Marriott Category 1-3 Domestic Hotels
Marriott Category 1 properties start at 7,500 points per night (5,000 off-peak). Great for last-minute trips where cash prices spike. Solid baseline redemption even if Bonvoy points are generally worth 0.7-0.9c. Best used for high-demand dates where cash rates spike above $200. Transfer from Amex MR at 3:1 (60k to 20k Marriott bonus).
Why this redemption is worth chasing
At 1.6¢ per point this is a modest but real redemption. The cash ticket of around $120 doesn't make this a steal, but it's a fair use of 7,500 points if you weren't going to redeem them for anything better.
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How to earn 7,500 Marriott Bonvoy points
Marriott Bonvoy accepts transfers from these credit cards. One sign-up bonus from any of them gets you most or all of the way to this redemption.
Sometimes the points cost beats the cash rate, sometimes it doesn't. Quick way to sanity-check the math:
Once your hotel is locked in, these are the three add-ons most travelers grab next, bookable in a couple minutes each.
How to book this redemption
- 1Confirm award space first. N/A award seats can disappear in minutes. Search for the specific dates you want directly on the Marriott Bonvoy website (or use our sweet-spot library to compare programs side-by-side first).
- 2Earn or transfer the points. If you don't already have 7,500 Marriott Bonvoy points, transfer from a flexible bank-points card (e.g. Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve). Transfers usually complete within minutes.
- 3Book immediately after the transfer lands. Award seats can vanish between your transfer and your booking. Have the search results open when you transfer.
- 4Pay any fuel surcharges or taxes. Most awards carry $50-$300 in cash fees on top of the miles. Check the estimate before you transfer, it should still be a fraction of the cash ticket.
Common questions
- How many points do you need to fly N/A hotel class to North America?
- 7,500 Marriott Bonvoy points one-way for hotel class on N/A. Cash equivalent runs around $120, putting this redemption at roughly 1.6 cents per point.
- Is 7,500 Marriott Bonvoy points a good redemption?
- Yes, at 1.6¢ per point this beats the typical 1¢ baseline by 60%. Worth doing if you have the points; not worth optimizing for.
- What credit cards transfer to Marriott Bonvoy?
- Marriott Bonvoy accepts transfers from major flexible-points programs. Check the program's transfer partners on each bank's portal. Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Capital One Miles, and Bilt Rewards each partner with different airline programs.
- When should I transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy?
- Transfer only after you've confirmed award space on the specific date you want. Transfers are non-reversible. Marriott Bonvoy can devalue their award chart at any time, so if you have the points and the seat is available, book the same day you transfer.
Award pricing is set by Marriott Bonvoy and can change with little notice. The 7,500-point figure reflects the most recent published award chart we've verified. Confirm live pricing inside your Marriott Bonvoy account before transferring, transfers are non-reversible.