Best Hotel Credit Cards for Marriott Loyalists in 2024

Name: Best Credit Cards for Marriott Loyalists in 2024
Item: Best Credit Cards for Marriott Loyalists in 2024
Author: Rajiv Baniwal

The top Marriott Bonvoy credit cards give you the means to earn reward points faster. They also tend to come with sizable welcome offers.

ByRajiv Baniwal

Reviewed byLee Huffman

ByRajiv Baniwal

Reviewed byLee Huffman

Updated: March 14, 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

Our Top 3 Picks
Summarized List of All Winners
Tips for Comparing Credit Cards

This article is part of our larger series on
Best Hotel Credit Cards

MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 3 Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

Quick Summary

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.

All information about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been collected independently by Moneygeek.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer."
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
Limited time offer! Earn five Free Nights (valued at 50,000 points for each night) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Earn 6X points per dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3X points on up to a combined total spending of $6,000 on dining and at gas stations and grocery stores per year.
Earn 2X points on all other purchases.
Redeem points for free nights, for Lyft rides, for shopping or for car rentals
Transferring your reward points to partner airline frequent flyer programs is an option
You qualify for a free award night each year at properties with redemption levels of up to 35,000 points. These night awards start at 7,500 points. They remain valid for 12 months. In some cases, resort fees might apply.
You may receive up to 15 Elite Night credits each year.
Other than free nights, you may redeem your points for booking flight tickets and car rentals.
You have the option of sharing your points with other members of the Marriott Bonvoy program and of pooling your points across multiple accounts.
All cardholders may benefit through trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance.
No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
Member FDIC
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.
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
Welcome Offer: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level 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.
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.
Earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
Earn 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.
Earn 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 Marriott Bonvoy® 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.
Terms, rates and fees 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 30,000 Bonus Points after they spend $1,000 on purchases in their first 3 months from account opening.
This card also comes with purchase protection, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and trip delay reimbursement.

All information about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card has been collected independently by Moneygeek.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
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
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
3 points per dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy properties
2 points per dollar on other travel purchases
1 point per dollar on all other purchases
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Additional terms and conditions may apply
Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
Member FDIC
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

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 Card
Best For
Avg. Reward Rate
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
An excellent card for earning reward points and free nights at Marriott hotels
2 Points per $1
$95
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Great for hotel rewards and perks for business spending
2–6 Points per $1*
$125
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Great no-annual-fee card for earning points at Marriot properties
1–3 Points per $1
$0
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
A great card for frequent travelers who are Marriott Bonvoy members
2–6 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.

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 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points by spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months. Chase credit cards for Marriott loyalists also tend to come with similar spend-based welcome offers.

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.

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 $450 warrants your attention. There are other alternatives as well.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.