Two days only: Save 10% on Marriott Homes & Villas rentals

It’s no secret that hotels have been dramatically affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

On its earnings call last week, Marriott shared that occupancy has been at 20% in North America for the last two weeks at limited-service hotels and that roughly 25% of Marriott hotels worldwide are temporarily closed.

So, whether to get travelers excited about the prospect of future travel or to generate some quick cash, Marriott launched a series of three deals. Today, two of the deals launched with one set to last only two days. (Marriott’s 20% off gift cards has already ended.)

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Get 10% off Homes and Villas by Marriott International

On May 18 and 19, bookings made through the Homes and Villas by Marriott program will be discounted by 10%. This rental program hasn’t always received a lot of attention here since the Marriott point redemption opportunities were historically a bit below our desired value for Marriott points. But, as home rentals likely gain more steam this summer as an alternative to hotels where it’s more difficult to social distance, it might be time to reconsider.

This is especially true because renting a home or villa via Marriott allows you to lean on a set of standardized cleaning expectations and a cancellation policy that is generally more flexible than most home rentals available via VRBO or Airbnb.

For reservations made after May 6, with arrival dates on or before Aug. 31, you’re eligible for a full refund to the original form of payment, minus a $75 credit card processing fee, until 10 days before arrival. (This does not apply to redemption bookings.) This policy is valid for properties that normally have 14- and 30- or 60-day cancellation policies. Homes with 90-day cancellation policies are excluded.

Related: Marriott’s plan to fight coronavirus at its hotels

TPG Executive Editorial Director Scott Mayerowitz just booked a home via Marriott Homes and Villas with this two-day 10% discount for 16 days on Cape Code for mid-summer. His booking is fully refundable until 30 days in advance, at which point he can still cancel until 10 days out and only be out a $75 processing fee. (Massachusetts is still banning short-term rentals of less than 31 days, so he might need that free cancellation if things don’t change.) It was a 50% deposit put on his Chase Sapphire Reserve® and he will also earn more than 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for the rental, plus 16 nights of Marriott elite status credit.

Related: Guide to Marriott Homes and Villas program

Keep in mind that the 10% off discount is only valid on the actual rental rate component, and not on any cleaning fee, taxes or other associated charges. The discount should automatically populate with no discount codes required.

Get a best-ever 60% bonus on purchased Marriott points

Also starting today, May 18, and available until June 30, 2020, Marriott has launched its best-ever sale on Bonvoy points with a 60% bonus. For context, the best deal like this that we’ve seen in the past was a 50% bonus. Normally, Marriott points sell for 1.25 cents each, well above the TPG valuation of .8 cents per Marriott point.

But, with a 60% bonus on purchased points, your per-point cost will come to around .78 cents per point. This means that 10,000 Marriott points that normally sell for $125 will cost the same — but you’ll get 16,000 points instead of 10,000 with the 60% bonus.

At that rate, it’s possible to get some outsized value from your Marriott points at both the low and high ends of the category chart when travel resumes. Here are some of our favorite ways to redeem Marriott points.

You can take advantage of this promotion by heading to Marriott’s Buy Miles page and entering your Marriott Bonvoy details.

Related: Choosing the best Marriott credit card for you

Bottom line

It’s great to see travel companies begin what we presume will be a trend of summer sales and discounts to incentivize travelers to dip their toes back in the water and bring in some much-needed dollars as things slowly open up in a world that’s been changed by the coronavirus. If you want 10% off on Marriott Homes and Villas, be sure and act quickly as that deal ends on May 19. Meanwhile, the 60% bonus on purchased points runs through the end of June.

Featured image courtesy of Homes and Villas by Marriott International