Get a mystery bonus when you buy Marriott Bonvoy hotel points

Marriott Bonvoy has launched a new deal if you buy their hotel points.

Via this page of the website, you will get a ‘mystery bonus’ of (I think) 25% to 45% on all points purchases. The offer runs to 23rd September.

The annual cap has also been temporarily raised from 100,000 to 150,000 points plus your bonus on top.

With such a wide range of bonuses available it’s impossible to say whether it is good value or not. Even at a 45% bonus, however, you would be paying north of our target value of 0.5p per Marriott Bonvoy point. My own bonus was only 35% which works out at 0.72p per point.

You might find it worthwhile if:

• you are topping off your account before making a points booking, or
• you are close to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and want to make a transfer into airline miles (you get a bonus of 5,000 airline miles when you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points into 20,000 airline miles in most programmes), or
• you are planning a stay at a property where you know you will get outsized value

Outsize value is still possible, despite Marriott Bonvoy moving towards revenue-based redemptions. With no reward charts still available, however, you need to look at it on a case by case basis.

We are away next week using Bonvoy points at a beach resort, saving 75% on the cash rate.

In theory I got 2.6p per point (5x our target value of 0.5p and over 3x the price in this offer) but as the cash rate was £1,700 per night per room – and we need two rooms – I wouldn’t have been paying that in the first place! That said, this is not an inflated price compared to what comparable hotels in the same location are charging.

The page to buy is here. The offer runs to 23rd September.

(PS. Remember that American Express is currently offering a 30% bonus on Membership Rewards transfers to Marriott Bonvoy. This would be better value than buying Bonvoy points if you have Amex points available.)

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

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.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (40,000 bonus Amex points)

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 22nd October 2024, the bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased to up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points, worth 80,000 Avios. You will receive 8 points per £1 spent for the first three months, on up to £10,000 of spending. Click here to read our full card review. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 22nd October 2024, the bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased to up to 40,000 Membership Rewards points, worth 40,000 Avios. You will receive 4 points per £1 spent for the first three months, on up to £10,000 of spending. The card is FREE for your first year. Click here to read our full card review. 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. 

(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.)