The Ultimate Guide to Marriott Bonvoy: Rewards, Status & Tips

The Basics

• Full Name: Marriott Bonvoy
• Parent Company: Marriott International
• Launched: 2019 (post-Starwood merger)
• Number of Hotels: ~8,800
• Brands: 36 (from Moxy to The Ritz-Carlton)
• UK Credit Card: Marriott Bonvoy Amex
• Transfer Partners: 39 airlines (including Avios)

What’s the Vibe?

Think of Marriott Bonvoy as the Heathrow Terminal 5 of hotel loyalty: slick, enormous, and somehow both impressive and mildly confusing. It’s the result of Marriott scooping up Starwood, meaning you now get access to glitzy names like St. Regis and The Luxury Collection alongside crash pads like Moxy.

With a footprint that covers everything from budget to ultra-luxe, Bonvoy has the range, but does it deliver the goods?

Where Can You Actually Use It?

Pretty much everywhere. Marriott’s global sprawl is massive. You’ll find them in every major city, beach town, and airport-adjacent strip mall.

In the UK, options are decent, especially in London, with Moxy and Courtyard showing up more than that friend who “doesn’t drink” at bottomless brunch. Outside of London? Hilton and IHG might still have the edge.

Luxury is where Bonvoy shines. Thanks to the Starwood inheritance, the top end includes:

• St. Regis – proper posh
• The Ritz-Carlton – classic luxe
• The Luxury Collection – heritage hotels with history
• Autograph Collection – quirky boutique vibes

How Do You Earn Points?

Here’s the base earning structure:

Elite members earn bonuses on top, and you’ll pick up points on room rates, food, spa spending, and any other little luxuries you tack on.

Tip: Reward nights count toward elite nights, and Marriott usually runs double elite nights promos in Q1.

⚠️ Points Expiry: Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity, including not earning, redeeming, or transferring points. One transaction resets the clock.

Bonvoy Status: Fancy or Flimsy?

The Marriott Bonvoy elite ladder looks like this:

Highlights:

• Platinum is the sweet spot for lounge access, suite upgrades, and late checkout.
• Ambassador is a flex more than a value play.
• Don’t get your hopes up on late checkout or upgrades unless you’re high up the food chain.

⚠️ Note: Some brands, like Protea and Marriott Executive Apartments, are stingy with night credits. You’ll earn 1 night for every 2 or 3 actual nights stayed.

Any Good Credit Card Boosts?

In the UK, the Marriott Bonvoy Amex gives:

• 6x points per £1 at Marriott hotels
• 2x on everything else
• 15 elite night credits annually
• Automatic Silver Elite status

That gets you a quarter of the way to Platinum, which is not bad if you top it up with actual stays.

Bonus: Spend £25,000 per membership year on the card, and you’ll get a Free Night Award worth up to 25,000 points. You can top this up with up to 15,000 points to book a more expensive property.

Amex Platinum holders also get Gold Elite status, but you’ll get that with Hilton, Melia and Radisson, too, so it’s not exclusive.

Redeeming Points: Any Sweet Spots?

Marriott axed its award chart in 2022, replacing it with “dynamic pricing” (read: chaos). Points needed for a room now float with cash rates, but there are caps on how high redemptions can go.

Key perks:

• 5th Night Free – When booking 5 consecutive nights with points, the cheapest one is free. Plan accordingly to get real value.
• Instant Redemption – Use points on the spot for things like spa treatments or meals. It’s not excellent value, but it’s handy in a pinch. (2,500 pts = $10 credit.)
• Cash + Points – Book with a mix of cash and points. It’s flexible but not always great value. Still, it’s good for when you’re just shy of a full redemption.
• Marriott Moments – Use points for gigs, footy matches, or VIP seats at The O2 and Old Trafford.

💡 Tip: Off-peak redemptions, especially at high-end resorts, can sometimes give you spectacular value.

Average value? Roughly 0.5p per point, though you can squeeze out more with strategic redemptions.

Transferring Points to Miles? Actually Worth It.

Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 39 airline partners at a 3:1 ratio. And here’s the kicker: transfer 60,000 points, and you’ll get a 5,000-mile bonus.

For example:

• 60,000 Bonvoy points = 25,000 Avios
• 60,000 Bonvoy points = 30,000 United miles (exclusive partner perk)

Most hotel points are terrible for flights. These aren’t. It’s one of the only hotel programmes where transferring to miles might actually make sense.

So… Is Marriott Bonvoy Worth It?

If you’re a loyalist clocking 50+ nights a year, Bonvoy makes sense. The elite perks at Platinum and above are genuinely solid, and the luxury hotel range is unmatched.

But for the casual traveller? Hilton Honors or IHG One Rewards might be a better deal. Bonvoy’s dynamic pricing, tight credit card ecosystem in the UK, and inconsistent elite treatment mean it can feel like a tough climb for middling rewards.

Sign-Up Link

👉 Join Marriott Bonvoy here – and maybe don’t blow your 60,000-point transfer on something daft.

Keep the Miles Rolling

Hungry for more hotel hacks? Dip into our complete loyalty programme guides and make those stays work harder.

• The Ultimate Guide to Radisson Rewards: Perks, Points & Pitfalls.
• The Ultimate Guide to Hilton Honors: How to Earn, Burn, and Maximise Rewards.
• IHG One Rewards: The Full Guide to Maximising Your Stays.