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Earning status with a hotel or airline is only as good as the benefits and perks that come with it. One of the most valuable perks for select hotel elites in the Marriott Bonvoy® program is lounge access.
Marriott still has a number of hotels with lounges, and they give elites a nice place to relax, enjoy food and drinks, and take advantage of property-specific amenities. And now, Marriott has made it easier to find properties with lounges. A new web feature lets you filter for properties with a club lounge.
In this post, we’ll show you how to search for hotels with lounges, how to earn access, and what to do if you run into a closed lounge.
Page Contents
How to Find Marriott Properties With a Lounge
Filtering for Marriott hotels with lounge access is simple, but it only works on the website for now and not yet in the mobile app. After you search for a destination and dates, click the All Filters button and select Elite Member Lounge under the Amenities section.
In the example above, a Miami search shows that 9 of the 134 hotels have lounge access. For instance, the Miami Airport Marriott lists its M Club under Services when you view the property.
It’s that easy! Being able to quickly filter for properties with lounges makes it much easier to book and actually use this elite perk.
How to Access Marriott Lounges
Marriott M Clubs and Concierge Lounges can be a great way to enhance your stay. Whether you want a quiet place to work or just need a snack or drink during the day, these spaces are extremely convenient. Each property sets its own lounge hours and offerings, some more robust than others, but any extra freebies are always welcome.
Generally, the following brands have lounges:
- JW Marriott (excluding Resorts)
- Marriott Hotels (excluding Resorts)
- Sheraton
- Delta Hotels (excluding Resorts)
- Le Méridien
- Westin
- Autograph Collection (excluding Resorts)
- Renaissance Hotels (excluding Resorts)
- Courtyard (outside of the United States and Canada)
Marriott notes that “Lounge availability, including hours and days open, is determined by the Hotel and is subject to change.”
The good news is that any member with Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, or Ambassador Elite status gets lounge access, plus one guest staying in the same room.
Earning status through stays and credit cards
There are several ways to earn Marriott elite status that provides lounge access, but in short:
- 50 nights earns Platinum Elite
- 75 nights earns Titanium Elite
- 100 nights plus $23K in qualifying spend earns Ambassador Elite
Marriott credit cards can also help accelerate your path to status. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the only card that gives you immediate lounge access since it comes with Platinum Elite status.
Many other cards offer Elite Night Credits toward status, either automatically each year or through spending on the card. That means reaching Platinum status and unlocking lounge access isn’t as hard as you might think.
- Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when the stay is booked with a Qualifying Rate at hotels that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, subject to availability upon check-in.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- With Cell Phone Protection*, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. *Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 6X points on purchases at Marriott Properties
- 3X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Other ways to access Marriott lounges
Status is the main way to get into Marriott lounges, but it isn’t the only option. Some properties may let you purchase lounge access when you arrive, either for yourself or for additional guests.
In other cases, specific room types may include lounge access as part of the rate. For example, a room at the Zurich Marriott Hotel includes M Club access.
Compensation if the Marriott Lounge Is Closed
Showing up at a property expecting lounge access only to find it closed can be frustrating. The chart below outlines the alternatives and compensation you can expect in that situation. Since each property sets its own policies and lounge hours, it’s helpful to know what to expect in advance.
| Lounge Offer | Guest Compensation | |
|---|---|---|
| JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Delta Hotels, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels (Resorts are excluded for above brands) | United States and Canada: If lounge is closed or property does not have a lounge or approved alternative, property to offer daily continental breakfast in restaurant for Member +1 or Member can choose 750 Points per night of stay Europe: Properties without a lounge or approved alternative to offer daily breakfast in restaurant for Member +1 or Member can choose 750 Points per night of stay | $100 USD if no continental breakfast or continental breakfast alternative offered to Member (globally). |
| Courtyard (Outside U.S./CAN with lounge) (Resorts excluded) | If lounge closed, breakfast in the restaurant is offered. | N/A |
| Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin (Resorts are included for above brands) | No alternative offered when lounge closed. | N/A |
As you can see, there are decent alternatives when a lounge is closed…depending on the brand. Higher end hotels often provide breakfast or compensation in lieu of lounge access, which is nearly a 1:1 replacement. Some other brands, though, won't even offer alternatives at all.
Ultimately, having this knowledge in your back pocket makes it easier to stand your ground if a property tries to push back on the benefits your elite status allows. And this does happen.
Bottom Line
Having access to Marriott lounges, when your hotel has one, is a great perk of elite status. Platinum members and higher can use these lounges to grab snacks and drinks or simply relax. And Marriott’s new search filter makes it easier than ever to find and book properties with lounges. Just be sure you also know what to expect if the lounge is closed when you arrive.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
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