Marriott buy points 50% bonus Oct 6-13 still limited value for most members

Marriott has a limited time one week offer October 6-13 to buy up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at a reduced rate of $8.33 per 1,000 points compared to the regular rate of $12.50 per 1,000 points. Members who buy as few as 2,000 points for $25 will receive 3,000 points after 50% bonus points added. This offer allows a member to buy up to 150,000 points for $1,250.

There are plenty of wonderful hotels in the Marriott family. And many hotels offer good value room rates, even by my “I don’t want to spend more than necessary standard”. However, I find very few Marriott brand hotels where the nightly reward rate comes anywhere close to offering a hotel stay discount when buying points at $8.33 per 1,000 points for hotels I checked.  There are certainly some deals to be found at high-end hotels with rates typically over $400 per night, especially when booking 5th night free reward stays. 

In several hotel chain rate analyses I charted over the summer for cities like Amsterdam, Lisbon, London, Prague and some other cities in Europe my results showed few hotels offered rate discounts when buying points at $8.33 per 1,000 points. 

In fact, what I found most shocking was the disconnect in some cities like Krakow, Poland where low room rates under $100 would require over $200 in points when bought for $8.33 per 1,000 points as offered in this week’s Marriott Bonvoyu sale.

Some examples:

Monterey, California low season typically starts in November for weekday stays. Weekend rates are always higher year-round.

• $331 Monterey Marriott King Bed, City View (includes taxes and fees)
• 64,000 points = $533 to buy points purchased at $8.33 per 1,000 points. 
• Redemption value = $5.17 per 1,000 points.
• Far better to pay cash rate than use points.

Sopot, Poland

I have stayed at both the Sheraton Sopot and Sopot Marriott Resort during summer season in the Baltic Sea beach town of Sopot near Gdansk, Poland. We used points and free night certificates for our summer stays when rates were typically $200 to $300 per night.

Sheraton Sopot

• 579 PLN = $117 USD King Bed, Superior Room (includes taxes and fees)
• 37,000 points = $308 USD to buy points purchased at $8.33 per 1,000 points. 
• Redemption value = $3.16 per 1,000 points.
• Far better to pay cash rate than use points.

Cash and Points offer for Two Single Beds Superior Room

• 579 PLN = $117 Two Single Beds Superior Room (includes taxes and fees)
• Cash & Points 226 PLN = $46 USD + 18,500 points ($154 at $8.33 per 1,000 points) = $200 USD.
• Redemption value =$117 – $46 = $71 USD/18.5 = $3.84 per 1,000 points.
• Far better to pay cash rate than use points.

I could go on, but this illustrates the typical issue I find with Marriott Bonvoy reward nights and the price to buy points.

Finding points deals with Marriott Bonvoy rewards, if you can find them, are generally limited to high-priced hotels in the $400 per night and more range and 5th Night Free stays. 

Amsterdam, Netherlands

W Hotel Amsterdam November 2

•  637 EUR = $627 USD Wonderful Exchange King Room, City View (includes taxes and fees)
• 63,000 points = $525 to buy points purchased at $8.33 per 1,000 points. 
• Redemption value = $627/63 = $9.95 per 1,000 points.
• Buying points offers $102 discount on $627 per night room.

Since I do not ever consider spending over $300 per night for a hotel room, buying Marriott points, even during their best buy points discounts, is not a deal where I find any value for places I travel.

Marriott Buy Points with 50% bonus points Oct 6-13.

*Offer Details

• Transactions must be completed between 12:00 a.m. ET October 6, 2022, and 11:59 p.m. ET October 13, 2022, to be eligible for the 50% bonus Points purchase offer with a minimum purchase of 2,000 Points.
• Marriott Bonvoy® members worldwide are eligible for the 50% bonus Points purchase offer with a minimum purchase of 2,000 Points.
• The bonus Points earned with this promotion through the Buy Points or Gift Points pages are not included in the annual purchase limit of 100,000 Points.
• This offer is valid only for Points purchased through the promotion’s Buy Points and Gift Points pages.

*Program Rules

• In 2022, members may purchase or receive as a gift a combined maximum of 100,000 Points per calendar year when purchased through our Buy Points and Gift Points pages (this website), Buy Points Points.com-powered window on Marriott websites, Marriott Mobile Apps or the Customer Engagement Centers.
• Members may purchase up to an additional 100,000 Points annually while booking a hotel stay through the reservation path on marriott.com.
• Purchased or gifted Points do not count toward Marriott Bonvoy® Elite Status.
• Purchase rate is $12.50 USD per 1,000 Points.
• Points will be posted to the Member’s Account within 72 hours after the transaction is complete.
• A member must be an active member in good standing to purchase and/or receive Points.
• New members may purchase Points thirty (30) days after enrollment in the Marriott Bonvoy program.
• Once Points have been purchased or gifted, no refunds will be permitted.
• Purchasing Points using a Marriott Bonvoy® cobrand credit card will earn Points as an everyday purchase.
• All Marriott Bonvoy Program Rules apply and can be found at  https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/terms/default.mi.
• For members purchasing Points using a foreign currency, Points are sold in U.S. dollars (US$). Points can be redeemed globally for stays at hotels that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, as well as with third-party programs that have a business relationship with Marriott Bonvoy, such as airline frequent flyer programs. Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy program here and ways to redeem your Points here. Please refer to your credit card company for foreign exchange rates. Once Points are purchased, Purchaser’s credit card statement will reflect payment in their home currency on an itemized line displaying the foreign exchange rate charged by their issuing bank.