Even if you’re not a frequent road warrior, the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards can be a great value proposition thanks to the annual free night certificate they offer. Multiple TPG staffers even have three Marriott cards for this exact reason.
While all the cards with free night certificates have annual fees, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem recouping that expense by using a free night certificate. The exact value of these free night certificates varies slightly from card to card, but they all can provide excellent value.
The good news is that you do earn one free night certificate per Bonvoy card you hold. The only Bonvoy personal credit card perk that is limited to one per account (as opposed to one per credit card) is the annual elite night credits. (Remember, though, that you can get more elite night credits by holding a personal Marriott Bonvoy card and a business Marriott Bonvoy card.)
Let’s examine how you can earn more than one free night certificate.
Which Marriott cards offer free night certificates?
Marriott Bonvoy currently has three credit cards offering free night certificates. These cards include:
You can top up these free night awards by up to 15,000 points to really maximize your redemption.
Based on TPG’s October 2024 valuations, 35,000-, 50,000- and 85,000-point free night certificates are worth $298, $425 and $723, respectively, and you may be able to get even more value by staying at the right property.
It’s important to note that the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card allow cardholders to unlock a free night certificate worth up to 50,000 points a night after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. While it’s nice that you can spend your way to a free night with these cards, you are better off opting for a Bonvoy card that automatically comes with a free night certificate. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
While Marriott no longer utilizes a fixed award chart and instead uses dynamic pricing, there are plenty of hotel redemption options for under 35,000, 50,000 and 85,000 points a night.
If you hold all three cards mentioned above, you’ll earn three free night certificates every year. I place a lot of value in these free night certificates and will happily pay the annual fees on multiple Bonvoy credit cards to keep getting them.
Related: Current offers on Marriott Bonvoy cards
Application restrictions
There are restrictions for certain cards in the Bonvoy family. So, before you go on an application spree, you should make sure you are eligible. If you’re looking to expand your wallet and pick up a few free hotel nights each year, there’s some good news and some bad news.
The bad news is some potential applicants may not be eligible for the bonus.
You won’t be eligible for the bonus if you currently or previously held that Bonvoy Amex card or its predecessor (i.e., you can’t apply for the Bonvoy Brilliant if you had an SPG Luxury Amex before the name change). You’re also ineligible if the following terms apply to you:
“Welcome offer not available to applicants who (i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from JPMorgan or the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card in the last 30 days, (ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or (iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.”
On the Chase side of things, you won’t be eligible for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card if you’ve opened five or more cards in the last 24 months from any issuer (due to Chase’s 5/24 rule). You also won’t be eligible for a welcome offer if:
- You currently have or had any of the following cards within the last 30 days: the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card or The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express.
- You applied and were approved for any of the following cards within the last 90 days.
- You received a new cardmember bonus or upgrade bonus for any of the following cards within the last 24 months: the Marriott Bonvoy Business, The Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, The Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy.
Before you apply for a new card, you should double- and triple-check the rules to ensure eligibility and avoid wasting a hard credit pull.
Additionally, we must note that while you may not be eligible for a welcome bonus if you have previously had a card, you can still apply for the card to earn a free night certificate.
Related: 3 reasons why the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is worth the $95 annual fee
Bottom line
The free night certificates earned on the various Marriott Bonvoy credit cards represent at least a few hundred dollars in value, often more than you’re paying for the card’s annual fee. The good news is that you will earn one free night certificate per eligible card, but given the bonus eligibility rules, you should carefully review the fine print before you start applying for new cards.
Related: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex worth the $650 annual fee?
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, click here.
