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Best Hotel Credit Cards for Marriott Loyalists in 2024
Updated: October 3, 2024
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American Express and Chase provide credit cards for Marriott loyalists, and Amex offers an option for business customers too. Depending on the card you select, you may benefit from various Marriott Bonvoy-specific benefits such as free nights at participating hotels and Marriott Bonvoy property credits.
Reward rates vary from one Marriott Bonvoy credit card to the next. For example, on top of the points you earn for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and any points you may earn due to your Elite Status tier, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold offers up to 3x points per dollar on stays at Marriott hotels. This increases to up to 6x points per dollar with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card.
There is a significant difference in annual fees charged by the top Marriott Bonvoy credit cards we’ve selected. Other factors you need to consider when selecting a card include APRs and added features/perks.
OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE
Each month, experts at MoneyGeek take a close look at all the new and existing cards from this segment. Then, they compare them across parameters such as welcome offers, reward rates, annual fees, foreign transaction fees, APRs and added perks. The final step involves coming up with a revised list of the top Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.
15%Welcome Offer and Hotel Rewards Rate
7%Annual Fee
5%APR and Foreign Transaction Fees
MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 3 Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
Quick Summary
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: An excellent card for earning reward points and free nights at Marriott hotels.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Excellent card for maximizing the rewards you earn while traveling.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Great no annual fee card for earning points at Marriot properties.
Earning Marriott Bonvoy points is possible no matter which of the top Marriott credit cards you select, although the rewards rates tend to differ. The annual fee you need to pay also depends on the card you get. Other factors you need to consider when selecting a card that works well for you include welcome offers, foreign transaction fees, APRs and added benefits. You may check what other cards from this segment have to offer further down the page.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
An excellent card for earning reward points and free nights at Marriott hotels
- 2 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
- $95Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We feel the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a great option for people who stay at Marriott properties because of its generous welcome offers.
You earn 6X points per dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3X points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in the combined categories of groceries, gas and dining per year. All other purchases come with 2X points. Your points remain valid as long as you use your card to make at least one purchase every 24 months.
As a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless cardholder, you get to enjoy a free night award on each account anniversary, subject to some terms and conditions.
Using this card outside of the U.S. is perfect as it comes with no foreign transaction fees. You can travel in peace knowing that you have access to complimentary baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and trip delay reimbursement.
If you use this card at Marriott properties often enough, offsetting its $95 annual fee should be easy.
Pros
- A generous welcome bonus after meeting spend-based requirements account anniversary
- Redeem your points in different ways
- Automatic Silver Elite status with your Marriott Bonvoy membership
- Up to 15 Elite Night credits each year
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Free night awards expire after 12 months
- Reward points stand to expire if you don't make any purchases on your card in 24 months
- Cash advance and balance transfer fees
- Penalty APR may apply if you make a late or returned payment
Introductory Offers
- Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points after spending $5,000 in the first three months.
Rewards
- Earn 6X points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- Earn 3X points on dining, gas stations, and grocery stores, up to $6,000 per year.
- Earn 2X points on all other purchases.
- Redeem points for free nights, Lyft rides, shopping, or car rentals.
- Transfer points to partner airline frequent flyer programs.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy a free award night each year at properties with redemption levels up to 35,000 points.
- Receive up to 15 Elite Night credits annually.
- Benefit from trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and baggage delay insurance.
- Share and pool points with other Marriott Bonvoy members.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Points remain valid as long as you make purchases every 24 months.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Great for hotel rewards and perks for business spending
- 2–6 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $125Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is a robust and savvy choice for small business owners who frequently travel, particularly for those loyal to Marriott Bonvoy hotels. Its rewarding points system aligns seamlessly with everyday business expenditures, plus the generous welcome bonus is a major kick-start. The card's benefits, including free night awards and Gold Elite Status, offer significant value and can easily offset the annual fee while potentially transforming every business trip into a VIP experience. Furthermore, making travel purchases on this card provides a safety net of various travel insurance protections, adding peace of mind to each journey.
Pros
- Earn free night awards
- Significant hotel perks, including Gold Elite status
- Generous welcome offer
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Annual fee
- Modest travel benefits
- No intro APR offers
Introductory Offers
- Earn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $6,000 in the first six months. Each award can be redeemed for up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, for a total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
Rewards
- Earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- Earn 4x points on dining, U.S. gas stations, wireless services from U.S. providers, and U.S. shipping purchases.
- Earn 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a Marriott Bonvoy member and cardholder.
- Receive a Free Night Award annually after card renewal.
- Earn an additional Free Night Award after spending $60,000 in a calendar year.
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- Annual fee of $125. See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Great no-annual-fee card for earning points at Marriot properties
- 1–3 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We recommend this Chase credit card to people who wish to earn Marriott Bonvoy reward points without paying any annual fee. What also helps is that this card does not charge foreign transaction fees.
New cardholders can earn 60,000 Bonus Points after they spend $2,000 on purchases in their first 3 months from account opening. Free Night is valued at 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.
This card also comes with purchase protection, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip delay reimbursement.Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Good welcome offer
- No annual fees
- Annual credit for elite qualifying nights
- Travel and purchase coverage
Cons
- Cardholders must use the card at least every 24 months to avoid losing points
- No cash back rewards
- Low value on redemption points outside hotel room awards
- Rewards limited to hotels
Introductory Offers
- Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Rewards
- Earn 3 points per dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy properties.
- Earn 2 points per dollar on grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, internet, cable, and phone services.
- Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Perks & Benefits
- Break up travel purchases into equal monthly payments with no interest or plan fees on qualifying travel purchases. Terms apply.
Summary of the Best Hotel Cards for Marriott Loyalists
The corresponding Marriott Bonvoy credit cards comparison table highlights which consumers might benefit most by getting these cards, the creditworthiness needed to apply, the annual fee you need to pay and the reward rates on offer.
- Credit CardBest ForAvg. Reward RateAnnual FeeCredit Needed
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
An excellent card for earning reward points and free nights at Marriott hotels2 Points per $1$95 - Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Great for hotel rewards and perks for business spending2–6 Points per $1*$125 - Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Great no-annual-fee card for earning points at Marriot properties1–3 Points per $1$0 - Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
A great card for frequent travelers who are Marriott Bonvoy members2–6 Points per $1*$650
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP
Marriott has a credit card for every type of traveler and budget. Choose the card that fits your travel style to maximize the rewards you earn on your Marriott stays and other purchases. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.
How to Compare Hotel Credit Cards & Intro Offers
Selecting from the best credit cards for Marriott loyalists requires that you pay attention to different factors because there is a considerable difference in the features and benefits on offer.
- 1
Welcome offer
It’s common to find Marriott Bonvoy credit cards with welcome offers, although these tend to vary from one card to the next. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card lets you earn a welcome bonus of 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points by spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months. Chase credit cards for Marriott loyalists also tend to come with similar spend-based welcome offers.
- 2
Rewards rate
The points per dollar you earn may vary greatly depending on the card you get. For instance, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers 6x points per dollar on eligible purchases at properties that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program; 4x points on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, through U.S. shipping providers and on wireless phone services purchased directly from service providers in the U.S.; and 2x points on all other eligible purchases. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, on the other hand, offers 6x points per dollar at hotels that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3x points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in the combined categories of groceries, gas and dining per year, and 2x points on all other purchases.
- 3
Annual fee
If you’re looking for a Marriott Bonvoy credit card with no annual fee, consider checking what the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has to offer. If you’re looking for premium benefits, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card with an annual fee of $650 warrants your attention. There are other alternatives as well.
- 4
Foreign transaction fee
All the top Marriott Bonvoy credit cards come without foreign transaction fees as of now. This aspect requires your attention if new cards enter this segment or if you’re looking at what other travel rewards cards have to offer.
- 5
APR
The APR that applies to your card depends on your creditworthiness as well as your card’s issuer. Besides, if you don’t plan to pay off your balances in full each month, you might be better off getting a low-interest card that may or may not offer rewards.
- 6
Elite status benefits
Each of the Marriott credit cards provides 15 Elite Night credits, which qualifies you for Silver Elite status. These credits also count towards higher levels of elite status. The American Express Bonvoy Brilliant includes automatic Gold status, while the Boundless provides a path to Gold based on your spending.
- 7
Annual free night certificates
Each of the Marriott cards that charge an annual fee include an annual free night certificate. The Bonvoy Brilliant card can be redeemed for up to 50,000 points, while the Boundless and Business card free nights are worth up to 35,000 points. Additionally, the Brilliant card includes an annual credit of $300 that can be used at any participating Marriott property.
- 8
Other features and benefits
Other card-specific features and benefits might come in the form of travel insurance coverage, fraud protection, fee credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck and access to Priority Pass Select lounges.
Further Reading
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.