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We have confirmed with Marriott that the certificates awarded through this welcome offer can be topped off with up to 15,000 additional points, just like the rest of the certs that orbit around the Marriott universe. There was some concern about language in the terms and conditions that stated that the certificates awarded in this offer could not be topped up with additional points, but the horses themselves said that it was inaccurate language left over from a previous offer. Go forth and conquer.
In our most recent evaluation of Marriott points, our formula determined Marriott 50K free night certificates to be worth about $300. Starting today, you can get five of those free night certificates with a new Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Given that you can now top off those certificates with up to 15,000 additional points per night, this could be a terrific deal for someone able to maximize the use of the certificates in the first year.
We have confirmed with Marriott that the certificates awarded through this welcome offer can be topped off with up to 15,000 additional points, just like the rest of the certs that orbit around the Marriott universe. There was some concern about language in the terms and conditions that stated that the certificates awarded in this offer could not be topped up with additional points, but the horses themselves said that it was inaccurate language left over from a previous offer. Go forth and conquer.
The Offer & Key Card Details
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
125K points ⓘ Non-Affiliate Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months.$95 Annual Fee This card is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule (click here for details). Recent better offer: 5 x 50K free night certificates after $5K in spend (expired 1/9/24) Earning rate: ✦ 6X Marriott Bonvoy ✦ 3X gas stations, grocery stores, and dining on up to $6K in combined purchases each year ✦ 2X everywhere else Card Info: Visa Signature issued by Chase. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: Earn Gold status when you spend $35K each year ✦ 1 Elite Night Credit towards elite status for every $5K spent Noteworthy perks: ✦ Annual free night certificate for 1 night at a hotel redemption level up to 35K ✦ Automatic Silver status ✦ 15 nights of elite credit each year ✦ 1 Elite Night Credit for every $5K spent See also: Marriott Bonvoy Complete Guide |
Quick Thoughts
For the past couple of years, I’ve been lukewarm on free night certificates given the fact that those certificates expire a year after issuance and the uncertainty of travel in 2020 and 2021. Furthermore, certificates are far less flexible than points in that you can only use each of these five certificates for a single night — you can’t break them up into multiple cheaper nights as you can with points. However, with travel largely roaring back and hotel prices skyrocketing along with the added flexibility of putting points on top of your free night certificates, it should be easier than ever to get solid value out of your free night certificates.
I’ve personally made a couple of recent bookings that included some points on top of a 50K certificate that are yielding values at or above 1c per point (let’s just hope the suite might awards clear!). I could see this offer being particularly appealing for folks with relatively near-term plans that could make good use of these certificates.
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Do you have an affiliate link for the new version of this offer?
Even with the risks, applied through the link. Accepted after reconsideration (5/24 denial, but removed after AU cards).
Confirmed that the offer I received was 5 50k certs for 5k spend in 3 months.
Please consider making a note on where this link came from, so that readers are aware of the potential risk and can make an informed decision. Yes, DoC posted it, but it originally came from a comment in his comments section, and could easily be from a targeted email.
I need it to stay live a few more weeks. I canceled my old SPG Amex and I need a 30 day window before I can apply.
Same. But I’m down to just 6 more days. Fingers crossed!
Any comment on the fact that we don’t know the source of the link? Risk of getting shutdown?
I’m wondering about this too
1) The hotel you want will be 66000 points per night.
2) These certificates expire in 12 months.
any idea if these can be extended?
You can only use the 15k top up on “standard rooms”. I was so excited to book overwater bungalows, but I guess not
Any idea if this offer may come back over the next few months? Or do you think its a missed opportunity and to apply at the current rate of 3 free nights? Looking to travel in January – onward, and not sure they will reinstate this promotion or not.
Can you book with these before you have earned them? Was just approved for this after reconsideration.
At first I wanted to do the silliest thing I could think of with these, which IMO was to try to book five different W Hotels (Marriott’s silliest brand). After reading Nicks’ impressive review of St. Pancras Renaissance London, however, I decided to get my mind right.
Havig just 1 certificate to use in a year is a headache. Who takes 1 day vacations? But 5 is a vacation and fun. Mine will be at the Westin Hapuna Bay off-peak or the Royal Palm South Beach most likely.
Westin Hapuna Bay five days off peak? Yeah, I suppose hell will eventually freeze over. Until then, suck on 67,000 – 70,000 points per night.
I just looked again and half the nights from the end of August to the end of November are 54K-58K. Check “Flexible date” by calendar by month.
Nice Property. But pay another $70+ a day in resort fees per day so please keep that in mind.
I’m glad you found dates at that price. I looked and was finding nothing because I was looking at 2023, because booking further off is when I expect the better flight and rental car prices. In the case of 2022, you have to expect to get the card in hand and the SUB taken care of and hope all your ducks are still lined up. Good luck!
I plan on using mine at the JW San Antonio. Currently 50k and about $500 a night for the vacation periods I’ve checked (spring break 2023 and summer 2023
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Does anyone out there know if the person who get the certs HAS to be the one checking in or can you book with certs under someone else’s name? For example, if my mom got the certs could she book reservations for me?
Can’t be done. I tried with certificates in my husband’s name and I was on the reservation. I said I would be arriving before him. The hotel and Marriott both told me when booking that my husband would have to be present with a photo ID. I would have to wait in the lobby until he arrived. Strict policy.
You definitely can’t book a Marriott cert in someone else’s name. As far as whether your husband would need to be present or they’d make you wait in the lobby, that’s highly variable. In many cases, adding the additional traveler’s name and then maybe following up with the hotel via chat on the day of arrival to let them know that the other person will arrive first will probably work, but they certainly could stand firm that the primary guest needs to be present to give out the keys. I’ve never had that happen to me in the US, but it’s common in Asia for that to be strictly enforced.
There is unfortunately no way to “gift” these though.