The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
These Hotels Just Got Cheaper With Marriott's Category Changes
Darren holds the Guinness World Record as the planet's most prolific professional blogger, a feat he achieved in 2010. He's a seasoned storyteller, instructor and communicator, working across marketing, editorial and public relations for some of the world's most progressive brands. He's an explorer at heart, having traversed nearly 50 countries and all 50 US states. He's flown over one million miles on Delta alone, and takes pride in facilitating unforgettable excursions using points and miles.
March 5, 2019 • 11 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
Marriott has completed a major realignment of its hotel categories, introducing a new top tier and shifting several properties to lower categories, reducing the points needed for award stays at 37 hotels worldwide.
Notable properties such as The St. Regis Osaka, W Hollywood and The Naka Island, Phuket have dropped a category, offering better value for points redemptions compared to previous rates.
Some properties, despite lower award rates, may not offer strong value, and alternative options in certain destinations may be preferable.
Marriott's program features like Points Advance and a fifth night free on award stays can further enhance the value of booking with points.
What to consider
Award rates may increase again when Marriott introduces peak and off-peak pricing later this year, so booking now could lock in current savings.
Points Advance allows reservations even if you do not have enough points at booking, but you must earn the required points before your stay.
Some limited-time elevated welcome bonuses for cobranded cards were available through April 24, 2019, but these offers may no longer be available.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed list of all 37 Marriott properties that dropped a category and specific recommendations on which hotels offer the best value for points.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
History has shown that hotel chains typically move more properties up the ladder than down, but it's always a treat to sift through and find that a hotel you've been eying costs less today than it did the day prior.
Lower Category Properties
We scoured Marriott's list of category changes and found that 37 properties around the globe were moving down one category, meaning that you're now required to spend fewer points for a free night than you would've been before. Let's take a look at the full list before highlighting some hidden gems.
Hotel
Brand
Country/Region
Old Category
Current Category
AC Hotel Panama City
AC Hotels by Marriott
Panama
4
3
Aloft Abu Dhabi
Aloft
United Arab Emirates
3
2
Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11
Aloft
Thailand
3
2
Aloft Palm Jumeira
Aloft
United Arab Emirates
5
4
Aloft Kiev
Aloft
Ukraine
4
3
Bankside Hotel, Autograph Collection
Autograph Collection
United Kingdom
7
6
The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama, Autograph Collection
Autograph Collection
Panama
6
5
Courtyard Lima Miraflores
Courtyard
Peru
4
3
Courtyard Isla Verde Beach Resort
Courtyard
Puerto Rico
5
4
Courtyard Stockholm Kungsholmen
Courtyard
Sweden
5
4
Courtyard Sydney-North Ryde
Courtyard
Australia
4
3
Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
Four Points
United Arab Emirates
5
4
Four Points by Sheraton Saransk
Four Points
Russia
2
1
Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina
Le Méridien
United Arab Emirates
6
5
Lugal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Ankara
The Luxury Collection
Turkey
4
3
The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket
The Luxury Collection
Thailand
7
6
Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna
The Luxury Collection
Austria
6
5
Istanbul Marriott Hotel Sisli
Marriott Hotels
Turkey
4
3
Skopje Marriott Hotel
Marriott Hotels
Macedonia
3
2
Moxy Tbilisi
Moxy Hotels
Georgia
3
2
Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel
Renaissance Hotels
India
4
3
Renaissance St. Petersburg Baltic Hotel
Renaissance Hotels
Russia
4
3
Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel
Renaissance Hotels
Austria
5
4
Sheraton Batumi Hotel
Sheraton
Georgia
4
3
Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers
Sheraton
United Arab Emirates
5
4
Sheraton Sopot Hotel
Sheraton
Poland
5
4
Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
Sheraton
United States
5
4
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa
Sheraton
Maldives
7
6
Sheraton Munich Westpark Hotel
Sheraton
Germany
5
4
Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Spa & Golf Resort
Sheraton
New Caledonia
5
4
Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel
Sheraton
Puerto Rico
5
4
Sheraton Samui Resort
Sheraton
Thailand
5
4
Sheraton Zurich Neues Schloss Hotel
Sheraton
Switzerland
7
6
The St. Regis Osaka
St. Regis
Japan
8
7
W Hollywood
W Hotels
United States
7
6
W Los Angeles - West Beverly Hills
W Hotels
United States
7
6
The Westin Dublin
Westin
Ireland
7
6
Sweet Spots
The St. Regis Osaka, Fuji Suite (Photo courtesy of the hotel)
There are a handful of aspirational properties on the list that are worth considering. The St. Regis Osaka is the only St. Regis to drop a category after the award chart realignment, and considering both the grandeur of the St. Regis brand and the beauty that surrounds Osaka, now might be the time to book an award stay in Japan's second city. This property required 60,000 points in the lead-up to Mar. 5 as a Category 8 hotel, but that price has stuck now that it's dropped to Category 7. 60,000 points for a $600+ room means that you're getting slightly more than TPG's own valuation of Marriott points.
For those who frequent LA, a pair of W Hotels have moved from Category 7 to 6. Of particular note is the W Hollywood, which is ideally positioned within walking range of the Dolby Theatre. If you're dreaming of being in the middle of it all during a movie premiere or The Oscars, this is the spot to book. It's not uncommon for stars to mingle nearby at after-parties following a premiere, and with rates approaching or even exceeding $500 per night, you can get some solid value for your Marriott points.
Three properties within The Luxury Collection fell a notch as well, including The Naka Island in Phuket, Thailand. We reviewed this property last year and loved its idyllic location and serene vibe. You can now snag a base level room for 50,000 points per night as opposed to 60,000 before.
The stunning overwater villas at the Park Hyatt Maldives (Photo by Darren Murph / The Points Guy)
Lower award rates may result in a surge of award reservations, so if you're eyeing one of these properties that has dropped in price, go ahead and snag an award room now. Remember that Marriott allows you to book award stays even when you're short on points through the program's Points Advance feature. It also offers a fifth night free on award stays, so if you can get away for more than a long weekend, you can drop your effective nightly rate even further.
One other reason to book now: We expect Marriott to introduce peak and off-peak pricing at some point this year (date TBD). If you wait to book until after this final award chart change is implemented, you could negate any savings you might have enjoyed. For example, a peak award night at a Category 6 property will price at 60,000 points per night, which will effectively return the W Hollywood, Naka Island and others back to pre-Mar. 5 award rates. That's why it may make sense to lock-in a reservation now.
Bottom Line
The Westin Dublin dropped from a category 7 to 6 (Photo courtesy of the hotel)
Change is a constant in the points and miles game, and we're glad to see a silver lining to Marriott's 2019 category changes. If you spot a property above that you'd love to stay at, it's worth noting that Marriott is offering elevated welcome bonuses until April 24, 2019 as it ushers in a new range of cobranded American Express cards.
You can put one of the cards below in your wallet in order to boost your point balance, with a haul of points enough for two nights at a newly-minted Category 6 property like the Sheraton Zurich Neues Schloss Hotel or London's Bankside Hotel.
The Marriot Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card are offering 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
As the premium consumer card in the Marriott Bonvoy credit card lineup, the Bonvoy Brilliant Amex has a $450 annual fee (See Rates & Fees). It also has plenty of perks, including:
6x points at participating Marriott Bonvoy Hotels, 3x points at US restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2x points on everything else
Up to $300 statement credit for Marriott purchases — Each card member year, you and your authorized users will receive up to a total of $300 in statement credits for Marriott and SPG purchases charged to your card. This applies to room rates as well as incidentals charged to your room. So even if you just have a few Marriott stays in a year, it’s easy to take advantage of this benefit and effectively cut your fee to $150.
Annual free night award — Each year on your card anniversary, you’ll receive a free night award worth up to 50,000 points. This gets you more value than the free night certificates that come with other cards such as the Marriott Bonvoy Business, since those are capped at 35,000 points.
Automatic Gold elite status — Just for being a card holder. This gets you a 25% points bonus and space-available upgrades to enhanced rooms, among other perks. You can earn Platinum elite status when you spend $75,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Priority Pass lounge access
Elite Night Credits — Receive 15 elite-qualifying night credits per year. This benefit is identical to that of the regular Marriott Bonvoy Amex and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase and is limited to one per member, not one per card.
The Bonvoy Brilliant also offers an up to $100 luxury credit. This will apply to stays of two nights or longer at St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton properties, and you must use a special rate code to get the credit. Unfortunately, it won’t apply to room rates, but it is uncapped so you can use it multiple times a year.
Featured image of the Bankside Hotel, Autograph Collection courtesy of the hotel.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, please click here.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
