Disclosure: Basic Travel Couple, LLC has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Basic Travel Couple, LLC and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
This is a friendly PSA from your favorite Basic Traveler to make sure that you select an Annual Choice Benefit from Marriott if you reached 50 or more nights in 2019 and earned Platinum Elite Status for 2020. If no selection is made by January 15th, 5 Suite Night Upgrade Awards will automatically be chosen. You’ll find all 5 Options Covered Below!
Marriot Bonvoy Platinum Annual Choice Options
Five Elite Night Credits
You can choose to add 5 additional elite nights to your account which can help to recertify for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Status in 2021. This is in-addition to the 15 Elite Nights that come with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card.
40% Off of Your Favorite Hotel Bed
Member can choose a 40% off code which is valid for mattresses from any of the following brands: The Westin Heavenly® Bed, The Marriott Bed, The Ritz-Carlton Bed, The W Hotels Bed, The Sheraton Bed, The St. Regis Bed, The Courtyard Bed, The JW Marriott Bed, The Renaissance Bed, The Luxury Collection Bed, The Fairfield Bed, The EDITION Hotel Bed, The Gaylord Hotels Bed.
Gift Silver Elite Status
You can share Elite benefits with a friend, family member or colleague — give the gift of Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
Here are the benefits of Silver Elite status:
- 10% bonus points on stays
- Priority Late Checkout
- Dedicated Elite reservation line
- Ultimate Reservation Guarantee
Support Children with UNICEF
Marriott Bonvoy will make a US$100 donation to UNICEF USA on your behalf. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF provides health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. $100 is enough to provide two families with essential hygiene supplies for a month in an emergency.
Five Suite Night Awards
Step up your stays with Five Suite Night Awards, which are advance, confirmable upgrades for select premium rooms or standard suites (subject to availability) at any participating Marriott Bonvoy hotel or resort. You can also apply your Suite Night Awards to eligible paid stays, Free Night Award stays and Cash + Points stays.
If you Earn 75 Elite Nights in One Year
For Members who Reach 75 Elite Nights (Titanium Elite Status) they’ll get to make an additional selection with two additional options . Those Members can Choose From Gifting Gold Elite Status or A Free Night Certificate.
Basic Breakdown
I never received any initial or reminder email to choose a benefit from Marriott and completely lost track of time. This will probably be my last year as a Platinum Elite Member due to Marriott allegedly axing the opportunity to Earn 10 Nights from Hosting a Meeting. I sure will miss the Free Breakfast, Club Lounge Access, and 4pm Checkout!
It’s hard to accumulate 50 Nights at one particular brand, especially when using Points & Miles to Travel for Free. I’ll most likely be choosing the Suite Night Upgrades. Last summer, I used those Suite Night Upgrades to get some absolutely stunning villas in Japan and the Philippines.
For those of you that are stuck with the same decision, what benefit are you choosing? I’d Love to see your answers down in the comments below.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Learn More Here.
More Basic Reading
- FREE Travel Hacking eBook
- How we Saved $71,000 in Travel in 2019
- 75,000 Southwest Bonus Point Offer
- Why I paid $150 To Sit in A Marriott Board Room Alone
- Top 7 Travel Hacks of 2019
Disclosure: Basic Travel Couple, LLC has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Basic Travel Couple, LLC and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
