Factors and miles open up journey alternatives that, fairly frankly, could also be out of attain for a lot of. And whereas it’s your decision your redemptions to all the time be luxurious, not all of them are going to be. There are occasions when utilizing factors for a sensible redemption, like on customary lodge lodging, can prevent boatloads of cash.
I am an enormous school soccer fan and journey typically to see my workforce, the Oregon Geese, play. Particularly, I’ve one recreation this season highlighted on my calendar that I am attending: the Oregon versus Penn State recreation. I almost definitely would not have been in a position to go with out the assistance of factors.
This is how I saved over $1,500 through the use of factors to unlock the door on my subsequent lodge keep.
I used factors to avoid wasting $1,500 on a school soccer weekend
The Oregon versus Penn State recreation will happen in State Faculty, Pennsylvania, a city with a inhabitants of simply barely over 40,000 folks, however with a soccer stadium that seats over 106,000 folks. This particular recreation is a top-ten matchup and the well-known “White Out” recreation. Penn State hosts a White Out recreation yearly, normally towards a ranked opponent, the place all the followers put on all white. It is likely one of the loudest sports activities atmospheres, and it sounds completely deafening inside Beaver Stadium, even when watching it on TV. I am ensuring to pack some earplugs. The stadium will likely be bought out.
State Faculty is a small city, so lodge decisions are restricted, with most lodges bought out months upfront for this huge recreation.
As somebody who continuously travels to attend school soccer video games, I knew lodge costs had been going to be completely bonkers. Costs for that weekend, staying Friday via Sunday, had been completely absurd, working upward of $750 per night time for primary lodges like Hampton Inns or Hyatt Locations. Granted, it is a small school city, so I wasn’t anticipating any Ritz-Carlton or Conrad lodges, however I did have some sticker shock after I noticed Courtyard by Marriotts costing upward of $1,100 per night time.
You might be pondering, “There should be cheaper lodges within the metropolis,” and there are. However fairly frankly, I did not really feel snug staying there or need to pay upward of $500 an evening for a Motel 6.
Usually, throughout main occasions, factors availability at lodges could be very restricted. I all the time have to look far and huge and typically even cut up reservations up every day if I need to get deal and use factors. I looked for lodges with factors availability with Marriott and Hyatt. I solely searched with these two chains as a result of I’ve a stockpile of Marriott factors, and with Hyatt, I can switch Chase Final Rewards factors and get glorious worth. Hyatt is the one lodge accomplice that I’ll switch bank card factors to. I did not even trouble looking with Hilton, as I did not have any Hilton factors and do not like transferring factors to Hilton, because it typically presents a really poor redemption worth resulting from its frequent devaluations.
There was no factors availability with Hyatt. I used to be fairly upset as a result of there was a Hyatt Place throughout from the stadium that caught my eye. Sadly, lodges are likely to restrict award night time availability or considerably elevate the factors worth throughout occasions of excessive demand.
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I additionally checked the Marriott Bonvoy app every day, hoping to search out award availability, however nothing was developing. I stored looking as a result of I refused to spend over $1,500 for 2 nights at a mean lodge. Finally, I obtained fortunate, and a Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott popped up for simply 25,000 Marriott factors per night time; I booked it instantly.
Since I’ve a wholesome stash of over half one million Marriott Bonvoy factors that I battle to make use of, I used to be ecstatic when I discovered this deal. TPG’s September 2025 valuations peg Marriott Bonvoy factors at 0.7 cents apiece, making 50,000 Bonvoy factors value simply $350. With the money costs over $1,500, I am getting a price of three cents per level, virtually 4 occasions TPG’s valuation, which is sort of unparalleled with Marriott’s frequent devaluations.
And whereas the lodge I am staying at is nothing fancy, it’s going to get the job accomplished; plus, I doubtless will not be spending a lot time within the room anyway.
Associated: 5 the reason why each sports activities fan ought to have the Chase Sapphire Reserve
How I earned my Marriott factors
I acquired all my Marriott factors simply from finishing stays and focused promotions. And I do know it might be stunning, however I haven’t got a Marriott cobranded bank card and nonetheless maintain top-tier Titanium Elite standing. I’ve gained a big chunk of those factors from Marriott’s (seemingly) annual bonus factors promotion, the place you earn an additional 1,000 factors per night time on eligible stays. This promotion has sometimes run from a part of February to a part of April yearly, and I all the time benefit from it. I even have gained a good quantity of factors as compensation when points arose throughout my stays, like after I obtained 80,000 Bonvoy factors for the air-con being damaged throughout a Marriott keep in Paris final yr in the course of the Olympics.
TPG tip: I all the time add lodge bar or restaurant expenses to my room invoice so I can earn Marriott factors on these expenses.
Find out how to earn Marriott Bonvoy factors
Listed below are a number of the finest methods to earn Marriott factors:
There are lots of methods to get Marriott factors, however I like to recommend solely the primary two choices (I am going to soar into that later).
What playing cards earn Marriott Bonvoy factors?
The best technique to earn Bonvoy factors is to carry a cobranded Marriott card. You may earn Bonvoy factors on all of your purchases. Listed below are some fashionable playing cards and their welcome presents:
Associated: 5 methods to maximise Marriott Bonvoy award night time redemptions
Transferring factors from bank card packages
Transferring factors from bank card packages to Marriott typically yields a poor return, even with a switch bonus, since Marriott factors are value lower than bank card factors, per our September 2025 valuations.
You possibly can switch factors from American Categorical Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Chase Final Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy. Factors switch at a 1:1 ratio, however many occasions these issuers will supply switch bonuses, the place you’ll obtain extra factors.
Plus, Bilt Rewards presents 5,000 bonus Bonvoy factors for each 20,000 Bilt Factors transferred to Marriott.
Typically, I am towards transferring bank card rewards to lodge loyalty packages except it is World of Hyatt. World of Hyatt nonetheless makes use of a hard and fast award chart so you will get superb worth and maximize your bank card rewards. Nonetheless, transferring your bank card factors could make sense if you should prime off your account for a redemption or simply need to lower your expenses by redeeming your rewards.
When you do need to go the switch route, listed here are some fashionable playing cards with rewards you may switch to Marriott and their welcome presents:
- American Categorical® Gold Card: Discover out your supply and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 100,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents range, and also you is probably not eligible for a suggestion.
The Platinum Card® from American Categorical: Discover out your supply and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 175,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents range, and also you is probably not eligible for a suggestion.
Bilt Mastercard® (see charges and charges): There is no such thing as a welcome supply at present accessible. - Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and charges): Earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges): Earn 125,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Associated: Why I am transferring my Marriott Bonvoy factors to an airline for the primary time
Backside line
Factors and miles redemptions do not all the time should be luxurious. Any time it can save you a piece of cash, it’s best to think about using your rewards. My soccer school redemption is not glamorous by any means, however it saved me an excessive amount of cash and allowed me to go see my favourite workforce play. With out factors, I might doubtless be watching the sport on my sofa.
For charges and charges of the Bilt Mastercard, click on right here.
For rewards and advantages of the Bilt Mastercard, click on right here.
