What are the Marriott Bonvoy hotel categories?

A Category 5 Marriott hotel is a Marriott property that can be booked for 35,000 Marriott points per night, based on its brand, location and type of property. There are 1,117 Category 5 Marriott hotels that range from affordable, family-friendly properties like SpringHill Suites near Disneyland to 4-star luxury resorts in exotic locations. Some deluxe Category 5 Marriott hotels include Le Meridien in Tahiti, Domes Miramare in Greece, and the Renaissance Sanya Resort & Spa in China.… read full answer

Marriott has 8 different hotel and resort categories. Generally, categories 5-8 represent higher quality hotels with additional amenities and services. However, the amenities can vary, even with hotels in the same category. It is best to do your research on a hotel before booking to make sure it fits your preferences. On that note, each Marriott Bonvoy hotel category includes off-peak, standard, and peak pricing. While the standard redemption rate for a one-night stay at a Category 5 Marriott hotel is 35,000 points, this rate could drop to 30,000 points during off-peak season or rise to 40,000 points during peak season. Marriott adjusts peak and off-peak rates monthly based on market conditions.

To see how many points are needed to redeem one free night for each hotel category, you can check out Marriott’s redemption chart. But there is no system-wide calendar to provide a quick snapshot of the seasonal rates at Marriott hotels. So, your best bet is to search for a specific property on the Marriott website and select the "Flexible Dates" option to explore their rates. Marriott also updates its award category assignments annually, causing some hotels to change categories. To see if your favorite hotel has changed categories, you can filter Marriott’s hotel directory to search for hotels based on your selected category.

The 30 Marriott brands are:

1. The Ritz-Carlton
2. St. Regis
3. JW Marriott
4. W Hotels
5. Edition
6. The Luxury Collection
7. Marriott Hotels
8. Sheraton
9. Marriott Vacation Club
10. Delta Hotels
11. Le Meridien
12. Westin
13. Renaissance Hotels
14. Gaylord Hotels
15. Autograph Collection Hotels
16. Tribute Portfolio
17. Design Hotels
18. Courtyard Hotels
19. Four Points
20. SpringHill Suites
21. Protea Hotels
22. Fairfield Inn & Suites… read full answer
23. AC Hotels
24. Aloft Hotels
25. Moxy Hotels
26. Marriott Executive Apartments
27. Residence Inn
28. TownePlace Suites
29. Element
30. Homes & Villas by Marriott International.

Marriott is the world’s largest hotel chain and has a total of 30 brands in its portfolio (29 that participate in Marriott Bonvoy), which span more than 7,200 properties in over 130 countries and territories. These hotel and resort brands have distinct amenities and services that fit the preferences and budget levels of different types of travelers.

Marriott hotel brands fall under 4 broad categories: Luxury, Premium, Select and Longer Stays. The only Marriott hotel brand that does not participate in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty rewards program is Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

You can use a Marriott free night certificate to pay for a stay at a participating Marriott property by logging in to your Marriott Rewards account and checking the "Use Points / certificates" box before conducting your search. Once you select your hotel and desired room, you’ll be given the option to select any available free night award certificate(s). Watch out, though. You only have 12 months to use a Marriott free night certificate before it expires.… read full answer

Here’s how to use a Marriott free night certificate:

1. Log into your Marriott Rewards account.
2. Fill out your destination, select your travel dates and the number of rooms and guests.
3. Check the “Use Points/Certificates” box if it’s not automatically selected.
4. Click “Find Hotels”.
5. Select your desired hotel by clicking “View Rates” beside it.
6. Select your desired room.
7. Under “Review Reservation Details” you will be given the option to select any available free night certificate(s).
8. Review your reservation details and click “Book Now” to confirm your reservation.

Your rewards certificate will be applied to your booking and you’ll get to enjoy a free night. The process should go smoothly, as long as you remember to redeem within 12 months of your certificate being issued. There are no blackout dates for Marriott free night certificates, for example. But if a problem occurs during your booking, you can always call the number on the back of your Marriott Credit Card for help.

Credit cards that offer Marriott free night certificates:

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card gives 100,000 points as an initial bonus (after cardholders spend $3,000 in 3 months). Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card users also receive one reward certificate (valued up to 35,000) every account anniversary. The card’s annual fee is $95 and it requires at least good for approval.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card offers a free night award certificate (valued up to 85,000 points) every account anniversary. The card’s annual fee is $650 and it requires at least good for approval.

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card users also receive a free night award certificate (valued up to 35,000 points) every account anniversary, plus an additional one for spending $60K in purchases in a calendar year. The card’s annual fee is $125 and it requires at least good for approval.

Ultimately, it is worth mentioning that you can use your free night certificate at any hotel or resort participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, including a portfolio of 30 brands worldwide. However, keep in mind that it takes 8-12 weeks for the certificate to be deposited into your Marriott Bonvoy account.