Buy Marriott Bonvoy Points With a 40% Bonus

Buy Marriott Bonvoy Points With a 40% Bonus

From February 3, 2026 through March 26, 2026, Marriott is offering a 40% bonus when purchasing Marriott Bonvoy points.

Members can buy a minimum of 2,000 points per transaction and up to 150,000 points per calendar year. Any bonus points earned during this promotion do not count toward that annual cap, which is useful if you are looking to maximize the offer.

All point purchases are processed through Points.com rather than Marriott directly. Because of this, these transactions do not code as Marriott hotel spend, and you will not earn bonus points or travel category multipliers, even if you use a Marriott co-branded credit card.

 

Cost Breakdown and Point Valuation

Under normal conditions, Marriott sells Bonvoy points for 1.25 cents USD per point. With the 40% bonus applied, the effective cost drops to approximately 0.89 cents USD per point.

That number matters. Marriott Bonvoy points are typically worth somewhere in the range of 0.7 to 0.9 cents per point depending on how and where they are redeemed. Buying points at 0.89 cents means you are paying very close to their average real-world value, leaving little margin for error if your redemption is less than ideal. Note, you will pay tax in Canada if you have a Canadian billing address.

Marriott runs point purchase promotions regularly throughout the year. While a 40% bonus is ok, it is not exceptional. We have seen bonuses as high as 60% in the past, and the most recent promotion prior to this one was also a 40% bonus in December. If you are not facing an immediate booking need, history suggests another similar opportunity will likely appear.

 

The Reality of Marriott Redemptions Today

The introduction of dynamic award pricing has changed how Marriott Bonvoy points behave. While strong redemptions still exist, they are far less predictable than they once were. Pricing now more closely tracks cash rates, especially at mid-range properties.

As a general rule, I consider any Marriott redemption above 1 cent per point to be a good outcome. Those opportunities still appear, but they are increasingly concentrated in luxury properties, peak travel periods, and situations where cash prices have spiked due to demand. This shift is why buying points speculatively has become much harder to justify.

 

When Buying Points Can Make Sense

Despite the limitations, there are specific scenarios where purchasing points during this promotion can be a rational decision. One of the most common is when you are a small number of points short of an award you are ready to book. In those cases, buying points can be significantly cheaper than paying cash for an entire stay.

Another situation where buying points can work well is when using Marriott’s 5th Night Free benefit. When booking five nights entirely with points, Marriott charges the equivalent of four nights, effectively providing a 20% discount on the total redemption. This benefit can materially improve the value of purchased points, particularly at higher-priced properties.

Buying points can also make sense when cash rates are inflated due to holidays, conferences, or major local events. In these cases, award pricing does not always increase at the same pace, creating opportunities where points offer better value than paying cash.

 

Where the Best Value Is Usually Found

The strongest Marriott redemptions tend to appear at higher-end brands such as Ritz-Carlton, Edition, and JW Marriott, as well as select luxury resorts during peak season. These properties often see dramatic swings in cash pricing, while award rates sometimes lag behind.

Lower-end and mid-range hotels are less reliable for strong value. In many cases, award pricing closely mirrors cash rates, and once taxes and fees are considered, using points purchased at 0.89 cents each may not offer meaningful savings.

 

Real-World Redemption Examples

To put this promotion into context, there are scenarios where buying points can clearly beat paying cash. A December stay at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives can price at roughly 220,000 points for the stay, while cash rates exceed $5,500 USD per night. Even after purchasing points, the award booking can represent substantial savings.

Another example is the Rome Edition during peak travel periods. Award nights can price around 98,000 points, while cash rates climb to approximately $1,445 USD per night. In situations like this, buying points can produce a redemption well above 1 cent per point.

These examples are not everyday use cases, but they highlight where Marriott Bonvoy points can still deliver outsized value.

When Buying Points Does Not Make Sense

There are also clear cases where purchasing points should be avoided. Buying points without a specific redemption in mind is risky, particularly given Marriott’s dynamic pricing. Short stays that do not benefit from the 5th Night Free, properties with low cash rates, and hotels with significant resort or destination fees often provide poor value when using purchased points.

 

Final Thoughts

Buying Marriott Bonvoy points with a 40% bonus can make sense in targeted situations, but this is not a promotion to approach with a clear redemption plan. At 0.89 cents per point, the upside is limited unless you already have a specific redemption planned.

For most travelers, this offer is best viewed as a tool for topping up an account or unlocking a high-value luxury stay where cash prices are inflated. If neither of those applies, it is reasonable to skip this promotion and wait for the next one.