🥳 Booking a Pad for Your Pal: The Ultimate Marriott Room Gift Guide! 🏨
Hey, travel junkies and good samaritans! So, you’re feeling extra generous and want to hook up a buddy, a family member, or maybe even your arch-nemesis (for a laugh, obviously) with a sweet stay at a Marriott property? That's awesome! But hold your horses, because booking a room for someone else at the hotel giant that is Marriott can sometimes feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while riding a unicycle. It’s totally doable, though! You just need the 411 on their policies to make sure your friend doesn't get shut down at the front desk like a bad reality TV contestant. Get ready to be the MVP of gift-giving, because we’re breaking down the steps to make this happen, whether you're paying with cold hard cash or those precious Marriott Bonvoy® points.
Step 1: The Paid Reservation Playbook (Cash Money Moves)
If you're dropping the dough (but not actually staying), this is your battle plan. It’s way smoother than trying to get a decent selfie in bad lighting.
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| Can You Book A Marriott Room For Someone Else |
1.1 Don't Log In! Seriously!
This is major. If you're paying for a non-member friend or family member, make the booking without being logged into your Marriott Bonvoy account. Why? Because if your name is the only one on the reservation and you don't show up, they might assume you're pulling a fast one for the elite night credits (which you generally won't earn anyway, as the staying guest gets the credit). Keep it clean. Proceed with the reservation like a secret agent.
1.2 Guest Info is King
When you get to the part where you enter the guest's name, make sure you put your friend’s name as the primary guest. This is who the hotel is expecting! If they have a Marriott Bonvoy account, they can usually add their member number at check-in, but the main name must be the person checking in. Don’t mess this up, or your pal might be sleeping in the lobby!
Tip: Pause if your attention drifts.
1.3 The Credit Card Conundrum (The Authorization Form)
You've booked the room, but you're not there. Who's paying? Since you're using your card and the hotel needs to be sure it's legit, this is where you need to get a Credit Card Authorization Form. This form lets the hotel charge your card without you being physically present.
Pro-Tip: As soon as you hit 'Book,' call the hotel directly. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Tell them the situation: "I just booked a room for [Friend's Name] on [Dates] and I need to fill out a Credit Card Authorization Form." They will email it to you.
The Hustle: Fill out the form, making sure to indicate exactly what you're paying for (room and tax only? Incidentals too?). Sign it, attach a copy of the front and back of your ID and the credit card, and send it back ASAP. This is non-negotiable for a smooth check-in.
Step 2: The Bonvoy Point Power Play (Gifting a Reward Night)
Using your hard-earned points to gift a stay? High five! This is one of the coolest uses of those points, but Marriott has some strict rules on this one, so pay close attention. It's a bit of a maze, but the free night is the cheese at the end.
2.1 The Initial Reservation – Still in Your Name
First, you need to book the stay using your points or a Free Night Award. Go online or use the app, search for the hotel, and select the 'Use Points/Awards' option. The reservation will automatically be in your name. That’s okay! It's just the first step.
QuickTip: Use CTRL + F to search for keywords quickly.
2.2 Call for the Gift Swap
You cannot change the primary guest name on an Award Redemption Stay online. You gotta dial in.
The Call: Ring up Marriott Bonvoy Member Support (not the hotel directly) and let them know you need to process a "Gifted Award Redemption Stay."
The Deets: Be ready to give them your name and Marriott Bonvoy membership number, as well as the full name of the person who will be staying (the recipient). They'll make an official note and change the name in their system, allowing the recipient to check in without you.
A heads-up: Officially, the recipient will not receive your Elite status benefits (like free breakfast, lounge access, or an upgrade). Also, you won't get the Elite Night Credit for their stay. It's a clean break, status-wise.
2.3 The ‘Second Guest’ Workaround (The Sneaky Move)
Okay, so the official route is a pain. Many seasoned travelers have a clever workaround for a smooth experience (especially for a short stay where you don't mind not having the gifted stay noted).
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Book it for yourself (with points or cash).
Add your friend as the 'Second Guest' on the reservation during the online booking process.
Crucial Step: Call the hotel directly a day or two before check-in. Ask the front desk to move your friend's name to the primary reservation holder and include a note that you, the Bonvoy member, will not be arriving. This isn't the official gifting process, but most hotels are cool with making a note for a trusted guest to check in first.
Step 3: Confirmation and Chill
You've navigated the booking and authorization labyrinth. Time to make sure your gift is a slam dunk.
3.1 Double Check the Receipt
Tip: Focus on sections most relevant to you.
Look at the email confirmation. Is your friend's name listed? Is the reservation status confirmed? If you followed Step 2.2, your friend's name should be the primary name on the reservation now. If you followed the sneaky move in 2.3, your friend's name should be listed as a confirmed additional guest.
3.2 A Head’s Up for Your Homie
Give your friend all the reservation details, including the confirmation number and the name the reservation is under. Tell them to bring a photo ID and their own credit card for any incidental charges (unless you authorized all of that back in Step 1.3). Seriously, they need to know the drill! They should be prepared for the hotel to ask for a credit card for incidentals, even if you pre-paid the room.
FAQ Questions and Answers
How to book a Marriott room for someone else without them knowing?
You can absolutely book a surprise stay! Follow the instructions in Step 1 (for paid stays) or Step 2 (for point redemptions). The key is to make sure their name is on the reservation and, for paid stays, that the Credit Card Authorization form is fully processed so they don't have to pay when they arrive. Keep it a secret until the big reveal!
QuickTip: Slowing down makes content clearer.
Can I add a second guest to my existing reservation if I can't travel?
Yes, you can add an additional guest online or via the Marriott Bonvoy App. However, if you are not traveling and they are the only ones arriving, it's best to call the hotel directly a day or two before check-in. Ask them to put a note on the reservation authorizing the additional guest to check in first, since you will be a no-show.
Will my friend get my Marriott Bonvoy Elite benefits if I book for them?
Officially, no, when you process a "Gifted Award Redemption Stay" (Step 2.2) or book a paid stay in their name without being present. Elite benefits are generally only for the member who is staying in the room. If you use the 'second guest' workaround (Step 2.3), it's at the individual hotel's discretion, and sometimes they'll unofficially extend the benefits. Don't count on it, though!
What if I need to use my Free Night Award for someone else?
A Free Night Award is an Award Redemption Stay, so you must follow the formal gifting process outlined in Step 2.2: book the room in your name online/app, then call Marriott Bonvoy Member Support to officially transfer the reservation to the recipient's name as a Gifted Award Stay.
Do I have to pay extra to change the name on a Marriott reservation?
Generally, there is no fee to officially change the name on a paid reservation to another primary guest, provided you call the hotel and arrange payment via a Credit Card Authorization Form. For Award Stays, there is also no fee to process a Gifted Award Redemption Stay through Marriott Bonvoy Member Support. The only fee might come from a rate change if you modify dates or room type.
Would you like me to find the worldwide phone number for Marriott Bonvoy Member Support to help you with your booking?
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