The 6 best credit cards for Marriott in 2024

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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. 

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 credit cards for Marriott stays 

• Best overall: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Best for no annual fee: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
• Best for earning hotel rewards on groceries and eating out: Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card
• Best for frequent guests: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Best for business expenses: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
• Best for earning flexible rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Best overall

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 Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is our top pick for the best overall Marriott credit card due to its excellent balance of benefits and rewards. 

The card offers a generous welcome bonus, making it easier for cardholders to earn a significant number of points quickly. Additionally, the automatic Silver Elite status and the opportunity to earn Gold Elite status through spending provide valuable perks for frequent Marriott guests.

The annual Free Night Award is another standout feature, as it can easily offset the $95 annual fee when redeemed at a higher-category property. The card's earning structure is also solid, with 6X points on Marriott purchases and bonus points on everyday spending categories like groceries, gas, and dining. This makes it easier for cardholders to rack up points for future stays. 

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Best for no annual fee

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 

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is the best choice for those who want to earn Marriott points without paying an annual fee. 

Despite the lack of an annual fee, the card still offers valuable benefits, such as 15 Elite Night Credits each year, which can help cardholders reach higher elite status tiers faster.

The card's earning structure is decent, making it a good option for those who occasionally stay at Marriott properties or spend on travel. However, the earning rates are lower compared to other Marriott credit cards, and there is no automatic elite status or annual Free Night Award.

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: Best for earning hotel rewards on groceries and eating out

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 that the Bonvoy Bountiful card offers bonus points on dining and groceries, the categories where people spend the most. 

In addition to its strong earning structure, the card provides automatic Gold Elite status and a path to Platinum Elite status through spending, offering valuable perks such as room upgrades, late checkout, and enhanced earning rates on stays. 

The annual Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) is another significant benefit that can easily justify the $250 annual fee for frequent Marriott guests.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Best for frequent guests

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 annual fee. But, the card offers automatic Platinum Elite status, providing top-tier perks such as room upgrades, late checkout, lounge access, and enhanced earning rates on stays.

The annual Free Night Award (up to 85,000 points) is a significant benefit that can easily offset the high annual fee, especially when redeemed at luxury properties. Additionally, the $300 annual Marriott Bonvoy statement credit further enhance the card's value for frequent guests.

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Best for business expenses

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. 

The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is the best option for business owners who frequently stay at Marriott properties. The card offers automatic Gold Elite status and a path to Platinum Elite status through spending, providing valuable perks for business travelers.

The card's earning structure is tailored to common business expenses, with elevated points on restaurants, gas stations, wireless telephone services, and U.S. shipping purchases, making it easier for business owners to accumulate points. 

The annual Free Night Award (up to 35,000 points) is another valuable benefit that can offset the annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for earning flexible rewards

Rewards:

• 5X points on travel through Chase Travel℠ 
• 5X total points on Lyft rides (through March 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

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best choice for earning flexible rewards that can be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy and other travel partners. While the card doesn't offer Marriott-specific perks or elite status, its versatile earning structure and transferable points make it a valuable option for those who want to earn rewards on everyday spending and travel.

The card's welcome bonus is among the most generous in the travel rewards category, and the 25% bonus when redeeming points for travel through Chase is a key perk. 

Cardholders can transfer their points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio, providing an alternative way to earn Marriott points without being locked into a Marriott-specific credit card.

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.

How the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program works

Marriott Bonvoy is the hotel chain's rewards program, encompassing over 7,000 properties across 30 brands worldwide. 

Members earn points on hotel stays, dining, and other qualifying purchases, which can be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, experiences, and more. Marriott 

Bonvoy has five elite status tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador. Each tier offers progressively more valuable benefits, such as bonus points, late checkout, and complimentary breakfast. Holding a Marriott credit card can help you earn points faster and achieve elite status more quickly.

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.

How to make the most of your Marriott credit card

To get the most value from your Marriott credit card, consider these tips:

• Use your card for Marriott stays: Most Marriott credit cards offer bonus points on Marriott purchases, so be sure to use your card when booking hotel stays.
• Take advantage of bonus categories: Many Marriott cards also offer bonus points on categories like dining or airfare. Use your card for these purchases to accelerate your earnings.
• Redeem points strategically: Marriott Bonvoy points are generally most valuable when redeemed for hotel stays. Look for opportunities to redeem points during peak travel periods or at high-end properties to maximize your return.
• Combine points with free night awards: If you have a Marriott credit card that offers an annual free night award, consider combining it with points to extend your stay or upgrade to a higher-category room.
• Register for promotions: Marriott Bonvoy periodically offers promotions that allow you to earn bonus points or take advantage of special discounts. Be sure to register for these promotions and follow the terms to maximize your benefits.

How we rated the best cards for Marriott

To determine the best credit cards for Marriott, we carefully evaluated a wide range of factors, including the card's sign-up bonus, rewards earning rates on purchases, added perks and benefits, annual fees, and overall value for consumers.

Our team analyzed numerous credit card offers and selected the top contenders based on these key criteria. The options on this list represent the best value, rewards, and benefits available.

Here are some of the key factors we considered:

• Rewards: Rewards are the primary reason many people use credit cards, as they allow you to earn valuable points, miles, or cash back on your everyday spending.
• Redemption flexibility: What good are rewards if they're a hassle to redeem? Flexible redemption options allow you to use your rewards in the way that best suits you, whether that's offsetting your bill with statement credits or booking a dream vacation.
• Benefits: Credit card benefits can provide significant value and make your life easier, from saving you money on checked bags to providing peace of mind with travel insurance.
• Annual fee: The annual fee is a key factor because it's a recurring cost that can eat into your rewards earnings. It's important to make sure you're getting enough value from the card to justify the fee.
• Welcome bonus: A lucrative welcome bonus can give your rewards a massive head start, especially in the first year, making it a great way to kickstart your earnings.
• Rates & other fees: High interest rates and fees can quickly negate the value of any rewards you earn, so it's important to understand these costs and how to avoid them.

[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.