Marriott's Winter MegaBonus Is 1 Free Night After 2 Stays

The hotels' winter promotion period wouldn't be complete without Marriott's seemingly perennial MegaBonus offer.

This year's MegaBonus is the same as last year's: a free night after two stays.

Offer Details

Between February 1 and April 30, Marriott Rewards members can earn one free night after two paid stays at Marriott, JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, AC Hotels, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, and SpringHill Suites hotels.

The free nights may be taken at Category 1 - 4 hotels between February 1 and September 30. A maximum of two free nights may be earned during the promotion period.

Registration is required by March 31, and members' earning preferences must be set to points.

(Note: It's standard Marriott policy to have a basic MegaBonus offer, plus a few variants sent to targeted members. So you might receive a different version of the MegaBonus offer reviewed here.)

Deal or No Deal

The free night, if earned after two one-night stays at lower-priced properties, potentially represents a significant discount. But a free night at a Category 1 - 4 hotel after two longer stays at a JW Marriott is a much less generous proposition.

Marriott has a second promotion, MegaMiles, in place through April 30: 2,000 bonus airline miles after the second and subsequent stays. So if you're a Marriott loyalist planning stays at both higher- and lower-end hotels during the promotion period, it might behoove you to choose the MegaMiles for the former and the MegaBonus for the latter stays.

Of course, if you're a frequent traveler who earns the maximum of two free nights after four stays, you should change your earning preference to miles to earn the MegaMiles bonus for subsequent stays.

If you're not committed to Marriott, see our complete rundown of winter hotel promotions for a head-to-head comparison.

Reader Reality Check

What's your strategy for maximizing points and miles for winter hotel stays?

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Comments

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Can you first enroll in the mega miles promotion and once 25 stays are complete, change your preference to points and earn in the reward stays promotion?

Posted by: AwardTraveller | 01/21/2012 at 09:48 AM

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