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.

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

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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.

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

    • 2 Points per $1Rewards Rate
    • 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
    • $95Annual Fee
    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit

  • Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

    • 2–6 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
    • 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
    • $125Annual Fee
    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit

  • Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

    • 1–2 Points per $1Rewards Rate
    • 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
    • $0Annual Fee
    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit

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
    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
    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
    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
    Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
    A great card for frequent travelers who are Marriott Bonvoy members
    2–6 Points per $1*
    $650
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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 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.

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 $450 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

About Rajiv Baniwal


Rajiv Baniwal headshot

Rajiv Baniwal is a journalist who has been covering financial topics for over 15 years. Meticulous in his research, he provides accurate and up-to-date information. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.


*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.
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