Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Linked to over 8,300 accommodations worldwide, Marriott Bonvoy is a fixture in the hotel loyalty world. Since Marriott International acquired Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, the program and its co-branded credit cards have undergone several revamps.
You may wonder which credit card is best for Marriott stays.
The answer depends on what you're looking for from a credit card, as there are options for virtually every type of Marriott guest, with varying annual fees and benefits.
Co-branded Marriott credit cards are great for Marriott stays if you want to enjoy elite status perks and elevated point earnings. Some Marriott cards even offer annual free nights you can redeem at thousands of Marriott properties worldwide. However, co-branded credit cards also have a significant downside:
Many carry high annual fees and earn a single currency with limited redemption options.
Some travelers may be better off using a transferable rewards card for Marriott stays. You'll earn bonus points on Marriott bookings and can use your rewards to book Marriott stays (or transfer them to over a dozen other partners). Plus, some of these non-Marriott-branded cards still offer automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status and other perks that make your stays more comfortable.
To help you decide which Marriott credit card is best for your needs, CNBC Select has broken them down into eight categories.
Best credit cards for Marriott stays
- Best for maximizing everyday spending: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
- Best for luxury travel perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Best for earning flexible travel rewards: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Best for elite status benefits: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Best for small business owners: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- Best for occasional Marriott guests: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
- Best for no annual fee: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
- Best for travel protections: Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ credit card
Best for maximizing everyday spending
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is a mid-tier hotel card that provides elite status and the opportunity to earn a Free Night Award each year.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Marriott Bonvoy® 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Terms apply. See www.marriott.com/loyalty/terms/default.mi for more information.
- Earn up to 18.5X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 25% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Gold Elite status.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year, receive 15 Elite Night Credits towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- Booking the trip is easy. Avoiding delays is next to impossible. If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up large purchases into monthly installments with a fixed fee. A fixed monthly fee is shown upfront so you'll know exactly how much you'll pay. Plus, you'll still earn rewards for the purchases you plan the way you usually do.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Who's this for? The new Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is great for those who want to maximize point earnings on everyday spending.
The card offers generous bonus points on common spending categories like dining and grocery spending, offering 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 4X points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000, then 2X points). Even if you're spending outside of these categories, you'll earn at least 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points per dollar spent.
While the $250 annual fee (see rates and fees) is steep, the card offers several perks to offset it. Cardmembers get automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status and 15 Elite Night Credits towards the next Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply. If you charge $15,000 worth of purchases to the card in a calendar year, you'll be rewarded with a Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Free Night Award valued up to 50,000 points. Plus, the card offers a unique benefit where you'll earn 1,000 bonus points on paid Marriott stays. Overall, this card can be worth it if you earn enough points and use the recurring perks.
Best for luxury travel perks
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Who's this for? The American Express Platinum Card® is ideal for those who frequently stay at higher-end Marriott Bonvoy properties. It offers complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status (as well as Hilton Honors Gold status; enrollment required) and other elite-like benefits through the Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection programs. Perks of these programs may include room upgrades, late check-out, early check-in, complimentary breakfast and property credits.
If you book a prepaid Marriott stay through American Express Travel, you'll also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent. Not only is this close to the earning rate on the Marriott-branded cards, but Membership Rewards points are generally worth more than Marriott Bonvoy® points since you have greater flexibility with how you can redeem them. While you can transfer your points to Marriott Bonvoy® at a 1:1 ratio, you can also transfer them to Delta SkyMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, JetBlue TrueBlue and more.
You'll also earn 5X points per dollar for flights booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 per calendar year), which beats all of the Marriott cards.
The biggest drawback is that this card has a steep $895 annual fee (see rates and fees) but there are a number of perks that help offset it, including up to $600 hotel credit (split up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually). Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay, up to $200 annual airline fee credit (enrollment required), $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal (Enrollment required), worldwide airport lounge access, *cell phone protection and various travel and purchase protections*.
Best for earning flexible travel rewards
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card may not seem like an obvious choice for Marriott stays, but it has several notable features. For starters, the card offers a $300 annual credit on Capital One Travel bookings. You can use this to knock $300 off a Marriott hotel booking.
The card also earns a generous 10X miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles per dollar spent on flights through the portal and 2X points on all other purchases. These miles can be transferred to partners like Air Canada, Choice Hotels or Wyndham or applied towards travel purchases (including Marriott bookings) at one cent each.
Depending on the cost of a Marriott stay, you might be better off redeeming Capital One miles for a stay rather than Bonvoy points. For example, an award night at the Le Metropolitan Paris can often be found from 55,000 Bonvoy points per night. Meanwhile, the lowest paid rate is around $379 per night with taxes. With the Venture X, you can redeem 37,900 Capital One miles for this stay while earning points and elite night credits through the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
Similar to the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program, Capital One will also soon launch the Premier Collection*, which will offer Venture X cardholders premium perks like $100 experience credit, daily breakfast for two and complimentary WiFi on every booking, plus other premium benefits like room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout, when available, at luxury properties. Plus, Premier Collection benefits can be stacked with hotel loyalty program benefits, meaning you can still earn Marriott Bonvoy® points and get elite benefits when applicable.
While the $395 annual fee may seem high, it can be offset by the up to $300 back in travel credits and 10,000 bonus miles you receive on each account anniversary. Other perks include airport lounge access, cell phone protection and more.
*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
Best for elite status benefits
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium hotel card that gives you high-level elite status, dining credits and a Free Night Award every year.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 50% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Who's this for? The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is for Bonvoy loyalists who want to upgrade their travel experience.
It recently underwent several changes, including an annual fee hike to $650 (see rates and fees). The first change is that cardholders now receive automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, while those seeking a higher tier will receive 25 Elite Night Credits each year (Limitations apply per member account). Platinum Elite status normally requires 50 nights per year and offers perks like free breakfast at some brands and upgrades to suites, making it quite valuable. Terms apply.
The $300 annual hotel credit has been replaced with up to $25 in monthly dining statement credits, while the annual Free Night Award is now valid for rooms costing up to 85,000 points (as opposed to 50,000), allowing you to book higher-end hotels. Plus, cardholders have the opportunity to earn a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit after spending $60,000 on the card in a calendar year. Only one Brilliant Earned Choice Award can be earned per calendar year.
Other benefits include airport lounge access with a Priority Pass™ Select Membership (enrollment required), a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit, various travel and purchase protections* and cell phone protection.
Beyond the large welcome bonus, cardholders can earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program, 3 points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Best for small business owners
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card gives business owners the opportunity to earn up to two free night awards every year and bonus points on common business expenses.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points and a $125 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $8,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/15/26.
- Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.
- 6x points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
- Terms apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Who's this for? If you want a business card that earns Marriott Bonvoy® points and provides discounts on paid stays, look no further than the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. Although there's a $125 annual fee (see rates and fees), it can be considered a tax write-off for your business and it's easy to get your money's worth thanks to its generous bonus categories, large welcome bonus, elite status benefits and discount on paid Marriott stays.
With this card, you'll get a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate and Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. You'll also receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or below 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at participating hotels in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees
The rewards rates are solid, too: Earn 6X points per dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy properties, 4X points at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, U.S. purchases for shipping, and wireless phone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and 2X Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card points on all other eligible purchases.
Best for occasional Marriott guests
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is useful if you're working toward higher levels of Marriott status because of its bonus elite night credits and the elite credit you can earn from spending with the card.
Rewards
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 spent
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card
Balance transfer fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Who's this for? If you're looking for a Marriott card with a more reasonable annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is an excellent alternative to the Bevy. It costs just $95 per year and the welcome offer: Earn up to 4 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points; certain hotels have resort fees) after qualifying purchases.
The Boundless card's reward categories are also generous, offering up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card and 3X points for the first $6,000 you spend at grocery stores, gas stations and on dining each year.
The biggest benefit of this card is that you'll also get a Free Night Award each year after your account anniversary, which you can use to redeem a one-night stay of up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points. You'll also have complimentary Marriott Silver Elite status and the opportunity to earn Gold Elite status after spending $35,000 each year, as well as 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of elite status per year, with the ability to earn one additional Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 you spend with the card.
Other benefits include no foreign transaction fees, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement and purchase protection when you pay for travel and other large purchases with the card.
Best for no annual fee
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has basic benefits and no annual fee, which makes it ideal if you occasionally stay with Marriott and don't need premium perks.
Rewards
- Earn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
- Earn 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services.
- Earn 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Who's this for? The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is for anyone who wants a no-annual-fee card with a few Marriott-specific perks.
The current welcome bonus allows cardmembers to earn 30,000 Bonus Points after qualifying purchases.
With this card, you'll earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card, for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
This card comes with 15 Elite Night Credits per year, which is enough to qualify for Silver Elite Status if you're starting from scratch or can help you accelerate to the next status tier. It also comes with many of the same travel and protection benefits as the $95-per-year Boundless card, such as travel insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay and lost luggage reimbursement and no foreign transaction fees.
Best for travel protections
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ credit card can be useful if you frequent Marriott hotels and resorts, but it lacks some of the benefits you might expect with a high annual fee, such as statement credit offers.
Rewards
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy Points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4X Marriott Bonvoy Points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Marriott Bonvoy Points on all other eligible purchases
Balance transfer fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Who's this for? The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ credit card is another new card to the Marriott line-up. At first sight, it's similar to the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, in terms of bonus categories, annual fee and perks.
The main difference between the two cards comes down to travel protections. The Chase-issued Bonvoy Bountiful offers trip delay reimbursement (up to $500), baggage delay (up to $100 per day for five days) and lost luggage insurance (up to $3,000).
Meanwhile, the Amex-issued Bonvoy Bevy provides *secondary rental car insurance, baggage insurance (up to $3,000), and trip delay insurance (up to $500). Overall, the Bountiful offers better travel protections, especially since secondary rental car coverage from the Bevy doesn't kick in unless your own insurance denies coverage.
Other perks such as the automatic Marriott Gold Elite status, 1,000 bonus points on paid Marriott stays and the opportunity to earn a Free Night Award worth up to 50,000 points by spending $15,000 are the same as the Bevy card.
FAQs
Is it worth getting a Marriott card?
It's worth getting a Marriott card if you stay at Marriott hotels frequently and want to earn and redeem more Bonvoy points. However, if you want greater flexibility in redeeming your rewards, you might be better off with a transferable rewards card like the Platinum Card® from American Express, which offers elevated rewards on hotel bookings and Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite status.
What is the best Marriott card?
The best Marriott card depends on what you're looking for. If you want a card packed with premium perks and don't mind the high annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card could be worthwhile. If you want to earn Marriott points without an annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is the best (and only) choice. And if you're looking for a business card that offers tremendous value, you might consider the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
Who should get a Marriott credit card?
You should get a Marriott credit card if you stay at Marriott hotels enough to benefit from its perks. Most Marriott cards include elite status and bonus points on Marriott bookings. The high-annual-fee cards even offer room discounts and travel credits. If you utilize these card perks, then Marriott cards are worth getting.
Who is eligible for a Marriott credit card?
Before applying for a Marriott credit card, you should consider the American Express 2-in-90 and Chase 5/24 rules. The Amex-focused rule means that you cannot sign up for more than two American Express credit cards within a 90-day period, while Chase's 5/24 rule means that you can't be approved for a Chase card if you've opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.
Additionally, there are limitations on who is eligible to earn the welcome bonuses if you currently have or had certain Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.
What credit score do I need for a Marriott card?
You need a good credit score to be approved for a Marriott credit card. A "good" credit score is in the 670-739 FICO range or 661-780 VantageScore. To maintain a good credit score, be sure to make your other credit payments on time and in full, keep a low credit utilization ratio and limit the number of credit applications you are submitting.
Bottom line
There are lots of great credit cards to help you maximize your Marriott stays. The best option comes down to your goals. If you're looking for a status boost, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a great choice with its Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite perk. And if you want to stock up on rewards and savings, the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card's 7% discount on Marriott stays and annual free night award could be useful.
But you don't even need a Marriott-branded card to get access to valuable perks. With the Platinum Card® from American Express and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you can earn valuable rewards and get elite-like benefits through the Fine Hotels + Resorts and Premier Collection programs.
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For rates and fees of Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
