When I worked at the front desk of a local Marriott property in my early 20s, I didn’t know the first thing about hotel credit cards or loyalty programs (I did, however, know how tasty the chocolates we left in the guest rooms during turndown were because I ate them almost nonstop during my shifts).
Chocolate thievery aside, it didn’t take me long to notice that frequent guests received room upgrades and perks like free breakfast and welcome amenities.
At that time, I thought elite status and redeeming points for free hotel stays were out of reach for me.
Limited-time offer: New cardholders can earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and a free night award (certain hotels have resort fees) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. In addition, you’ll get up to $100 in statement credits ($50 semi-annually) after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases (through June 30, 2027).
That free night award in the bonus is valued at up to 50,000 points. When you combine that with the 125,000 bonus points, this offer is worth up to $1,400 according to TPG’s June 2026 valuations.
Now that I’m on the other side of the check-in desk with my Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, I almost always get upgraded to a nicer room, and I earn extra points with every stay that I can use toward future trips. I feel like those frequent guests I remember so fondly, even though I spend more time in my home office than I do on the road.
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Photo Credit: MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL.
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