17 fun ways to spend 150,000 Marriott points

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.

Earning 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points is easier than usual right now thanks to a limited-time increased offer available with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card until Nov. 3 that provides 150,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after $5,000 spent on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.

Oh, and you'll also get a free night award worth up to 85,000 points, which is an unusual offering and really fun to use to the max.

But let's circle back to those 150,000 points for a moment. If you aren't really familiar with the Marriott program, you may not know whether that gets you weeks of hotel stays or just a night or two. With award nights starting at 5,000 points and going all the way up to 100,000 points, the reality is that one bonus could do either of those things.

Let's get out of the theoretical and look at 17 different ways you could redeem the 150,000 Marriott points you earn from this one welcome bonus.

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3 nights at JW Bonnet Creek near Disney World

If you want three nights of luxury at Disney World without spending $500-plus per night on an official deluxe Disney hotel, the new JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek may be your magical solution. The hotel is very nice, with above-average onsite pools and restaurants, and offers bus transportation to Disney World.

Award nights here cost 40,000-60,000 Marriott points, so you'd have enough points for three nights at the standard award rate.

5 nights at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center Near Disney World

If you're looking for a slightly longer stay near Disney World and still want a bit of luxury, check out the Gaylord Palms. This is perfect for families, as it has a waterpark for the kids and spa services for adults.

While there are plenty of activities, the main draw is just a short drive away: This property sits right outside the gates of Disney World. Awards here cost 30,000-40,000 Marriott points per night. That means a five-night stay is no problem since the fifth night is always free on Marriott awards. Find saver availability and you can stretch those 150,000 points to six nights.

5 nights at Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa

You don't have to just stick to theme parks and Florida if you want to squeeze five nights or more out of your Marriott bonus. Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa is also bookable for 30,000-40,000 Marriott points per night, which works even in the overwater villas.

This resort just opened and is a steal by Maldives standards. If you book at the off-peak level (with the fifth night free), your 150,000-point bonus is enough for six nights in Maldivian paradise.

3 nights at Renaissance Barcelona Fira

We'd argue three nights is nowhere near enough to see everything Barcelona, Spain, has to offer. But, it's a great way to get a feel for the city (don't skip Sagrada Familia). There are more expensive Marriott properties in the tourist zone on Las Ramblas, but the Renaissance Barcelona Fira sits close enough to the action and will save you a few points.

As a Category 5 property, an award night will cost between 30,000 and 40,000 points. That means you can technically snag four nights at this property if you catch a standard award. However, we struggled to find standard award inventory in our searches. You may be stuck paying peak pricing for some or all of your days. Keep in mind that Marriott adjusts peak and off-peak award pricing every month. A few minutes of research might snag you an extra night on your vacation.

3 nights at Le Meridien Ra Beach

Located a short drive from Barcelona, this resort on the beach is a perfect getaway if you prefer a quieter vacation. The spa will satisfy even the pickiest of patrons. You'll also find a much quieter beach experience here versus in Barcelona. Bonus points if you want to hit a few wineries in the region. This property costs between 40,000 and 60,000 Marriott points per night. You may find saver inventory in the shoulder seasons, though it'll be chilly on the beach.

3 nights at JW Marriott Cancun

Quick getaway to a warm climate with warm sand and cool water? Check.

Luxury instead of cannonballs in the hotel pool? Check.

Really expensive rooms for just the price of a resort fee? Also check. The JW Marriott Cancun runs between 40,000 and 60,000 points per night, though we struggled to find 40,000-point nights in our recent search.

Related: What it's like traveling to Cancun during COVID-19

3 nights at The Coral at Atlantis

Atlantis is a megaresort in the Bahamas with a little bit of something for everything. There are luxury towers, value rooms and scores of restaurants, bars, waterparks and more.

The Coral is somewhere between budget and luxury, featuring some larger rooms that work better for families. As a Marriott Category 6, an award night will run between 40,000 and 60,000 points. Just expect to pay a lot for food and activities that aren't included in the substantial resort fee and daily service charge (over $60 per night combined).

Related: Everything to know about visiting the Bahamas during the pandemic

3 nights at Residence Inn Sedona

This brand-new Residence Inn located in Sedona, Arizona, is an excellent jumping-off point for getting to the Grand Canyon. But Sedona is a wonderful town in its own right, with some excellent dining options and smaller box canyons nearby.

If you're headed to the Grand Canyon during peak times, expect to need 60,000 points per night for a room at any of the three Marriott properties in Sedona. Visitors in shoulder season will find plenty of 40,000- and 50,000-point nights. Other than Flagstaff, which lacks the charm of Sedona, these are some of the closest rooms to the Grand Canyon that you can book with traditional hotel points.

3 nights at The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui

Thailand has some incredible gems and The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui is no exception. Located on a secluded, private bay, this luxurious property is sure to find you relaxed as you're spoiled by the staff.

As a Category 7 Marriott property, you'll need to find off-peak inventory to score a 50,000-point night here, with rates climbing to 70,000 points per night. If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, consider the Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa.

5 nights at The St. Regis Bangkok

It isn't often you'll find a St. Regis property for as little as 30,000 points per night but The St. Regis Bangkok is a tranquil hotel located right in the city center.

Here you'll find luxurious rooms and a highly rated spa. You can take a relaxing dip in the private outdoor pool and enjoy the signature St. Regis butler service. Ranging from 30,000 to 40,000 Marriott points per night, a standard award at 35,000 points means you'll also get the fifth night free and stay within the 150,000-point budget for this exercise.

Related: Bangkok delays quarantine-free opening to November

5 nights at The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali

Bali is another one of those places where it's hard not to relax.

The Laguna is part of Marriott's Luxury Collection. The Luxury Collection represents unique and luxurious properties all over the world. With butler service, seven pools, private villas and suites with lagoon access, your points will be well spent. This is another Category 5 Marriott property, which means a range of 30,000 to 40,000 points night. It also means that as long as you can find standard or off-peak inventory you can also score a fifth night free when you book a four-night award stay.

5 nights at Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park

Sydney is one of those incredible cities that everyone should experience (once Australia reopens, of course). Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park has an excellent location. Alongside the picturesque Hyde Park and a short walk from so many key attractions in Sydney, the Sheraton Grand Sydney also has recently updated rooms.

Travelers familiar with the Sheraton brand in the U.S. will be pleasantly surprised by this hotel. Getting the fifth night free means that this Category 5 property is easily achievable except in high season (typically the U.S. winter). Australia is essentially closed to foreigners right now, so award availability for 2022 is tough to gauge. Suffice it to say that Sydney will be a hot ticket when Australia reopens, and the Sheraton Grand should be as well.

5 nights at Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection

The Autograph Collection properties are all independently owned hotels that don't have a common theme or branding. Rather, they are usually great representations of the local culture. They tend to be more upscale and eclectic. Pier One is a bit of both.

Located under the Harbour Bridge, the hotel is a repurposed shipping pier. If you're looking for a hotel where every room is just a bit unique, Pier One is a great choice. Also a Marriott Category 5 property, we found plenty of availability to take advantage of Marriott's fifth-night-free benefit.

2 weeks at the Protea Hotel Johannesburg Parktonian All-Suite

The Protea hotel chain is an excellent chain for trips to Africa. It operates almost 100 hotels on the continent, many of them in very unique locations. And if you like to stretch your points, this is a great option as many of them are in very low award categories in the Bonvoy program. The Protea Johannesburg is no exception.

As an all-suite property where an award night ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 points, it's easy to stay here for a week or two and still have some of your points left over.

Related: Planning a trip to South Africa using points and miles

1 week at Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers

Cape Town is a popular place to visit in South Africa and your Marriott points will get you plenty of free nights here. The Cape Town Marriott is a modern hotel with a rooftop pool, incredible views and a good location. One of the pricier Marriott hotels in Africa, award rooms are still very affordable, topping out at 20,000 points per night. You'll even find plenty of nights available for 15,000 or 17,500 points.

With 150,000 points, you can easily afford a week in Cape Town and still have plenty of points for our final hotel recommendation in Africa.

2 weeks at Protea Hotel Kruger Gate

Kruger National Park is one of the best places for safari. This lodge is a comfortable property with an easy drive to incredible safari experiences. The hotel can plan a safari for you, or you can make your own arrangements. Either way, you won't have far to travel from your hotel for some great adventures.

With exceptional views of the river, you can be pampered in the spa or enjoy authentic dining. Award nights range from 10,000 to 15,000 Marriott points per night, which means you can easily spend a couple of weeks here, or split your time between Kruger and one of the other properties we highlighted and have enough points for both.

Related: Everything you need to know about going on safari

5 nights across from Disneyland

If your theme park fun takes you out to California, it's even easier to stay off-property at Disneyland than Disney World. While there are many points-friendly nearby options, a solid all-around choice if you want to stretch your points is the Fairfield Inn Anaheim Resort that is in that Category 5 range you've heard a lot about already.

For just 30,000-40,000 Marrriott points per night, you'll be a 10-minute walk from the gates of Disneyland in a room with a fun splash of Disney magic.

Bottom line

With over 7,000 hotels in its program, you have so many different ways to spend 150,000 Marriott points. Just like there's no wrong way to eat a Reese's, there's no wrong way to redeem Marriott points for hotel rooms as long as they get you where you want to be.

However, we think these choices represent some of the best ways to do it. After you've earned that bonus, you should spend those points in style. And while the options are numerous, if you're looking for a long, luxurious vacation using 150,000 Marriott points you'll need to head out of the U.S. to stretch them beyond a few nights. However, If you're looking for an epic long weekend, your options even here in the U.S. are numerous.

Application link: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card -- Earn 150,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points and a free night award worth up to 85,000 points after spending $5,000 on the card in the first three months of card membership.