8 places to maximize an 85,000-point Marriott award night certificate
Editor's Note
With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enjoy the benefit of an annual 85,000-point free night award. Additionally, new cardmembers can earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of card membership.
Marriott Bonvoy members also have the opportunity to top off their free night certificates with up to 15,000 points. Given the various avenues to earn these 85,000-point free night certificates, let's explore how you can maximize these valuable rewards.
General maximization strategy
TPG values 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at $714, so that should be your comparable cash price after tax when deciding whether or not to use an 85,000-point certificate.
Of course, there are other personal considerations when redeeming your free night certificate, but on paper, a "good" redemption of an 85,000-point certificate would be for a room that's at least $714 after tax.
We suggest using the Cash + Points feature on Marriott's website to identify the most advantageous night for redeeming a free night certificate.
For instance, a two-night stay at the Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris ranges from 82,000 to 83,500 points per night in February 2024.
You might assume that you would be best off redeeming your free night certificate on one of the nights that costs 83,500 points (as opposed to 82,000 points). However, as you can see, an increase in the number of points doesn't always equate to an increase in the cash price.
In this case, the more expensive night is the less expensive in points, so consider reviewing the various nightly cash and points prices for your stay before redeeming your certificate. By doing so, you stand to maximize your award.
Hotels to consider for using your 85,000-point free night certificate
While there are several properties worthy of consideration when aiming to use your free night certificate, the following provide significant value based on TPG's valuations.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
Carved out of a crescent-shaped beach, the fully renovated Mauna Kea Beach Hotel offers guests L'Occitane en Provence bath amenities and signature cinnamon French toast, among other noteworthy amenities.
While nightly rates here start north of four figures, it's a great place to redeem an 85,000-point award certificate. Also, unlike most resorts in Hawaii, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel doesn't tack a resort fee onto the room rate, so if you plan it right, you could stay here without any out-of-pocket expenses.
Pro tip: Early arrivers to the Manta Restaurant for breakfast enjoy the outdoor dining tranquility of Pacific Ocean views with the sound of tropical birds and gently crashing waves.
Related: Best beach on the Big Island: A review of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, DC
The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C., is a Marriott Bonvoy enthusiast favorite. With just 86 rooms, this AAA Five Diamond-rated hotel used to be an incinerator, but now, it's one of Washington's premier hotels.
Guests enjoy views of the Potomac River from nearly all the rooms. While cash rates start at $524 per night, most nights go for $800 and above. If you can't find availability for under 85,000 points, you can top off your certificate to cover up to 15,000 points for the night.
Pro tip: Stop by the lobby in the late afternoon for complimentary hot chocolate and premium snacks.
Related: The perfect 1-day field trip in Washington, DC, for travelers of all ages
The St. Regis Deer Valley
If you want ski-in, ski-out access and St. Regis-level service, the convenience of The St. Regis Deer Valley in Utah is a solid choice for that 85,000-point certificate.
Since this area is a relatively short drive from the Salt Lake City airport, a shorter ski trip can make more sense than some farther-afield Colorado resorts.
During the ski season, rooms are often over $1,000 per night. Weekends will commonly come in at 126,000 points per night, so use a flexible-date calendar to spot nights for under 100,000 points so you can use your 85,000-point certificate and top it off with up to 15,000 points if needed.
Pro tip: You can rent ski equipment on-site and use the ski valet. If anyone in your group is new to skiing and can't use the ski-in, ski-out location or needs to be dropped off at ski school, the hotel has a free shuttle to the base of the mountain.
Related: Ski-in luxury: A review of The St. Regis Deer Valley in Park City, Utah
The Bodrum Edition
When you visit the Marriott website or see a credit card ad with pictures, you might think, "Wow, where is that?" Odds are it may be The Bodrum Edition pictured.
The 108-room Bodrum Edition is an ultra-photogenic property on the banks of the Aegean Sea. Guests seeking relaxation can enjoy the resort's Turkish hammam. Those looking for nightlife can jamboree in one of the two bars or visit the hotel's nightclub.
The resort is closed from November through mid-April, so plan your stay accordingly. During the shoulder season, room rates start at just under 400 euros ($422.50) per night, but peak summer dates reveal consistent room rates of over 1,500 euros ($1,584.64) per night. That could make it possible to score a deal using an 85,000-point free night certificate.
Pro tip: Make time to sit back on one of the resort's overwater hammocks. You'll rock into a doze with curated Edition music and gentle waves.
Related: Run, don't walk here: A review of the Bodrum Edition in the Turkish Riviera
JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
If you want overwater bungalows and private plunge pools, look no further than the JW Marriott Maldives.
As one of Marriott's newer resorts in the Maldives, the standard room here — which you can book using an 85,000-point certificate — is an overwater bungalow totaling an impressive 2,518 square feet of combined indoor and outdoor space.
Paid rates over the next several months start at just shy of $800 per night but can easily double depending on your dates. Luckily, very few nights exceed 100,000 points, so you should be able to redeem an 85,000-point certificate and top it off if needed.
Pro tip: There is a yoga platform jutting into the sea where free classes are offered most mornings and evenings.
Related: New kid on the island: A review of the JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
London Marriott Hotel Park Lane
London is home to endless excellent hotels, but one that stands out is the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane.
The hotel is on the city's Park Lane, right at the foot of Hyde Park. You can easily access all London has to offer with a quick walk or ride on the Tube.
The property's luxurious rooms are well designed and have touches of classic British style. The lobby is posh, and the hotel has a popular on-site restaurant — Lanes of London — that serves contemporary British cuisine and traditional afternoon tea.
Those with Platinum Elite status or higher can visit the executive lounge for breakfast, drinks and refreshments throughout their stay.
While it may not be the most over-the-top hotel on this list, its perfect location and upscale amenities make it worth a visit. Nightly rates in the coming months average around $600, so your free night certificate stands to save you a lot of money.
Pro tip: You're right down the block from the Marble Arch Tube station, which can whisk you to central London in minutes.
Related: The complete guide to flying to London on points and miles
Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris
Step off fashionable Avenue George V and through the doors of this art deco gem, and you will find yourself transported to the 1920s Paris of the so-called Lost Generation ... with a few glam updates by star designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, of course.
The hotel is just around the corner from Champs-Elysees and the flagship boutiques of globe-spanning fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton on Avenue Montaigne. You can walk to the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower pretty easily, too.
This over-the-top luxury hotel has just 116 rooms and 43 suites, so rates tend to soar over $1,100 per night. On most nights, you can book awards for 100,000 points, meaning you will certainly have to top off your free night certificate. Still, it might be worth it.
Pro tip: You might miss it if you're not in the know, but the hotel has a small spa, including so-called Wellness Suites by spa guru Olivier Lecocq, complete with a private hammam, a green-mosaic shower, a massage area and treatments incorporating rejuvenating Unique Elixir Paris products.
Related: Art deco decadence: A review of Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Paris
The Madrid Edition
What may have been Madrid's most anticipated hotel opening of the year, The Madrid Edition unites Ian Schrager's sleek eye with the bygone grandeur of Spain's heyday.
It's in the heart of Madrid, just a few steps away from Puerta del Sol. Guests can enjoy the rooftop pool with striking views of the city, the spa with candlelit treatment rooms and the hotel's restaurant, Jeronimo, helmed by chef Enrique Olvera of Mexico City's Pujol (ranked one of the top 50 restaurants in the world).
With introductory room rates ranging from $400 to $800 a night, such luxury doesn't come cheap, so using an 85,000-point free night certificate can be a great option.
Pro tip: For the ultimate indulgence, reserve the Opera Penthouse or the Madrid Penthouse, both duplexes with kitchens, living areas, massive outdoor spaces and private pools. Each features floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of Madrid's rooftops — perhaps even better views than the main pool and shared hotel rooftop. Room rates start at $20,000 per night.
Related: 1st look: Spain's newest luxury Marriott hotel, The Madrid Edition
Bottom line
You have a world of choices with a Marriott 85,000-point certificate. It's hard to go wrong when you have your pick of almost any Marriott property. However, options like these eight examples will help you get the most reward from your valuable certificate.
If you want to enjoy an annual 85,000-point certificate and earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases on the card in your first six months, now is an ideal time to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card.