You’ll earn 80,000 Marriott points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of account opening. That’s enough for 2 award nights at some of the best Marriott hotels!
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 – enough for an award night at a category 1 Marriott!
I’ll show you 5 hotels in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, and more, where you can stay with Marriott points!
5 Terrific Marriott Hotels in Central and South America 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 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. It shows similar information. But it’s not specific to travel dates and won’t search for available award rooms.
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 Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card. Or the other Chase cards in Hot Deals.
1. JW Marriott Hotel Quito
The JW Marriott Hotel Quito is located in the Mariscal district of Quito, Ecuador’s capital. It’s a perfect location for exploring more of the city. Or for taking a trip to the Galapagos Islands, 1 of the most biodiverse areas of the world (and it’s also part of Ecuador)!
Within colorful Quito, you’ll be walking distance to numerous cafes, bars, and historical Inca ruins. In fact, the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has the best-preserved historic center in Latin America.
And if you love to view wildlife, there are plenty of eco-tours you can sign-up for, to see native animals like toucans, turtles, and marmosets!
Two nights cost ~$538 or 50,000 Marriott points. Folks on TripAdvisor gave this hotel nearly all 5-star reviews!
Your 80,000 Marriott point sign-up bonus gets you a relaxing getaway in Ecuador!
And, you’ll have 30,000 Marriott points left over, which is enough for a night at a Marriott Category 6 hotel. Or 3 award nights at a Category 2 hotel! So your points can be worth much more, depending on how you like to redeem them.
2. JW Marriott Panama Golf & Beach Resort
If you want a true getaway, consider the JW Marriott Panama Golf & Beach Resort. It’s a tropical oasis located on hundreds of acres of Pacific coastline in Panama. So you’ll have lots of space to explore, spread out, and relax!
There’s also a golf course designed by the famous golfer Jack Nicklaus. And there are several restaurants and bars within the resort, including a steakhouse and a sushi restaurant.
Reviewers on TripAdvisor loved their stay at this hotel, and in Panama.Nights here cost ~$373, or 35,000 Marriott points. However, I found a PointSaver rate in April for only 30,000 Marriott points per night! So you can spend 60,000 Marriott points for a stay worth ~$746. And then have 20,000 Marriott points left over for your next stay!
The hotel is isolated, but you can arrange an airport pickup directly with the hotel. Get ready to relax and explore once you arrive!
And every room has a balcony, so you can take in the warm breeze and watch the sunrise or sunset from your room!
3. Renaissance Santiago Hotel
The Renaissance Santiago Hotel is located northeast of the city center in Santiago. But you can take the safe and clean metro to nearly anywhere in the city. Including the famous fish market, Mercado Central.
Or take a day hike at Cerro San Cristobal. Folks on TripAdvisor ranked it the #1 outdoor activity in Santiago.
Along with great views of the city and surrounding Andes Mountains, there’s also a zoo and a wine museum to enjoy on the way up!
Nights here cost ~$247 or 30,000 Marriott points per night. So you can stay for 2 nights in Santiago and save nearly $500 when you redeem 60,000 Marriott points. Or, you can stay 3 nights with 90,000 Marriott points.
And if you want to see more of Chile, take a day trip to the coastal town of Valparaiso. Although there’s plenty to do and explore in Santiago!
4. Hotel Punta Islita, Autograph Collection
If you love outdoor adventures, the Hotel Punta Islita, Autograph Collection in Costa Rica is hard to beat!
This hotel costs ~$336 or 40,000 Marriott points per night. So you can enjoy a hotel stay worth ~$700 when you redeem 80,000 Marriott points here.
This hotel is perfect if you want to be off the beaten path and away from the usual tourist spots. Or if you love nature and want to explore the great outdoors!
5. JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro
The JW Marriott Hotel Rio De Janeiro is in the perfect spot to enjoy Rio de Janeiro. And, it’s under 5 minutes away from world-famous Copacabana Beach!
You can also visit other sights like Ipanema Beach. Or you can do a day hike up Corcovado Mountain to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which overlooks the city.
Nights here cost ~$370 or 45,000 Marriott points. But again, I was able to find a PointSaver rate for 40,000 Marriott points per night.
So depending on when you stay, the 80,000 Marriott points you’ll earn with the Chase Marriott Premier card welcome bonus are good for 2 award nights worth ~$740!
And remember, you’ll earn at least 3,000 Marriott points from meeting the minimum spending requirement. And 7,500 bonus Marriott points when you add an authorized user who makes a purchase within the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
More Card Offers
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 great card to have. Here’s my review.
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 Central and South America where you can get free award nights! 80,000 Marriott points are enough for 2 nights at hotels like the Hotel Punta Islita, Autograph Collection in Costa Rica. Or the JW Marriott Hotel Rio De Janeiro in Brazil.
Which Marriott hotel in Central and South America is your favorite?