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Want Great Value for Your Marriott Points? Go to South Africa
Jason Steele is a Senior Points and Miles Contributor who has been writing for The Points Guy since 2012. An expert in credit cards and award travel, Jason travels frequently across the United States and around the world with his wife and three children. Jason lives in Denver, Colorado, where he enjoys cycling, snowboarding, and piloting airplanes.
May 7, 2019 • 10 min read
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Quick summary
Marriott Bonvoy points can deliver exceptional value for free night stays at Protea Hotels in South Africa, with many properties classified in the lowest award categories.
Protea Hotels, now part of Marriott, offer a wide range of options, including safari lodges, city hotels and resorts, with award nights starting at just 7,500 points.
South Africa's favorable exchange rate and affordable cash rates mean travelers should compare points redemptions to paid stays for optimal value.
Other southern African properties, including hotels in Zambia and Namibia, also provide strong redemption opportunities within the Bonvoy program.
What to consider
Many Protea Hotels in South Africa are Category 1, requiring fewer points for award nights compared to other regions.
Award values can reach up to 3.8 cents per point, significantly higher than TPG's June 2024 valuation of 0.8 cents each.
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of specific Protea and other southern African hotels where Bonvoy points deliver the highest value for award stays.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
But if you're worried that you won't get great value when you redeem your Bonvoy points for free night stays, all you have to do is plan a trip to South Africa. That's where your Bonvoy points may be more valuable for free night stays than any other place on earth.
Why South Africa?
South Africa has an array of hotels under the Marriott umbrella at which you can use your points. (Photo courtesy of Marriott)
Visiting South Africa using points and miles isn't always an easy thing, nor is it cheap. However, there are values to be had. South Africa is home to Protea Hotels, the largest hotel company in Africa with 80 current properties and eight more under construction. Protea was purchased by Marriott in 2014 and is now one of 30 brands that are part of the Bonvoy program.
But more so than any other brand that I'm aware of, Protea Hotels are much more likely to be part of the Marriott Bonvoy program's lowest award level, Category 1.
There are 53 Protea Hotels in South Africa that are distributed as follows:
40 Category 1 properties requiring just 7,500 points per night.
9 Category 2 properties requiring 12,500 points per night.
3 Category 3 properties requiring 17,500 points per night.
1 Category 4 property requiring 25,000 points per night.
You could also redeem your Bonvoy points for free night stays at 10 other properties in the country:
A Category 2 Sheraton property in Pretoria
Three Category 2 Autograph Collection properties (one in Johannesburg, one in Pretoria and one in Magaliesburg)
A Category 3 AC Hotel property in Cape Town
A Category 3 Autograph Collection property about 100km outside of Cape Town
A Category 4 Autograph Collection property in Cape Town
A Category 4 Marriott property in Cape Town
A Category 5 Design Hotels property in Johannesburg
A Category 5 Westin property in Cape Town
In contrast, Hilton has just three properties in the whole country, and Hyatt has only one.
If you manage to grab the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card before May 16, you could be looking at over two weeks in some of these hotels. The card is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 100,000 Marriott points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first three months from your account opening. With this haul of points alone, you'd be able to snag 10 free nights at one of the Category 1 properties; if some of those stays are for five nights or longer, you could get up 12 free nights thanks to Marriott's fifth night free benefit on award stays. That is simply an astonishing value for a single sign-up bonus.
It's unclear why Protea Hotels are categorized so low, but perhaps it's because Marriott lists them under its "Classic Select" brands; this designation is shared with Courtyard, Four Points by Sheraton, SpringHill Suites and Fairfield Inn & Suites. But as you'll see, there are plenty of unique Protea properties that I'd prefer over your typical "Classic Select" hotel in the United States.
Here are a few examples of Protea Hotels in Marriott's Category 1 that offer exceptional value.
It should also be noted that South Africa is a very affordable country to visit, especially because Americans enjoy a very favorable exchange rate between the US Dollar and the South African Rand. As a result, you should always check paid rates at these properties. While you some have nights for as little as $40, others sell for over $180.
When you're able to spend 7,500 Marriott Bonvoy points instead of paying $188, you are realizing 3.8 cents per point, nearly five times TPG's current valuation of 0.8 cents each. Normally you'd need to be booking top-tier properties like the St. Regis Bora Bora or Al Maha Resort to enjoy this level of value, or you may need to transfer your points to an airline partner. But with many of these Protea Hotels, you'll enjoy a phenomenal value when you use your points in South Africa.
Protea Award Nights in South Africa
Here is just a snapshot of some of the terrific award options that Protea Hotels can provide.
This beautiful Category 1 property is located near the famed Kruger Park. I've found rooms with two queen beds for $107, including taxes and fees. That gives you 1.4 cents per point in value.
Only in South Africa could you find a four-star resort hotel with its own 1,000-hectare (100,000-acre) game preserve featuring antelope, hyenas, giraffes, zebra, buffalo and lions. Throw in pools, tennis courts and a golf course, and it's a bargain at 7,500 points per night. It's also a bargain if you pay cash, with some nights available for just $88.
This Category 1 property occupies a historic building and has a view of the harbor. It often sells for $148 per night, including taxes and fees. This gives you a value of nearly two cents per point.
Johannesburg Airport (JNB) is a major hub for all of southern Africa, and you can't find a more convenient location than this property, located airside within the terminal. That means that when you arrive by air, you don't even have to clear customs and immigration before you check-in. However, you will need a boarding pass or e-ticket if arriving by land.
Award nights here are just 7,500 Marriott points, and with standard rates starting at ~$140, you can get nearly 2 cents of value for each point.
Cape Town is one of my favorite cities in the world, and you'll only need to spend 12,500 points a night for this Category 2 property in an historic building. Not bad for a hotel that often costs $225 per night, including taxes and fees.
If you love wine, then you've heard of the famous Stellenbosch region of South Africa. This four-star property is classified as Category 2, but it's also a bargain at about $100 per night. It's walking distance from many restaurants and shops in downtown Stellenbosch, as TPG Editor Nick Ewen found during his March 2018 stay.
For a mere 12,500 points you can stay at this hotel within 100 meters of the Kruger Park. This amazing looking property is even in view of its wildlife. A typical room rate is $207 per night, including taxes and fees.
Finally, here's a hotel in the heart of Cape Town, right near the famous Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. And while it will cost you 17,500 points, that's still a pretty good deal for a hotel that often sells for $190, including taxes and fees.
This property is located about three and a half hours west of the Johannesburg Airport and is adjacent to the Mafikeng Game Reserve which includes white rhino, buffalo, gemsbok and giraffe. This is also a Category 1 hotel, with standard rooms requiring just 7,500 points per night.
This Category 2 property is two and a half hour’s drive north of the Johannesburg Airport in Limpopo, South Africa, and it appears about as close as you can come to a true African safari while still being part of a major hotel loyalty program. It’s located near the Mabalingwe Nature Reserve, the Phala Phala Wildlife Refuge and the Bateleur Nature Reserve. From this property, you can depart on game drives, horseback rides and walks.
BONUS: Other Options
Of course, the value in these awards isn't limited to award nights in South Africa, nor are you limited to the Protea brand. Here are three "bonus" properties that allow you to get incredible value for your Marriott points in the southern part of Africa.
Here’s a Category 1 hotel in Zambia with a private game reserve and offering its own game drives. Award nights cost just 7,500 points, and with standard rates starting at ~$160/night, you'll be getting over 2 cents in value for every point you use.
This Category 1 property is in Katima Mulilo, Namibia, on the banks of the Zambezi River, which is full of hippos and other wildlife. It’s also near Victoria Falls and the Chobe National Park. Room rates are generally low at this hotel, but it's currently showing PointSavers award rates of just 6,000 points per night on weekends (including Sunday nights) through the end of the booking calendar.
This final property isn't part of Protea Hotels, but it's still worth mentioning as a great deal. It's located in Magaliesburg, South Africa, about one hour west of the Johannesburg Airport, and it’s situated near the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, home to giraffe, zebra, antelope, roan, sable, hippo and gemsbok. As a Category 2 hotel, a standard award room will set you back just 12,500 points per night.
Bottom Line
A lot of people are upset with the problems that the Marriott Bonvoy program has had during its introduction, but if you have a stash of points, you might as well look at the bright side. By planning a trip to South Africa, you can stretch your points further than you ever thought possible. With all of these options, however, be sure to compare the cash rates to the award prices, as you may get an even better deal by simply paying for the room.
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.
