MoneyGeek's Take

Best Hotel Credit Cards for Marriott Loyalists in 2023

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

Quality Verified

Reviewed By |

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

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Last Updated: 5/1/2023

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

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
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $95Annual Fee
- 2 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 6xRewards Rate at Hotels
- 2xRewards Rate on Dining
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.
Using this card at Marriott properties comes with up to 17X reward points (6X points for using your card, 10X points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and 1X points on account of your complimentary Silver Elite status). You earn 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 start at 7,500 points and you need to pay resort fees at some properties
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
Earn a generous spend-based welcome offer.
Spending at Marriott properties comes with up to 17X points (10X points for your Marriott Bonvoy membership, 6X points for your Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card and 1X points on account of your complimentary Silver Elite status).
Earn 3X points on up to a combined total spending of $6,000 on dining and at gas stations and grocery stores per year.
You get 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.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Excellent card for maximizing the rewards you earn while traveling
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $125Annual Fee
- 2–6 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 6xRewards Rate at Hotels
- 4xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
We love the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card because of its generous reward points system. For instance, when you spend money at participating Marriott properties, you earn 6 points per $1 spent. For specific spending categories, such as at restaurants and gas stations, you earn 4 points. Purchases that don't qualify for special reward rates still earn 2 points.
This card brings with it a host of Marriott-specific benefits. In addition to free rewards nights, for example, cardholders receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status and premium on-property internet access.
You may also benefit by using this card outside of the U.S., as it does not come with any overseas transaction fees.
Pros
Earn 75,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points by spending $3,000 within three months.
Earn up to 6 points per $1
Redeem points for free Marriott nights, air travel or cab rentals
No blackout dates when you redeem points for free nights
No foreign transaction fees
No over-limit fees
Employee cards
Free night awards
Marriott-specific benefits
Travel and purchase covers

Cons
High annual fees
Penalty APR applies if you make a late payment
Mandatory service and resort charges might apply at some Marriott hotels when you redeem points for free nights
Become a Marriott Bonvoy Business member automatically.
Earn 75,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points by spending $3,000 within three months.
Earn 6 points per $1 on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
Earn 4 points per $1 on eligible purchases in the U.S. at gas stations, at restaurants, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from service providers and on shipping purchases.
Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Redeem points for free Marriott nights as well as for air travel and cab rentals through different travel partners.
Earn a one free night award every year and qualify for another if your annual spending exceeds $60,000.
Get complimentary premium in-room internet access when you stay at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
Earn Elite night credits to get closer to the next level of your Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.
Pay no international transaction fees.
Benefit through intro offers for new cardholders.
Get baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty.
Get employee cards and set individual spending limits.
Get access to a range of Amex offers.
Simplify accounting by designating account managers and getting year-end summaries.
Use Vendor Pay to improve cash flow.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Great no-annual-fee card for earning points at Marriot properties
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $0Annual Fee
- 1–2 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 3xRewards Rate at Hotels
- 2xRewards Rate on Air Travel
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 have the opportunity to earn reward points by meeting a basic spend-based requirement. You earn up to 14X points when you use your card at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties (3X points for using your card, 10X points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member, and 1X point if you have Silver Elite status). You also earn 2X per dollar on eligible travel purchases. All other purchases come with 1X point per dollar spent. In addition, you stand to receive 15 elite night credits annually, which help you qualify for Silver Elite status.
This card also comes with purchase protection, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and trip delay reimbursement.
Pros
Earn up to 14X points at Marriott, 2X points for travel and 1X point on all other purchases
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
Only eligible purchases qualify for earning the early spend bonus
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Additional terms and conditions may apply
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees 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 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
Excellent card for maximizing the rewards you earn while traveling
2–6 Points per $1*
$125
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Great no-annual-fee card for earning points at Marriot properties
1–2 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.