Earlier this year, it was announced that the iconic Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii would transform into a Ritz-Carlton. Points and miles enthusiasts greeted the news with fanfare because it meant a new Hawaii property would integrate into Marriott Bonvoy.
That day has come, and The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay, is finally bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points.
Right now, award nights are available for 132,000 points per night across the entire calendar.
Cash rates at the now-Ritz-Carlton resort fluctuate dramatically throughout the year. Low rates for 2024 — which mainly occur in the weeks leading up to Christmas — come in at $665 per night, but they skyrocket to upward of $1,500 per night during the holidays.
But is The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay, a good use of points? Well, that depends.
In August, TPG values Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.85 cents apiece, so 132,000 Marriott Bonvoy points equals $1,122. For the cheapest nights in December, you’ll pay $845.79 cash per night with taxes and fees. So, booking with points for those nights would result in losing about $276 worth of Marriott Bonvoy Points.
On the flip side, the cash rate for the busy holiday week comes out to a total of $1,909.81 per night, which is way higher than the value of 132,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. For those nights, you’d be getting a value of about 1.45 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point — significantly above TPG’s current 0.85 cents per point valuation.
People with Chase Ultimate Rewards points (earned through cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, among others) should know that there’s currently a 70% transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy. Chase points usually transfer to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio, with the bonus that becomes a 1.1.7, therefore by transferring 78,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy, it would convert to 132,600 — enough to book an award night at Turtle Bay.
TPG currently values Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents each, meaning that 78,000 Chase points are worth $1,599. This means you’d still be saving on Christmas or New Year’s in Hawaii.
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It’s also worth noting that since the property has just been introduced into the program, these award rates might shift down; it’s not that common to see an entire booking calendar offer the same rates, especially considering Marriott uses a dynamic pricing system.
Why we’re excited about The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay
Before it was announced that Turtle Bay would become a Ritz-Carlton, we visited the resort for a review. TPG director of content Summer Hull called the resort “Oahu’s North Shore gem,” and I can attest to that, as well.
The property is home to beautiful pools with some of the most stunning ocean views I’ve ever seen — there are seven different beaches within walking distance. The area is famous for its great surf. You can watch world-class surfers catch larger-than-life waves or learn how to surf in the much more tame part of the ocean.
Multiple bars and restaurants keep guests full or with a pina colada on hand, and the cowboy-themed luau should not be missed.
Other great amenities include a spa, a golf course, hiking and biking trails, horseback riding opportunities and even nighttime snorkeling trips to see what’s under the water when the sun goes down.
Bottom line
We’ll have to wait and see if Turtle Bay’s award calendar drops with seasonal rates. However, now is certainly a great time to use your stash of Marriott Bonvoy points or Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book a stay at the North Shore resort during the busy, expensive times.
Either way, The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay, is a fabulous resort and a great place to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on paid stays.
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