Once in awhile, you can find a Marriott hotel gem. And if it's a category 5, that's a bonus. Welcome to the Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach near Wilmington, NC. This hotel brands itself as the only Marriott on the North Carolina coast and it is right on the beach. In fact, when this hotel was built 17 years ago, they put all the rooms on the beach side with balconies and views of the ocean. So smart!
This pic above is the view from our 6th floor room. Pretty sweet.
Since it's a category 5, you can use your free night certificates for it except during peak pricing. Regular rates range from $149-$410 or 40,000 points. Rooms include two queens or a king and sofa bed, fridge and coffee maker. No breakfast since it's a Courtyard, however, there is a bistro in the lobby that serves Starbucks coffee. There are also plenty of restaurants within walking distance. There is also a supermarket less than a mile away.
There is a place next door where you can rent boogie boards, surfboards, wetsuits, paddleboards, kayaks and bikes. Havanas and Kates are right across the street and offer amazing dinner and breakfast.
This carnivorous plant is native to this area and in fact, it's the only place in the world that the plant can live. There are cameras in the park to protect it from poachers. We searched and couldn't find it. But it's a beautiful park located on the banks of the Cape Fear river.
If you don't have a Marriott credit card yet, you have a few options.
- Brilliant - 125,000 bonus offer for a $5,000 minimum spend, $450 annual fee, $300 Marriott hotel credit, $200 restaurant credit, Priority Pass, 6x at Marriott hotels, 3x on travel purchases.
- Boundless - 75,000 bonus offer for a $3,000 minimum spend, $95 annual fee, 6x points at Marriott hotels, 2x on travel purchases, 2x points on everything else, FREE night certificate on your anniversary worth 35,000 points.
- Bold - 30,000 bonus for a $1,000 minimum spend, $0 annual fee, 3x points at Marriott hotels, 2x on travel purchases, 1x points on everything else.
If you decide to apply for a Marriott credit card, please consider using my referral link. You get a great bonus offer and I get a little something to help keep this blog going and continue finding great deals for you.