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6 Best Uses of Marriott’s 35,000-Point Free Night Award For Hotel Nights
Marriott hotels in Thailand, Chile, China and elsewhere are great redemption opportunities.
Ramsey is a freelance travel journalist covering business travel, loyalty programs and luxury travel. His work has appeared in Travel+Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Reader's Digest, AFAR, BBC Worldwide, USA Today, Frommers.com, Fodors.com, Business Traveler, Fortune, Airways, TravelAge West, MSN.com, Bustle.com and AAA magazines. As someone who flies more than 450,000 miles per year and has been to 173 countries, he is well-versed in the intricacies of credit cards and how to maximize the associated perks and services.
Erica Harrington is a contributing editor at NerdWallet. She has more than 20 years of copy-editing experience. Previously, she served as the copy chief at Forbes Advisor and NerdWallet. In addition to personal finance content, she has edited stories about business, city and state politics, arts and entertainment, and national and international affairs. Erica also has taught English as a second language at corporations in Santiago, Chile. She has produced white papers for the United Nations. She is based in Atlanta.
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One of the popular benefits of holding a co-branded Marriott credit card is the Free Night Award certificate that you can redeem at a value of up to 35,000 points at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel. You have more than 30 brands and nearly 10,000 properties around the world to choose from.
This means you can use Marriott’s online or app-based search function to find hotels on your dates that are 35,000 points or fewer. Alternatively, you can top off your Free Night Award by paying up to 25,000 more points, which would get you to an award redemption of at least 60,000 points.
NerdWallet values Marriott points at 0.8 cent each, which makes your 35,000 point Free Night Award worth $280.
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How to find a hotel room for 35,000 points
To find the lowest award redemption rates for your preferred hotel, select the “flexible dates” option in the search function. This can help guide you to find the dates that get closest to 35,000 points. And the Marriott Bonvoy program has a special feature when redeeming four award nights, you can stay a fifth night for free. When you add your Free Night Award to the stay, you now have a six-night trip using points.
We took a look at some of the properties you can visit in iconic locations around the globe across different brands so that you can see the range of offerings where the Free Night Award makes sense. Below are some examples of hotels you can book with your Marriott free night award for 35,000 points:
1. W Bangkok, Thailand
(Photo courtesy of W Bangkok)
You can party in Thailand at the W Bangkok. This brand, which is known for music and arts, is often available for redemptions as few as 24,000 points per night. You can expect DJs in the lobby and creative weekend brunches to get the party mood going. Expect a beautiful pool and great views at this W in the heart of Bangkok.
2. St. Regis Shenzhen Bao'an, China
(Photo courtesy of St. Regis Shenzhen Bao'an)
This is one of the newest St. Regis hotels in the world. Towering 51 floors over the city center and within walking distance to many popular tourist sites, the views from here are incredible. You can experience St. Regis signatures like Champagne sabering (uncorking the bottle with a sword) each evening, a Bloody Mary designed just for Shenzhen and delicious Chinese fare at Yan Ting restaurant.
In-the-know locals love the rooftop cocktail bar, and many Hong Kong residents take the ferry to Shenzhen for the weekend for shopping and dining in Shenzhen at half the price. On a few nights a year, you can find this property for as low as 37,000 points per night, which only requires topping it up by just 2,000 additional points.
3. W Santiago, Chile
(Photo by W Santiago)
W Santiago in Chile is another great points bargain, especially if you can visit during one of their famous weekend brunches. This hotel has a fantastic Las Condes location, convenient for shopping and dining, as well as a fun pool scene with exciting cocktails.
On some of the lowest redemption nights, you can find rates for 37,000 points per night, which only requires topping up the award with just 2,000 additional points. This is just one of many Marriott Bonvoy properties in the Chilean capital, and there are many more below 35,000 points. This includes the Sheraton Santiago Hotel and Convention Center, which has a great swimming pool and gardens.
4. The Laylow Waikiki, Autograph Collection and Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Honolulu
(Photo by The Laylow Waikiki)
Heading to Waikiki? There are several hotels that are a perfect fit for the 35,000 point Free Night Award if you’re willing to top up the award with additional points. Properties include The Laylow Waikiki, Autograph Collection (often as low as 45,000 points), and Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (often down to 54,000 points per night) among others. For under 60,000 points per night, you can secure a free night near one of Hawaii’s most famous beaches.
5. Le Méridien Paris Arc De Triomphe
(Photo by Marriott)
Le Meriden Paris Arc de Triomphe has a great location by its namesake monument and was the first hotel to open for the brand. On several nights, you can score a redemption for as low as 37,000 points requiring a top up of only 2,000 more points. That’s a great deal for this central address close to the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées.
6. Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes
(Photo by Marriott)
Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes just completed a major renovation that gives this urban resort plenty of energy and momentum. While it is largely focused on groups and conferences, it is a family favorite for vacations and staycations. It has great swimming pools and gardens all convenient to the airport and downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale. You can often find rates for as low as 33,000 points per night.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use my Marriott free night certificate? How do I use my Marriott free night certificate?
Login to your Marriott Bonvoy account to search for your preferred destination and select the Use Points/Awards option. Choose the flexible dates option to see the best nights with the lowest points redemption rate. If the number of points needed is more than 35,000 points, you will be able to apply up to 25,000 additional points to complete the reservation.
How do I use my Marriott certificate on the app? How do I use my Marriott certificate on the app?
You can redeem your certificate on the app, by searching for points redemption rates as usual. If you find something below 35,000 points, you can select the box that says Redeem Free Night. If it is more than 35,000 points, you can also add additional points up to 25,000 additional points.
How many nights do you have to stay at Marriott to get a free night? How many nights do you have to stay at Marriott to get a free night?
You only need to stay one night to redeem the Free Night Award although you can pay with points for a multi-night reservation.
Does Marriott give free nights? Does Marriott give free nights?
Yes, Marriott offers free nights for customers. You can earn an automatic fifth night free for four consecutive nights booked at a hotel on points. Free nights are also offered as perks for Marriott credit card customers. Plus, you can redeem points you earn for free nights. A free night ranges anywhere from 4,000 to 100,000 points per night.