Chase Ultimate Rewards 55% Marriott Transfer Bonus: The Category 6-7 Sweet Spots That Beat Direct Bonvoy Rates After May 20 Devaluation

Chase is running a 55% transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy through June 30, 2026. That turns every Ultimate Rewards point into 1.55 Bonvoy points, effective immediately after the 65% early-bird window closed on May 15.

Hyatt’s new award chart went live on May 20, complete with higher peak pricing and a shift toward dynamic elements. Suddenly Marriott looks less like the program you avoid and more like a legitimate luxury alternative for the right properties.

This bonus closes the usual cents-per-point gap. Normal UR-to-Bonvoy transfers deliver mediocre value. At 1:1.55, you’re looking at 1.2–1.5 cents per UR point on strong redemptions—competitive with many 1:1 partners when you pick Category 6 and 7 hotels where cash rates spike this summer.[[1]](https://frequentmiler.com/chase-ultimate-rewards-offering-65-transfer-bonus-to-marriott/)[[1]](https://frequentmiler.com/chase-ultimate-rewards-offering-65-transfer-bonus-to-marriott/)
The bonus works on points earned from any Ultimate Rewards card, not just Sapphire or Ink products. Transfer in 1,000-point increments; the extra Bonvoy points land within a week.

Category 6–7 Properties That Actually Deliver

Focus on Category 6 and 7 hotels in Europe and Asia where summer cash rates comfortably exceed $400–$700 per night. These are the spots where transferred points beat buying Bonvoy points outright (currently around 0.8–1.0 cents each after fees) or paying cash.

In Europe, look at properties like the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa (private island, often Category 6 at 50,000 points standard). Peak summer nights can run €600–900 cash. At the 55% bonus, you’re spending roughly 32,258 UR points for that night—about 1.9–2.8 cents per UR when cash rates hit the high end.[[2]](https://www.luxurytraveldiary.com/2025/07/10-best-marriott-hotels-in-europe/)
Pine Cliffs Hotel, a Luxury Collection Resort in the Algarve, Portugal, frequently prices in the Category 6–7 range. Cliff-top views, solid restaurants, and summer rates that laugh at €500+. Same math applies: your transferred points stretch further here than at many devalued Hyatt properties.[[3]](https://traveler.marriott.com/members/europe-resorts-redeem-marriott-bonvoy-points/)
Asia offers even stronger outsized value. JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay in Vietnam and Vana Belle on Koh Samui routinely land in Category 6 or low Category 7 territory during shoulder summer weeks. Cash rates of $500–$800 make the effective redemption 1.5–2.2 cents per UR after the bonus. These feel like proper luxury without the points fatigue you get from chasing Maldives overwater villas.[[4]](https://traveler.marriott.com/members/asia-pacific-resorts-redeem-marriott-bonvoy-points/)
Dynamic pricing means exact point costs fluctuate, but Category 6 still hovers around 40k–60k and Category 7 around 50k–70k for most dates. Check specific summer availability now—Memorial Day through August fills fast at these properties.[[5]](https://awardtravelfinder.com/award-charts/marriott-bonvoy)
The Math That Matters

Buying Bonvoy points usually costs about 1.1–1.3 cents each after promotions. Your effective cost with the 55% bonus is roughly 0.65 cents per Bonvoy point (assuming 2.0 cents per UR). That’s a clear win on any night where the cash rate beats 1.3 cents per point.

Many of these Category 6–7 hotels deliver 1.5+ cents per Bonvoy point in high season. The gap is real, and it’s temporary. After June 30 the bonus disappears and Marriott transfers go back to being a last-resort move for most travelers.[[1]](https://frequentmiler.com/chase-ultimate-rewards-offering-65-transfer-bonus-to-marriott/)
Don’t transfer speculatively. These programs change faster than airline schedules. Identify specific dates and properties first, confirm availability, then pull the trigger.

The window is narrow. Hyatt just got more expensive. Marriott’s summer peak is approaching. Transfer by mid-June at the latest to lock in summer stays before rates climb further or availability vanishes.

Action item: Open Marriott.com, search your target Category 6 and 7 properties for July or August dates, note the exact point cost and cash rate, then transfer only what you need from your Chase Ultimate Rewards account before June 30. The math works right now—don’t let it expire unused.