5 of the Best Marriott Hotels for Redeeming 35k Starpoints
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
As you likely know by now, Marriott and Starwood have officially merged, resulting in one of the largest hotel chains in the world. You can now initiate a status match and transfer points between the Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest programs, and you'll even earn bonus points when using your Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express at Marriott properties.
Speaking of that co-branded credit card, it — along with its business version, the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express — is currently offering an elevated welcome bonus of up to 35,000 Starpoints. With the personal version, you'll get 25,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months, plus another 10,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in the first six months. And with the business card, you'll earn 25,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months, plus an extra 10,000 points after you spend an additional $3,000 within the first six months.
The usual offer for these cards is 25,000 points, so now's a good time to apply if you currently don't hold them, are eligible for the welcome bonus and can meet both spending requirements to get the full 35,000 points. And because Starpoints transfer to the Marriott Rewards program at a 1:3 ratio, you could end up with 105,000 points to redeem toward a stay at a Marriott property (even more points when you factor in the spending requirement for both offers; at least 120,000 Marriott points with the personal Starwood Amex and at least 129,000 Marriott points with the Starwood business Amex.
If you've applied for either of these cards or simply have a large stash of Starpoints already, consider transferring your rewards over to Marriott to book a stay at one of these properties. Keep in mind that these are just a handful of many, many options for redeeming your points — but the below properties stand out as particularly good choices since they tend to have high nightly cash rates.
1. Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, Autograph Collection
Category: 9 (45,000 points per night)
This property sits on Scrub Island in the British Virgin Islands, accessible only by helicopter or boat. It offers two private beaches plus a "honeymoon beach" only accessible by kayak, plus three pools, a full-service spa with ayurvedic treatments and a marina. Rates for a two-night stay can run as high as high as $2,658 in mid-April, so using 90,000 Marriott points instead gets you a value of about 3 cents per point — well above TPG's 0.9-cent valuation of Marriott Rewards.
2. The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa
Category: 9 (45,000 points per night)
This property could be a good choice if you're planning a trip to California's wine country. It's just a short drive away from several wineries, an on the property you'll find the Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar, a spa with cabanas and a beautiful modern lobby with a fireplace. In late May, you'll find cash rates as high as $1,038 for a two-night stay, which means you'd get about 1.2 cents per point in value if you chose to book an award stay instead.
3. Boscolo Exedra Roma, Autograph Collection
Category: 9 (45,000 points per night)
Clearly, Marriott's top-tier Category 9 properties are some of the best options for redeeming Starpoints, as they're typically the most expensive (and the most luxurious). The Boscolo Exedra was even featured in our recent post on the best ways to redeem 35,000 Starpoints, thanks to its great location in Rome's Piazza della Repubblica and its setting in a 19th-century palace. There are multiple restaurants on site, along with a lobby bar, a pool bar and a full-service spa. The rate for a sample two-night stay in early June is $724, which would give you a value of about 0.8 cents per point — not the most lucrative redemption, but if you're looking to save on out-of-pocket expenses and enjoy some luxury in the process, it could make sense.
4. CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort
Category: 7 (35,000 points per night)
As a Category 7 hotel, the CasaMagna typically requires 35,000 points per night. However, we were able to find quite a bit of PointSavers award availability, which brings down the rate to 30,000 points per night. For a stay in late June, you could either pay $762 or 90,000 points for a three-night stay, which gives you a value of about 0.85 cents per point. As for why you'd want to stay here, this property offers direct access to the beach, an oceanfront pool and various onsite dining options including an Argentinian steakhouse and Japanese and Thai restaurants.
5. Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel
Category: 7 (35,000 points per night)
Osaka is one of TPG'S favorite destinations in Japan, and this Marriott is ideally located for exploring all the food, shopping and entertainment this city has to offer — and it's housed in Japan's tallest skyscraper. Plus, with cherry blossom season around the corner, if you already have Starpoints in your account it could be a great opportunity to transfer them over and book a three-night stay in early April. Since a three-night stay will cost you about $948, you'd be getting a value of 0.9 cents per point if you redeemed 105,000 Marriott points instead of paying cash. Cash rates in late July are also on the pricey side (about $1,213 for a three-night stay), so you'll still be getting good value for your points even if you miss out on the blossoms.
Bottom Line
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to put the 35,000 points from the Starwood Amex and Starwood Business Amex welcome bonuses to work at Marriott properties. Make sure to check out our post on the best redemptions for 35k Starpoints (including options beyond hotel stays) for more ideas.
Have you redeemed Starpoints for a Marriott stay yet? Share your experience in the comments below!
