Did you know that Marriott will not only match a lower rate you find on another site, but they'll also give you 25% OFF that already lower price? It's called the Best Rate Guarantee program, and if you have a qualifying stay, it's a quick way to save an additional 25% off.

I'm going to walk you through exactly how the Marriott price match process works, how to fill out the claim form, and the mistakes that get most people denied, so you can file a successful claim on your very first try.

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What Is Marriott's Best Rate Guarantee?

Marriott's Best Rate Guarantee (sometimes called BRG) is Marriott's promise that you'll always find the lowest rate when you book directly through an official Marriott channel. That means booking through the Marriott Bonvoy website, the Marriott Bonvoy app, or Marriott Bonvoy customer service.

If you find a cheaper rate for the same Marriott hotel on a third-party site or comparison site (think Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking.com, or other public online travel agents), Marriott will match that lower price AND give you an additional 25% discount on top of it or 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points.

That price difference can add up FAST. Especially if you're a family and you might need two rooms.

A Quick Example: The Viv Hotel, Anaheim

Let's use this real-life example. I'm looking at planning a trip to Disneyland, and I want to book The Viv Hotel, Anaheim, a Tribute Portfolio hotel by Marriott. I pull up a Guest Room, 2 Queen on the Marriott Bonvoy website, and it's showing $191 a night, which comes out to $765 total for 4 nights with taxes and fees included.

Then I hop over to a comparison website (I used Getawaytoday.com) for search, and find the exact same room type, same dates, same cancellation policy for $583.88 total (taxes included). That's already $181 less than Marriott's price.

But here's where it gets REALLY good. I can then submit a Best Rate Guarantee claim, and Marriott doesn't just match the $583.88. They take another 25% off that already lower rate. Now my total drops to about $437.91.

That's $327 in savings on a single hotel stay. For filling out a simple form that takes five minutes. I'll take that deal every single time.

One important note here: the comparison rate MUST be a publicly available rate. It can NOT be a rate that's packaged with theme park tickets, activities, or any other add-ons. I used Getawaytoday.com, and you CAN price-match from sites like this, but it has to be hotel only. If you bundle it with tickets, it won't be accepted. However, a straight hotel room rate, even one with a promotional discount like a free night, is fair game as long as it's public, not bundled with anything else, and is the same room, occupancy, and cancellation policy. This 4th-night free promotion is room-only, so it works.

How to Submit a Marriott Price Match Claim (Step by Step)

Here's exactly how to file your claim and get that cheaper price:

1. Book Your Room on Marriott.com First

You need an existing reservation booked through a direct Marriott channel before you can submit a claim. Book through the Marriott Bonvoy website, the mobile app, or by calling Marriott's central reservation system. You must be a Marriott Bonvoy member to submit a claim, but membership is free.

2. Find the Lower Rate on Another Site

Search for the same Marriott property on public third-party websites and booking sites. You're looking for the same room type, same reservation dates, same number of guests, and the same cancellation policy. This part is SO important, and it's where most people mess up. More on that in a minute. It also must be a public site that a Marriott representative can check. So if your travel agent can find a lower price but that rate isn't publicly accessible, that won't work. It also won't work if you're comparing competing prices from a place like Costco Travel, where you have to be a member to get the deal. It has to be something that is open to anyone.

Here are some examples of what sites do work, although this is in no way comprehensive:
Booking.com
Hotels.com
Expedia.com
Priceline.com
Agoda.com

3. Fill Out the Best Rate Guarantee Claim Form

Go to Marriott's Best Rate Guarantee claim form. It's notoriously hard to find, so I've linked it here for you. You'll need to log into your account to access it fully.

You'll need to enter:

• Your reservation confirmation number
• The competing lower rate you found (include all info like taxes etc...)
• The URL of the third-party website showing the cheaper rate
• The hotel brand and property name

Make sure you have the correct information ready before you start.

PRO TIP: Screenshot the comparison rate on the other site as backup in case it changes! This has saved my bacon more than once.

4. Submit Within 24 Hours of Booking

This is a firm deadline. You MUST submit your price match guarantee request within 24 hours of booking your original Marriott reservation and at least 24 hours before your check-in date. Miss that window and your claim won't be eligible, no matter how much lower the other rate is.

I usually will do a quick search of all of the public third-party sites after I book my room through Marriott to just see what's out there. I would say about 20% to 25% of the time, I am able to find something lower, and I am able to price match. Often, Marriott really does have the lowest price; in that case, that's great, and I move on. But when I can find a lower price on a third-party site, I jump on it (and do a little fist pump, because hello, an extra 25% off!).

5. Wait for Your Claim Status

Marriott typically reviews claims quickly, sometimes within a few hours. Usually it's within 24 hours. You'll get an email confirming whether your claim was approved. If it's a successful claim, the lower rate with the 25% discount will be applied to your reservation automatically.

What Qualifies (and What Doesn't)

This is where people get tripped up, so pay attention.

Your claim MUST match on ALL of these:

• Same Marriott hotel property
• Same room type and bed type
• Same reservation dates
• Same number of guests
• Same cancellation policies (this is the big one people miss)
• Make sure you take into account taxes as well

These rates are NOT eligible:

• Rates where the cancellation policy doesn't match your Marriott booking. For example, if your Marriott booking is refundable, the competing rate must be refundable as well. You can't submit a competing rate that is non-refundable. But you CAN submit a non-refundable competing rate if your Marriott booking is non-refundable. In other words, just make sure the cancellation policies match!
• Group rates, corporate rates, AAA rates, or other special negotiated rates
• Package rates that bundle flights, car rentals, or other extras
• Member rates or loyalty program rates on other sites
• Rates that require specific residency or other restrictions

The cancellation policy piece is what trips up most people. If the lower rate you found is a non-refundable rate and your Marriott booking is refundable, those are considered different rates, and your claim will be denied.

Which Marriott Properties Are Eligible?

The Best Rate Guarantee applies across the entire Marriott hotel chain. That includes popular hotel brands like Marriott Hotels, Westin, Sheraton, Courtyard, Residence Inn, W Hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott, and Design Hotels (Design Hotels get 20% off if a cheaper rate is found). If it's part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, it's eligible.

Tips for Getting Your Claim Approved

After doing this multiple times, here are my best tips:

Compare apples to apples. Spend an extra minute verifying the room type matches EXACTLY. A "King Room" and a "King Room with City View" are not the same, and Marriott will deny your claim for that.

Act fast. You only have 24 hours of booking to submit. I like to search different sites right after (or sometimes even before) I book so it's fresh.

Use well-known comparison websites. Stick to major online travel agents and booking sites. Rates from obscure or unreliable sites may not be accepted.

Screenshot everything. Rates on third-party sites can change by the minute. Capture the lower rate with the date, room type, and cancellation policy visible.

Check Marriott Bonvoy elite member rates too. If you're a Marriott Bonvoy member with elite status (like Marriott Platinum or higher), make sure you're comparing against your member rate, not the standard rate. Elite members sometimes already have a lower rate that beats the third-party price.

Is It Worth the Effort?

Absolutely. The claim form takes about five minutes to fill out, and the potential savings are significant. Even a small price difference gets amplified by that 25% discount. So if you find a cheaper rate, grab all the info you need, fill out the form, and go for it!