I’ll give you ideas for where to stay when viewing Egyptian pyramids, going on an unforgettable snorkeling trip, exploring ancient underground caves, and more!
You’ll earn 80,000 Marriott points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of account opening.
And another 7,500 bonus Marriott points when you add an authorized user who makes a purchase within the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
That’s enough for 5 award nights (or more!) at beautiful Marriott hotels!
I’ll show you 5 hotels in Africa and the Middle East where you book award stays with Marriott points!
5 Beautiful Marriott Hotels in Africa and the Middle East for Award Stays
Marriott added features to their loyalty program last year, including points advances and the capability to share your points.
And, you’ll always get the 5th night free on any award stay! So if you want to stay longer, it’s an excellent way to save points!
I like using Hotel Hustle to find hotels for award stays because it shows you how many points you’ll need for your specific travel dates. And show you if award nights are available at hotels, including Marriott!
Another option is AwardMapper.
I haven’t personally stayed at these hotels, but they look amazing!
Note: The prices in these examples are based on travel in April 2016. Note: Some Marriott hotels (especially resorts) add pricey resort fees to paid and award nights. Before you book, check the hotel policy to decide if it’s worth it for you. And here are my tips on how to avoid them! Marriott hotels include:- AC Hotels by Marriott
- Autograph Collection Hotels
- Bulgari Hotels
- Courtyard by Marriott
- Delta Hotels
- EDITION
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
- Gaylord Hotels
- JW Marriott
- Marriott Executive Apartments
- Marriott Hotels
- Marriott Vacation Club
- Moxy Hotels
- Protea Hotels
- Renaissance Hotels
- Residence Inn by Marriott
- Ritz-Carlton
- Springhill Suites by Marriott
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott
So I recommend folks 1st sign-up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Here’s why. But if you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred or don’t want it, consider this offer for the Chase Marriott Premier. Or the other Chase cards in Hot Deals.
1. AC Hotel Iberia Las Palmas
The AC Hotel Iberia Las Palmas in the Spanish Canary Islands, off the northwestern coast of Africa. Las Palmas is an amazing place to truly get away and get in some sun and relaxation!
The hotel is within the shopping and cultural center of the city. And, you’ll be across the street from a long strip of beach. There’s also a rooftop pool, so you’ll have lots of options for catching a tan!
Two nights cost ~$216 or 30,000 Marriott points. You’ll also get free Wi-Fi and free airport transportation!
So your 80,000 Marriott point sign-up bonus could get you 5 nights here for 60,000 Marriott points, worth ~$540 if you paid cash. (It’s only 60,000 points because you get the 5th night free on Marriott award stays.
You’ll still have 20,000 Marriott points left over (plus 7,500 Marriott points from the authorized user bonus), which is enough for a night at a Marriott Category 5 hotel. Or 2 award nights at a Category 2 hotel. So your points can be worth a lot more, depending on how you want to use them!
2. Renaissance Tlemcen Hotel
The Renaissance Tlemcen Hotel is located in Algeria, near the border of Morocco. If you want to experience a gorgeous, historic city, or explore outdoors, this hotel would be an excellent choice!
And there are some interesting sites in the area, like the Palace of El Mechouar. Or the Cave of Beni Add, which features interesting rock and crystal formations in an underground cave system over 65,000 years old!
There’s also Tlemcen National Park and Lalla Setti Lake nearby if you want to experience the outdoors.
Reviewers on TripAdvisor loved the views and location of this hotel.Nights here cost ~$208, or 10,000 Marriott points. So you can spend 40,000 Marriott points for a 5-night stay worth over ~$1,000! Remember, you get the 5th night free on Marriott award stays.
And you’d still have 40,000+ Marriott points left over. That’s enough for another 5-night stay at a Marriott Category 2 hotel!
3. Sharm El Sheikh Marriott Resort
The 5-star Sharm El Sheikh Marriott Resort is located in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, which is a popular tourist destination for lots of folks in Europe.
There’s plenty to do within the resort, including a pool and private beach. There are also restaurants with everything from Italian to sushi, and bars to grab a cocktail.
This part of Egypt on the Red Sea is home to some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. And you can even arrange a tour, which would be a fun day activity.
Sounds like something Emily would enjoy, now that she’s a licensed scuba diver! 🙂
Two nights here cost ~$225 or 20,000 Marriott points. But I was able to find a PointSavers rate for only 15,000 Marriott points for 2 nights! That’s a fantastic deal!
If you can find 5 nights at that rate, you could treat yourself and a loved one to a stay worth ~$563 for only 30,000 Marriott points. Folks on TripAdvisor love the location and beach. And say it’s perfect for a family trip. So it might be worth looking into!
4. JW Marriott Hotel Cairo
The JW Marriott Hotel Cairo in Cairo is a terrific base for exploring the ancient artifacts and history of the city. There’s also a beach park, a water park for kids, and 12 dining options on-site.
Even better, I was able to find an Executive Suite for ~$932 or 30,000 Marriott points for 2 nights. That’s a fantastic deal!
Executive Suites come with access to the Executive Lounge, free breakfast, and free snacks and cocktails throughout the day. And, there’s a kids club if you decide to bring the little ones.
And of course, you can spend a day visiting Egyptian monuments like the Sphinx and Pyramids at Giza. The Egyptian Museum is also nearby.
Reviewers on TripAdvisor have great things to say about this hotel!5. Renaissance Tel Aviv Hotel
Consider the Renaissance Tel Aviv Hotel for a trip to Tel Aviv. It’s located within the city center, near lots of shopping, entertainment, and nightlife.
And it has direct beach access so you can head to the warm Mediterranean Sea whenever you need a break! There’s also an indoor swimming pool if you want to stay inside.
Nights here cost ~$246 or 35,000 Marriott points.
So 80,000 of the Marriott points you’ll earn with the Chase Marriott Premier card welcome bonus are good for 2 award nights worth almost ~$500. And you’ll have 10,000+ Marriott points left over, to get you started toward your next award stay!
More Ways to Get Marriott Award Stays
Link: Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards Card
You can also get the Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards card. You’ll earn 2 free nights at any Tier 1 to 4 Ritz-Carlton hotel, after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
Marriott and Ritz-Carlton are essentially the same frequent-guest program (just with different branding and marketing), so you can use your Marriott points to stay at Ritz-Carlton hotels and vice versa.The $395 annual fee is NOT waived, but it comes with perks and benefits that can easily offset it, like a $300 annual travel credit (which includes reimbursed Global Entry fees, checked luggage, and seat upgrades).
If you like Ritz-Carlton hotels, it’s a fantastic card to have. Here’s my review of the card.
Bottom Line
You’ll earn 80,000 Marriott points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of opening the Chase Marriott Premier card.
Plus, earn another 7,500 bonus Marriott points when you add an authorized user who makes a purchase within the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
There are lots of terrific Marriott hotels in Africa and the Middle East where you can get free award nights! 80,000 Marriott points are enough for 5 nights (or more!) at hotels like the Renaissance Tlemcen Hotel in Algeria. Or the AC Hotel Iberia Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.
Let me know your favorite Marriott hotel in Africa or the Middle East!