5 Top San Francisco Hotels Using Marriott & Starwood Points

December 15, 2016 By Million Mile Secrets

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Considering a trip to the City by the Bay? San Francisco has lots to offer for folks of all ages.

You can ride a cable car, sample fresh seafood and visit the sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf, or shop for bargains in the oldest (and largest) Chinatown in North America.

And now that you can transfer Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, or Starwood points between accounts, you can use your points to book award nights at dozens of hotels in the Bay Area.

San Francisco Marriott And Starwood Hotels With Points — Take a Drive Across the Iconic Golden Gate Bridge and Enjoy San Francisco’s Vibrant Culture, History, and Dining

Here are my top 5 Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and Starwood hotels for folks visiting San Francisco.

Top Marriott & Starwood Hotels With Points Index

San Francisco Marriott and Starwood Hotels With Points

Link: Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Hotels in San Francisco

Link: Starwood Hotels in San Francisco

You can redeem Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, or Starwood points for award nights at all 3 hotel chains.

If you collect Starwood points, you can transfer points instantly to your Marriott account at a 1:3 ratio. And vice versa.

Before you book your stay, be sure to link your loyalty accounts to get an instant status match. This way you’ll enjoy all your perks regardless of which hotel chain you choose.

1. Ritz-Carlton San Francisco

The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco scores highly with travelers of all kinds. It’s one of the top-rated hotels in San Francisco on TripAdvisor.

It’s well-liked for its location, a short walk from Union Square and Chinatown. Guests also rave about the luxurious rooms and attentive service.

You’ll pay 60,000 Ritz-Carlton or Marriott points for a free night. Or you can convert 20,000 Starwood points.

You’ll generally save between ~$490 and ~$620 per night. So using points for this hotel can be an incredible deal!

2. St. Regis San Francisco

The St. Regis San Francisco also receives high marks with many travelers on TripAdvisor. The hotel has a terrific location, right off Market Street in the heart of the city. The rooms are well-appointed with technology, and every room comes with butler service.

You’ll need 30,000 Starwood points for a free night. Or if you collect Marriott points, you can convert 90,000 Marriott points.

Using points for this hotel can also be a very good deal, because rooms typically cost between ~$470 and ~$580 per night.

3. JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square

The JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square is in the center of the action, right on Union Square. Perfect if your aim is to shop!

The rooms also have great views of the city. And in the morning, the hotel offers a free local car service for guests.

You’ll need 45,000 Marriott points for a free night. Or you can convert 15,000 Starwood points.

A room at this hotel costs between ~$235 and ~$380 per night.

4. Palace Hotel

The Palace Hotel San Francisco is part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection. It’s a historic hotel, opened in 1909!

The hotel is a short walk from sights such as Chinatown and the Embarcadero, and public transportation is also located right near the hotel.

At the Palace Hotel, you’ll spend 20,000 Starwood points for a free night. Or you can convert 60,000 Marriott points.

You’ll generally save between ~$385 and ~$470 per night.

5. Le Méridien San Francisco

Le Méridien San Francisco is located near the water, just 3 blocks from the Embarcadero.

The hotel’s rooms are very large for San Francisco. And you can get a view of the Embarcadero and the water. The hotel is also conveniently located for walking to all downtown sights.

You can use 20,000 Starwood points for a free night. Or you can convert 60,000 Marriott points.

One night at this hotel normally ranges from ~$330 to ~$450.

Bonus – Fairfield Inn & Suites Fairfield Napa Valley Area

Folks often combine their visit to San Francisco with an excursion into wine country. The Fairfield Inn & Suites Fairfield Napa Valley Area is located ~14 miles from Napa and costs only 20,000 Marriott points per night.

Or convert 7,000 Starwood points to Marriott points for your stay.

Guests rave about the newly renovated rooms, friendly staff, and cleanliness. Plus, breakfast is included!

Rooms here generally cost ~$130 to $160 per night.

Need More Marriott or Starwood Points?

1. Chase Marriott Cards

Link: Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Link: Marriott Rewards Premier Business Card

With the Marriott Rewards Premier personal and small business cards, you’ll earn 80,000 Marriott points after completing minimum spending requirements.

If you get the personal version of the card, you can earn another 7,500 bonus Marriott points when you add an authorized user and make a purchase within the first 3 months of opening your account. The $85 annual fee is NOT waived for the first year.

The $99 annual fee on the small business version of the card is also NOT waived for the first year.

Check out my review of the offer!

2. Chase Ritz-Carlton Card

Link: Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card

You can earn 3 free nights at participating Ritz-Carlton Tier 1 through 4 hotels after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening a Chase Ritz-Carlton card.

You’ll also get 10,000 Ritz-Carlton points when you add an authorized user and make a purchase in the same time frame.

The $450 annual fee is NOT waived the first year, but the card offers perks that offset the annual fee. Here’s my review of the deal.

Unlike other Chase cards, even if you’ve opened 5+ new cards in the past 24 months, you’re still eligible for Chase’s Ritz-Carlton card.

3. AMEX Starwood Credit Cards

Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express

Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express

You can earn 25,000 Starwood points after completing the minimum spending requirements on the Starwood Preferred Guest personal or small business card.

When you pay for hotel stays using your Chase Marriott or Ritz-Carlton card, or AMEX Starwood card, you’ll earn bonus points at all 3 hotel chains.

For everyday non-bonus spending, I recommend the AMEX Starwood cards. Because you’ll earn 1 Starwood point per $1 you spend, which you can converted to 3 Marriott or Ritz-Carlton points. That’s much better than the 1 Marriott or Ritz-Carlton point per $1 you spend you’ll get with the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton cards!

And, AMEX cards are easier to get than Chase cards. That’s because Chase made it more difficult for folks to be approved for cards (excluding the Chase Ritz-Carlton card and a few others) if you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months (except for certain business cards).

But keep in mind you can only earn the bonus on any AMEX card once per lifetime.

Bottom Line

You can use Marriott and Starwood points for free nights at amazing hotels in San Francisco!

You can stay at 5-star hotels like the St. Regis San Francisco, located right off Market Street. Or the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, also located in the heart of the city.

Redeeming points can save you hundreds of dollars compared to the cash cost of a room night!

Before you book, link your Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and Starwood loyalty accounts. This way you’ll enjoy the benefits of your elite status across all 3 hotel chains!

Do you have a favorite Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, or Starwood hotel in San Francisco? I’d love to hear your thoughts!