We Used Marriott Points for a Pink Concert at Madison Square Garden — And It Was One of Our Favorite Redemptions

That is what makes this program fun. Some redemptions are fixed-price experiences, while others are auctions, so the value is not always as simple as comparing points to a hotel cash rate.

With something like this, the better question is often:

Would we have paid cash for suite tickets to Pink at Madison Square Garden?

Probably not.

Would we use points for it?

Absolutely.

That is where Marriott Bonvoy Moments can be a great fit. It can turn points into access, not just savings.

We have used Marriott Bonvoy Moments for several experiences over the years, including concert suites, sporting events, and even a last-minute Hawaii package that included a hotel stay and Carrie Underwood tickets. But this Pink concert at Madison Square Garden was one of the easiest examples of why these redemptions can be so memorable.

For this one, Melanie and I each used our own Marriott account.

Each account got two tickets.

That gave us four total tickets in the Marriott suite at Madison Square Garden.

The original plan was to take two nieces. Since one got sick and could not go, it ended up being the three of us. We were disappointed she missed it, but the experience itself was still incredible.

And because it was in a suite, it felt completely different than just buying regular concert tickets.

Jon also had a little fun with Nina on the way in.

Nina had no idea we were going to be in a suite. So when we headed toward the VIP entrance, Jon let her think — at least for a little bit — that we were somehow sneaking in somewhere we were not supposed to be.

Was it a little mean?

Maybe.

Was it funny watching her try to figure out what was happening?

Absolutely.

That made the reveal even better. She thought we were just going to a concert. She did not know the points had turned it into a suite experience with a separate entrance, included food and drinks, and a completely different view of the night.

That is really the whole point of these redemptions for us.

We are not trying to pretend every points redemption needs to be the absolute highest mathematical value. Sometimes the value is:

• A memory with family.
• A concert you are excited about.
• A fun surprise.
• A VIP entrance.
• A suite with food and drinks included.
• A night that feels completely different from what you would normally book.

This checked all of those boxes.

Even if you go into the night planning to “just grab a little something,” that can turn into a very expensive snack run fast.

Having food and drinks included made the whole experience feel more relaxed. We were not constantly thinking about what things cost. We could just enjoy the night, hang out in the suite, and take in the concert.

That matters.

Sometimes points do not just save money. They reduce friction.

They make the night easier.

They make the experience feel more complete.

The Trustfall Tour was a North American arena tour, separate from Pink’s larger Summer Carnival stadium tour, and Madison Square Garden hosted two Trustfall Tour dates in November 2023. The arena setting made a lot of sense for the show we saw.

Pink is not just singing through a setlist. She is performing a full production.

She flew around Madison Square Garden, performed aerial acrobatics, and somehow still sounded great while doing it. It is one thing to know Pink is known for that kind of performance. It is another thing to watch it live inside Madison Square Garden from a suite.

It was impressive.

It was fun.

And it was one of those concerts where you leave thinking, “Okay, that was worth the hype.”

Her daughter also came out and sang, and she was really good. That made the night feel even more personal and memorable. It was not just a big arena concert. It had one of those smaller moments that people remember.

For us, it was the perfect kind of points redemption: a big experience, a family memory, and something we probably would not have bought the same way with cash.

Could we have tried to calculate the exact cash value of the suite tickets, food, drinks, and VIP entrance? Probably.

But that is not really how we think about experiences like this.

For us, the better question is:

Would we have paid cash for suite tickets to Pink at Madison Square Garden?

Probably not.

Would we use points for it?

Absolutely.

That is the difference.

Points can open doors to things we would hesitate to buy with cash. And when those points are used for something memorable, especially with family, the value can be much bigger than the math alone.

This is why we like Marriott Bonvoy Moments as part of a broader points strategy. We would not use all of our Marriott points this way. Hotel stays still matter. Free nights still matter. Practical redemptions still matter.

But every once in a while, using points for an experience can be the better story.

And this was a really good story.

That made the trip feel less like a quick concert run and more like a family trip with a big event built into it.

That is one of the things we are trying to get better at recognizing.

A trip does not have to be built around one perfect itinerary.

Sometimes the best trips combine a few different things:

• Time with family.
• One big memorable event.
• A couple of simple first-time experiences.
• A few meals you still remember.

That was this trip.

It is one of those classic tourist things that still feels worth doing. The views are great, the bridge itself is beautiful, and it gives you that very specific “we are definitely in New York City” feeling.

Would we do it every trip? Probably not.

Are we glad we finally did it? Definitely.

It was a good reminder that even in a city we have visited before, there are still firsts waiting for us.

The deli traces its roots back to the late 1800s on New York’s Lower East Side, eventually becoming Katz’s Delicatessen in the early 1900s. That history is part of what makes eating there feel like a New York experience, not just a meal.

It is also famously tied to pop culture, especially the “I’ll have what she’s having” scene from When Harry Met Sally. Even if you have never been there, there is a good chance you have seen or heard of that moment.

For us, Katz’s was one of those places we were glad to finally try. It is busy, touristy, iconic, chaotic, and very New York.

Sometimes those places are overhyped.

Sometimes they are worth doing once.

Katz’s felt like one of those classic first-time NYC stops we were happy to check off.

The original P.J. Clarke’s location dates back to the 1880s, and the restaurant has become known for its New York saloon feel, burgers, and long history. It is one of those places that feels like it has been around for a while because it has.

For us, Clarke’s was exactly the kind of place we enjoy finding in New York.

• A good pub.
• A little history.
• A place with character.
• A stop that felt easy and still memorable.

We do not need every stop to be fancy. In fact, a good pub with character is usually more our speed anyway.

Sometimes points are best used for access.

• Access to a suite.
• Access to a VIP entrance.
• Access to an experience that feels special.
• Access to something you might not have paid cash for, but would absolutely enjoy if points could make it happen.

That is what Marriott Bonvoy Moments did for us with this Pink concert.

It turned Marriott points into a night at Madison Square Garden with family, food, drinks, a suite view, and a concert we still talk about.

That is real value.

Even if it does not fit perfectly into a spreadsheet.

That does not mean every Marriott Bonvoy Moments redemption is automatically a good deal. Some experiences require a lot of points. Some auctions can get expensive. Some events may not be worth it unless they are truly exciting to you.

But when the event fits your life, your interests, your travel plans, and your points balance, it can be a great way to use rewards differently.

Our advice is simple:

• Do not ignore experiences.
• Do not assume hotel nights are always the best use.
• Do not use points just because something sounds flashy.
• But when the right experience pops up, especially one that creates a memory with people you care about, it might be worth considering.

For us, Pink at Madison Square Garden was worth it.

Not because it was the “perfect” redemption.

Because it was the kind of redemption we still remember.