Best Rate Guarantees: Save Money or Earn Extra Points on Hotel Stays

Best rate guarantees are offered by the world’s large hotel groups to entice travellers to book directly with the hotel chain instead of via third-party sites.

By successfully taking advantage of a best rate guarantee or price-matching policy, you can easily unlock hundreds of dollars in savings on your hotel stays, all while receiving any benefits associated with your elite status.

In this article, we’ll explore how the major best rate guarantee programs work and how to use them to your advantage.

Marriott’s Best Rate Guarantee

Marriott has a generous Best Rate Guarantee program. Not only will Marriott match any eligible rate found, you’ll additionally have a choice of a further 25% discount on your booking (20% discount for Design Hotels properties) or 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Marriott’s Best Rate Guarantee applies to all Marriott branded hotels, with some exclusions. Some specific properties that don’t participate are:

• The Ritz-Carlton Residences
• The Ritz-Carlton Club
• Marriott, Sheraton, and Westin Vacation Club properties
• Marriott’s Grand Residence Club
• All-inclusive properties
• Homes & Villas by Marriott International
• Elegant Hotels

In order to take advantage of Marriott’s Best Rate Guarantee, you’ll need to follow three simple steps:

1. Make a reservation with Marriott directly
2. Find a lower rate elsewhere
3. Submit a Best Rate Guarantee claim form

1. Make an eligible booking

Qualifying reservations must be booked through one of the following channels:

• Online at Marriott.com
• Through the Marriott Bonvoy app
• Over the phone by calling Marriott
• Directly with the hotel

You won’t be able to make a booking with any other third-party website and then submit a Best Rate Guarantee. Only bookings made through official Marriott channels are eligible.

2. Find a lower rate

Next, you’ll only need to find a lower rate elsewhere. Even though you aren’t required to actually book the lower rate, it may make sense to do so if it’s refundable, just in case your claim is denied.

(Note that Marriott will not reimburse you for any costs incurred due to cancellation of a reservation.)

Marriott may decline your claim if the lower rate you found does not meet specific criteria. The lower rate must be for:

• The exact same hotel
• The exact same room type
• The exact same date(s)
• A eligible rate found on a non-Marriott website or non-Marriott app

There are many ineligible rates…