One of many fundamental advantages of the Canadian-issued Marriott Bonvoy American Categorical Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise American Categorical Card is the Free Evening Award, which is awarded annually in your cardholder anniversary.
Every Free Evening Award is price 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors, and it may be topped up with an extra 15,000 factors, for a complete attainable redemption worth of fifty,000 factors.
In Canada, there are a lot of resorts from coast-to-coast at which you’ll be able to redeem Free Evening Awards for excellent worth.
When Ought to You Redeem a Free Evening Award?
When contemplating whether or not or to not redeem a Free Evening Award, you’ll usually need to be certain that you’re maximizing the factors worth by reserving an evening that’d in any other case value at the least 35,000 Bonvoy factors (and no fewer).
Then, you’ll additionally need to take into account the corresponding money worth on the identical night time, which offers you an concept of how a lot worth you’re squeezing out of the Free Evening Award.
We at present worth Marriott Bonvoy factors at 0.8 cents per level (all figures in CAD). Utilizing this metric, you possibly can take into account 35,000 factors to have a price of round $280.
Ideally, the night time on which you redeem a Free Evening Award is price at the least that quantity, and even perhaps extra. This manner, you’d be getting outsized worth.
Alternatively, it’s possible you’ll resolve to make use of the certificates even when the money price falls beneath the “goal worth”, since Free Evening Awards have a “use-by” date.
So long as it doesn’t go to waste, you’ll get a one-night keep that successfully prices the annual charge of your bank card, which is both $120 or $150.
With all of this in thoughts, let’s kick off our listing of home resorts which might be appropriate for a Free Evening Award redemption. From west to east, we have now…
1. Marriott Victoria Interior Harbour
With just lately refreshed rooms and a location within the coronary heart of Victoria, the Marriott Victoria Interior Harbour could be a fantastic alternative to make use of your free night time on a visit to Vancouver Island.
Even throughout peak journey seasons, the fee caps out at 50,000 factors per night time. Due to this fact, you need to have the ability to redeem a Free Evening Award right here fairly simply all year long.
The money costs at this lodge are likely to hover round $250–300 per night time within the low season, and between $300–400 per night time throughout busy journey durations.
It is best to have the ability to redeem a Free Evening Award for above our goal valuation all year long; nonetheless, you gained’t essentially get excellent worth.
In addition to the centrally located Marriott lodge, Victoria’s Delta Ocean Pointe Resort and Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort are additionally priced at round 50,000 factors per night time or much less for a lot of the 12 months.
2. Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre
Vancouver is a little bit of a tough metropolis for Free Evening Awards, particularly in the summertime. Nevertheless, for the autumn, winter, and spring, there are a handful of resorts within the downtown core that worth out at 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors or much less.
One possibility with respectable availability for Free Evening Awards is the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, which is positioned proper within the coronary heart of town.
Whereas it doesn’t fairly have the identical attract as a few of the finer resorts within the metropolis, the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre typically costs out at round 40,000–45,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors from the autumn via to the spring.
Money charges for this lodge normally fall round $300–350 with taxes and costs included. It is best to have the ability to get above our goal valuation of 0.8 cents per level at this lodge, however don’t anticipate to get rather more than that.
One various in Vancouver could be to remain within the Richmond space as a substitute, the place there are a handful of airport resorts that additionally provide handy entry to town by way of the SkyTrain.
You may also get fortunate with an evening on the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, or its neighbour, The DOUGLAS, Autograph Assortment; nonetheless, nights which might be eligible for a Free Evening Award are certainly few and much between at these properties.
3. The Dorian, Autograph Assortment
Positioned east of the Rocky Mountains, Calgary is a good metropolis to base from for a winter ski journey or a summer time mountaineering journey.
One of many metropolis’s finest Marriott properties is The Dorian, Autograph Assortment, which opened its doorways in July 2022.
Thankfully, redemptions on the property persistently fall beneath 50,000 factors per night time, and it makes for a fantastic use of a Free Evening Award.
Money charges on the property are pretty cheap as effectively, and sometimes value much less on weekends.
Irrespective of the way you pay, you’ll be handled to a really comfy keep.
The lodge has nice design all through, and for those who’re eligible for complimentary breakfast by the use of Marriott Bonvoy Elite standing, you’re definitely in for a deal with.
4. JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District
Ever because it opened in 2019, the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District has given Edmonton’s lodge scene a significant increase.
It’s a very enticing possibility for those who’re within the metropolis for a hockey sport, live performance, or occasion, because it has a direct connection to the close by Rogers Centre enviornment.
All year long, redemption charges on the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District fall round 35,000 factors, making it an ideal possibility for a Free Evening Award.
In comparison with money charges round $300–400 or extra, the worth on paper isn’t essentially excellent, however the high-end attract of the JW Marriott model ought to make this a really satisfying place to redeem your certificates.
The lodge options an Government Lounge for eligible friends, as effectively the most effective lodge health centres in North America.
Subsequent time you head to Alberta’s capital, you’ll want to take into account redeeming a Free Evening Award on the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District for a little bit of luxurious.
5. Delta Toronto
Outdoors of luxurious choices just like the St. Regis or the Ritz-Carlton, one of many higher mid-range resorts within the metropolis is the Delta Toronto.
The rooms and suites are spacious, there’s a strong eating venue downstairs in SOCO, and better of all, some rooms have bathtubs with a commanding view of the CN Tower.
When you gained’t have the ability to redeem a Free Evening Award right here on any given night time, because the value can exceed 50,000 factors, there are many choices out there each month.
The money charges on the Delta Lodges Toronto are likely to run fairly excessive, and you need to find yourself getting nice worth out of your Free Evening Award.
On the lodge, you possibly can anticipate a sophisticated stick with a fantastic location near downtown and the lakeshore.
There’s a Membership Lounge positioned on the higher flooring of the lodge, with nice views of town.
For those who’re not ready to pay for a extra luxurious property in Toronto, you’ll want to hold an eye fixed out for a keep on the Delta Lodges Toronto with a Free Evening Award.
6. Residence Inn Gravenhurst
Whereas the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka might get a variety of consideration amongst Toronto’s summer time crowd, the Residence Inn Gravenhurst is a worthy various for a quick getaway in cottage nation.
Each resorts worth out at beneath 50,000 factors over the autumn, winter, and spring; nonetheless, the Residence Inn Gravenhurst is offered for 50,000 factors or much less even within the busy summer time months.
Not solely will you be getting wonderful worth in comparison with paying money, however the award redemption books immediately right into a one-bedroom or studio suite, which might accommodate a bigger household, too.
7. Delta Ottawa
For those who’re heading to the nation’s capital, the Delta Ottawa Metropolis Centre is a good possibility, particularly for those who’d prefer to redeem a Free Evening Award.
Its location is simply down the road from Parliament Hill and inside strolling distance to the Rideau Canal, which signifies that it’s a well-located alternative on your go to. The lodge additionally incorporates a newer Membership Lounge and an indoor pool.
Thankfully, you gained’t have any points redeeming a Free Evening Award right here, since all year long, the redemption price is 39,000 factors at most.
With money charges hovering across the $250+ mark, you’ll even be unlocking a reasonably respectable return on the $120 or $150 bank card annual charge that you just paid in change for the Free Evening Award.
8. Humaniti Resort Montreal, Autograph Assortment
Over in Montreal, you’re definitely spoiled for alternative in relation to Marriott Bonvoy resorts.
One of many higher choices out there within the metropolis is Humaniti Resort Montreal, Autograph Assortment. The lodge, which opened in 2021, has a fantastic location near Outdated Port and Downtown Montreal, and is offered for a lot of the 12 months with a topped-up Free Evening Award.
Other than the summer time months, with just one or two dates out there at beneath 50,000 factors, you possibly can anticipate to half with 40,000–50,000 factors per night time.
Money charges run round $400 per night time, which makes the lodge a strong alternative for a Free Evening Award.
9. Muir, Autograph Assortment
For a visit out to Halifax, a keep on the Muir, Autograph Assortment is totally price contemplating. You’ll be handled to notably wonderful service and a first-rate location proper on Halifax’s waterfront.
It’s price noting that the lodge controversially stopped honouring the Marriott Bonvoy breakfast profit for friends with standing earlier in 2023. Nevertheless, it has since reinstated a pared-down continental breakfast for eligible friends as a substitute of a full-fledged providing.
By all different measures, the Muir absolutely stands out as one in every of Canada’s finest Marriott properties.
Other than July, August, and September, a redemption on the Muir costs out at 50,000 factors or much less, which makes it a fantastic candidate for a Free Evening Award.
Money charges on the lodge begin at round $350 per night time, and go up from there.
For those who’re capable of go to Halifax outdoors of the height season, you’ll get pleasure from a splendid expertise on the Muir, with a steep low cost to the usual money price in addition.
Conclusion
One of many fundamental causes to maintain the Marriott Bonvoy American Categorical Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise American Categorical Card for the long-term is the anniversary Free Evening Award.
Whereas it’s definitely attainable to seek out nice resorts that value 35,000 factors or much less, it’s additionally good to have the flexibleness to prime up the certificates to be used at higher-end resorts.
In Canada, most main cities have a collection of Marriott properties, and you need to have the ability to make good use of your Free Evening Award wherever you might be.
