Marriott Offers a Free Night After Two Stays

If you’re a Marriott Rewards member, you probably received an email today announcing the program’s summer bonus. A promotion that began yesterday.

You might wonder why Marriott waited until June 2 to announce a promotion that began on June 1. I did. Doesn’t Marriott understand that travel requires planning? And that planning requires advance notice?

Although the promotion reviewed here is for free nights, that’s just the default offer—some Rewards members have been offered bonus points instead.

And while this has all the earmarks of one of Marriott’s recurring MegaBonus promotions, Marriott isn’t calling it that.

Further muddying the waters, Marriott has a second promotion in place during the same time period, awarding bonus miles instead of free nights.

By whatever name, and however ineptly communicated, the new offer is worth considering.

Offer Details

Marriott Rewards members who stay at any participating JW Marriott, EDITION, Autograph Collection, Renaissance, Marriott, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suite, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, or Ritz-Carlton hotel between June 1 and August 31 will earn a free night for each second paid stay, up to a maximum of two free nights.

The free nights may be redeemed at Marriott Rewards category 1-4 properties between June 5 and December 31.

Registration is required, by June 30, 2011.

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Deal or No Deal

For some, restricting the free night to Marriott’s cheaper properties will detract from this offer’s luster.

And requiring that registration be completed during the first month of a three-month promotion seems needlessly onerous.

Still, a free night after as few as two paid nights is always an attention-getter. And having the option of earning a free night or quadruple airline miles for Marriott stays throughout the summer is a definite plus for Rewards members.

If you’re not a Marriott loyalist, or won’t be making two or more stays over the next three months, be sure to consider other summer hotel promotions.

Reader Reality Check

How far in advance of a promotion’s start date would you like to be notified?

You can earn a free night with this Marriott offer, or quadruple miles through a separate (and non-combinable) Marriott offer. Your choice?

This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.