If you’re a points and miles enthusiast, it’s good to be on the lookout for interesting bonus point package rates in hotel loyalty programs like IHG or Marriott. In this post I’ll highlight one such opportunity to rack up some extra Marriott Bonvoy points on a future stay in New York City. If you’re optimistic about the resumption of travel outside Canada and want to make a speculative booking, this option would be worth considering.
Bonus Point Package Rates
Sometimes a hotel will offer a special rate that includes a bunch of bonus points for additional cash. Marriott features a few of these offers on its website but the list is not comprehensive – you’ve got to seek them out on your own.
Like any other kind of package rate, they range from poor to acceptable to excellent. Always compare the package rate to the best member rate available with similar cancellation terms.
You should also have an idea of what kind of value you’ll get from those points on a future booking. So consider your travel plans and whether you could put your Marriott Bonvoy balance to good use.
Stacking Promotions
If you find a well-priced bonus point package rate in a destination you’re planning to visit, make sure to register for any other global or targeted promotions from that loyalty program to max out your earning opportunities on the stay.
It’s a little tricky when making a speculative reservation long in advance because you don’t know what type of promo, if any, will be happening at the time of your trip. If it’s a stay-based promotion, you might want to do a bit of hotel hopping to increase your stay count. Or, if travelling with a companion, you could alternate bookings at one hotel. On the other hand, If consecutive nights at the same hotel would equally qualify for the promotion, a single multi-night booking in your name would be fine.
New York City Hotels
Two Marriott Bonvoy hotels in New York are currently offering a “Member Exclusive Offer” which includes a 10% discount on the regular (non-member) flexible rate and 3500 bonus points per night. Not only that, but these hotels are showing up with some of the lowest rates in the city on the dates I checked.
Note that both hotels are relatively new and are actually in the same building which would make it quite convenient if you did want to switch hotels for promotion purposes. Both brands offer complimentary breakfast and are well located in Manhattan for a tourist.
Below are sample rates in January 2022. This time of year is known for lower hotel rates along with wonderful budget-friendly opportunities around the city. I chose a random Sunday which is typically the cheapest night so other days of the week will be a bit higher.
Rates are in USD:
Fairfield Inn Times Square South
January 30, 2022
1 King
Member Exclusive Offer: $97
Member Rate Flexible: $98
Member Prepay Rate: $91
SpringHill Suites Times Square South
January 30, 2022
Studio 1 King
Member Exclusive Offer: $97
Member Flexible Rate: $98
Member Prepay Rate: $91
This is most unusual. The Member Exclusive Offer is actually a buck cheaper than the Member Rate Flexible that does not include the bonus points. The Member Prepay rate is $91 so you’d save a little going with that one but it’s certainly worth paying six more dollars for a non-prepaid rate that allows you to cancel up to the day before check-in and includes 3500 bonus points.
If you’re feeling really hopeful about travel outside Canada this year and have flexibility with your dates, check out the NYC portion of the seasonal sweet spot I wrote about previously. The Sun/Mon/Tues nights preceding U.S. Thanksgiving are $114 per night for the Member Exclusive Offer at both hotels. Base points and bonus points from the three night stay would be enough for a free night at a Category 2 Marriott. Therefore, your New York getaway would give you enough points for a free night at the Four Points by Sheraton in Moncton or the Fairfield Inn & Suites in St. John’s.
Bottom Line
Even if you’re not planning a trip to New York anytime soon, this is a good reminder to keep an eye out for package rates that present good value. I know it can be a tedious exercise to research all the rate options at every hotel across multiple chains, especially in a big city with a large number of properties, but it’s certainly worth it if you can score a super deal. Who knows when this offer will lapse so if you have the Big Apple on your mind, there’s no risk in locking in a great rate other than the heartbreak if you can’t go.
This is very interesting.
To add, my last trip pre-pandemic was to Manhattan and I stayed at this very property (it was still a Cat 5 hotel in 2019). I can vouch that it is a very underrated property and I’d highly recommend it. Wonderful service, awesome location, free breakfast.