How to redeem Marriott points for upgraded rooms

One advantage of certain Marriott elite status tiers is the availability of complimentary room upgrades at check-in, depending on space. However, if you prefer a specific view or a larger room, you may want to secure that preference at the time of booking instead of relying on an upgrade.

You have the option to book a paid rate for the desired room type, but you can also use Marriott points to obtain upgraded rooms in some cases. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.

Using Marriott Points for Room Upgrades: Key Information

Marriott Bonvoy provides two main methods for redeeming points for room upgrades. You can either spend additional points to book an upgraded room directly or redeem points for a standard room and pay a cash copay for the upgrade. Keep in mind that you won’t earn points on the cash copay, and it won’t contribute to the Ambassador spending requirement.

To redeem points for an upgrade, you’ll need to do so at the time of booking. Unfortunately, not all properties offer this option, so if you’re looking to use points for an upgrade, you might need to explore multiple locations before finding one that accommodates your request.

This guide will further elaborate on how you can use Marriott points to secure an upgraded room. You can check your upgrade options during the booking process on the Marriott Bonvoy website.

Related: 5 ways to maximize your Marriott Bonvoy award night redemptions

How to Use Marriott Points for Upgrades

Some Marriott Bonvoy properties allow you to book upgraded rooms with points. When booking, you may have the choice to fully pay in points for your upgrade or redeem points for a standard room and pay a cash copay for the upgrade.

For instance, for a five-night stay next year at Marriott Mena House in Cairo, I could book a deluxe room with a garden view and balcony for 114,000 Marriott points.

If I desired a partial view of the pyramid, I could either pay a $500 cash copay or use an additional 100,000 Marriott points.

As a Titanium Elite member, I enjoy lounge access. However, if you lack Marriott Platinum Elite status or higher, you might consider paying a copay of $550 or using 110,000 points for an upgrade to a garden-view deluxe room with lounge access. During my previous visit to Marriott Mena House in Cairo, the executive lounge featured a modest breakfast and an impressive dinner buffet with beer and wine daily.

You could also pay a copay of $1,050 or use 210,000 points to secure a room with a partial pyramid view along with executive lounge access.

Marriott recognizes that many guests choose Marriott Mena House in Cairo for its stunning pyramid views. While rates for premium views may be high, there’s an option to pay a cash or points copay to secure one while redeeming points for your stay.

It’s worth noting that while Marriott allows members to redeem additional points or pay cash for room upgrades, the costs can be significantly higher than regular paid rates at some properties. Additionally, many locations do not provide the option to redeem points for cash or points upgrades.

Related: Your complete guide to earning Marriott Bonvoy points

Using Nightly Upgrade Awards for Your Marriott Stay

If upgrade costs are excessive or not available, another option is to book a standard award stay and then request to utilize Nightly Upgrade Awards.

However, opting for Nightly Upgrade Awards instead of booking your preferred upgraded room type has some downsides. There’s no assurance that your Nightly Upgrade Awards will be accepted for your stay, and you won’t know until five days before your stay (or three days for stays at Edition, Ritz-Carlton, and St. Regis properties). Not all Marriott locations accept Nightly Upgrade Awards, which could limit your options.

You can accrue Nightly Upgrade Awards as Marriott Choice Benefits each time you achieve 50 or 75 elite night credits in a calendar year. If you hold the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can also opt for Nightly Upgrade Awards as your Earned Choice Award each calendar year after spending at least $60,000 on eligible purchases with your card.

Related: 7 ways to secure a hotel room upgrade

Conclusion

As a Marriott Titanium Elite member, I have never redeemed Marriott points for an upgraded room, instead relying on my elite status or Nightly Upgrade Awards for potential upgrades. I’ve had decent success with Nightly Upgrade Awards abroad and often receive better room locations due to my status.

However, knowing that options for points or cash upgrades are available can be beneficial if I decide to reserve an upgraded room directly.