Introduction to Marriott Credit Cards
Marriott is the largest hotel company in the world, with nearly 9,000 properties across more than 30 brands in 139 countries and territories. Marriott includes familiar favorites like Fairfield Inn, Four Points by Sheraton, Residence Inn, and Aloft — but you can also redeem points for luxury stays at upscale brands such as St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, and W Hotels.
Why Choose A Marriott Credit Card?
If Marriott Bonvoy® is your hotel program of choice, it can make sense to have a rewards credit card to enjoy perks like bonus points, complimentary elite status, free reward nights, elite night credits, and more.
Marriott credit cards are some of the best hotel credit cards for earning free nights and valuable hotel elite status. Here's an in-depth look at the ones currently available to new applicants.
Compare the Top Marriott Credit Cards
$650
N/A
20.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Annual statement credits can save you money on Marriott stays
- You get a free reward night each year after your renewal month
- High annual fee
- Other cards are more rewarding for earning points on your spending
If you're loyal to Marriott, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card can help you save money and improve your stays, thanks to automatic Marriott Platinum Elite status and lots of opportunities to earn additional points.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card- Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
$95
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 3 Free Night Awards and 50,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Annual free night reward for hotels that cost up to 35,000 points can be worth more than annual fee
- The only lucrative bonus category is participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Upgrading to Gold status requires spending $35,000 on the card in an account year
If you want to earn Marriott points on your everyday spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a great option with a reasonable annual fee and a generous welcome bonus offer. It comes with good benefits, including a free night award each card anniversary and elite status credits for meeting spending thresholds.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card
$125
N/A
19.99% - 28.99% Variable
Earn 3 Free Night Awards
Good to Excellent
- Comes with a free night reward every year after your card renewal month
- Earns 4 points on several bonus spending categories, including U.S. purchases for shipping and restaurants worldwide
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status
- Not the best option for earning rewards on non-bonus category purchases
- $125 annual fee may not be worth it for less frequent Marriott guests
Small-business owners with a credit card strategy of free hotel stays will get a lot of value from this card. Even if you own a part-time business or have a side hustle, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is a great pick.
Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex Card- 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.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 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.
- 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.
$0
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 30,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- No annual fee
- Cardholders get 15 elite night credits toward status
- Only offers strong rewards for Marriott purchases
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card comes with an increased limited-time welcome bonus and good perks for a no-annual-fee card, but unless paying an annual fee is a dealbreaker for you, other Marriott cards — like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card , Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — are a better deal.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
$250
N/A
20.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Substantial welcome offer and 4 bonus points on dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets
- Automatic Marriott Gold elite status (room upgrades and late checkout when available, bonus points on stays)
- Earn 1,000 bonus Marriott points per stay
- High annual fee
- No free night award after your account anniversary; must spend $15,000 in a year to earn
- 4 points capped at $15,000 in combined purchases on dining and U.S. supermarkets
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card is worth considering if you stay with Marriott often, want to earn points fast, and don't mind paying a high annual fee for better earning rates and premium travel perks like Gold elite status. But the card has some notable caveats compared to some other Marriott Bonvoy credit cards that affect its overall appeal.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card- Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card.
- Marriott Bonvoy® 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
- Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
$250
N/A
20.99% – 27.99% Variable
Earn 85,000 bonus points
N/A
- Substantial welcome offer and 4x bonus points on dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets
- Automatic Marriott Gold elite status (room upgrades and late checkout when available, bonus points on stays)
- Earn 1,000 bonus Marriott points per stay
- High annual fee
- No free night award after your account anniversary; must spend $15,000 in a year to earn
- 4x points capped at $15,000 in combined purchases on dining and U.S. supermarkets
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card comes with automatic Gold elite status and other perks that appeal to frequent Marriott travelers. However, it's got a $250 annual fee, so unless you can maximize its benefits, a different Marriott card would be a better fit.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
$695
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Good to Excellent
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
- Statement credits with Saks and Uber (enrollment required)
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and more.
Amex Platinum Card- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- With American Express Global Lounge Collection® you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
$95
N/A
19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Earn 100,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Chase Sapphire Preferred- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
$550
N/A
20.24% - 28.74% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
- Strong travel insurance
- Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
- Very high annual fee
If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.
Chase Sapphire Reserve- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority PassTM Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
Best Marriott Credit Cards
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Best for premium Marriott benefits
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card : Best for occasional Marriott guests
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Best for business travelers who prefer Marriott
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card : Best Marriott card with no annual fee
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Best Amex card for earning Marriott Bonvoy® points fast
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card : Best Chase card for earning Marriott Bonvoy points fast
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for elite status
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for travelers who also like to stay at other hotels
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for travelers who also like to stay at other hotels and want premium benefits
Marriott Credit Card Reviews
Best for Premium Marriott Benefits: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the ultimate travel companion for Marriott loyalists.
This card has several valuable benefits, including up to $300 in statement credits each year to use at restaurants worldwide (up to $25 a month), and an annual Free Night Award. Terms apply.
The Bonvoy Brilliant gets you a free night award each year for properties that cost up to 85,000 points. The card also gets you complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status, and 25 annual Elite Night Credits. If you're hoping to earn lifetime elite status, these annual credits (and automatic Platinum status) can help you get there without relying completely on booking Marriott stays. Terms apply.
If you have other premium credit cards that also offer benefits like free Priority Pass™ airport lounge access and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit after enrolled, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card really only stands out for its high-end Marriott benefits. But if you frequently stay at Marriott hotels, you'll find those perks to be very useful for saving money and enjoying elite status perks. Terms apply.
This card has an annual fee of $650 (rates and fees).
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex Card Review
Best for Occasional Marriott Stays: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a great option for occasional travelers looking to maximize their Marriott stays. Consider this one if you want to book your next Marriott stay on points and enjoy a few extras, but don't stay at Marriotts enough to warrant paying $650 a year for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Cardholders receive a free night certificate, valid at hotels that cost 35,000 points or less, each year on their card anniversary — which can be worth much more than the card's $95 annual fee.
The card offers low-level Silver status with Marriott, and if you spend $35,000 on the card in a calendar year, you'll be upgraded to Gold status. If you don't want to spend that much, you can also get Gold status as a complimentary benefit with the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, and The Platinum Card® from American Express.**
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card Review
Best for Business Owners who Favor Marriott: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers exceptional value for frequent travelers. It's currently offering 3 Free Night Awards, each with a redemption level of up to 50,000 points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
The card also offers helpful perks like complimentary Gold elite status and an annual free night award valid at hotels that cost up to 35,000 points. It also earns 4 Marriott points per dollar on a handful of business spending categories, like U.S. shipping purchases. Plus, it now offers a 7% discount on eligible bookings made directly with Marriott for participating properties, so it could help you save money if you frequently book paid stays. Terms apply.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex Card rewards high spenders with a second free night award each year after their account anniversary when they spend $60,000 or more in a calendar year. Terms apply.
Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex Card Review
Best for No Annual Fee: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has a decent list of benefits for a no-annual-fee credit card, so if you want to earn Marriott points without incurring a yearly cost, it's worth considering.
You'll also get perks like no foreign transaction fees, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, purchase protection, and Visa Signature Concierge access.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Review
Best Amex Card for Quickly Earning Bonvoy Points: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
The new Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card offers bonus points on eligible hotel purchases and everyday spending categories, for a $250 annual fee (rates and fees).
It's currently offering a welcome bonus of 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership (worth about $1,085 in stays based on Business Insider's points and miles valuations). It also comes with complimentary Gold Elite status and 15 annual elite night credits.
One of Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card's most notable perks is 1,000 bonus points for each qualifying stay when you pay with your card, which is a quick and easy way to rack up points. However, unlike similar Marriott Bonvoy cards, cardholders won't receive an automatic anniversary free night. Instead, you can earn a free night award worth up to 50,000 points after making $15,000 in purchases per year. Terms apply.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Credit Card Review
Best Chase Card for Quickly Earning Bonvoy Points: Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
This card can offer exceptional value for frequent travelers. Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card offers similar rewards, bonuses, and Marriott Bonvoy perks as the Amex co-branded version (Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card) for a $250 annual fee.
This card offers 85,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first three months from your account opening, worth about $595 in travel according to Insider's valuations.
Cardholders earn 6 points on participating hotel purchases, as well as 4 points at global restaurants and U.S. supermarkets on up to $15,000 in combined spending per year (then 2 points), and 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card Review
Best for Complimentary Elite Status: The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Platinum Card is a good option if you want to enjoy perks when you stay at Marriott hotels, but you aren't necessarily a Marriott loyalist. That's because it offers complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold status to cardholders — along with complimentary Hilton Honors elite status after enrolled.
Marriott Bonvoy Gold status gets you benefits like room upgrades, late checkout, a 25% points bonus on paid stays, and a welcome gift.
Keep in mind that the Amex Platinum Card is a premium card — with a $695 annual fee (rates and fees) — so you'll want to make sure you can take advantage of its many other valuable benefits before applying.
It's currently offering a sky-high welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Based on Insider's valuation of Amex points, that's worth around $1,440 in travel.
American Express Platinum Card Review
Best for Brand-Agnostic Travelers: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is our top travel credit card recommendation because you can use the Ultimate Rewards points it earns to book travel with a great selection of Chase transfer partners — including Marriott Bonvoy.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a solid bonus: 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Insider pegs Chase points as worth 1.8 cents each, on average, making the bonus worth about $1,800 in travel. Because you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio, you can consider this bonus as an equal number of Marriott points.
Overall, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a strong pick because it earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases, and it gets you valuable travel insurance, all for a reasonable annual fee of $95.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review
Best for Brand-Agnostic Premium Travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is definitely a premium option with a $550 annual fee — but if you want a travel card with all the bells and whistles, it's a top contender. It's currently offering 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's worth around $1,080 in travel, based on Insider's valuation of Chase points.
The card's $300 in statement credits for travel effectively cuts the annual fee down to $250, and other benefits with Lyft and DoorDash, can add extra value.
As with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can transfer the points you earn with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to Marriott Bonvoy.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Review
What You Should Know About Marriot Credit Cards
Comparing Marriott credit cards is best done by evaluating your personal needs and travel habits against the benefits and rewards available on each card. The right Marriott card will hit the perfect sweet balance of benefits and annual fees for your lifestyle.
Our guide helps you choose the right Marriott credit card out of all of the options available to you so you can make an informed decision.
Maximizing Benefits of the Marriott Credit Card
You'll get the most out of your Marriott credit card points, upgrades, and perks if you carefully track the rewards on your particular card and remember to utilize them before they expire. Our guide to the best reward tracking apps can help you maintain your benefits in one convenient destination.
Can You Have More Than One Marriott Credit Card?
You can have more than one Marriott credit card, but Marriott does have some complicated application rules.
For Chase-issued cards, the Chase 5/24 rule applies, which means you won't be approved if you've opened five or more cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months. And for Amex cards, you're not eligible if you've received the bonus on the exact same card before (the "once per lifetime rule").
In addition, each card has its own restrictions. Generally speaking, if you've recently opened or received a bonus on one Marriott card, you won't be able to open a different one for a specified amount of time. You can find the card's specific rules under "Offer and Benefits Terms" on the card application page.
For example, to be eligible for the bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can't have or have had that exact card (or the Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card review which is no longer available to new applicants). You also won't qualify for the bonus if:
- You are a current cardmember, or were a previous cardmember within the last 30 days, of The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card from JPMorgan or J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card
- You've opened the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card in the last 90 days
- In the last 24 months, you've received a new cardmember bonus offer or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a Marriott credit card worth it?
Marriott credit cards are worth it even for those who stay at Marriott just a couple of times each year. Most cards come with a free night certificate and hotel elite status that can single-handedly offset the annual fee. That said, if you're not particularly loyal to Marriott or spread your travel among several brands, a travel credit card that earns transferable points is probably a better bet. You'll earn flexible rewards you can use for hotels, flights, and other travel, without being locked into a single loyalty program.
What credit score do you need for a Marriott credit card?
You'll typically need at least good credit to excellent credit to qualify for any of the Marriott credit cards, which means a FICO score of at least 670.
Can Marriott credit card points be transferred to airline miles?
Yes, Marriott points transfer to 40 airline and hotel partners.
Are there any annual fees on Marriott credit cards?
Yes, some Marriott credit cards have annual fees. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card does not have an annual fee, ranging up to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card which has a $650 annual fee (rates and fees).
How does the Marriott credit card enhance my travel experience?
Marriott credit cards often come with complimentary elite status, extra benefits, bonus points and other benefits that can make your Marriott stay more enjoyable.
Do Marriott points expire?
Marriott points expire if your account doesn't have any qualifying activity in 24 months. But it's relatively easy to keep Marriott points from expiring — earning points from co-branded credit cards, stays, points transfers from flexible points programs, and converting points to miles can all reset the clock.
How much are 125,000 Bonvoy points worth?
125,000 Bonvoy points are worth $875 toward Marriott Bonvoy hotel stays, according to Business Insider's points valuations. However, you could get more or less value depending on where you redeem your points.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Marriott Credit Cards
We've included more than just co-branded Marriott credit cards in this roundup because certain non-branded cards offer better opportunities to earn rewards and book free stays for certain situations.
Business Insider's credit card writers and editors have examined all cards on the market to give Marriott fans the best possible options — those that provide concrete Marriott-specific perks, as well as other benefits that will upgrade the rest of your travels.
Read Business Insider's guide to how we rate and review credit cards for more about our methodology.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
