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My husband travels often for work, and that’s how we first got deep into the Marriott ecosystem. Once you build loyalty with a single hotel program, the perks start to matter—things like room upgrades, free breakfast, and late checkout can make travel a whole lot smoother, especially for a family.

But if you’re trying to get the most from your points, it’s important to know this: you can’t beat Hyatt for overall value. Their award chart makes redemptions more predictable and often cheaper, especially during peak times. We once booked a Hyatt stay for 35,000 points over Christmas break while a nearby Marriott was pricing out over 1 million.

If you’re curious how Hyatt compares—and how we use both programs strategically—you can read The Mom’s Guide to Hyatt.

That said, if you love Marriott’s big footprint or aren’t ready to give them up entirely, here’s your guide to getting the most out of your Marriott points—especially if you’re trying to book two rooms for a big family or need options almost anywhere in the world.

If you’re new to this whole points thing, my Beginner’s Guide is a great place to start.

Why Marriott Gets a Bad Rap—And Why I Still Love Them

Let’s be honest: Marriott doesn’t always get the best reputation in the points world. Dynamic pricing means point costs can fluctuate, and the value per point isn’t always as strong as with other programs.

But here’s why we still love it:

• Huge global footprint (8,000+ properties in 130+ countries)
• Some of our favorite stays ever: Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay and Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu
• Free night certificates from credit cards
• Family-friendly brands with suite-style rooms

That’s why we often choose cards that earn flexible points. You can learn how to do the same in The Mom’s Guide to Hyatt.

What Marriott Points Are Worth

Marriott points are typically worth 0.7 to 0.9 cents each. You can stretch them further by:

• Booking luxury hotels or during peak seasons
• Using the Fifth Night Free perk
• Stacking points with certificates (you can now top off a 50K certificate with 15K points)

You can read more about how to calculate point value if you want to know when a redemption is actually worth it.

Three Ways to Squeeze More Value from Marriott Points

1. Use transfer bonuses when they pop up. Flexible points are powerful because they give you options. A 50% transfer bonus can turn 60,000 flexible points into 90,000 Marriott points. That could cover a night at luxury resorts like the Ritz-Carlton in Turtle Bay or the St. Regis Maldives. These promos are rare, but they’re one of the best ways to get outsized value.
2. Book five nights with points and get the fifth night free. This perk applies automatically and can reduce your per-night cost without needing elite status. If you’re planning a longer trip, it’s a simple way to stretch your stash.
3. Compare before you book. Marriott pricing can spike without warning. I always recommend checking other hotel programs before confirming a reservation. Flexible points give you the power to pivot if there’s a better redemption with Hyatt, Hilton, or another brand.

What Not to Do With Your Marriott Points

Avoid transferring Marriott points to airline programs unless you’re topping off a specific booking. The standard transfer ratio is 3:1, and you’ll rarely get more than 0.5 cents per point that way.

More details in my transfer partner guide.

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How to Use Marriott 50K Free Night Certificates

Many Marriott cards come with a 50,000-point free night certificate each year. You can add up to 15,000 points to these certificates, and they expire 12 months from issue—so make sure to plan ahead.

Some great redemptions we’ve seen include:

• Wailea Beach Resort (Maui)
• W Costa Rica
• Disney Swan and Dolphin Resorts
• JW Marriott Venice
• Ritz-Carlton Bali
• SpringHill Suites Panama City Beach
• JW Marriott Cancun
• Westin Kierland Scottsdale

For more, check out my full post on free night certificate sweet spots.

Marriott Brands That Work Well for Families

Brand	Type	Why We Like It for Family Travel
Residence Inn	Extended Stay	Suites with kitchens, free breakfast, often sleep 5–6
SpringHill Suites	All-Suite	Two beds + sofa bed, free breakfast, reliable
TownePlace Suites	Budget Extended Stay	Kitchenettes, good for road trips and longer stays
Marriott Vacation Club	Resort Villas	Multi-bedroom units, laundry, full kitchens
Element	Modern Extended Stay	Kitchens, eco-friendly, newer builds
Fairfield Inn & Suites	Budget	Often 5-person rooms + free breakfast
JW Marriott / Westin	Full-Service	Pools, spa, resort amenities, possible upgrades
Ritz-Carlton	Luxury	Often suite upgrades with points + great service

Top Marriott Hotels for Families (With Rates We’ve Seen)

Hotel	Location	Perks	Rates We’ve Seen (Points)
Wailea Beach Resort	Maui, HI	Oceanfront, family pool, luxury	60–70K
W Costa Rica	Guanacaste, CR	Beach + modern design	50–65K
SpringHill Suites	Panama City Beach, FL	All rooms face beach	35–45K
JW Marriott Cancun	Cancun, MX	Beachfront, kid-friendly	50–60K
Disney Swan & Dolphin	Orlando, FL	Walk to parks, Disney perks	35–50K
Residence Inn Anaheim	Anaheim, CA	Walk to Disneyland, sleeps 6	30–40K
Westin Kierland	Scottsdale, AZ	Lazy river, family vibe	40–50K
Marriott Fallsview	Niagara Falls	Views + family suites	35–45K
JW Marriott Venice	Venice, Italy	Resort island, boat access	50–65K
Ritz-Carlton Bali	Bali, Indonesia	Private villas, luxury	65–85K

Best Credit Cards for Marriott Stays

We use a mix of hotel cards and flexible cards, depending on the trip. If you’re looking to start or add to your setup, here are my favorite hotel credit cards:

• Cards with annual free night certificates
• Cards that offer automatic elite status or credits
• Flexible points cards that allow you to keep your options open

If you want a full breakdown of how I choose cards based on our family goals, this post walks through our exact strategy: How I Choose Travel Credit Cards Based on My Family’s Goals

Final Thoughts

Marriott might not always win on point value, but for families it’s one of the easiest hotel programs to make work. Between their footprint, suite-style layouts, and perks like free night certificates and upgrade potential, there are a lot of wins here—especially when you combine them with the right cards.

Want more help stretching your points for family travel? Check out my free Beginner’s Guide or come join the conversation over on Instagram and Facebook.