The Ultimate Guide to Booking Marriott Stays on Points
How to Maximize Marriott Hotel Stays with Points (Especially for Bigger Families)
When we first started using points to book hotels, Marriott was one of the easiest programs to find availability almost anywhere. But figuring out how to actually get good value from those points—especially with a family of six—took a little more strategy.
Whether you’re hoping to stretch a stash of points, use free night certificates, or find hotels that fit your whole crew in one room, I’ll walk you through how we make Marriott work for our family. And if you're still figuring out which credit card is right for your goals, I always recommend starting with these beginner-friendly cards.
What Marriott Points Are Worth—and When They’re Worth It
Marriott points are typically worth around 0.7 to 0.9 cents each, depending on how you redeem them. That’s not the highest value compared to other programs, but we’ve still had plenty of redemptions that felt like a total win—especially at resorts or during high-demand travel seasons.
The trick is knowing when to use them.
High-value redemptions: Luxury resorts, all-inclusives, or peak travel times
Lower-value redemptions: Budget properties with low cash prices or flights through the portal
One of my favorite ways to stretch points even more? Take advantage of Marriott’s Fifth Night Free on award bookings. You’ll get one free night when you book five nights with points, and it stacks with free night certificates.
What Makes Marriott a Go-To for Families
We’ve stayed in a lot of different hotel chains, but there’s a reason we keep coming back to Marriott:
A huge global footprint (over 8,000 properties in 139+ countries)
A wide range of brands, from affordable to luxury
Annual free night certificates from their credit cards
Family-friendly perks like suite-style rooms and late checkout with elite status
If you're trying to get more from your stay, I walk through how to do just that in this guide to getting upgrades without elite status. We've had success with room upgrades at Marriott properties even when we didn’t have top-tier status.
But Not Everyone Loves the Program—and Here’s Why
Marriott’s biggest drawback is its dynamic award pricing. Instead of set redemption rates, points needed for a stay can fluctuate based on demand. That means you’ll need to search around a bit more to find value.
Also, while elite members often get resort fees waived on award stays, that’s not guaranteed for everyone. And if you're comparing point value alone, other programs (like Hyatt) can sometimes stretch further.
Still, with good planning, we’ve been able to get a lot of value—especially by combining flexible points with Marriott co-branded cards.
My Favorite Credit Cards for Marriott Stays
We use a mix of flexible points and Marriott co-branded cards, depending on the trip. Co-branded Marriott cards are great for earning free night certificates, elite night credits, and automatic status that comes with perks like breakfast or late checkout.
If you're booking with points, flexible cards can still come in handy. They let you keep your options open across multiple brands, and in some cases, you can even transfer points to Marriott (though I don’t always recommend that as the first option—here’s why).
👉 Here’s my full list of cards I recommend for Marriott stays
These include a mix of:
Hotel cards that earn free night certificates
Flexible points cards that can be used for Marriott and other travel
Cards that offer automatic elite status or statement credits
Where to Stay with a Family of 5 or 6 Using Marriott
Finding a hotel that actually fits a larger family can be tough, but Marriott has several brands that consistently work for us:
Residence Inn
One- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens and sofa beds. Great for long stays and picky eaters.
TownePlace Suites
Similar setup to Residence Inn with suites that often sleep six and include a kitchen.
SpringHill Suites
All rooms are suites, and many have two beds plus a sofa bed—perfect for spreading out.
Marriott Vacation Club
If you want a resort experience with more space, their villa-style layouts are a dream. Multiple bedrooms, laundry, full kitchens—the works.
Courtyard by Marriott
You’ll want to double-check room configurations here, but some Courtyard locations have larger suites or offer connecting rooms.
🎯 When searching, make sure to plug in your exact group size and always double-check room descriptions—or better yet, call the property directly to confirm.
Mid-Trip Strategy Check: Are You Maximizing Your Points?
This is a great time to pause and ask—are you earning points in a way that matches your travel goals?
If you're not sure, I’ve broken down the exact strategy I use to pick credit cards based on how and where we travel.
👉 Read: How I Choose Travel Credit Cards Based on My Family’s Travel Goals
And if you haven’t yet, you can sign up for my weekly newsletter for deal alerts, bonus offers, and new tips I don’t always share on Instagram.
Tips to Get the Most From Your Marriott Points
We’ve learned a few tricks that help us squeeze more value out of every stay:
Book early: Dynamic pricing means rates can jump fast.
Use the Fifth Night Free perk: Booking five nights with points? You'll only be charged for four.
Stack points + certificates: You can now top off certificates with points—great for properties just above the 35K or 50K mark.
Use status wisely: Even the lower elite levels can get you perks like late checkout or upgrades—especially at family-focused brands.
Final Thoughts
Marriott may not have the absolute highest point value out there, but it makes up for it in footprint, flexibility, and perks—especially when you're traveling as a family. Between free night certificates, spacious suites, and upgrade options, it's a program that works really well for moms who are juggling points, kids, and trip planning all at once.
Ready to start earning points toward your next Marriott stay?
👉 Check out the full list of my favorite Marriott and hotel travel cards here
