5 Top Miami Beach Hotels Using Marriott & Starwood Points

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Considering a trip to Miami Beach to enjoy the city’s famous nightlife and beautiful beaches?  You can use Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, or Starwood points for free nights at top hotels in this tropical destination!

Miami Beach is a great spot to escape to during the cold winter months, or for a special occasion like a bachelor or bachelorette party, shopping trip, or anniversary.

Emily loved spending a long weekend there for her birthday a few years ago.  And wants to return to compare the Cuban food of Miami Beach to what she had more recently in Cuba!

Here are 5 highly rated hotels in Miami Beach where you can stay using Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and Starwood points!

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Miami Beach Marriott and Starwood Hotels With Points

Link:   Marriott Hotels in Miami Beach

Link:   Starwood Hotels in Miami Beach

You can redeem Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, or Starwood points for award nights at all 3 hotel chains.  And if you collect Starwood or Marriott points, you can transfer points instantly between your accounts.  Marriott points convert to Starwood points at a 3:1 ratio.

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

I haven’t personally stayed at all these hotels, but they get great reviews!

Many of the hotels are within walking distance to South Beach’s world-famous nightlife and all of the hotels on the list have beachfront locations.  So you’ll be steps away from beautiful beaches full of international tourists, where you can relax and people-watch for hours!

Who knows?  You might even spot a celebrity or two! 😉

It gets nearly all 5 stars on TripAdvisor.  One reviewer describes it as “the perfect hotel.”

Rooms (with an ocean view!) in May 2017, cost ~$738 per night.  Or you could use 30,000 Starwood points for a free stay, and get Big Travel with Small Money!  

If you wanted to use Marriott points instead, you could transfer 90,000 Marriott points for a free night.

You could use the money you save to splurge on a shopping trip at the luxury Bal Harbour Shops across the street. 😉

2.   The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach

The elegant The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach is another great option if you’re looking for a top hotel in the heart of Miami Beach.

If you can break yourself away from this breathtaking hotel, it’s just an ~8 minute walk to the trendy shops on Lincoln Road and a ~10 minute walk to the popular Bass Museum of Art.

This tier 5 Ritz-Carlton hotel costs ~$489 or 70,000 Ritz-Carlton points per night in May 2017.  And can cost $500+ per night depending on when you visit.

So you’re definitely saving money using your points here!

If you don’t have enough Marriott or Ritz-Carlton points, you can use ~23,334 Starwood points for a free night.  Just remember, you must transfer points in increments of 1,000.

3.   The Miami Beach EDITION

The Miami Beach EDITION is a boutique hotel located the historic “heart of Miami Beach” between South Beach and North Beach.

The contemporary rooms feature flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and minibars.  There’s even a nightclub, bowling alley, and ice rink on-site!

Rooms at this tier 3 Ritz-Carlton hotel cost ~$486 per night in May 2017.

But instead of paying cash, you could use 50,000 Ritz-Carlton points or ~16,667 Starwood points for a free stay.

4.   Marriott Stanton South Beach

The Category 9 Marriott Stanton South Beach hotel gets excellent reviews on TripAdvisor.  Folks love the hotel’s beachfront location, modern design, and proximity to many of Miami Beach’s great restaurants.

And it’s only a ~10 minute walk to iconic Ocean Drive, known for its Art Deco buildings, cafes, and bars.

I found rooms in May 2017, for ~$465 or 45,000 Marriott points per night.

Using your points here would be a great deal, because nights here are sometimes $500+ depending on when you stay.

If you don’t have enough Marriott points, you could transfer 15,000 Starwood points for a free night.  Because Starwood points transfer to Marriott at a 1:3 ratio.

5.   W South Beach

The W South Beach is another great option if you’re looking to splurge on a trip to Miami Beach.

This modern Category 7 Starwood hotel gets nearly all 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor.  And its studio rooms are decorated with modern art, glass balconies, and even have ocean views!

I found rooms in May 2017, for ~$430 (for a studio that’s 500+ square feet!).  Or you could use 30,000 Starwood points for your stay.

You would need 90,000 Marriott points for a free night here, that may seem like a lot.  But using your points here could save you hundreds of dollars!

Bonus – Courtyard Miami Beach South Beach

If you’re looking for a budget option, consider the Courtyard Miami Beach South Beach.

It’s just a ~5 minute walk to the beach and the shops and restaurants on Lincoln Road.  And gets 4 stars on TripAdvisor for its affordable price, convenient location, and friendly staff.

Rooms here in May 2017, cost ~$170+ or 40,000 Marriott points per night.

If you used Starwood points for your stay, you’d only need ~13,334 Starwood points for a free night.  And you’d save nearly $200!

Cards That Earn You Free Stays

1.   Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Credit Cards

Link:   Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card (personal)

Link:   Marriott Rewards Premier Business Card (small business)

You can earn 80,000 Marriott points after completing minimum spending requirements with the Marriott Rewards Premier personal and small business cards.

And with 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.  Here’s my review of the offer.

2.   Starwood Credit Cards

Link:   Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express (personal)

Link:   Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express (small business)

With the AMEX Starwood personal and small business cards, you can earn 25,000 Starwood points after completing the minimum spending requirements.

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

Also, the AMEX cards are easier to get than the Chase cards.  Because of Chase’s 5/24 rule, where if you’ve opened ~5 or more credit cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months (excluding certain business cards), it’s unlikely you’ll be approved for most Chase cards.

Just remember, you can only earn the bonus on any AMEX card ONCE per lifetime.

3.   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 timeframe.

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.

Note:   Even if you’ve opened 5+ new cards in the past 24 months, you’re still eligible for the Ritz-Carlton card.

Bottom Line

You can use Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, or Starwood points to stay at top-rated hotels in Miami Beach.

For example, you could redeem points for free nights at the stunning The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort.  Or stay in the heart of the city at the The Miami Beach EDITION.

Redeeming points can save you hundreds (or even thousands!) of dollars.

And be sure to link your Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and Starwood loyalty accounts.  So you can enjoy the benefits of your elite status across all 3 hotel chains!

If you’ve used points to stay in Miami Beach, tell me about your experience in the comments!