Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Daniel Globe
American Express Membership Rewards points can be used for an AC Hotel stay by transferring eligible U.S. Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy and then booking the hotel through Marriott. The process is simple, but the transfer is final, award prices can change, and a points booking is not always the best-value choice.
Quick Answer
For U.S. Membership Rewards accounts, Amex currently transfers points to Marriott Bonvoy at a standard 1:1 ratio: 1,000 Amex points become 1,000 Bonvoy points. Check AC Hotel award availability first, link your accounts, transfer only the points you need, and complete the booking on Marriott’s website or app.
Key Takeaways
- AC Hotels participate in Marriott Bonvoy, so transferred Bonvoy points can be used for eligible award stays.
- The standard U.S. transfer ratio is 1,000 Membership Rewards points to 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, although limited-time bonuses can change the result.
- Amex-to-Marriott transfers are final. Confirm the hotel, dates, points price, cancellation terms, and cash fees before transferring.
- Marriott uses flexible point pricing rather than fixed hotel categories, so the required points can change by date and availability.
- Breakfast, parking, destination fees, resort fees, and other amenities vary by AC Hotel and may not be included in an award stay.
At a Glance
| Time Required | About 5–10 minutes to link and submit; point-posting time can vary |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools Needed | Eligible Amex Membership Rewards account, Marriott Bonvoy account, and Marriott award search |
| Cost | The transfer uses points; the hotel may still charge resort or destination fees, upgrades, parking, meals, or incidentals |
Can You Convert Amex Points for an AC Hotel Stay?
Yes. AC Hotels is part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, and eligible American Express Membership Rewards members can transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy. After the points appear in your Bonvoy account, you can redeem them for an available standard-room award at an AC Hotel.
This guide uses the U.S. Membership Rewards program, where the standard transfer ratio shown by American Express is currently 1:1. Ratios, minimums, and transfer rules can differ for cards issued in other countries, so use the rate displayed inside your own Amex account.
You are not converting points into a separate “AC Hotel” currency. AC Hotels uses Marriott Bonvoy points, just like other participating Marriott brands.
What to Check Before Transferring Points
A transfer should be the last step before booking, not the first. Complete these checks while your Membership Rewards points are still in your Amex account.
- Search the exact AC Hotel and dates. On Marriott.com or the Bonvoy app, select “Use Points/Awards” and confirm that an eligible room is available.
- Write down the total points required. Marriott uses flexible redemption rates, so the nightly amount can rise or fall with date, demand, room type, and availability.
- Compare the complete cash price. Include room tax and check for destination fees, resort fees, parking, breakfast, and other charges that may remain payable in cash.
- Read the cancellation deadline. Award reservations follow the property’s cancellation policy and can carry a cash penalty if canceled too late.
- Confirm account eligibility. The Marriott account must belong to you or, where Amex rules allow it, an eligible Additional Card Member linked to your Membership Rewards account.
Warning: Membership Rewards transfers to travel partners are final. Do not transfer speculatively. Check the award room and points requirement first, because transferred points cannot be moved back to your Amex account.
Exploring the Benefits of AC Hotels
AC Hotels by Marriott is a design-focused select-service brand with European-inspired food and beverage concepts such as AC Kitchen and AC Lounge. The brand can suit business and leisure travelers who prefer modern rooms, streamlined common areas, and access to the Marriott Bonvoy program.
Locations and Travel Convenience
Many AC Hotels are in cities, business districts, and mixed-use developments, but locations vary. Check the individual hotel page for distance to airports, rail stations, offices, attractions, and public transportation rather than assuming every property is beside a major hub.
Rooms and Work-Friendly Features
AC Hotels generally emphasize uncluttered design and practical spaces. Specific room features, Wi-Fi terms, bedding, desks, views, and accessibility options differ by property and room type. Review the room description before booking if you need a large workspace, a particular bed configuration, or an accessible room.
Amenities, Breakfast, and Property Differences
Fitness centers, meeting rooms, business services, restaurants, lounges, parking, and other amenities are property-specific. AC Kitchen typically offers a European-inspired breakfast, but breakfast is not automatically complimentary at every AC Hotel. Check the selected rate, your Marriott Bonvoy elite benefits, and the property’s dining page before assuming it is included.
Sustainability practices also vary by building and location. Travelers who prioritize specific environmental features should review the property page or contact the hotel for details about housekeeping, water stations, electric-vehicle charging, recycling, or energy programs.
How to Link Your Amex and Marriott Bonvoy Accounts
You must link an eligible Marriott Bonvoy account before transferring Membership Rewards points. American Express handles the link inside the Membership Rewards transfer portal.
- Sign in to your American Express account.
- Open Membership Rewards and choose the option to transfer points to partners.
- Select Marriott Bonvoy from the hotel partners.
- Choose the eligible Card Member whose name is associated with the partner account.
- Enter the Marriott Bonvoy member number requested by Amex.
- Complete any identity or card-security verification.
- Review the linked account details before continuing.
American Express states that the partner account must be held by the primary Card Member or an eligible Additional Card Member. If an Additional Card Member’s loyalty account is used, the Additional Card generally must have been issued at least 90 days before linking.
Note: The names and account details should be consistent. If the account will not link, verify the Bonvoy number, confirm that you selected the correct Card Member, and contact Amex rather than creating duplicate Marriott accounts.
How to Transfer Amex Points to Marriott Bonvoy
For eligible U.S. accounts, the standard conversion is 1,000 Membership Rewards points to 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. The original conversion examples should therefore remain 1:1 unless a limited-time transfer bonus is clearly displayed in your account.
| Amex Membership Rewards Points | Standard U.S. Marriott Bonvoy Points |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | 1,000 |
| 5,000 | 5,000 |
| 10,000 | 10,000 |
| 20,000 | 20,000 |
| 50,000 | 50,000 |
- Open the American Express transfer-partner page and sign in.
- Select Marriott Bonvoy and confirm the displayed ratio, minimum transfer, transfer increment, and estimated processing time.
- Select the linked Marriott Bonvoy account.
- Enter only the number of points needed for the award you plan to book.
- Review the destination account, point total, and final-transfer warning.
- Submit the transfer and save the confirmation.
- Wait until the points appear in Marriott Bonvoy before attempting to complete the reservation.
Some transfers post quickly, but timing is not guaranteed. American Express displays an estimated transfer time during the process. A transfer bonus may occasionally provide more than the standard 1:1 amount, but do not assume a bonus applies unless it appears in your account and you meet its terms.
How to Book an AC Hotel With Marriott Bonvoy Points
After the transfer posts, use Marriott’s booking channel to redeem the Bonvoy points.
- Sign in to Marriott.com or the Marriott Bonvoy app.
- Enter the destination, dates, room count, and number of guests.
- Select Use Points/Awards or turn on the app’s Book with Points option.
- Find the AC Hotel and choose View Rates.
- Open the points or redemption rate for an eligible standard room.
- Review the total points, cash charges, cancellation deadline, room type, and guest details.
- Complete the reservation and save the confirmation.
How Marriott Prices AC Hotel Award Stays
Marriott no longer places hotels into fixed award categories. Its flexible redemption system can change the points required by property, room type, season, date, and availability. A hotel that costs 28,000 points on one night may require a different amount on another night, so flexible-date searches can uncover lower redemption rates.
What an Award Stay Includes
Under Marriott Bonvoy’s program rules, a standard award generally covers the standard guest room, room tax, service charge, and eligible extra-person charges. It does not automatically cover incidentals, resort or destination fees, premium-room upgrades, parking, meals, rollaway beds, or other property charges. Review the final booking screen for the exact cash amount due.
Stay for 5, Pay for 4
When five consecutive eligible nights are booked with Marriott Bonvoy points under one reservation, Marriott’s “Stay for 5, Pay for 4” benefit charges points for four nights and makes the lowest-point night complimentary. The benefit applies to eligible standard-room redemptions and does not apply to Cash + Points bookings or Free Night Awards.
Pro Tip: Search one-night and five-night date patterns before transferring. Flexible dates and the Stay for 5, Pay for 4 benefit can reduce the total number of Bonvoy points you need.
How to Tell Whether the Transfer Is Good Value
Do not judge the transfer only by the 1:1 ratio. Membership Rewards and Bonvoy points are different currencies, so compare the value of the actual AC Hotel booking.
Redemption value per point = (cash price you avoid − cash fees still due) ÷ points required.
For example, suppose an AC Hotel costs $260 including room tax or 35,000 Bonvoy points, and the award has no additional mandatory cash fee. The redemption value is about 0.74 cents per Bonvoy point. With a 1:1 Amex transfer, that is also about 0.74 cents of hotel value per Membership Rewards point transferred.
Run the same calculation for your real dates. A transfer may be attractive when cash rates are high and the points rate is relatively low. It may be poor value when the cash rate is inexpensive, the award price is high, or substantial cash fees remain.
Compare These Options Before You Transfer
- Transfer to Marriott Bonvoy: Best when award availability is confirmed and the calculated value is competitive.
- Pay cash: May preserve flexible Membership Rewards points and can earn Bonvoy points on eligible paid charges.
- Book through Amex Travel: Eligible Card Members may be able to use points toward prepaid hotels, but compare the point requirement, hotel benefits, cancellation rules, and whether the booking qualifies for Bonvoy earnings or elite benefits.
- Use a Marriott Free Night Award: If you hold an eligible certificate, compare its maximum value and any allowed point top-up with the nightly award cost.
Tips for Earning and Using Amex Points
Membership Rewards points are earned through eligible spending on participating American Express cards. Earning rates and bonus categories depend on the specific card, so use the card’s current benefit terms rather than assuming every Amex card earns the same rate.
- Use bonus categories that match spending you would make anyway.
- Review targeted Amex Offers for eligible purchases, but do not spend more solely to earn points.
- Keep Membership Rewards points flexible until a specific redemption is ready.
- Transfer only the shortfall needed after accounting for your existing Bonvoy balance.
- Compare transfer bonuses carefully; a bonus improves the number of Bonvoy points received but does not guarantee a good hotel redemption.
- Use the cash-versus-points calculation instead of relying on a universal cents-per-point claim.
Maximizing the Value of Your Amex Points
The strongest strategy is to combine award availability, flexible dates, a reasonable points price, and a transfer made immediately before booking. Merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, Amex Travel bookings, and loyalty-partner transfers can produce different values, and the best option depends on the Card Member’s account, destination, dates, and goals.
For an AC Hotel stay, look for nights where the cash rate is unusually high compared with the Bonvoy rate. Also check nearby Marriott brands, because a different property may require fewer points or include amenities such as breakfast or parking that improve the total trip value.
Do not transfer extra points simply because a promotion is available. Membership Rewards points do not have a scheduled expiration while the eligible account remains in good standing, whereas Marriott Bonvoy points can expire after 24 consecutive months without qualifying activity under Marriott’s rules.
Troubleshooting Transfer or Booking Problems
The Marriott Account Will Not Link
Check the Bonvoy number, the selected Card Member, and the name attached to each account. Avoid opening another Marriott account just to bypass the problem. Contact Amex if the correct account still will not link, and ask Marriott to merge duplicate Bonvoy accounts if you already have more than one.
The Points Have Not Arrived
Review the Amex transfer confirmation and the estimated processing time shown when you submitted the request. Check both the Amex order history and Marriott account activity. If the estimate has passed, contact American Express first with the confirmation details.
The Award Price Increased
Flexible point rates can change while a transfer is processing. Search nearby dates, use Marriott’s flexible-date view, compare another AC Hotel or Marriott brand, or wait for a lower rate. The transferred points cannot be returned to Amex.
You Need to Cancel the AC Hotel Stay
If you cancel within the reservation’s permitted window, Marriott generally returns the points to your Bonvoy account. They return as Bonvoy points, not Membership Rewards points. Late cancellation or no-show penalties can still apply under the hotel’s policy.
Your Bonvoy Balance Is Close to Expiring
Marriott states that points can be forfeited after 24 consecutive months without qualifying activity. Check your account activity and complete an eligible earning or redemption activity before the deadline if needed.
For broader trip-planning inspiration, these travel gift ideas for women may also be useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Amex Membership Rewards points?
They are rewards earned through eligible purchases and other qualifying activity on participating American Express products. Depending on the account, points may be used for travel, statement credits, gift cards, shopping, or transfers to participating loyalty programs.
What is an AC Hotel?
AC Hotels is a design-focused Marriott brand with European-inspired food and beverage concepts. Properties participate in Marriott Bonvoy, although amenities, breakfast, parking, lounges, and fees vary by hotel.
Can Amex points be converted directly into AC Hotel points?
There is no separate AC Hotel points currency. Eligible Membership Rewards points transfer to Marriott Bonvoy, and Bonvoy points can then be redeemed for available AC Hotel award stays.
What is the Amex-to-Marriott transfer ratio?
For eligible U.S. Membership Rewards accounts, the standard ratio is currently 1,000 Amex points to 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Confirm the live rate in your Amex account because promotions and non-U.S. programs can use different terms.
How do I convert Amex points for an AC Hotel booking?
Find the AC Hotel award first, link your Marriott Bonvoy account in the Amex transfer portal, submit the required number of Membership Rewards points, wait for them to post, and book the award through Marriott.
How long does an Amex-to-Marriott transfer take?
Processing time can vary. American Express displays an estimated transfer time before submission. Wait until the points appear in Bonvoy before relying on them for a reservation, and allow extra time for account-verification problems.
Can I transfer Marriott Bonvoy points back to Amex?
No. Membership Rewards partner transfers are final. If you later cancel an eligible AC Hotel award within its cancellation rules, the points normally return to the Marriott Bonvoy account, not the Amex account.
Are AC Hotel award stays completely free?
Not always. Points generally cover the eligible room and specified taxes or service charges, but resort or destination fees, parking, meals, upgrades, incidentals, and other charges may remain payable in cash.
Is breakfast included at AC Hotels?
Breakfast is not a universal complimentary benefit at AC Hotels. Inclusion depends on the booked rate, property, destination, and any applicable Marriott Bonvoy elite benefit. Check the hotel page and reservation details.
Do Marriott Bonvoy points expire after transferring from Amex?
Transferred points become Marriott Bonvoy points and follow Marriott’s rules. Marriott can forfeit points after 24 consecutive months without qualifying account activity, subject to the program terms.
Sources
- American Express Membership Rewards Transfer Partners — current U.S. Marriott Bonvoy ratio and transfer portal.
- American Express: How to Transfer Membership Rewards Points — account-linking requirements and final-transfer warning.
- Marriott Bonvoy: How to Book Using Points — official website and app booking steps.
- Marriott Bonvoy: Flexible Point Redemption Rates — dynamic points pricing, award availability, and cancellations.
- Marriott Bonvoy Program Terms and Conditions — award inclusions, fees, Stay for 5 Pay for 4, and points-expiration rules.
- AC Hotels by Marriott — official brand features and food-and-beverage concepts.