Marriott’s Homes & Villas Promises Hotel-Quality Vacation Rentals (With Bonvoy Benefits)

When Marriott International launched Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy in 2019, it began with just 2,000 listings. Fast forward to 2025, and the platform now boasts nearly 183,000 properties across 10,000 global destinations, spanning the U.S., Europe, Asia, Latin America and beyond.

Homes & Villas is Marriott’s answer to Airbnb and Vrbo — but with a twist: it’s fully integrated into the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program and promises professionally managed, premium properties with hotel-like consistency. New features like generative AI search, curated inspiration categories, a Petco partnership for pet travel and even rain protection via WeatherPromise all aim to elevate the home rental experience.

But while Marriott markets this as a trustworthy, stress-free alternative to other home-sharing platforms, travelers have increasingly reported inconsistent quality and a lack of accountability when things go wrong.

Here’s what you need to know, what to watch out for — and whether this Airbnb alternative is worth it.

» Learn more: Find the best hotel credit card for you

Marriott says each property listed on Homes & Villas must meet standards for design, cleanliness, safety and amenities. Most come with Wi-Fi, premium linens, 24/7 customer support and professional management.

That level of vetting sounds great — and in many cases, it delivers. Properties also tend to have an element of luxury, quirkiness or both. Rather than a standard home, you might stay in a treehouse or glamping tents. Standout listings include a villa in Sorrento with a wood-fired pizza oven or an 18th-century Irish castle with a private lake.

But not everyone gets the royal treatment.

Multiple traveler reviews across the internet have also cited dirty homes, calling out specifics such as stained upholstery, mold and noise. Beyond just dirty homes, other customer reviews cite poor communication from either Marriott or the third-party managers actually running the properties.

Worse, Marriott doesn’t publicly post guest reviews on the Homes & Villas site, making it nearly impossible to know what you're walking into without doing a lot of other detective work yourself. Many of these listings are duplicated on other platforms like Vacasa or Airbnb (so you might read reviews for the property there). You might also find the same property listed for a cheaper rate on one of those websites.

Marriott Bonvoy members can take advantage of perks such as:

• Points earning: Travelers earn 5 points per $1 spent, which is the same as at Marriott’s extended-stay brands.

• Some Marriott elite status benefits: Extras like welcome gifts or bonus points still apply.

• Points redemption: Just like with hotels, you can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points at these homes for free nights.

However, there are plenty of caveats too, including that:

• Free night certificates aren’t accepted.

• Stay for 5, Pay for 4 Awards don't apply.

• Discounted rates are hard to come by. For example, there's no such thing as member rates, military or government rates (as is often the case with other Marriott hotels).

• Elite benefits like 4 p.m. late checkout or upgrades don’t apply.

Travelers are able to book stays on the Homes & Villas website. Major credit cards and Marriott Bonvoy points are the current acceptable methods of payments.

Since it launched, Homes & Villas has introduced several notable upgrades aimed at simplifying the search process.

AI-powered search

In 2024, Marriott launched an AI search tool that recommends properties, even if you didn’t specify a destination. To use it, just type in a vague idea of what you want, such as "an A-frame in the mountains with a fireplace" or "pet-friendly beachfront house." From there, it'll spit out listings that match your criteria.

Curated Collections

Marriott's Curated Collections tool groups properties for different traveler types. Examples include:

• Eco-Luxe Homes: Sustainable villas in Costa Rica or solar-powered retreats in Cape Town.

• Fabulously Famous Homes: Residences once owned by celebrities or featured on TV.

• Homes with Zen: Serene beach villas and meditation domes.

• Award-Winning Architecture: Design-focused homes with stunning views.

• Eclectic Escapes: Jungle domes, converted mills and other quirky finds.

These categories are constantly refreshed and are great for inspiration if you’re destination-flexible.

Pet-friendly listings with help from Petco

Recognizing that “Pets Allowed” is among the most-used filters on the site, Marriott has partnered with Petco to spotlight “Pet-Friendly Picks by Petco.” These homes meet Petco’s wellness standards for dogs and cats and can be filtered easily on the website.

In 2025, Marriott introduced WeatherPromise, an optional weather protection benefit that reimburses travelers if excessive rainfall occurs during their vacation rental stay.

Available only to U.S. residents booking through the Homes & Villas website, the feature lets guests purchase a custom WeatherPromise based on their location and dates. The system uses satellite and weather station data to track rainfall and automatically issues a payout if thresholds are exceeded.

It’s a clever idea — especially for trips during hurricane season or shoulder seasons in tropical destinations. However, it’s limited to rain only (no protections for snow, smoke, or extreme heat). It also makes for an additional upsell on top of what are often already high nightly rates.

Still, it’s a first-of-its-kind offering from a major hotel or vacation rental chain — and one that may bring peace of mind to families booking big-ticket vacations.

What we like

• Hotel-grade standards: Properties are inspected and professionally managed.

• Loyalty integration: You can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points, and benefit from elite perks.

• New weather protection: WeatherPromise is a smart, optional add-on for rain-sensitive trips.

What could be better

• Premium pricing: Rentals can cost significantly more than Airbnb or Vrbo counterparts.

• Mixed execution: Some guests still report issues with things like unfulfilled amenity listings or slow customer service — a reminder that no platform is flawless.

• No guest reviews: The lack of real reviews on the site makes it hard to vet listings.

Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy offers a tempting mix of hotel familiarity and vacation rental freedom. For Bonvoy loyalists, luxury-focused travelers or families looking to earn points on high-end stays, it may be worth exploring — particularly if you’re drawn to unique or pet-friendly properties.

But proceed with caution. Beneath the polished branding lies a booking platform that functions more like a broker, connecting you with third-party operators who may not meet Marriott’s stated standards. Without hosted reviews or reliable support, you're rolling the dice — often at a premium price.

If you book, do your homework: Google the listing, reverse image search the photos and check for the same property elsewhere.

Photo courtesy of Marriott International.