Mike Friedman
So money may buy friends, attorneys and lots of other goodies, but can it get you a lesson with a former Olympic gymnast? How about a hotel room built into a Super Bowl stadium? Or a trip on the red carpet that’s such a great experience that there’s no way that you’ll be able to Let It Go? We’ve got the answer. That once in a lifetime experience via Marriott Bonvoy Moments is only a click away.
“I have friends, I have attorneys. Money buys a lot of Attorneys and friends.”
-Basic Instinct’s Catherine Tramell
Bidding For Rewards And Marriott Moments
Most people know that you can redeem miles for flights and hotel points for stays, but that’s the extent of their knowledge. Turns out that there are a number of other options, some of which don’t require using miles to buy magazines.
My favorite is the ability to use points to bid for (or buy) unique experiences. While almost every travel provider offers the ability to do so, one of them stands out in terms of both the number and quality of offers: Marriott Bonvoy Moments.
It works just like any other auction except, instead of bidding dollars, you’re bidding your Marriott Bonvoy points for the prize or once in a lifetime experience.
What Can I Win? – Marriott Bonvoy Moments
Moments has over 100 prizes available, ranging from the ordinary (concert tickets, hotel nights) to the truly special. What can you bid for now? I’m glad you asked. Some of the auctions include…
- An opportunity to train for an afternoon with gold medal gymnast Gabby Douglas. The current bid is 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
- How about dinner with one of the top chefs in the country? You’ll get a cooking session, meal and autographed cookbook from Daniel Boulud at his restaurant in Miami. Right now, 50,000 points is the going bid.
- Didn’t get enough of Anna and Elsa the first time around? Why not take the kids for a walk on the Red Carpet at the London premier of Frozen 2? The auction ends on November 7 and is currently going for 120,000 points.
What, not big enough for you? Past auctions have included the ultimate Super Bowl experience, which includes a hotel room built into the stadium, NFL meet and greets, and a private driver to take you around the city. It went for just over three million points last year. Baseball fan? Starwood, now owned by Marriott, gave a fan the opportunity to throw out the first pitch of a World Series game 7. It cost over a million SPG points, worth about $25,000 at the time. How’s that for a once in a lifetime experience?
Be sure to also check out: VAWAA | VACATION WITH AN ARTIST
Your Authentic Experience
So What Is The Catch?
There’s no catch. Really. If you have the points, you can bid for the prize. Here are a few other details, though, that might help you decide what’s worth your currency:
- A Marriott point is worth about 0.7 — 0.8 cents, so if the event costs 100,000 points, you’re valuing it at about $750.
- There are five categories available: Culinary, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Sports and Partners.
- Some opportunities are ones that you could pay cash for. If you use your points for them, make sure that you’re getting value. The one-of-a-kind experiences will cost the most, but there’s a reason for that.
- Make sure to read the details on what your package does and doesn’t include. For example, even though Marriott is a lodging company, not every package includes rooms.
Bottom line: If you do end up at the Super Bowl or World Series and are allowed to bring a guest, just remember your favorite writer.
What Do You Prefer?
Credit Card $300 Bonus and Big Rebates, or $150 Bonus and 0%
