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In general, having a hotel-branded credit card allows you to receive elevated earnings at that hotel chain, perks during your stay, and some associated useful or money-saving benefits.
The same premise applies to Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards, so if you’re a die-hard Marriott loyalist, you’ve probably considered applying for one of these cards. However, if you haven’t yet made the leap, you’ll find the information in today’s article of interest.
While it may seem logical that the best credit cards for Marriott loyalists are Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards, there are additional travel rewards cards that offer Marriott-related benefits, plus more flexible earning and redemption options. You’ll even find a few that offer luxury travel benefits.
Each card in the collection we’re going to discuss today could be a potential consideration for a Marriott fan, but depending on your spending mix, travel profile, and benefit preferences, you may also find a combination of cards that creates an ideal match for your situation.
Let’s get started with our take on the best cards for those travelers who make Marriott their hotel brand of choice.
Before we get into the details, here’s a look at the best personal cards to choose from, along with their core features and benefits as they relate to the Marriott Bonvoy program:
| Card | Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee | Earnings and Marriott Bonvoy Benefits |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card |
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| Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card |
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| Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card |
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Although both Chase and American Express issue Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards, there’s consistency throughout the collection when it comes to earnings and Marriott-related benefits.
If the card has an annual fee, it will offer a complimentary hotel night certificate and have the same elevated earnings at Marriott properties.
Also, regardless of the card you select, you’ll enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Let’s take a look at the Marriott Bonvoy-branded personal cards and all they have to offer the Marriott loyalist.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesA premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.
So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is a premium rewards card packed with perks that can make your travel more comfortable, save you money with statement credits, and make it easy to enjoy free hotel nights faster.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.
A new entry in the portfolio of Marriott co-branded credit cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card slots into the middle of the range of options. With a $250 annual fee, the card offers a number of perks and elevated earnings for Marriott stays. If you’re not comfortable shelling out top dollar for the ultra-premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, this option is worth considering.
The Marriott Bountiful card offers automatic elite status and helps you earn more points on every purchase.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card can help enhance your Marriott stays by offering automatic elite status, bonus points on paid stays, and Elite Night Credits, and it helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your day-to-day purchases.
Another newcomer, the Chase-issued Marriott Bountiful card offers largely the same benefits and perks as the Amex-issued Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card and comes with the same $250 annual fee.
Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.
If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.
There’s something special about the Marriott Boundless card. Perhaps it’s the fact that it comes with a lower annual fee yet still packs the same earning power as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card. Add in a free hotel night at each card anniversary and you may find that it’s the perfect card for you.
For more information on this popular card, check out the great benefits of the Marriott Boundless card.
A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
If you frequently stay at Marriott properties and want a Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card, but do not want to pay an annual fee, the Marriott Bold card may be a fit.
This no-annual-fee card comes with Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status that gives you complimentary internet, late checkout, a 10% points bonus, and a dedicated elite reservation line.
Note that our list of benefits for the Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards is not all-inclusive and we have abbreviated the descriptions. You’ll want to access each card’s guide to benefits for further details and benefit terms and conditions.
Bottom Line: Each Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card comes with a certain level of complimentary Marriott Bonvoy elite status and 15 qualifying Elite Night Credits.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThis card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.
When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
The Amex Platinum card is the ultimate card for frequent travelers. Marriott loyalists, in particular, will enjoy a complete benefits package that includes complimentary Marriott Bonvoy elite status, points that can be transferred to the Marriott Bonvoy program, and luxury perks that support a travel lifestyle.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is our pick for a solid travel rewards card. The card earns flexible rewards points that can be transferred to Chase transfer partners or redeemed directly for travel.
You’ll also find the card packed with great benefits and travel insurance protections.
Check out our ideas for getting the maximum value for your Ultimate Rewards points and how to use your points for purchasing travel.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a premium travel rewards card loaded with perks and benefits. You’ll enjoy worldwide airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and some of the best travel insurance and shopping protections.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThis is the go-to card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants and those who want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
The American Express® Gold Card is definitely a game-changer.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are a number of other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
The Amex Gold card functions as a travel rewards card disguised as an everyday spending card. First, the card earns valuable Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed for travel. Additionally, you can earn points in bonus spending categories that include everyday expenses.
The additional earnings on everyday spending serve to grow point balances quickly. Plus, the card comes with several travel benefits.
While you won’t receive any Marriott-related benefits with the Amex Gold card, Marriott loyalists will have the flexibility to transfer Membership Rewards into Marriott Bonvoy to use for reward hotel nights.
Hot Tip: If you choose to transfer Ultimate Rewards points or Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy and the need to transfer is not urgent, watch for promotions that allow transfer bonuses that can add 20% to 40% additional points when doing so.
Before we get into the details, here’s a look at the best business cards to choose from, along with their core features and benefits as they relate to the Marriott Bonvoy program:
| Card | Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee | Earnings and Marriott Bonvoy Benefits |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card |
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| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
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| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
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Terms Apply / Rates & FeesA great option for business owners who stay in Marriott hotels and want automatic elite status.
Business travelers who opt for Marriott as their hotel chain of choice will definitely want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. The card offers great benefits to cardholders like a complimentary hotel night once a year, complimentary Gold Elite status, and multiple point redemption options.
If you’re traveling for business and frequent Marriott Bonvoy-branded properties, the Marriott Bonvoy Business card can ensure you’ll be receiving the perks you deserve during your journey.
The card also makes it easier to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points just for paying your business expenses. Earning complimentary hotel nights can offset your business travel expenses or provide free lodging for a personal vacation.
Hot Tip: If you hold both a business Marriott Bonvoy-branded card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, you can receive a total of 40 Elite Night Credits each year — a great jumpstart to higher elite status.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThis card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.
When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.
Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
Like the personal version of the card, the Amex Business Platinum card comes with Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status upon enrollment and is loaded with premium travel benefits.
If you travel frequently for business, you’re sure to enjoy the value of worldwide lounge access and elevated earnings on your travel purchases — 2 key benefits of having the card.
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.
Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.
Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.
The Ink Business Preferred card is a powerhouse when it comes to earning on your business purchases. And when it’s redemption time, you’ll find that your points are flexible and valuable.
With a lower annual fee and premier travel/shopping benefits, it’s a travel rewards card deserving consideration for even small business owners.
Bottom Line: If your business involves travel and you stay frequently at Marriott properties, it makes sense to have a Marriott Bonvoy-branded business or personal credit card. However, to ensure all of your business purchases earn rewards, you might consider pairing it with a business travel rewards card.
The Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards, Amex Platinum card, and Amex Business Platinum card all come with a level of Marriott Bonvoy elite status. You might now be wondering what type of benefits you can expect to receive, so let’s take a look.
Here’s an overview of Marriott Bonvoy benefits for each elite status level:
| Benefits | Silver Elite 10 to 24 Nights per Year | Gold Elite 25 to 49 Nights per Year | Platinum Elite 50 to 74 Nights per Year | Titanium Elite 75 to 99 Nights per Year | Ambassador Elite 100 or more Nights per Year + $20,000 in Qualifying Spend per Year |
| Complimentary In-room Wi-Fi | X | X | Enhanced fastest internet | Enhanced fastest internet | Enhanced fastest internet |
| Bonus Points | 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 75% |
| Late Checkout | Priority Late Checkout | 2 p.m. | 4 p.m. | 4 p.m. | 4 p.m. |
| Elite Reservation Line | X | X | X | X | + Personal Ambassador service |
| Welcome Gift | 250 to 500 points depending on the property | Choice of points, breakfast, or amenity | Choice of points, breakfast, or amenity | Choice of points, breakfast, or amenity | |
| Room Upgrade — Based on Availability | Select suites when available | Select suites expanded to include Ritz-Carlton properties | Select suites expanded to include Ritz-Carlton properties | ||
| Lounge Access | X | X | X | ||
| Annual Choice Benefit | X | Annual Choice Benefit + additional Choice Benefit | Annual Choice Benefit + additional Choice Benefit |
In addition to the benefits above, all Marriott Bonvoy elite members receive access to the Cash + Points redemption option, PointSavers for savings on reward nights, and Member Exclusive room rates.
Note that our list of benefits here is not all-inclusive, just the highlights. For more in-depth information on how to achieve Marriott Bonvoy elite status and the benefits of elite status, you’ll want to review our comprehensive articles.
Bottom Line: Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy elite status that comes with Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards, the Amex Platinum card, and the Amex Business Platinum card can offer benefits at Marriott properties such as late checkout, bonus points for your stay, complimentary Wi-Fi, a dedicated reservation line, access to special hotel rates, and expanded redemption options.
If you stay frequently at Marriott properties, having one of the Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards could improve your experience, increase your earnings, and save you money.
If you stay at other hotel chains, fly frequently, and enjoy premium travel perks, a travel rewards card might be a better fit or an appropriate supplement to a Marriott Bonvoy-branded card. This strategy may also ensure your largest expenditures, not within the bonus categories of Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards, receive maximum earnings.
Finally, we mention in this article that Ultimate Rewards points and Membership Rewards points can be transferred to the Marriott Bonvoy program. While this is true, the ratio of transferring is normally 1:1 and may not be a good value for your points, unless you need to top off your Marriott Bonvoy account for a specific redemption.
Watch for promotions offered by these rewards programs, however, when the transfer ratio can increase up to 1 reward point equaling as much as 1.4 Marriott Bonvoy points, a much better value than the 1:1 normal transfer ratio.
Always check the value you’re receiving before you transfer points. Most flexible points have the potential to receive the best value when transferred to airline partners, but not always.
For more on the relative value of points and miles, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide.
For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/
For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/
For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/
For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/
For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
The best Marriott Bonvoy credit card for you will be the one that matches your spending mix, has an annual fee that you’re comfortable paying, and that provides benefits you personally find valuable.
The Marriott Bonvoy-branded card that has the best collection of benefits for the Marriott loyalist is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, but this card also has the highest annual fee. The value you receive from any card should simply outweigh any expense of having the card.
If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, you may want to select a Marriott Bonvoy-branded card that’s a fit and supplement it with a general travel rewards card that is also a fit. This combination can ensure that you’re earning maximum rewards and receiving all the benefits you feel are relevant to your travel lifestyle.
Yes, it is possible to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to airlines and there are more than 40 airline transfer partners from which to select.
However, it is not always good value to transfer your points to airlines. The transfer ratio is 3:1, meaning that it takes 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to equal 1 frequent flyer mile. There are a few exceptions to this ratio.
There are also transfer bonuses. In most cases, when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you receive an additional 5,000-mile bonus.
The bottom line is that the best value for your Marriott Bonvoy points is to use them for free hotel rooms, but you may find some instances where good value could be realized if you found an inexpensive premium award flight.
Each calendar year, cardholders will receive 15 Elite Night Credits to their Marriott Bonvoy account. The nights are not free hotel nights, they are just night credits that count toward elite status.
For example, you need 25 nights in a calendar year to earn Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. The 15 nights count toward the 25 so you would only need to stay 10 more nights to qualify.
If you hold both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card and a business Marriott Bonvoy-branded card, you can receive up to 40 total Elite Night Credits each year.
As long as you have points activity such as earning or redeeming points in your account, your points will not expire.
It there is inactivity for 24 months, the points will expire at that time.
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Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
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2 comments
Mike Manger
May 10, 2022
If I have the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless CC and I know I will have an upcoming expense of $8000 Is it a good deal to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card and get the 100k points? And could I then transfer the points from one to the other for maximum benefits?
Jarrod West
May 10, 2022
Hi Mike,
If you’re looking to earn some more Marriott points, then yes that would be a great strategy! You won’t need to transfer the points though, both cards will be linked to your Marriott account, so the points from each will flow into your one account.
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