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Good news for Marriott Bonvoy loyalists: Award pricing has not meaningfully increased since the loyalty program increased the amount of points allowed to top off free night awards.
NerdWallet analyzed data from Gondola to find out how award stay pricing changes may have impacted the ability to use free night awards following the change.
What the Gondola data shows
While Gondola’s data did find some properties had increased in points price, it wasn’t a systematic shift and other properties became cheaper in the same time frame. When you look at the Marriott portfolio as a whole, the number of properties that did increase represent a very small percentage of what’s available.
For example, the Gondola analysis found that from February to April 2026, 60 properties that were previously bookable with a 35,000-point certificate and a 25,000-point top-off were no longer eligible. However, 24 properties that were above the limit became bookable. While that was an overall decrease of 36 properties, it represented a small blip when compared to the 9,020 properties examined — a 0.04% decline.
Similarly, for 50,000-point certificates, 35 properties moved out of reach, while 11 became available (0.03% decrease relative to the overall portfolio). Looking at 85,000-point certificates, 18 became too expensive to book using the award, while three moved below the booking threshold (0.02% decrease).
Notably, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which is part of Marriott’s MGM Collection, saw an award pricing increase that largely put it out of reach when using a 50,000-point award. Other properties that moved higher included Jamaica’s Royalton Negril, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort, and the Sheraton Mountain Vista Villas in Avon / Vail Valley, Colorado.
Those holding an 85,000-point award were no longer able to book The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, which increased in price to be above the points cap.
Keep in mind that rates are dynamic, so these properties’ rates could also decrease and become bookable again using an award.
How to earn free night awards
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 3 points per $1 on up to $6,000 a year in combined purchases on grocery stores, gas stations and dining.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 4 points per $1 on up to $15,000 a year in combined purchases at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S).
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 3 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
• 15 Elite Night Credits annually, qualifying you for Silver Elite status, plus path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
• 1 Elite Night Credit toward Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
• Terms apply.
• Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.
• Automatic Gold Elite status, plus 15 Elite Night credits each year toward Platinum Elite status.
• Terms apply.
• Free Night Award (valued up to 85,000 points) every year after your account renewal month.
• Platinum status and 25 Elite Night credits per year.
• Fee credit for either Global Entry or TSA Precheck.
• Priority Pass Select lounge membership (enrollment required).
• Up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.
• Terms apply.
Are Marriott free night awards still worth it?
Many people were concerned that Marriott would simply raise prices to match the increase in the top-off maximum. However, the data tells another story.
While some properties have gone up in price, it hasn’t been a widespread phenomenon across the Marriott portfolio. In fact, many have even become cheaper since Marriott announced the change, making it possible to book them with a free night award when it wasn’t before.
That gives Marriott Bonvoy members more choice on where and how to use their free nights, which is always a good thing.
Top photo courtesy of Marriott.
