Everything You Need to Know About Marriott Moments – Canadian Kilometers

Many experts believe that the value of Marriott points has gradually diminished since the merger with Starwood. Although excellent redemptions, like discounted Category 8 hotel rates, have existed, such opportunities are no longer available. I miss previously enjoying lovely hotels for just 60,000 points a night; those same stays now require 85,000 points—a significant increase of 24%. However, Marriott Moments continues to be one of the few avenues where redeeming points still offers tangible value.

Marriott Bonvoy Moments offer unique experiences that can only be purchased with points. While many other loyalty programs provide limited value through auctions, Marriott’s offerings often stand out. Additionally, Canadians have an expected advantage in earning Marriott points, as they are among the easiest hotel points to accumulate in the country.

The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card and Marriott Business American Express both offer a welcome bonus of 50,000 points after a minimum spend of $1,500 is met. Moreover, the Cobalt Card earns 6 Marriott points per dollar spent on groceries and dining. Lastly, possessing an AMEX card unlocks Global Transfer, allowing eligible individuals to leverage their Canadian credit history to obtain American Express cards in the US with additional earning potential.

Marriott Bonvoy Moments

Marriott Moments features a Bonvoy section that includes packages across various categories, such as entertainment and sports. This rewards platform allows you to bid solely with Marriott points. While most offerings are auction-based, a selection of items is available at a fixed price, typically music-related items like concert tickets.

Packages start from 15,000 points, reaching upwards of 1,000,000 points for exclusive experiences. Some truly remarkable offerings, such as spending the night in the Super Bowl Stadium before game day, have been listed at nearly 2 million points. Even for those who aren’t fans of American football, that’s an incredible opportunity. Other luxury experiences include a private dinner at French Laundry for 350,000 points or glamping in a W Yurt at Coachella for 566,500 points. I value Marriott points at approximately 0.7 cents each, so consider this when computing the cost of redemptions. For more benchmark experiences, you might find that a personal assistant or a credit card concierge (like those offered with the American Express Platinum Card) can secure similar experiences at more reasonable prices. However, I’ve found that my Marriott balance is 500,000 300,000 points more than I’d like, which has affected my valuation.

Marriott Auction Rules

The auction rules are quite straightforward. Each auction specifies an end date, with a minimum bid increment of 2,500 points. Participants can place bids manually or set auto-bids with a maximum bid threshold. Points are immediately deducted from your account once a bid is accepted, and a confirmation email will follow, along with subsequent notifications if you are outbid. Each account is limited to winning a maximum of five experiences per calendar year, and residents of Quebec are ineligible for Marriott Moments, likely due to provincial regulations.

Speaking from personal experience, I find auto-bids quite ineffective, as they tend to inflate the final price. Additionally, notifications about being outbid sometimes fail to arrive. For auctions I’m interested in, I prefer to watch closely as time runs down; since many auctions are based on local time, I’ve found myself awake at 4:30 AM Pacific time just to catch them. Most auctions are listed a month or two before the actual event.

Marriott Moment Deals

Some of the best values can be found in auctions that include hotel accommodations. My reasoning is that even if the final bid is high, it’s often counterbalanced by the number of points normally required for a hotel stay. I’ve noticed auctions concluding at a price lower than redeeming points for free nights, mainly because most auctions are time-sensitive, which helps keep prices lower. Being flexible with travel dates is essential.

Last year, I acquired tickets for the Billboard Music Awards, paying 27,500 Starpoints (or 82,500 Marriott points) for two tickets. The listed cash price was $375 each, totaling $750, with even higher prices from resellers. While this value didn’t meet my usual standard of 1.0+ cents per point, it was an unforgettable concert experience that I likely wouldn’t have attended otherwise.

Marriott Moments – Billboard Music Awards

Recently, I won a Marriott Moments package for a fitness/wellness bootcamp at W Dubai – The Palm. This package included three nights in a suite, a full weekend of workouts, and various perks. A memorable highlight was a private training session with a specialist from Barry’s Bootcamp. My friend and I won the auction for 175,000 points, which turned out to be a fantastic deal, considering that a standard three-night stay typically requires 150,000 points. The added benefits definitely exceeded the value of that additional 25,000 points.

Marriott Moments – W Dubai

The hotel recently opened, granting us exceptional accommodations. Due to my Titanium status, I received a spacious suite typically priced at $1500 USD per night. Breakfast was complimentary as part of the package, along with additional events that included an evening reception and a private dinner. My friend and I also received some great gifts, including a Bonvoy-branded Bluetooth speaker, a portable blender, and a tank top. This experience has certainly ranked among my favorite travel experiences this year.

Marriott Moments – W Dubai

Conclusion

Despite the loss of various appealing deals following the Marriott-Starwood merger, Marriott Moments remains a valuable redemption option. I enjoy bidding on these auctions and leveraging the experiences available to fuel my travel inspiration.

Importantly, anyone can swiftly and easily accumulate Marriott points. By obtaining the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card and Marriott Business American Express, you can earn a total of 120,000 Marriott points after fulfilling minimum spending requirements, while the Cobalt Card offers the equivalent of 6 Marriott points for every dollar spent on groceries and dining.

Check the available auctions on the Marriott Moments website.