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Marriott Bonvoy has more than two dozen brands and more than 8,000 hotels from which to choose when earning and redeeming points. With so many options, it's easy to default to the familiar names, like Courtyard, Residence Inn or Sheraton. But buried within the Marriott portfolio are boutique properties that offer something entirely different: hotels with genuine character, deep connections to their destinations and design that actually makes you want to spend time in the lobby.
These aren't just smaller hotels. They're properties where location, design, and local culture come together to create stays that feel distinctly un-Marriott-like, even while you're earning and redeeming Bonvoy points. Here are some of the top Marriott boutique hotels you can book with points around the country.
Design Hotels: Best for small, boutique hotels
Marriott's Design Hotels collection offers a refreshing alternative for travelers who crave the creative energy of independent boutique properties but still want the reliability and rewards of a major hotel chain. Unlike Marriott's more standardized brands, Design Hotels celebrates individuality and local character, bringing together properties that each tell their own distinct story. These aren't cookie-cutter hotels—they're carefully curated spaces where design-forward aesthetics meet authentic local culture, all while earning you Marriott Bonvoy points and elite benefits.
Here are some standouts within this collection.
Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs, Calistoga, California
Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs perfectly embodies the Design Hotels ethos by embracing a delightful contradiction: it's technically a motel, with its classic courtyard layout and numbered doors, yet it delivers an unmistakably luxurious experience. The contrast is what makes it work, where midcentury architecture meets modern wellness culture, with mineral pools, a bathhouse and retro rooms that feel worlds away from typical Marriott properties.
San Francisco Proper Hotel
This eclectic property sits in a 1904 flatiron Beaux-Arts building with 131 rooms mixing vintage, repurposed furnishings and local artwork. With three restaurants, a Mid-Market neighborhood location and a rooftop bar with panoramic city views, the San Francisco Proper Hotel is a great option for those who want a central home base in the city that doesn't feel like every other hotel.
Autograph Collection: Best for history
The Autograph Collection brings together independent hotels with strong identities, often tied to their location's history or culture. These properties joined Marriott but kept their personality intact. Here are some of the top gems.
The Blackstone, Chicago
While not exactly small with 335 rooms and suites, The Blackstone is a bastion of Chicago art and history. Within the hotel are over 1,600 pieces of art, mostly by Chicagoans, displayed in public areas and guest rooms. There's also an Art Hall and street-level market. The hotel's original name was "The Hotel of Presidents," and there's now a "Suite of Presidents," too.
The Union Station Nashville Yards
This grand building, dating to 1900, was Nashville's main train station. Throughout the hotel, guests will see art and artifacts following a railway theme including a historic train schedule and stained glass. Fresh from a renovation, the entire property saw updates to its facade, interiors, and dining options to make The Union Station Nashville Yards one of the best hotels in the city.
The Advenire, St. George, Utah
Convenient to Zion National Park, The Advenire is a downtown boutique hotel with a rooftop whirlpool and patio, popular restaurant and cocktail bar, and charming guest rooms with mountain-west decor, some with balconies. It's an ideal home base for exploring Southern Utah's red rock country.
The Ben, West Palm Beach, Florida
Close to the intercoastal waterway, The Ben is a stylish addition to the West Palm Beach hotel scene. A rooftop pool and lounge are popular spots to grab a drink or bite, and the hotel has a design style all its own with swinging lounge chairs and modern art. Guests can rent hotel bikes to explore the area, and there's even a book butler who will deliver a book from a local store on a silver tray directly to your room upon request.
Surprise boutique finds
In a few (rare) cases, the big brands have some outlying properties with a unique or independent feel, despite being associated with a bigger name. Here are some of those gems.
Courtyard North Shore Oahu, Hawaii
Not every Courtyard delivers a true boutique experience, but this North Shore property is a standout exception. Set right on the legendary surf beaches of Oahu's North Shore, Courtyard by Marriott Oahu North Shore offers direct access to some of Hawaii's most iconic waves and a laid-back vibe that feels authentically Hawaiian rather than corporate. The location alone — surrounded by food trucks, surf culture, the Polynesian Cultural Center and the North Shore's natural beauty — makes this feel like a completely different kind of Courtyard stay.
Moxy NYC Chelsea, New York
The Moxy brand is playful and youth-oriented with a focus on using space in a functional way without skimping on what guests want. Moxy NYC Chelsea appeals to younger guests who enjoy spending time in communal areas to work while sipping coffee and craft cocktails, or gathering with friends at its rooftop bar that draws quite a crowd.
Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter, New Orleans
It's not every day that a Four Points by Sheraton falls into the boutique hotel category, but Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter is special thanks to its location within the French Quarter. Many guests appreciate the Bourbon Street address as well as guest rooms with balconies overlooking the famed street. While this area may be party central at times, it's close to many attractions including popular dining options and bars.
Whether you earn Marriott Bonvoy points via hotel stays or through a Marriott co-branded credit card, there are some enticing hotel redemptions around the country.
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