquidity a lot.

    • Spaghetti Town says:
      25 Sep25 September 17:36

      our employer gives you the option to switch off the Membership rewards

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

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