Stretch the 100,000-Point Marriott Sign-Up Bonus at These Starwood Hotels

April 4, 2017 By Million Mile Secrets

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You can currently earn 100,000 Marriott points from the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card after meeting minimum spending requirements.

Folks looking to stretch the sign-up bonus can do well converting the points for stays at certain lower category Starwood hotels.

Because of the 3:1 transfer ratio, you can convert 18,000 Marriott points to 6,000 Starwood points. That’s enough for 2 free weekend nights at a Category 2 Starwood hotel like the Aloft Rancho Cucamonga.

Is Converting Marriott Points To Starwood Points A Good Deal — Planning a Trip to the Los Angeles Area? You Can Stay Within a ~45 Minute Drive of Downtown at the Aloft Rancho Cucamonga

I’ll show you when converting Marriott points to Starwood points is a good deal.

Earn 100,000 Marriott Points

Link: Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Link: My Review of the Chase Marriott 100,000-Point Offer

With the Chase Marriott card, you’ll earn 100,000 Marriott points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

After completing the minimum spending, you’ll have at least 105,000 Marriott points (100,000 point sign-up bonus + 5,000 points from minimum spending).

And because you can instantly transfer points between your Marriott and Starwood accounts at a 3:1 ratio, 105,000 Marriott points are worth 35,000 Starwood points.

When Is Converting Marriott Points to Starwood Points a Good Deal?

Link: Marriott Merger Loopholes: 3 Secret Tips for Longer & More Luxurious Stays

Link: Starwood Category 1 Hotels

Link: Starwood Category 2 Hotels

You can get a great deal by transferring Marriott points to your Starwood account for stays at Starwood Category 1 & 2 hotels.

That’s because you can book free weekend nights (Friday & Saturday) for:

2,000 Starwood points at Category 1 hotels
3,000 Starwood points at Category 2 hotels

And weekday nights cost just 1,000 points more per night.

So you can convert 12,000 Marriott points to 4,000 Starwood points for a weekend stay at a Category Starwood 1 hotel. Or 18,000 Marriott points to 6,000 Starwood points for a weekend stay at a Category 2 Starwood hotel.

Because the Chase Marriott card’s sign-up bonus and minimum spending points are worth 35,000 Starwood points, you can book 8 weekend stays at Category 1 hotels (35,000 points / 4,000 points per weekend). Or 5 weekend stays at Category 2 hotels (35,000 points / 6,000 points per weekend).

Deciding to convert points will depend on your travel plans and destination. Because Marriott also has lower category hotels.

But folks looking to use fewer hotel points in a destination like Cancun will do better at Starwood hotels. Because there are no lower category Marriott hotels in Cancun.

Starwood hotels include:

Keep in mind, each of these Starwood brands does NOT have hotels that are Category 1 and 2.

Here are 4 examples where you can book a stay at a lower category hotel by converting Marriott points to Starwood points.

1. Aloft Ontario – Rancho Cucamonga

Aloft Ontario – Rancho Cucamonga is a ~45 minute drive from downtown Los Angeles.

Besides driving to Los Angeles, there’s a lot to do in the hotel neighborhood, including shopping at the Victoria Gardens outdoor mall or wine tasting at the nearby Joseph Filippi Winery.

Team member Keith has stayed at this hotel many times and really likes the beautiful views of nearby Mt. Baldy.

This is a Category 2 hotel. So you’ll pay 3,000 Starwood points for a weekend night or 4,000 Starwood points for a weekday night.

2. Four Points by Sheraton Cancun Centro

If you’re looking to save points on trip to Cancun, you can consider a stay at the Category 2 Four Points by Sheraton Cancun Centro.

You won’t get the perks of a resort style hotel. But you can save points on your stay and be within a ~20 minute taxi ride of the Hotel Zone where many folks go for the beach and tourist area.

Keep in mind, taxi fares in the area are very cheap, especially if you speak enough Spanish to negotiate the price before you get in.

Or if you choose to stay near the hotel, you can walk to nearby Dubai Palace Casino.

3. Sheraton Eatontown

Prefer a beach vacation within the US? Consider converting Marriott points to Starwood points for a stay at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel.

This Category 2 hotel is less than a ~15 minute drive from beautiful beaches in New Jersey, including Long Branch Beach. Or you can stay at the hotel after attending a fun concert at the nearby PNC Bank Art Center.

The hotel tends to book up quickly during summer weekends. So if you’re planning a trip, I’d recommend booking in advance.

4. Four Points by Sheraton Niagara Falls Fallsview

Folks interested in a family getaway can do well using points for a stay at the Four Points by Sheraton Niagara Falls Fallsview.

This Category 2 hotel is located on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, so you’ll need a passport or enhanced driver’s license if you’re crossing by car or foot from the US.

Besides checking our the natural beauty of the falls, there are lots of nearby attractions for families, including:

Folks looking to make their Marriott points last will do much better by converting them for a stay at this Starwood hotel.

Because your only option for a Marriott hotel in the area is the luxurious Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa, which costs 40,000 Marriott points per night!

Bottom Line

You can book multiple weekend getaways by transferring points from the 100,000-point Chase Marriott sign-up bonus to your Starwood account.

You can convert Marriott points to Starwood points at a 3:1 ratio, then book cheap award stays at Starwood Category 1 & 2 hotels. For a free weekend night (Friday & Saturday) at these lower category Starwood hotels, you’ll pay: