How I Maximized 5 Free Marriott Nights for Luxury Hotels in Peru

The most valuable welcome bonus offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card is easily when it features 5 Free Night Awards.

This lucrative bonus offer typically comes back once or twice a year, and when I finally saw it a couple of months ago, I knew it was time to book the Peru trip my family and I had been dreaming about.

This November, my family and I will embark on a meaningful, long-awaited adventure to explore Valle Sagrado (the Sacred Valley), discover the magic of Cusco, and witness the wonder of Machu Picchu for the first time together.

Thanks to this single credit card welcome offer, I’m saving on some of Peru’s most luxurious Marriott properties. Here’s why I think this might be one of my best redemptions yet.

Marriott Boundless Card’s Welcome Offer

Here’s the current, publicly available welcome offer on the Marriott Boundless card:

However, it can get even better. When I applied for the Marriott Boundless card, the limited-time welcome offer was 5 Free Night Awards, each worth up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, after spending $5,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. This is easily one of the best bonus offers for this travel credit card with a $95 annual fee.

These awards can be topped up an additional 15,000 points per night, allowing you to book hotels that cost up to 65,000 points per night. What makes this bonus offer so valuable is its flexibility. You don’t have to use the nights consecutively, and they’re valid at eligible Marriott properties worldwide.

For someone like me who enjoys planning thoughtful trips and getting the most value out of every point, Peru was the perfect destination to maximize these certificates because most of the luxury Marriott hotels I was eyeing cost around 50,000 points per night.

Booking 5 Nights at Luxury Hotels

With 7 total nights in Peru, my strategy is to use the 5 Free Night Awards in the Sacred Valley and Cusco. For the first 2 nights in Lima, I plan to pay cash or use flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards.

3 Nights in the Sacred Valley: $2,000 Value

The Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Valle Sagrado, has been on my radar for nearly a decade. I had it booked once before, but had to cancel. This time, I’m determined to make it happen.

As one of Marriott’s top luxury properties in Peru, it’s regularly named among the best hotels not just in the country but all of South America. Highlights include views of the Andes, private train access to Machu Picchu, a beautiful indoor-outdoor pool, and elevated Peruvian cuisine.

In November, cash rates can hit $400 to $600 per night, and award rates typically range from 50,000 to 60,000 Bonvoy points.

The cash rate totals more than $2,000 for our 3-night stay in a Deluxe Room with 2 queen beds.

With average cash rates around $500 per night, redeeming a 50k Free Night Award gets you nearly 1 cent per point — well above the 0.7 cents we typically value Marriott Bonvoy points at.

2 Nights in Cusco: $600 Value

After visiting Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley, we’ll spend our final 2 nights in Cusco — the historic capital of the Inca Empire and a city that truly feels magical. Since we’ll need to fly back to Lima for our return flight to Miami (MIA), it’s the most convenient place to wrap up the trip.

For Cusco, I’m still deciding between 2 hotels: the JW Marriott El Convento Cusco or Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Cusco. Both are housed in restored colonial buildings full of history and charm, and either would be an excellent base for exploring the city.

In November, award rates for both hotels typically range from 50,000 to 60,000 points per night, with cash rates starting around $300. My remaining 2 Free Night Awards should cover the stay, likely with just a small top-up of a few thousand points.

What I love about these properties is how they blend modern comfort with authentic Peruvian heritage. After a few days in the Sacred Valley, it’ll be the perfect way to wind down while staying immersed in the local culture.

2 Nights in Lima: Cash or Other Points

When it comes to Lima, there’s no shortage of hotel options. From the stylish JW Marriott Hotel Lima overlooking the Pacific to newer properties like the AC Hotel Lima Miraflores, Marriott has plenty of excellent options in the city.

I’m staying in Miraflores because it’s vibrant, walkable, and packed with restaurants, shops, and beautiful parks — plus it feels safer and more convenient for exploring compared to other districts. For that reason, I’m not booking the Hyatt Centric Lima San Isidro, even though I have World of Hyatt Globalist status. Miraflores just suits our trip vibe better.

Since Lima tends to be more affordable in cash, and I only have 5 Free Night Awards, I’ll probably pay cash or redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for the other 2 nights. This approach gives me more flexibility and allows me to save my other hotel points for other high-value redemptions.

Total Value From 1 Welcome Offer

When you look at the numbers, the value I’ll receive from the 5 Free Night Awards is exceptional:

• Tambo del Inka: $500 per night × 3 nights = $2,000 value
• Cusco Marriott: $300 per night × 2 nights = $600 value
• Total redemption value: ~$2,600

Considering each Free Night Award is worth up to 50,000 points, this welcome offer is equivalent to scoring 250,000 Marriott Bonvoy points — or roughly $1,750 in value based on our valuations.

That’s exceptional for a card with just a $95 annual fee. In my case, those 5 nights translate to more than $2,500 in luxury hotel stays.

And the value doesn’t stop at the room. Thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy elite status, we’ll enjoy benefits like late checkout, potential room upgrades (when available), and bonus points during our stay.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve got Marriott Free Night Awards or are considering applying for the Marriott Boundless card when the bonus offer comes back, it’s worth looking for stays where the cash rates are high but still fall within (or just above) the award limit of 50,000 points per night.

Peru turned out to be the perfect example of that kind of sweet spot for me. Ultimately, it’s about making points work for the experiences that matter most to you, and this trip ticks all those boxes for me.