What is Marriott Bonvoy?
Marriott Bonvoy is Marriott's loyalty programme. It's free to join, and it covers more than 30 hotel brands around the world, including:
- Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, JW Marriott, EDITION and The Luxury Collection
- Premium: Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Le Méridien and Renaissance
- Everyday: Courtyard, Moxy, Aloft, Four Points and Residence Inn
Members earn points on stays and spending, then use them for free nights. The more you stay, the higher your elite status, which unlocks perks like room upgrades, late checkout and free breakfast.
How you earn Marriott Bonvoy points
- Hotel stays: up to 10 points per US dollar at most brands, with extra points if you have status.
- Credit and debit cards: the Marriott Bonvoy Amex and the Marriott Bonvoy debit cards earn points on everyday spending.
- Amex Membership Rewards: transfer at 2 Amex points to 3 Bonvoy points. See every card that earns Membership Rewards.
- Promotions: Marriott regularly runs bonus point offers on stays. Register before you book.
How to spend your points
Marriott uses dynamic pricing, so the number of points for a free night moves with the cash price. There's no fixed chart: a hotel might cost 20,000 points on a quiet Sunday and far more on a busy weekend.
You can transfer Bonvoy points to over 35 airlines at 3:1, with 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points you move. It's useful for topping up an airline account, but you usually get more value using Bonvoy points on hotels. For where to stay, see our guide to the best hotels to book with points.
Marriott Bonvoy elite status explained
Your status depends on how many elite nights you earn in a calendar year. Stays count, and so do the elite night credits you get from the cards below.
| Tier | Nights a year | Bonus points | Top perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | 0 | None | Member rates, free Wi-Fi |
| Silver Elite | 10 | 10% | Priority late checkout |
| Gold Elite | 25 | 25% | Room upgrades, 2pm late checkout, welcome points |
| Platinum Elite | 50 | 50% | Lounge access, breakfast or points gift, suite upgrades |
| Titanium Elite | 75 | 75% | Better suite upgrades, extra yearly gift |
| Ambassador Elite | 100, plus high yearly spend | 75% | A personal Ambassador and flexible check-in |
For most people, Gold is the useful tier: upgrades, late checkout and extra points. Platinum is where it gets really good, with lounge access and breakfast at many hotels. Benefits vary by hotel and brand, so check before you book.
UK cards that earn Marriott points and status
Marriott Bonvoy American Express
- Annual fee
- £95
- Welcome bonus
- 20,000 points after £3,000 in 3 months
- Earn rate
- 2 points per £1, 6 at Marriott hotels
- Status
- 15 elite night credits a year (Silver), Gold at £15,000
The UK's only Marriott credit card. You get 15 elite night credits every year, which gives you Silver status straight away. Spend £15,000 in a card year and you're upgraded to Gold.
Spend £25,000 in a card year and you also get a free night award for a hotel costing up to 25,000 points. You can add up to 25,000 of your own points to use it at a hotel costing up to 50,000.
Worth knowing: like every Amex, it charges around 3% on spending in other currencies. Use a no-fee card abroad.
Suits you if you stay at Marriott hotels a few times a year and can put steady spending on one card.
Marriott Bonvoy Premium Debit Card
- Annual fee
- £175
- Welcome bonus
- 15,000 points after £3,000 foreign currency spend in 12 months
- Earn rate
- 1.5 points per £1 in the UK and Europe, 3 elsewhere
- Status
- Automatic Gold, plus 15 elite night credits a year
A debit card run by Currensea that links to your existing bank account, so there's no credit to manage and only a soft credit check. You get Gold status straight away, 15 elite night credits each year, and up to 5 more as you spend.
From your second year, you get a free night award when you renew: worth up to 25,000 points if you spent £5,000 to £9,500, or up to 50,000 points if you spent more. You earn 4 to 6 points per £1 at Marriott hotels, and spending abroad costs just 0.5% on top of the exchange rate.
Suits you if you want Gold status without staying 25 nights, or you'd rather not use a credit card.
Marriott Bonvoy Debit Card
- Annual fee
- £55
- Welcome bonus
- 5,000 points after £1,000 foreign currency spend in 12 months
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1 in the UK and Europe, 2 elsewhere
- Status
- Automatic Silver, plus 10 elite night credits a year
The entry-level version. You get Silver status and 10 elite night credits a year, and you earn 2 to 4 points per £1 at Marriott hotels. There's no free night, so it's mainly worth it for the status and the low fees abroad.
Suits you if you travel abroad a lot and want a cheap card that earns Marriott points.
The Platinum Card from American Express
- Annual fee
- £650
- Welcome bonus
- 50,000 Membership Rewards points after £6,000 in 3 months
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1 (transfers to Bonvoy at 2:3)
- Status
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite
Amex Platinum gives you Marriott Gold, plus Gold status with Hilton and Accor and top-tier status with other hotel groups. Your points stay flexible, so you can move them to Marriott or to airlines.
Suits you if you want hotel status across several chains as well as airport lounges.
The status shortcut
Elite night credits from the Marriott Bonvoy Amex and the Premium Debit Card can be held together, and they stack. That gives you:
- 15 nights from the Marriott Bonvoy Amex
- 15 nights from the Premium Debit Card, plus up to 5 more as you spend
- 30 to 35 nights on 1 January, before you've stayed anywhere
That's Gold straight away, and you'd need only around 15 to 20 real nights to reach Platinum, with lounge access and breakfast. If you stay with Marriott for work or holidays, that's the fastest route in the UK.
Tips to get more from Marriott Bonvoy
- Book 5 nights on points to get the fifth night free.
- Compare points and cash on every booking. On cheap nights, pay cash and save your points.
- Register for promotions before each stay to earn bonus points.
- Book direct with Marriott. Stays booked through travel sites usually don't earn points or get elite perks.
- Keep your account active. Points expire after 24 months with no activity, but any earning or spending resets the clock.
The best hotels to book with points
Our pick of the hotels where your points go furthest.
Comparing hotel and airline cards? See our guide to the best travel credit cards.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marriott Bonvoy free to join?
Yes. Joining is free, and you start earning points and member rates from your first stay.
Do Marriott Bonvoy points expire?
They expire after 24 months with no account activity. Earning or using any points keeps them active.
Can I get Marriott Gold without staying 25 nights?
Yes. The Marriott Bonvoy Premium Debit Card and Amex Platinum both give Gold status, and the Marriott Bonvoy Amex upgrades you to Gold when you spend £15,000 in a card year.
Are the Marriott debit cards a credit check?
They use a soft check, which doesn't affect your credit score, and link to your existing UK bank account.