Many travelers book their trips and then simply wait for the departure date, unknowingly leaving potential savings behind. A crucial, yet often overlooked, step is periodically revisiting your bookings to check for price drops. This applies to both cash reservations and those made with points or miles, especially with the rise of dynamic pricing models.
Marriott Bonvoy, like many loyalty programs, now utilizes dynamic award pricing. This means the number of points required for a stay isn’t fixed; it fluctuates based on demand, time of year, and even the day of the week. What cost a certain amount of points when you booked could very well decrease – or unfortunately, increase – later on.
Ignoring this reality means potentially missing out on significant point savings. While tools exist to automatically monitor for lower prices, a manual check can often reveal even greater opportunities. Expanding your search to nearby properties during this process can unlock further savings, both in points and cash.
Repricing a Marriott Bonvoy award stay is surprisingly straightforward. Begin by logging into your Marriott account and navigating to the “Trips” section. Locate the booking you wish to review and select “View/Modify Room” from the drop-down menu.
Scroll down to find the current points redemption rate displayed for your stay. If you see a lower rate than what you originally paid, simply click “Modify Room” again. A new page will appear, showing the updated redemption cost.
Confirm the lower rate and click “Update.” You’ll then be presented with a summary detailing the number of points that will be credited back to your account. If satisfied, click “Submit Changes” to finalize the rebooking at the new, lower rate.
You can also explore switching to a paid rate through the same process. However, for optimal savings when transitioning to a cash booking, consider canceling your existing reservation and rebooking through an online shopping portal to earn additional rewards or cashback.
Don't assume your initial booking is the best deal. A little proactive effort – regularly checking prices and exploring alternatives – can translate into substantial savings, allowing you to stretch your points and travel budget further. It’s a simple habit that yields significant rewards.
