You can now earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points at Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties

Luxury. An intimate setting. No big crowds creating lots of noise. Connections with nature and unparalleled service. These are the hallmarks of Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties.

You may already be familiar with Ritz-Carlton, which in itself is a luxury hotel brand. Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties take this further. Each property has an average of 75 guest rooms which are modeled after residential-style suites and villas.

Until now, Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties did not participate in Marriott Bonvoy. In turn, you couldn't earn or redeem Marriott points at Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties, but that changes today.

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What are Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties?

Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a residential-style luxury brand with just five properties worldwide:

• Hokkaido, Japan - Higashiyama
• Krabi, Thailand - Phulay Bay
• Puerto Rico - Dorado Beach
• San José del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico - Zadun
• Ubud, Bali island, Indonesia - Mandapa

Rather than a typical hotel with standard rooms, big crowds and centralized locations, Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties offer a 'home away from home' approach. These properties are connected to nature and aimed at smaller crowds, with the ultimate goal being pure relaxation.

Each property seeks to use a locally-infused design to blend into the surrounding environment. Service is meant to be personal, attempting to anticipate your every need while remaining discrete. Sounds incredible, right?

How to book Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties with points

Prior to today, you could not book Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties with your Marriott Bonvoy points. On top of that, you wouldn't earn Marriott Bonvoy stay credits or points on your stay, and elite status benefits didn't apply.

While these properties are still priced beyond the reach of your Marriott free night awards — prices range from 80,000 to 240,000 points per night — the fact you can now earn and redeem your points and get stay credits toward Marriott elite status is a positive development. Regardless, these properties will be among the most expensive in Marriott's portfolio.

For example, nights at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Dorado Beach start at a whopping 198,000 points per night this June, with some nights costing as much as 240,000 points per night.

Likewise, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Zadun in San José del Cabo, Mexico, starts at a huge 152,000 points per night this June.

However, it's not impossible to find hotel stays at the lower end of the pricing spectrum. This August, a one-night stay at the Higashiyama Niseko Village Ritz-Carlton Reserve property starts at 84,000 points per night. May and June have nights available for 80,000 points, but that is likely because Japan is still closed for tourism.

Or if you want to take a last-minute trip to the recently-reopened Bali, you can book a night at Ritz-Carlton Reserve Mandapa for 80,000 points per night next month.

The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Phulay Bay in Krabi, Thailand also has a handful of nights in the low-80,000 point per night range this June.

Booking Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties with points is the same as booking any other Marriott award stay. Just head to Marriott.com, search for the property you'd like to book and follow the on-screen prompts to book your stay.

One of the best perks in the Marriott Bonvoy program is getting a free night on award stays of 5+ nights. This doesn't change at Ritz-Carlton Reserve, so the perk could save you 100,000+ points given the high award cost of these properties.

Related: 7 ways to maximize Marriott Bonvoy award night redemptions

Marriott Bonvoy points earning and elite status benefits

Now that you can earn points on stays at Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties, here's what members can earn on top of the points earned from their credit card:

• General member: 10 points per dollar spent.
• Silver Elite: 11 points per dollar spent.
• Gold Elite: 12.5 points per dollar spent.
• Platinum Elite: 15 points per dollar spent.
• Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite: 17.5 points per dollar spent.

Members with Marriott elite status can enjoy the following on-property perks as well:

*$150 Resort Credit per Stay for each guest room under the Member’s name and Membership Account.

Marriott members with elite status may wonder if they can expect suite upgrades at these properties. The unfortunate answer is "no". This is likely because each room at a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is set up like an apartment or a villa, not a standard hotel room. Thus, these properties do not participate in upgrades.

Unless you are a top-tier Ambassador Elite, you will get limited perks at Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties. The majority of elite status members are simply eligible for bonus points earning and a welcome gift of points, which is disappointing given the high cash and points cost of these properties.

Bottom Line

It's now possible to earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for stays at ultra-luxury properties in the Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio. The perks come with a hefty price tag, but earning elite night credits, status perks and Marriott points on these stays is a welcome change.

You also can redeem your points at these properties, but you'll need a big stash of points to make it possible. Remember, nightly rates start at 80,000 points per night, but can go as high as 240,000 points per night, thanks to Marriott's dynamic pricing.