Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What is hotel points plus cash?
Hotel points plus cash is a hotel loyalty redemption in which a member pays part of a stay with points and the rest with money, instead of covering the whole bill in points or in cash. Marriott Bonvoy, the loyalty programme of Marriott International, offers this as a bookable “Cash + Points” rate that appears when a member searches for hotels with points. [7]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- A points-plus-cash rate divides one stay between a points payment and a cash payment, so the member spends fewer points than a full award and less money than a paid rate.
- Marriott Bonvoy calls its version Cash + Points and presents it as a rate to select during a hotel search made with “Use Points/Awards”. [7]
- It is offered only at participating hotels that display an available cash + points rate, so coverage varies by property and date. [7]
- Points have no cash value under the programme rules, so the cash half of the price is real spending and the points half cannot be turned back into money. [5]
What is a points-plus-cash hotel redemption?
Hotel loyalty programmes set award nights at a points price. A points-plus-cash rate splits that price: the member commits a reduced number of points and pays the balance in money, leaving the booking part redemption and part purchase. The point of the mechanic is reach rather than discount — it lets a member take a night that a full award price would put out of range, or stretch an existing balance over more of a trip.
In Marriott Bonvoy the mechanic is published as Cash + Points. The programme's redemption page lists it under “Points” and describes it as a way for a member and their points to go further together. [7] It sits alongside other redemption routes on the same page: Free Night Awards, PointSavers rates, room upgrades bought with points or cash, and Nightly Upgrade Awards for Gold Elite members and above. [7] The Cash + Points option carries its own terms and conditions, linked from that page. [7]
How do you book a hotel stay with points plus cash?
Marriott Bonvoy sets out a three-step route for a Cash + Points booking. The member starts a hotel search with “Use Points/Awards” selected, looks for participating hotels displaying available cash + points rates, and then selects the “Cash + Points” rate from the list to book the stay. [7] Because the cash-and-points split is shown in the search results, the member sees the points price and the cash price for that property and those dates before committing. [7]
Which hotels and dates offer points plus cash?
Availability is property-specific. Marriott's instructions point members to participating hotels that display available cash + points rates, which means the option appears where a hotel has published such a rate rather than as a standing award price at every property. [7] The rate is distinct from the programme's Free Night Awards, which are redeemable at thousands of properties worldwide with varying point values, and from PointSavers rates. [7]
For scale, Marriott lists points stays starting at 12,000 points per night as of 18 October 2026. [7] The programme rules allow Marriott to change redemption levels, award availability, redemption structures and conditions of participation with or without notice, including where a change affects the value of points. [5] If a participating property or brand leaves the programme, awards stop being valid after the exit date, even if the reservation was made before it. [5]
Is points plus cash good value?
Marriott's rules treat points as programme property with no cash value: they may not be sold, bartered, transferred, assigned, exchanged or purchased except as the rules expressly permit. [5] For a points-plus-cash booking that means the money half is money spent, while the points half cannot be converted back into cash later. [5]
The realistic comparison is with the other routes on the same redemption page: a full Free Night Award from 12,000 points a night at the time checked, a PointSavers rate offering up to 20% off at participating hotels, or, where the balance is short, buying points, which Marriott caps at 100,000 points per calendar year for a member or for another member. [7] [6] Because cash + points rates appear per participating hotel for the dates searched, and free night awards carry varying point values across properties, there is no single programme-wide exchange rate to apply. [7]
Exceptions and limits
- Only where a rate is published. Cash + Points is described as available at participating hotels that display such rates, so a search can return none for a given city and date. [7]
- Some charges stay with the member. At The Coral at Atlantis, The Royal at Atlantis and The Cove at Atlantis, award redemption stays include the standard room rate and room tax only; extra-person charges, resort fees, service charges and other property charges are the member's responsibility and are not included. [5] Points also cannot be redeemed for reservations booked through AtlantisBahamas.com at those properties. [5]
- Points must still be live. Members need Qualifying Activity at least once every 24 months to keep accumulated points, awards and other benefits; redeeming points counts, while gifting, transferring or receiving points from another member does not. [5] After 24 consecutive months without Qualifying Activity, all accumulated points, awards and other benefits are forfeited and cannot be reinstated. [5]
- Cancelling late can cost the points. An award redeemed before points forfeiture stays valid unless it is cancelled after the applicable points expiration date; if it is cancelled after that date and the member has not completed Qualifying Activity to extend the date, the points used for the award expire. [5]
- The rules can move. Marriott may change, limit or cancel programme rules, redemption levels and award availability with or without notice. [5]
Frequently asked questions
What does Cash + Points mean in Marriott Bonvoy?
It is the programme's name for a rate that combines a points payment with a cash payment for the same stay. It appears as a selectable rate when a member searches with “Use Points/Awards”. [7]
Where can I find hotels that offer points plus cash?
Search with “Use Points/Awards” selected and look for participating hotels displaying available cash + points rates; the option only shows where the property has published one. [7]
Do points spent on a Cash + Points stay keep my account active?
Marriott lists redeeming points as Qualifying Activity, which members need at least once every 24 months to keep accumulated points and awards. [5]
What happens to my award if the hotel leaves Marriott Bonvoy?
Where a participating property or brand exits the programme, awards are no longer valid after the exit date, even if the reservation was made beforehand. [5]
Can I turn the points half of the stay into cash instead?
No. Marriott's rules state that points and awards have no cash value and may not be sold, bartered, transferred or exchanged except as expressly permitted. [5]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Airline cash-and-miles pricing and hotel programmes other than Marriott Bonvoy are not covered here; see the glossary for related terms.
- Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions, checked 18 October 2026
- Marriott Bonvoy: Transfer Points to Miles (points purchase limits), checked 18 October 2026
- Marriott Bonvoy: Redeem Your Marriott Bonvoy Points, checked 18 October 2026