The 6 best credit cards for Marriott in 2024
The right credit card can transform Marriott stays through rewards points and elite status perks, including free nights, room upgrades, exclusive benefits, and more.
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Andy Shuman is a seasoned journalist and expert in personal finance and travel, with a specialization in consumer debt, credit and loyalty programs. As a versatile writer, he has also explored a range of other topics, including sustainability, in-flight technology and comprehensive world travel guides, among others.
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Hanna Horvath is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Bankrate's senior editor of content partnerships.
Updated April 24, 2024, 4:51 PM EDT
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As the largest hotel chain in the world with over 8,700 properties globally, chances are you’ve enjoyed a stay with Marriott before. But did you know having one of their co-branded cards can help you maximize your stay through elite status and rewards?
We looked through the various Marriott cards to find those that deliver exceptional perks relative to their annual fee. We looked at:
- Lucrative welcome offers & accelerated point bonuses
- Statement credits and annual free night certificates
- Elite status perks like room upgrades, club lounge access, and late checkout
- Key travel protections such as trip delay insurance and rental coverage
Whether new to hotel rewards or a travel veteran looking to add another card to your wallet, here are the six best credit cards for Marriott stays.
Best Marriott credit cards
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Best overall
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Best for no annual fee
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: Best for earning hotel rewards on groceries and eating out
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Best for frequent guests
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Best for business expenses
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for earning flexible rewards
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Best overall
Who this card is best for:
With a reasonable annual fee that’s easy to offset with perks like an annual free hotel night and automatic Silver Elite Status, the Boundless Card is a good choice for frequent Marriott guests.
Rewards
- 6X total Bonvoy points at participating Marriott Bonvoy® hotels (up to 17X points through the Bonvoy loyalty program with Silver Elite status).
- 3X Bonvoy points at grocery stores, gas stations, and on dining purchases (up to $6,000 in combined purchases each year, then 2X points)
- 2X Bonvoy points on all other purchases
Annual fee: $95. See rates and fees.
The Boundless Card delivers a solid return through its lucrative signup bonus, strong earning rates, and valuable elite status perks.
What we like about the Bonvoy Boundless card:
- Complimentary Silver Elite Status gets you discounts, late checkout, room upgrades, and more
- Earn hotel points on dining, groceries, and gas
- Free Night Award every account anniversary up to 35,000 points
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel protection benefits
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Best for no annual fee
Who this card is best for:
The Bonvoy Bold allows you to earn Marriott rewards without an annual fee or fancy perks. For infrequent guests on a budget, it strikes a good balance.
Rewards:
- Up to 14X total Bonvoy points at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card
- 2X Bonvoy points on other travel purchases
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
Annual fee: $0
If you want to earn rewards on Marriott stays without an annual fee, the Bonvoy Bold Card is a good addition. While perks are more limited than premium cards, the value is still strong, given there’s no cost to carry it.
What we like about the Bonvoy Bold card:
- No annual fee makes it easy to keep long term
- Complimentary Silver Elite Status
- Use points towards free hotel nights at over 8,000 properties globally
- Cardholders receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year toward qualifying for Marriott elite status (until July 10, 2024)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel protections
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: Best for earning hotel rewards on groceries and eating out
Who this card is best for:
Anyone who spends heavily on dining or groceries, the Bountiful Card maximizes everyday spending.
Rewards:
- 6X points for eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties (up to 18.5X points through the Bonvoy loyalty program with Gold Elite status)
- 4X points on grocery store and dining purchases (up to $15,000 in combined purchases each year, then 2X points)
- 2X Bonvoy points on all other purchases
Annual fee: $250. See rates and fees.
Foodies and families will appreciate how the Bonvoy Bountiful card offers bonus points on dining and groceries — categories where people spend the most. Combined with generous perks for a $250 annual fee, it’s a winner for boosting everyday rewards.
What we like about the Bonvoy Bountiful card:
- Automatic Gold Elite status
- Free Night Award every year up to 50,000 points after you spend $15,000 annually
- 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year help qualify for elite status faster
- Excellent bonus category earnings rates on dining and groceries
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel protections
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Best for frequent guests
Who this card is best for:
Diehard Marriott fans who spend heavily across categories like dining and travel, the Brilliant Card brings steep rewards in exchange for its high annual fee.
Rewards:
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties (up to 21X points through the Bonvoy loyalty program with Platinum Elite status)
- 4X points on worldwide restaurants, U.S. gas stations, U.S. shipping, and U.S. provider wireless telephone service purchases
- 2X Bonvoy points on all other purchases
Annual fee: $650. See rates and fees.
Marriott’s premium card comes with a high $650 annual fee. Still, it pampers loyal guests with upscale Gold Elite Status and access to unparalleled perks like complimentary enhanced wi-fi and exclusive events. See rates and fees.
What we like about the Bonvoy Brilliant card:
- Complimentary Marriott Platinum Elite Status unlocks room upgrades, late checkout, a point bonus on stays, and more
- 25 Elite Night Credits per calendar year
- Free Night Award (up to 85,000 points) every year
- Earned Choice Award after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases
- Up to $300 in annual statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide
- $100 credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis®
- Travel protections
- No foreign transaction fees
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Best for business expenses
Who this card is best for:
Road warriors and jet-setting entrepreneurs, the premium Marriott Bonvoy Business card comes packed with lucrative travel perks and protections well suited for business travel.
Rewards:
- 6X points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels (up to 18.5X points through the Bonvoy loyalty program with Gold Elite status)
- 4X points on worldwide restaurants, U.S. gas stations, U.S. shipping, and U.S. provider wireless telephone service purchases
- 2X Bonvoy points on all other purchases
Annual fee: $125. See rates and fees.
Ideal for frequent work trips and client dinners, the Bonvoy Business card optimizes rewards for business owners devoted to the Marriott ecosystem.
What we like about the Bonvoy Business Amex:
- Comes with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- Free Night Award (valued at 35,000 or less) every year
- Points are transferable to 39 airline partners
- 15 Elite Night Awards each calendar year
- Travel protections
- No foreign transaction fees
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for earning flexible rewards
Who this card is best for:
While this card doesn’t earn Marriott Bonvoy points, the Sapphire Preferred’s superb flexibility, redemption options, and protections make it a no-brainer card for your wallet — even as a supplemental option to another Marriott card.
Rewards:
- 5X points on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 5X total points on Lyft rides (2X on general travel and 3X-point bonus. Offer through March 31, 2025)
- 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on other travel
- 1X points on other purchases
While not a Marriott co-branded card, the hugely popular Chase Sapphire Preferred card lets you earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points on everyday spending that transfer 1:1 to various leading travel partners — including Marriott. The flexibility makes it a smart supplementary card for top earning and redemptions.
What we like about the Sapphire Preferred:
- Points transfer 1:1 to Marriott Bonvoy — making it easy to supplement points earned from a Marriott card
- 25% more redemption value when points are used to book travel via Chase
- No foreign transaction fees, just like the Marriott cards
- Flexible redemption options
- Travel and purchase protections
Which is the best Marriott credit card?
Consider your lifestyle and spending habits when selecting a hotel credit card. What matters most to you: welcome bonuses, earning rewards, or perks? Here are some general suggestions.
- For most Marriott guests: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card is hard to beat for occasional and regular Marriott travelers. The Brilliant Card offers steep luxury perks and statement credits that pay off for very frequent guests.
- For no annual fee: The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card lacks some bells and whistles, but its lack of an annual fee makes it a great choice for budget-focused travelers who still stay with Marriott on occasion.
- For earning points on everyday purchases: Check out the Bountiful Card with its standout bonus earning rates on categories that make up larger chunks of cardholders' budgets.
- For business travel: The Bonvoy Business card boasts credits, perks, and protections for business travelers sticking to Marriott hotels.
Should I get a hotel card?
With so many rewards cards on the market, you may wonder whether getting one tied to a hotel chain instead of a general travel card makes sense. Here are a few key advantages of hotel credit cards to consider:
- Loyalty perks: Hotel credit cards often offer automatic elite status (Silver, Gold, etc), which comes with specific hotel benefits. Think room upgrades, late checkout, free breakfast, and more.
- Lucrative welcome bonuses: Hotel cards offer generous bonuses for hitting minimum spending thresholds. These help you score free nights faster. Many give enough points for a free week-long stay or more.
- Annual free night certificates: Most hotel cards offer free night certificates each card anniversary to help offset annual fees — often worth far more than what you pay.
- Property-specific points: While flexible points have more redemption options, hotel points usually get you increased value when redeeming with that brand.
The one downside of hotel cards is that the points earned aren’t as versatile as flexible points you could transfer to multiple travel partners. But if brand loyalty and free hotel nights are your priority, hotel cards pack a valuable punch.
[Disclaimer]: *Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visitamericanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.