Earn 90,000 Marriott Rewards Bonus Points-Enough For A Free Stay!
This is a great time to apply for the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier credit card. Currently the card has a bonus offer in which you can earn 80,000 MARRIOTT REWARDS BONUS POINTS if you spend $3,000 in the first three months of having your account. Keep in mind, the bonus alone is enough points for a free Marriott stay and worth the $85 fee that you will need to pay upon receiving the card.
This 80,000 bonus point offer was first introduced by Chase in February and is the highest I have seen. If inclined, I would act quickly because the offer will ultimately resort back to the standard offer of 50,000 bonus points. (But see The Points Mom Disclaimer below).
In addition, you can earn 7,500 BONUS POINTS if you add your first authorized user to your account and make any purchase in the same 3 month period as above. So at minimum, at the end of 3 months time, you will potentially have about 90,000 Marriott Rewards points to play with, made up of the 80,000 bonus points, the 7,500 bonus points and the $3,000 in spend. (On most purchases you earn one Marriott Rewards point per $1 spent with some exceptions that we will look at below).
What Are Some Of The Additional Benefits Of The Card?
Even after you get your bonus points, you may want to consider keeping this an active card in your wallet due to some of its attractive features. With the card,
you earn 5 points for every $1 spent at Marriott and Ritz Carlton resorts,
you earn 2 points per $1 spent at RESTAURANTS, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, and at car rental agencies,
you earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases made with your card.
There are no foreign transaction fees. You receive 1 free night every year at any Category 1-5 property. In addition, the card offers credit towards elite membership levels upon getting the card and then based on your annual spend.
What If I Do Not Get Approved Immediately When I Apply?
If your credit card application is not approved immediately and Chase asks you to either wait or call, consider calling and asking for a very small credit limit. Don’t forget, you may only be getting the card to meet the minimum spend, so why do you need a large credit limit anyway?
Another technique I have successfully used is calling the Chase Credit Reallocation line and asking them to transfer credit from one of my existing Chase cards to the new card that I am applying for. For example, let’s say you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Freedom card, a Chase airline card or a different Chase hotel card, you can ask Chase to transfer credit from one of those existing cards to the new Marriott card credit line. Chase is more apt to approve your application if they are not extending you additional credit, but rather just transferring some of your existing credit to a new line. The number to call to reallocate your Chase credit is 888-245-0625.
However, there may be some limitations that are more difficult to overcome. The most obvious one being, you need to have decent credit to get a Chase credit card. Additionally, you cannot get a sign-up bonus for any Chase card that you have already held and canceled over the previous 24 months. Lastly, chances are, Chase will not approve you for more than 5 cards in a 24 month period.
Let’s Move To The Fun Stuff- What Can I Do With 90,000 Marriott Rewards Points?
Let’s look at some of the places you can stay with 90,000 Marriott points. First know that Marriott divides its hotels into nine (9) ascending tiers. The more budget-friendly, full-service hotels are in the lower tiers and the top-shelf luxury hotels are in the upper tiers. The hotel tier determines the number of points required for a complimentary night stay. For some of my fancier readers, know that you can also use your Marriott points to book stays at Ritz Carlton properties (and vice versa).
However, don’t be limited by my very short list. Marriott has over 4,000 hotels, not to mention the fact that they just acquired Starwood. In the future, Marriott members will have access to Starwood hotels on points as well (around 2017). You can go almost anywhere you want and book a Marriott.
A few Category 7 properties-35,000 points per night
Costa Rica-JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa
Washington D.C. -The Mayflower Hotel (Autograph Collection)
A few Category 8 properties-40,000 points per night
Bahamas-The Atlantis (Autograph Collection), Royal Towers
Hawaii, Big Island-Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (Autograph Collection)
Scottsdale, Arizona-JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa
Mexico-JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
A few Category 9 properties-45,000 points per night
San Francisco-JW Marriott Union Square
Paris-Marriott Champs Ulysses Hotel
Florida-Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa
A few Ritz Carlton properties
Tuscon, Arizona-The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain (a Ritz Tier 2 property and 40,000 points per night)
Mexico-The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun (a Ritz Tier 3 property and 50,000 points per night)
But What If I Want To Stay Longer Than 2-3 Nights On Points?
You will obviously need more points. So how can you accumulate more? First, you can keep using the card for your spending, especially at restaurants where you earn 2 points per $1 spent. Or, if you have a Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to your Marriott account. Lastly, if you are already an online shopper, you can shop at the Marriott Rewards mall for many of the same items you are getting on other sites. In the process you can earn bonus points. Understand that buying points is rarely worth it. You may as well just pay for your stay.
Another technique that I have used to acquire Marriott points was to have Rob, my spouse, apply for his own card, giving us another 90,000 points for a total of 180,000 points! With 180,000 points, you can book four nights at a top-shelf property. Even better, when you book four nights at a Marriott resort on points, YOU GET THE FIFTH NIGHT FREE!
What If It Takes Such A Long Time To Accumulate The Points, That By The Time I Have Them, The Hotel Is Booked?
This may be true with other hotel loyalty programs, but not with Marriott. One of the nicest perks (at least to me) about the Marriott Rewards program is that at most properties, you can book a stay on points, even if at the time of booking, you do not have the required number of points to fulfill the reservation. You only need to have the points in your account with enough time to order an e-certificate for the reservation. Your reservation may state that you need to order the e-certififate at least 24 hours prior to your arrival. However, to be safe, I would shoot to have the points about a week prior to your stay and order the e-certificate at that time.
This feature can add so much flexibility to your travel plans, especially if you book these award reservations early. You can make your reservations about a year in advance. You can use the year to devise a spending strategy and accumulate the points that you need. If you fall short, or if your plans change, you can cancel your reservation penalty free until about 30 days before arrival.
What Should I Do When I Need To Pay The $85 Annual Fee The Next Year, When There Is No Sign-Up Bonus?
It’s up to you. I have canceled many cards that I have applied for to only get the bonus. Yes, it does affect your credit score, but only a drop and only for a little while. The length of your credit history is just 15% of your total credit score. When you cancel a card, your score takes a small hit, but it comes back in a few months time. You can read about all of the cards I have applied for and canceled on my site, The Points Mom. My credit score, most of the time, is quite high, despite my many cancellations. I plan on focusing on credit score in a later post.
Again, as long as you are not about to refinance or apply for another type of loan, then cancel your card if you don’t use it. Personally, I keep this card. Although I do not use it on a day to day basis, we frequently stay at Marriotts. Even when we book on points, I use this card to pay for all of our other hotel incidental charges that we incur during our stay. I love earning those 5 bonus points per $1 spent at the hotel.
The Points Mom Disclaimer
I will often recommend cards when the bonus offers are high. I would like to remind everyone that my recommendations do not apply to you if you can’t meet the following 2 requirements.
First, you must be able to meet the minimum spend in the allotted time period (usually 3 months), needed to get the bonus. After all, one of the main reasons to get the card is to receive the large influx of bonus points or miles. So, don’t waste an application if you cannot meet the minimum spend. HOWEVER, I do not suggest making extra purchases or incurring additional expenses just to get the bonus. When I am going for a bonus, I simply switch out a card I am already using for a card in which I am striving for a bonus.
Second, you must be able to pay off your balance IN FULL at the end of each billing cycle. Any amount that you end up paying in interest and/or fees, will negate any amount you save on travel booked with rewards.
On a similar note, if you are about to refinance your house, apply for a car loan, etc, it may not be the best time for you to be applying for a new credit card.
Earn 10,000 Hilton HHonors Bonus Points Per Referral (Targeted)
Posted 4/21/2016
I got an offer from Hilton HHonors where, through May 4, 2016, I can receive 10,000 Hilton HHonors Bonus Points for each new card application I refer that results in an approved account, up to a maximum of 80,000 points per calendar year. Hmm, I just may….I just need to put together my list.
Extra HHonors Points When You Shop For Vitamins
Posted 4/20/2016
There is a special offer where you can earn extra Hilton HHonors points, shopping in the Hilton HHonors Shop-to-Earn Mall. Through June 20, 2016, you can earn 9 Hilton HHonors points per $1 spent at Puritan’s Pride (usually 6) for vitamins. Plus with the offer, when you buy 1 vitamin product, you get 2 free.
Get 100% More Hilton HHonors Points When You Purchase Points
Posted 4/21/2016
Generally you can purchase Hilton HHonors points at a rate of 1 cent per point. So for example, 50,000 Hilton HHonors points would cost you $500. But from now until June 3, 2016, buy any amount of HHonors Points and earn 100% more. So for that same $500, you can now get 100,000 Hilton HHonors points, so you are getting the points for .5 cents per point.
If you have a Hilton stay in mind in the future that you want to redeem with points, you could consider purchasing now and taking advantage of this bonus. Check to see the number of points you need per night to see if this purchase could be worth it. The maximum points you can purchase through this offer is 80,000 which will give you 160,000 points for $800. All purchases must be made through the Purchase page on HHonors.com and all purchases are non-refundable.
Earn Up To 50,000 Club Carlson Gold Points On Stays
Posted 4/21/2016
Through July 31, 2016, Club Carlson has a promotion in which you can earn bonus Gold Points on stays. You can earn 5,000 bonus Gold Points after completing two nights, 10,000 bonus Gold Points after completing five nights, another 10,000 bonus Gold Points after completing ten nights, and a final 25,000 bonus Gold Points after completing 15 or more nights. You must register for this offer to take advantage of it.
Holiday Strategies
Many Rewards programs offer bonus rewards if you shop with them for the various holidays throughout the year.
Birthdays
If You Need To Buy Gift Cards, Consider Shopping At Places Where You Get Bonus Points With Your Cards
Valentines Day
Buy Flowers For Valentines Day And Earn Rewards
Mother’s Day
Send Flowers To Mom For Mother’s Day 2016 And Earn Extra Rewards
Earn Extra Rewards Shopping For Mother’s Day 2016
Black Friday
Shop The Portals On Black Friday And Cyber Monday
December Holidays
Shop The Portals For Holiday Gifts
Use Your Chase Freedom Card To Buy Amazon Gift Card Holiday Gifts If Amazon Is A Bonus Category
If You Need To Buy Gift Cards, Consider Shopping At Places Where You Get Bonus Points With Your Cards
For all of the various occasions that you need to buy gifts for, consider gift cards if you will get bonus points purchasing them For example, use a card that offers bonus rewards on dining and buy a restaurant gift card. Or use a card that offers bonus rewards at supermarkets, and go get a gift card from that fancy gourmet market in your town. I can of on and on, but I hope you get the gist. Be strategic when you need to buy a gift. Earn those bonus rewards!
Earn Extra Rewards Shopping For Mother’s Day 2016
Don’t want to send flowers to mom? Many loyalty programs offer incentives on other Mother’s day gifts as well. Here are some of the current 2016 offers…
Earn 250 Bonus American Advantage Miles Shopping For Mom This Mother’s Day
Earn 250 Bonus American Advantage Miles Shopping For Mom This Mother’s Day
Posted 4/19/2016
Through May 5, 2016, you can receive a bonus of 250 American Advantage bonus miles (in addition to what you earn from shopping), if you spend more than $150, from shopping online through the Advantage eShopping mall at one or more of the following participating merchants: ProFlowers, WSJwine, Aveda, JCPenney, Blue Nile, and/or Kohl’s. If you are going to buy a Mother’s Day present for mom anyway, you may as well earn rewards while doing so!
Get Bonus JetBlue TrueBlue Points When You Purchase Points
Posted April 19, 2016
Through May 20, 2016, you can earn up to 40% bonus TrueBlue points when you buy or gift points. Depending on the number of points you buy, you can expect to pay from about $.29 through .38 per point. The bonus offer is below.
BUY OR GIFT…
3,000 – 9,500 POINTS 20% MORE
10,000 – 19,500 POINTS 30% MORE
20,000 – 30,000 POINTS 40% MORE
Note, there is a minimum purchase of 1,000 points and a maximum purchase of 30,000 points per transaction. Also, you are limited in that you cannot purchase more than a total of 60,000 TrueBlue points in a calendar year. Nor can you receive more than 60,000 points as a gift in a calendar year.
