Top 5 Hotels in New York City Using Marriott & Starwood Points

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Planning a trip to New York City?

You’ll have 150+ hotels to choose from in the Big Apple using Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, or Starwood points now that the 3 chains allow you to transfer points between loyalty accounts.

With this many options, you’ll be able to find a hotel in nearly every major Manhattan neighborhood and destination, like Midtown, Times Square, Central Park, and Downtown.

Plus, in many cases, using your points can be a terrific way to save money on otherwise expensive room nights.

Here are 5 highly-rated hotels in New York where you can stay for free using Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and Starwood points!

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New York City Marriott and Starwood Hotels With Points

Link:   Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Hotels in New York City

Link:   Starwood Hotels in New York City

Remember, you can transfer points instantly between your Marriott or Ritz-Carlton and Starwood loyalty accounts at a 3:1 ratio.

So you can use points from either of the 3 loyalty programs to book an award night.  But before you book, be sure to link your accounts and 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 have great reviews!  Let me know if you’ve had an experience with any of them!

1.   Le Parker Meridien New York

Le Parker Meridien New York is in an excellent location for folks considering a visit to New York City.  It’s in Midtown, just 2 blocks from Central Park and a ~15 minute walk to Times Square.

You’re also a ~10 minute walk to popular luxury shopping along 5th Avenue.

Folks looking for museums can check out The Museum of Modern Art, which is just 3 blocks away from the hotel.

Folks on TripAdvisor rate this hotel very highly for its location near Carnegie Hall and Columbus Circle.  And it’s close to subway stops to get you to other parts of the city.

Folks also love the very popular burger restaurant inside the hotel called Burger Joint.  Be sure to visit in off-peak hours because the lines can be extremely long!

You’ll use 20,000 Starwood points for a free night at this hotel.  With the 3:1 transfer ratio from Marriott and Ritz-Carlton to Starwood, you could also convert 60,000 Marriott or Ritz-Carlton points.

Using points can be a good deal because room nights at this hotel can regularly cost $500+.  So you’d save a lot of money and be in a terrific starting point to explore New York City!

2.   New York Marriott Marquis

Are you planning to see a Broadway show in New York?

The iconic and newly renovated Marriott Marquis is located in the heart of New York City’s theater district.  So you can walk to dinner at the nearby famous Restaurant Row and watch a play afterwards.  (Check out my review of TodayTix for discounts!)

The hotel also has a revolving rooftop restaurant called The View, which offers fantastic views of Times Square!

TripAdvisor reviews for this hotel note its terrific location for seeing many New York City sights like Radio City Music Hall and the Empire State Building.  And the hotel is family friendly!

A free night at this hotel costs 45,000 Marriott points.  Or you could convert 15,000 Starwood points.  This will save you $570+ a night on the regular room rates.

3.   The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park

For a luxurious stay within a relatively quiet New York City neighborhood, you can consider The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park.

You’ll be a ~10 minute walk from Wall Street and New York’s Financial District.  Other attractions, like Times Square, are a ~25 minute subway ride away.

You can also walk along the Hudson River from the hotel to the National September 11 Memorial.

Folks on TripAdvisor rated the hotel highly because of the luxurious accommodations.  Reviews say the hotel amenities and views outweigh the time it takes to get to Midtown and other parts of the city.

You’ll pay 60,000 Ritz-Carlton points for a free night at this hotel.  Or you could convert 20,000 Starwood points.

Depending on your travel dates, using points can be an amazing deal because certain nights cost $500+.  And you also have the options to use more points (75,000 Ritz-Carlton points per night) for a room with a breathtaking view of the Statue of Liberty.

4.   The Westin New York Grand Central

Folks looking to visit New York City and beyond might want to stay at The Westin New York Grand Central.

Within 20 minutes of the hotel (by subway, walking, or taxi) you can visit most of Manhattan’s major attractions, including Central Park, Times Square, World Trade Center, and Rockefeller Center.  

And because you’re so close to Grand Central Station, you can travel to New York City’s suburbs as well.

There are many positive TripAdvisor reviews for this hotel.  Folks like the helpful staff, convenient location, and views of the Empire State Building.

A free night at this hotel costs 25,000 Starwood points.  Or you could convert 75,000 Marriott or Ritz-Carlton points.

With taxes and fees at this hotel, you can pay close to $500.  So using points can be a great deal!

5.   W New York – Union Square

You’ll enjoy a local New York City neighborhood experience with a stay at the W New York – Union Square.

Union Square is lively with local eateries, shopping, affordable live comedy shows, small concert venues, cocktail lounges, parks, and more.

Many folks on TripAdvisor have had positive experiences at this hotel.  They like the room sizes, neighborhood, and ability to access other parts of the city.

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

Room nights can cost $575+ if you pay cash.  So using points can be a fantastic way to save money and have a memorable New York experience.

Which Cards Earn You Points for Free Stays?

1.   Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Credit Cards

Link:   Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Link:   Marriott Rewards Premier Business Card

Link:   Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit 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.  Here’s my review of the offer.

2.   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 and small business cards.

And remember, when you pay for hotel stays using your AMEX or Chase co-branded Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, or Starwood credit 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 can be converted to 3 Marriott or Ritz-Carlton points.  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.

3.   A Note About Qualifying for These Cards

The AMEX cards are easier to get than the Chase cards.  Because earlier this year, Chase started to make it difficult for folks to be approved for Chase cards if you’ve opened ~5 or more credit cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months (excluding certain business cards).

That said, you ARE eligible for the Ritz-Carlton card even if you’ve opened lots of cards recently!

Bottom Line

You can use Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, or Starwood points to book a fantastic stay at more than 150 hotels in New York City.

Redeeming points can save you lots of money.  For example, you can use 20,000 Starwood points or convert 60,000 Marriott or Ritz-Carlton points for a free night at W New York – Union Square.  This can save you close to $600!

Before you book, be sure to link your loyalty accounts.  This way you’ll enjoy all of the benefits of your elite status across all 3 hotel chains!

Which New York City hotel would you like to stay at with points?