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You can redeem an 85,000-point Marriott free night certificate at the stunning St. Regis Langkawi.
Marriott Bonvoy
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card includes an annual free night certificate.
You can redeem the certificate at Marriott hotels that cost up to 85,000 points per night.
These include luxury brands like St. Regis, W, and Ritz-Carlton.
Read Insider’s guide to the best hotel credit cards.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is easily the most compelling offer in Marriott’s co-branded credit card portfolio, with its $300 annual statement credits toward dining (doled out in monthly $25 increments) and automatic Platinum elite status. Oh, and its welcome bonus is currently Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card. That’s worth an average of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, per Insider’s valuations.
And here’s the best part: Shortly after their account anniversary each year, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card holders will earn a free night certificate worth up to 85,000 Marriott points. If you use this certificate at high-end properties, you can significantly offset this card’s Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card annual fee.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know to redeem this certificate, as well as some of your top options in the US and internationally.
Why the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant is my favorite hotel credit card
I’ve been loyal to Marriott for a few years now so admittedly I’m a little biased, but of the four Marriott credit cards I carry, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is the most valuable. The card charges a $450 annual fee, which is admittedly high, even for premium credit cards these days.
In exchange for that, you get a $300 annual dining credit ($25 per month). If you spend at least $25 per month at restaurants, your annual fee is effectively dropped to $350.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card has an excellent welcome offer: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card holders get automatic Platinum elite status, which comes with perks such as a 50% bonus on base points, suite upgrades when available, and a welcome gift at select properties, including free breakfast. You’ll earn:
6 points per dollar at Marriott hotels3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
You’ll also enjoy premium travel benefits including a Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access**, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and a $100 property credit when booking eligible paid stays of two nights or more at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels.
That’s a ton of value from a single card, and we haven’t even touched on the most valuable perk yet: the annual free night certificate worth up to 85,000 points. You can reserve nearly any Marriott on earth with this certificate. You can even “top up” a free night award with up to 15,000 extra points, adding to its value.
Here are some of my favorite ways to use the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card’s 85,000-point free night certificate at hotels that will actually be available at that price.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Best hotels for using a Marriott 85,000-point free night certificate
Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay
The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay is a guaranteed solid use of Marriott points.
Marriott
The Ritz -Carlton Half Moon Bay smacks of luxury estate along the Scottish coast. Its foggy mornings, pristine rolling golf course, and resident bagpiper are a transport to a faraway place, and an excellent use of a free night certificate.
This Californian property sells for as little as 74,500 points on select dates — and breaches 100,000 on several occasions. But for a room that routinely costs $1,000 per night, it’s still a great deal. Just be prepared to top off your certificate with a few thousand points if your vacation days aren’t flexible.
W Verbier
The W Verbier is one of the most magical ski lodges you can book on points.
Marriott
The W Verbier is a five-star ski lodge, but very inclusive of non-skiers, as well. It’s a good idea at any time of year. After all, Verbier has some of the most magical autumn foliage you’ll ever see. Spring and summer in Switzerland are pretty magical, as well.
This hotel can cost up to 120,000 points during peak ski season. In other words, you probably won’t be able to redeem a free night certificate in late December and early January. In the fall, you’ll find rates as low as 80,000.
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
Al Maha is an exceptionally unique hotel experience in the middle of the desert.
Marriott
Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai may be the single most aspirational Marriott hotel on the award traveler’s bucket list. Located in the beautifully desolate dunes outside the bustle of Dubai is a five-star glamping oasis offering camel riding, dune bashing, hot air ballooning, falconry, and loads more.
Here’s the best part: It’s an all-inclusive property, even for award nights.
Rates here cost $1,200 per night on the low end. But award rates for most nights also cost more than 100,000 points — making it unbookable with your 85,000-point certificate, even with a 15,000-point top-off. You’ll be relegated to around three months of the year to book a free night — and you’re guaranteed to need at least a few thousand Marriott points more, as no nights price at 85,000 points or or below.
Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch
Bachelor Gulch is located beside Beaver Creek, an upscale younger sister to Vail, Colorado.
Marriott
The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch is hands-down one of the best ski resorts in the US. The Ritz-Carlton has its own lift that’ll take you to the top of a gorgeous (albeit modestly sized) mountain, where you’ll encounter a sprinkle of stunning log bridges connecting multiple ski slopes on the way down.
If you want more runs to choose from, Bachelor Gulch is located beside Beaver Creek, an upscale younger sister to Vail, Colorado. It’s a free and easy five-minute shuttle ride from the resort.
You’ll pay well over $1,000 here during ski season. If you’re flexible, you should have no trouble redeeming an 85,000-point certificate in winter — though you may have to tack on a few thousand more points for the stay.
St. Regis Maldives
The St. Regis Maldives is the most prominent bucket-list Marriott hotel — for good reason.
Marriott
The St. Regis Maldives is the go-to Marriott resort when many of us think of an aspirational award redemption.
I’ve been here once before, and I’m in the process of rebooking it for next year. It quite handily beats any other hotel I’ve visited (and I’ve been to a handful on this list). From the five-star dining experiences to the personal butlers to the enormous rooms — everything about this hotel is a win.
Base rooms here normally cost $1,400 — and delightfully, you shouldn’t have an issue finding rooms here for under 100,000 points. Award prices go as low as 80,000 points, making this a no-brainer use for your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card annual free night award.
Bottom line
Marriott’s absolute best hotels can be booked with the annual 85,000-point certificate that comes with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card.
You could get over $1,000 in value each year from this certificate, depending on where you stay. That easily can make up for the card’s Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card annual fee by itself. Plus, it comes with an enormous welcome bonus worth an average of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, per Insider’s valuations.