One of the perks of the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier card is the free night in any Category 1 to 5 hotel each year you’re a cardmember.
The Chase Marriott Rewards Premier card has an $85 annual fee. But each card anniversary year, you’ll get a free night that can make the card worth keeping.
Use Your Free Card Anniversary Night at This Castle-Like Marriott Hotel in Wales!
I’ll show you 5 top hotels in Europe where you can use your free night.
About the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card
Link: Chase Marriott Rewards Premier
Link: Review of Chase Marriott Rewards Premier 80,000 Point Sign Up Bonus
You can earn 80,000 Marriott points with the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier card when you spend $3,000 in the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
You’ll earn another 7,500 bonus Marriott points when you add an authorized user who makes a purchase within that same 3-month period.
Other perks that come with this card are:
- 1 free night at a Marriott Category 1 to 5 location on your card anniversary that expires 12 months from the issue date.
- 5X Marriott points per $1 spent at Marriott locations
- 2X Marriott points per $1 at restaurants, on car rentals, and airline tickets purchased directly from the airline
- 1X Marriott point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- NO foreign transaction fees
- 15 nights credit towards elite status (so you get Marriott Silver status)
- Because it’s a Visa Signature card, you’ll be eligible for Visa discounts and a 6-month membership to CLEAR.
There’s an $85 annual fee that is NOT waived the 1st year.
Marriott hotels include:
- AC Hotels by Marriott
- Autograph Collection Hotels
- Bulgari Hotels
- Courtyard by Marriott
- Delta Hotels
- EDITION
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
- Gaylord Hotels
- JW Marriott
- Marriott Executive Apartments
- Marriott Hotels
- Marriott Vacation Club
- Moxy Hotels
- Protea Hotels
- Renaissance Hotels
- Residence Inn by Marriott
- Ritz-Carlton
- Springhill Suites by Marriott
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott
So I recommend folks 1st sign-up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Here’s why. But if you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred or don’t want it, consider this offer for the Chase Marriott Premier. Or the other Chase cards in Hot Deals.
Quick Tips When Using Points
Marriott added new features to their loyalty program this year, including points advances and the capability to share your points. And later this year, they’ll merge with Starwood.
Remember, you’ll get the 5th night free on any award stay when you redeem your Marriott points! So if you want to stay longer, it’s an excellent way to save 20% on your vacation.
80,000 Marriott Points Is Enough for Several Nights at Lower Category Marriott Hotels. Or 1 or 2 Nights at the Nicest Marriotts!
Two Tools to Find Marriott Hotels
I like using Hotel Hustle to find hotels for award stays because it shows you how many points you’ll need for your specific travel dates. And show you if award nights are available at hotels, including Marriott!
Another option is AwardMapper. It shows similar information. But it’s not specific to travel dates and won’t search for available award rooms.
Top 5 Hotels in Europe Where You Can Use Your Marriott Free Night
You can use your free night at any Category 1 to 5 hotel that has available award nights. Just login to your Marriott Rewards account and search for a Category 1 to 5 hotel that you would like to stay in. Be sure to select “Use Rewards points.”
Select the hotel and your room type and make sure it is a Category 5 or less. On the reservation page you will see that you’ll have the option to use your free night certificate. Just click through as you normally would to book your hotel for free!
You Will See Your Free Night Certificate On The Reservations Page
Here are my top 5 picks on where to use the free night bonus. I haven’t personally stayed in all of these hotels, but a free hotel in a popular European city is a great deal!
The rates are for stays in June 2016. Just remember, rates can change depending on the season!
1. Courtyard Budapest City Center
The Courtyard Budapest City Center is in a good location with easy access to the city center and public transportation. It gets excellent reviews on TripAdvisor!
There are so many fun things to do in Budapest, like taking in the city’s beautiful architecture and landscapes. It’s also known for its thermal baths! And another nice perk is that it’s pretty cheap compared to most other European cities.
Take a Walking Tour of the City and Discover Amazing Architecture
This is a Category 3 hotel that normally costs 15,000 Marriott Rewards points per night. I found a standard room available for 90 euros (~$100) a night.
The Courtyard Marriott Is in a Convenient Location in Budapest
If you’re in Budapest this could be a great option for you to use your free night certificate. You could also use some of the Marriott points you earned with the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier card and stay multiple nights for free!
2. Courtyard Brussels
The Courtyard Brussels is located in the city’s business district near the airport and the downtown area.
Belgium is known for its beer, chocolate, and culinary delights. My friend visited the city and raved about their fresh seafood! He was also there for the Christmas market and described it as being a magical experience!
The Atomium is also another popular attraction. It’s pretty funky and cool to see!
A View From the Restaurant Inside the Famous Atomium Building
This is a Category 4 hotel and costs 20,000 Marriott Rewards points per night. Rooms can run 175 euros (~$195) a night, so you’ll save a lot of money by using your free night award here!
The Courtyard Brussels Is Clean and Modern
Folks on TripAdvisor give it great reviews. It’s in a good location whether you’re there for business or in the city to sightsee!
3. AC Hotel Carlton Madrid
The AC Hotel Carlton Madrid is in a good location near Madrid’s city center, close to many popular attractions and public transportation.
The Stunning Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain
Madrid is a fascinating city with beautiful museums, parks, and old churches. Staying at the AC Hotel Carlton will keep you near the action!
The hotel gets consistently good reviews on TripAdvisor and would be an excellent option for your trip to Spain.
Views of the City of Madrid From 1 of the Hotel Room Balconies
Rooms at this Category 5 hotel are usually 25,000 Marriott Rewards points or 110 euros (~$123) per night. You’ll definitely save money by using your free night award here!
4. Courtyard Prague City
The Courtyard Prague City gets fantastic reviews on TripAdvisor. Folks regularly give it 4+ stars! It’s easy to get from the hotel to both the city center and the airport using public transportation.
I Enjoyed the View From the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic
There are a lot of fun things to see and do in Prague. For example, the Petrin Tower has great views of the city and is very romantic at night. And Prague’s Old Town has a vibrant atmosphere with loads of restaurants and cafes.
I found rooms at the Category 4, Courtyard Prague City, for either 20,000 Marriott Rewards points or 3,620 Czech Republic Koruna (~$150) a night in June 2016.
You could use the money you save to take a romantic river cruise.
5. Courtyard Cologne
Courtyard Cologne gets great reviews and 4 stars on TripAdvisor and is located in the city center.
The Modern Courtyard Cologne at Night
It is a Category 4 hotel that would cost 20,000 Marriott Rewards points a night. I found rooms here in June 2016 for 115 euros (~$128).
If you’re visiting Cologne this could be a good spot to stay because of the convenient location. It’s near the city’s famous Chocolate Museum. A good spot to stop and satisfy your sweet tooth with free samples 
The hotel is also just minutes away from the Cologne Cathedral.
The Cologne Cathedral Sits on the Banks of the Rhine River
Entrance into the Cathedral is free. And it’s full of spectacular stained glass windows and art!
Bottom Line
The Chase Marriott Rewards Premier card has an $85 annual fee. But you can get a free night certificate on your card anniversary good at Category 1 to 5 hotels that can be worth more.
Many popular cities in Europe have a number of Category 1 to 5 Marriott hotels. Sometimes they are mid-tier hotels that might not be in the heart of the city. But many are close to public transportation making it easy to get to popular attractions.
Stay in popular cities in Europe like the AC Hotel Carlton Madrid or the Courtyard Cologne. To extend your stay, you can use the free night along with your Marriott Rewards points.
Let me know your favorite Marriott hotels in Europe to redeem your free night award!
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