Earn an exclusive bonus when you buy or gift points
Jun 1, 2022, 8:15 am
#1
Company Representative, Marriott Bonvoy
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 690
Earn an exclusive bonus when you buy or gift points
Give our points promotion a spin to find out your bonus — and enjoy more of what you love. As a Marriott Bonvoy® member, you’ll get an exclusive bonus when you buy or gift 2,000 or more points now through July 15, 2022.
Points make it possible — redeem for free nights in extraordinary destinations, unrivaled experiences with Marriott Bonvoy Moments™, rejuvenating spa services, world-class dining, and more.
Let us know how you plan to make the most of your bonus in the comments below!
Get extra points on us! See your bonus and buy or gift points now.
Points make it possible — redeem for free nights in extraordinary destinations, unrivaled experiences with Marriott Bonvoy Moments™, rejuvenating spa services, world-class dining, and more.
Let us know how you plan to make the most of your bonus in the comments below!
Get extra points on us! See your bonus and buy or gift points now.
Jun 1, 2022, 10:28 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,968
Here's an example from my current booking for the first couple weeks of July, granted if you book further out you might find better rates:
Moxy Seoul Insadong - 1,090,980 KRW (~$875) goes for 171,500 points for a 13 night stay. It's $1250 for the max points you can purchase (100k) with a 45% bonus that I also got (+45k) , plus I'd have to add 26,500 of my own points. So I'm paying more than 50% more if I purchase points for the same stay.
The best value available searching the same dates is:
Courtyard Seoul Time Square - 2,202,200 KRW (~$1,767) or for 178,500 points. So, this one is closer, but I'd have to add 33,500 of my own points. It's about evenish, maybe a little cheaper, but you don't earn points from status and from the Bonvoy CC when you're using points, so you're actually losing even more value.
The only time buying points is worth it is if you need a few to get you over the hump for an award booking if you're missing a few thousand points, otherwise it never works out to being a better deal.
Moxy Seoul Insadong - 1,090,980 KRW (~$875) goes for 171,500 points for a 13 night stay. It's $1250 for the max points you can purchase (100k) with a 45% bonus that I also got (+45k) , plus I'd have to add 26,500 of my own points. So I'm paying more than 50% more if I purchase points for the same stay.
The best value available searching the same dates is:
Courtyard Seoul Time Square - 2,202,200 KRW (~$1,767) or for 178,500 points. So, this one is closer, but I'd have to add 33,500 of my own points. It's about evenish, maybe a little cheaper, but you don't earn points from status and from the Bonvoy CC when you're using points, so you're actually losing even more value.
The only time buying points is worth it is if you need a few to get you over the hump for an award booking if you're missing a few thousand points, otherwise it never works out to being a better deal.
Last edited by seigex; Jun 1, 2022 at 10:33 am
Jun 1, 2022, 11:02 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YVR
Programs: AC 75K, BA Gold, Marriott Platinum, National EE, Sixt Platinum, Hertz PC, AVIS PC
Posts: 1,913
Here's an example from my current booking for the first couple weeks of July, granted if you book further out you might find better rates:
Moxy Seoul Insadong - 1,090,980 KRW (~$875) goes for 171,500 points for a 13 night stay. It's $1250 for the max points you can purchase (100k) with a 45% bonus that I also got (+45k) , plus I'd have to add 26,500 of my own points. So I'm paying more than 50% more if I purchase points for the same stay.
The best value available searching the same dates is:
Courtyard Seoul Time Square - 2,202,200 KRW (~$1,767) or for 178,500 points. So, this one is closer, but I'd have to add 33,500 of my own points. It's about evenish, maybe a little cheaper, but you don't earn points from status and from the Bonvoy CC when you're using points, so you're actually losing even more value.
The only time buying points is worth it is if you need a few to get you over the hump for an award booking if you're missing a few thousand points, otherwise it never works out to being a better deal.
Moxy Seoul Insadong - 1,090,980 KRW (~$875) goes for 171,500 points for a 13 night stay. It's $1250 for the max points you can purchase (100k) with a 45% bonus that I also got (+45k) , plus I'd have to add 26,500 of my own points. So I'm paying more than 50% more if I purchase points for the same stay.
The best value available searching the same dates is:
Courtyard Seoul Time Square - 2,202,200 KRW (~$1,767) or for 178,500 points. So, this one is closer, but I'd have to add 33,500 of my own points. It's about evenish, maybe a little cheaper, but you don't earn points from status and from the Bonvoy CC when you're using points, so you're actually losing even more value.
The only time buying points is worth it is if you need a few to get you over the hump for an award booking if you're missing a few thousand points, otherwise it never works out to being a better deal.
Never say never!
Sheraton - St. John's NL
July 30 - Aug 8 - 8 nights best rate cost $2546.79 (cad) total
or
133500 points
Buy 137750 points for $1187.50 usd ($1502.03 cad)... save $1000 over cash rate.
Ron.
Jun 1, 2022, 11:18 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,968
Jun 1, 2022, 11:21 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Programs: MR LT Titanium, IHG Plat.,UA Premier Silver, & PA/OH Turnpike Million Miler
Posts: 2,320
I think a better rule of thumb is don't buy points unless you have a specific stay you're ready to book that it makes sense to do so. I.e. there are occasional boundary cases where buying points makes sense instead of paying cash. Buying points speculatively at the rates Marriott offers (even with the bonuses) doesn't make sense. YMMV.....
--Jon
--Jon
Jun 1, 2022, 11:42 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 192
If I could find redemption rates like that at Edition Hotels, I would come back to Marriott
Jun 1, 2022, 12:36 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: GEG
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime SkyClub, AS MVP
Posts: 2,410
Jun 1, 2022, 12:39 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Calgary, AB
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 428
Same here, just got the email -- logged in and it showed me a 35% bonus point offer when I buy points. I'm surprised that they didn't at least let us 'virtually' spin the wheel -- but yeah... crappy promotion...
Jun 1, 2022, 12:54 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere between YXU and YYZ
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium Hilton Diamond AC*75K
Posts: 618
In your case it would still be worth it, however with the majority of others it makes the value even worse.
Jun 1, 2022, 1:33 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Montréal, Canada
Posts: 1,610
As well as the lost points you would have earned, you also have to consider the sales tax that Canadians must pay. Not sure your figures included taxes in either the paid or purchased point calculations. You'd still save money purchasing points, but perhaps somewhat less.
Jun 1, 2022, 2:05 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: AC 35K, Marriott Titanium/LT Gold, GHA Titanium, HH Gold, Centara Platinum
Posts: 495
As well as the lost points you would have earned, you also have to consider the sales tax that Canadians must pay. Not sure your figures included taxes in either the paid or purchased point calculations. You'd still save money purchasing points, but perhaps somewhat less.