Marriott Bonvoy has the monster footprint, and that is the whole game. The upside is options almost everywhere. The downside is that Bonvoy will happily let you burn a mountain of points on a stay that should have been cash.
Use certificates like coupons, not trophies
Free night certificates are only valuable when they replace a stay you would actually book. Do not drive across town, accept a worse hotel, or pay a pile of cash to top off a certificate just because it is expiring. That is not strategy. That is a coupon holding you hostage.
Check cash before points every time
Bonvoy pricing moves around. Before you redeem, divide the cash rate by the points cost and ask whether the value is embarrassing. If a $140 airport hotel wants 45,000 points, close the tab and pay cash.
Know the elite benefit holes
Breakfast, lounge access, resort fees, and suite upgrades depend on brand, property, and status level. Confirm the rules before booking. The worst time to learn that your benefit is fake is at the front desk with luggage in your hand.
Best play
Use Bonvoy for high-cash-rate stays, hard-to-book locations, strong certificate matches, and properties where elite benefits are clear. If the points price looks drunk, let someone else be the hero.