Get a mystery bonus when you buy Marriott Bonvoy hotel points

Marriott Bonvoy has launched a new deal if you buy their hotel points. The offer runs until 23rd December.

Via this page of the website, you will get a ‘mystery bonus’ of (I think) 40% to 45% on all points purchases. There may be higher and lower options too.

There is an extra twist this time – you get an extra 1,000 Bonvoy points when you buy at least 20,000 points.

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

With such a range of bonuses available it’s impossible to say whether it is good value or not. The sweet spot will be buying exactly 20,000 points because you get your 40% or 45% bonus PLUS the fixed bonus of 1,000 points on top.

For me, buying 20,000 points gets me a 45% bonus plus 1,000 extra on top for a total of 30,000 points. The cost is $250 which is 0.64p per point. This is still above our target valuation of 0.5p for a Marriott Bonvoy point although it isn’t difficult to exceed this.

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

Outsized 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.

Our recent review of The Bodrum EDITION showed how I got a room costing €1,750 per night for just 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

This was 1.76p per point – more than double what you can buy them for here – although I admit that such deals are generally only found at peak dates.

Your Marriott Bonvoy account must be 90 days old before you can buy points, or 30 days old if the account has some other activity on it such as a hotel stay.

The page to buy is here. The offer runs until 23rd December.

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (December 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 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 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on The Platinum Card from American Express is increased to 80,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points! The spend requirement is changed to £10,000 in six months for this offer. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

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

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)

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is increased to 30,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Click here to apply.

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (50,000 bonus Amex points)

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.)