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When it comes to earning rewards, free nights, travel benefits, and perks that make your hotel stay more comfortable, nothing beats a hotel-branded credit card.
And if you’re a fan of Marriott’s Bonvoy program, you’ll have several cards from which to select, all of which deliver generous levels of Marriott-centric benefits.
While both Chase and American Express issue Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards, there are several consistent earning and benefit offerings.
All Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards that charge an annual fee offer accelerated earnings at Marriott properties, complimentary elite status, annual free hotel night certificates, and plenty of flexible redemption options for your points.
However, one of the Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards may be a better fit for you than the others. Let’s take a look at what each of these cards has to offer by comparing earning power, benefits, and overall value.
There are 6 Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards from which to select. Each offers its own package of earning rates, redemption options, and stay benefits — let’s take a look at the highlights.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A 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.
Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
$300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant 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®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Brilliant 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 an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one 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 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 ($100) 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. Terms apply.
Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access 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.
If you’re looking for a premium Marriott Bonvoy-branded card with equally premium benefits, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card checks those boxes. The card comes with statement credits for Marriott purchases, worldwide airport lounge access, a valuable Free Night Award, Marriott Bonvoy elite status, and much more.
Let’s look at what you can expect from this card designed specifically for the traveler who stays frequently at Marriott properties.
Why We Like This Card
6x points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The 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.
Pros
6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points)
2x points per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
15 Elite Night Credits per year
1,000 bonus points per paid stay
1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
Earn 125,000 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.
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 Gold Elites 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.
The new American Express-issued Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card slots in between some of the lower-end options and the premium (and very expensive) Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card. It provides an easy way to get elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, given that cardholders receive complimentary Gold Elite status as a perk of the card.
Why We Like This Card
6x points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Automatic Gold Elite status
15 Elite Night Credits each year
1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
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.
Pros
Up to 18.5x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
4x points per $1 on dining and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to a combined $15,000 in purchases)
2x points per $1 on all other purchases
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
15 Elite Night Credits
1,000 bonus points per paid Marriott stay
1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
$250 annual fee
Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
Earn 85,000 Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
Earn up to 18.5X total points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
1,000 Bonus Points per each stay at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
Earn 4X points per $1 on the first $15,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores and dining
Earn 2X points per $1 spent on other travel purchases
Earn 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Receive 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year and automatic Gold Elite status each account anniversary year as a cardmember
Enjoy a Free Night Award every calendar year, after $15,000 in spend, valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.
The also-new Marriott Bountiful card offers essentially the same suite of perks as the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card, but it is issued by Chase. Like its Amex-issued counterpart, it also offers cardholders complimentary Gold Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program.
Why We Like This Card
Up to 18.5x points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Automatic Gold Elite status
15 Elite Night Credits each year
1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
Additional Card Benefits
4x points on dining and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to a combined $15,000 in purchases)
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
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.
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.
Earn 3 Free Nights after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases (each night valued up to 50,000 points) within the first 3 months from account opening.
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.
Pros
Earn big when you use your card at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
New benefit to earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
Automatic Silver Elite Status
1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (up to 35,000 points)
Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
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.
Pros
Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
2x points per $1 on travel purchases
15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)
No foreign transaction fees
No annual fee
Cons
Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase®!
Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
2X points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains).
1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, qualifying you for Silver Elite Status. Restrictions apply.
If you’re looking for a Marriott Bonvoy-branded card that offers elevated earnings at Marriott properties but you’d rather avoid paying an annual fee, the Marriott Bold card could be a match.
Why We Like This Card
Up to 14x points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
15 Elite Night Credits per year, enough for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A great option for business owners who stay in Marriott hotels and want automatic elite status.
A great option for business owners who stay in Marriott hotels and want automatic elite status.
Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $8,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 11/1/23.
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.
Pros
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 per $1 on all other purchases
15 Elite Night Credits
1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (up to 35,000 points)
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $8,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 11/1/23.
Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly through Marriott. Terms and Conditions Apply.
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. Awards 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 Card.
If you have a business, regardless of size, the Marriott Bonvoy Business card might be just the ticket for earning free hotel nights to offset business expenses or for a personal vacation. Having the card is also a way to enjoy Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy during all your travels.
Why We Like This Card
6x points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Complimentary Gold Elite status
Annual 35,000-point Free Night Award
Additional free night after spending $60,000 on the card
15 Elite Night Credits each year
Additional Card Benefits
4x points at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping
Hot Tip: You’ll be able to triple dip on points earned when using your Marriott-branded card to pay for your stay. Earn up to 6x points for each dollar spent on your card, 10x points per dollar spent on the property during your Marriott stay, plus up to 75% bonus points for having Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Earning Power Comparison
Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards offer accelerated earnings when used for purchases at the affiliated hotel properties. Here’s a breakdown of the additional earning potential for each card.
4x points at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, U.S. wireless phone services, and U.S. shipping
2x points for all other purchases
$125
Finding a balance between earnings that match your spending profile and paying an annual fee with which you’re comfortable could be a primary decision when selecting a Marriott Bonvoy-branded personal card.
If you have a small business and Marriott Bonvoy is your hotel brand of choice, it may be prudent to consider the additional earnings on the Marriott Bonvoy Business card.
Bottom Line: For bonus earnings on everyday purchases (up to $6,000 in purchases each year), the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card may be a good choice. If you’re a business owner, the Marriott Bonvoy Business card with a collection of 4x earning categories for typical business purchases offers the greatest additional earning potential. And, for the frequent traveler who values lounge access, a generous statement credit for Marriott purchases, and Platinum Elite status, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card could be the right match.
A Faster Path to Elite Status
While most Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards come with complimentary elite status, all Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards come with 15 Elite Night Credits towards elite status each calendar year.
These 15 nights are enough to automatically earn you Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status and can get you well on your way to the next levels of status.
The following Marriott Bonvoy credit cards come with complimentary elite status. Select cards also offer an option to spend your way to higher elite status.
Earn 10% bonus points on qualifying hotel purchases
Welcome bonus points
Gold Elite status receives all Silver Elite benefits plus room upgrades, 25% bonus points on qualifying purchases, and a 4 p.m. late checkout.
Once you reach Platinum Elite status, you’ll receive all of the above and additional perks like complimentary executive lounge access, free breakfast, room upgrades including suites (when available), 75% bonus points, and an annual Choice Benefit.
Titanium Elite status grants you all of the above and additional perks like 75% bonus points and a Choice Benefit selection of a Free Night Award, suite upgrades, and more.
Hot Tip: If you hold both a Marriott-branded personal card and a Marriott-branded business card, you’ll receive a total of 30 Elite Night Credits that count toward elite status. This benefit translates into only needing 20 additional nights stayed at Marriott properties in a calendar year to achieve Platinum Elite status.
Annual Free Night Award
One of the most valuable benefits of Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards is the annual Free Night Award. It is granted after you pay your annual fee each year, and once added to your Marriott Bonvoy account, it can be used throughout the world at any one of Marriott’s 7,000+ properties.
The Free Night Award normally expires 1 year from the issue date and is good for a free hotel night up to a specified point limit in value. One exciting new feature introduced by Marriott Bonvoy is the ability to add up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to your certificate to cover the cost of a higher-priced room.
The following Marriott Bonvoy cards offer Free Night Award:
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card
Value of Free Night Award
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card
Up to 85,000 points
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card
Marriott Bountiful card
Up to 50,000 points (after spending $15,000 on the card in a year)
Marriott Boundless card
Marriott Bonvoy Business card
Up to 35,000 points
Bottom Line: The annual Free Night Award can offer tremendous value and alone can be worth the annual fee on the Marriott Bonvoy-branded card.
Travel Benefits and Protections
In addition to benefits such as elite status, lounge access, statement credits, and earning rewards, you’ll find Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards offer additional travel benefits and protections.
Secondary coverage within the U.S., primary outside the country
Secondary coverage with access to purchase premium protection for 1 low fee that covers the entire rental period
Trip Interruption/Cancellation
N/A
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card: up to $10,000 per trip, $50,000 per eligible card per 12-month period for each coverage
Trip Delay
Up to $500 for trip delays greater than 12 hours
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card: up to $500 per trip for delays more than 6 hours, maximum 2 claims in a 12-month period
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card: up to $300 for round-trip flights paid for with the card that are delayed by more than 12 hours
Baggage Delay
Marriott Bold card and Marriott Boundless card: Up to $100 per day for up to 5 days for delays greater than 6 hours
None
Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Luggage
Up to $3,000 per person per trip checked or carry-on bag
Marriott Bonvoy Business card: Up to $1,250 for carry-on, $500 for checked bag
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card: Up to $3,000 for carry-on, $2,000 for checked bag
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card: Up to $2,000 for checked baggage, up to $3,000 combined for checked and carry-on baggage
The car rental collision and damage insurance waiver can save you plenty when you rent a vehicle. Pay for the entire rental with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW insurance, and have coverage if the rental car is damaged or stolen.
Chase’s coverage is superior because it is primary coverage outside the U.S., not secondary. This means that you do not first have to file a claim with your own insurance company before coverage kicks in, as you would with secondary coverage. However, you will have the option with Amex to purchase Premium Protection for 1 low price that covers the entire rental period. Prices range from $12.95 to $24.95.
The actual limits, terms, and conditions of these additional benefits are expressly spelled out in the benefits guide that comes with each card.
Covers qualifying items for damage up to 120 days from the purchase date
$500 per claim, up to $50,000 per year
Covers qualifying items for damage up to 90 days from the purchase date
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card: $10,000 per claim, $50,000 per year
Marriott Bonvoy Business card: $1,000 per claim and $50,000 per year
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 additional year on warranties of 3 years or less
Up to 1 additional year on warranties of 5 years or less
Return Protection
N/A
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card: $300 per item
Marriott Bonvoy Business card and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card: N/A
For full shopping benefits and protections, be sure to access the Guide to Benefits for the specific card.
Bottom Line: While you wouldn’t select a credit card based on shopping protections and benefits alone, it’s good to know which coverages are offered on which cards to utilize these benefits, should the situation arise.
What Can You Do With Marriott Bonvoy Points?
Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards allow you to accelerate rewards earning. With generous welcome bonuses, elevated earnings at the Marriott family of properties, and every purchase you make earning points, rewards add up fast.
Fortunately, the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program offers several options for redeeming your points for hotel nights, transferring your points to airline partners, and more.
Let’s take a look at what you can do with your Marriott Bonvoy points.
PointSavers — Discounted award stays, based on availability
Free Hotel Nights — Reward redemptions based on dynamic pricing
Cash and Points — Use a combination of cash and award points
Fifth Night Free — Book 5 consecutive award nights and pay for 4
Points Advance — If you don’t have enough points to book your stay you can “borrow” from Marriott Bonvoy and pay them back up within 60 days of booking
Top Off Your Free Night Award — If you have a Free Night Award, you can add up to 15,000 points to secure a more expensive or higher category room
Whether you’re looking for a luxury experience, a single night at an airport hotel, or a convenient venue to conduct business, you’ll be able to use your rewards points to book a room.
Transfer to Travel Partners
When it comes to redeeming points, it’s best to have options. In addition to using them for free hotel nights, Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to airline partners and subsequently used to purchase award tickets.
It’s easy to turn Marriott Bonvoy points into miles — there are dozens of airline partners to choose from. Points generally transfer at the ratio of 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile. Plus for every 60,000 points you transfer to most partners, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus (the exceptions are American Airlines, Avianca Airlines, and Delta Air Lines).
For example: transfer 60,000 miles to partner Alaska Airlines and receive 25,000 miles (60,000 points = 20,000 miles + 5,000-mile bonus)
Other Redemption Options
Here are some additional ways to redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points:
TSA PreCheck — 25,000 points for a $78 certificate
Gift Cards — A common redemption value would be 5,000 points for a $10 retail gift card or 10,000 points for a $25 gift card
Merchandise — Redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points for retail merchandise (generally not a good value)
Flights and Rental Cars (generally not a good value)
Donate your points to charity
Some redemption options provide far less value than others. Generally, the best redemption options for your points are hotel stays, and transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to airline partners.
Final Thoughts
There is value to be found in this group of Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards for the traveler who is loyal to Marriott.
While you’ll have to pay an annual fee with most of these cards, you’ll find plenty of perks and benefits that can help offset that cost, including things like statement credits, lounge access, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy elite status, generous welcome bonuses, and Free Night Award that can deliver enough value on their own to make the fee more than worth it.
And remember, you could qualify for more than 1 Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card — a personal card and a business card.
If you frequent Marriott properties, you’ll want to be a cardholder to earn free nights, enjoy the benefits of elite status, and take advantage of all the other perks that come with Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards.
For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card, and Marriott Bonvoy Business card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance and trip delay insurance benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card, and Marriott Bonvoy Business card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card, and Marriott Bonvoy Business card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card, and Marriott Bonvoy Business card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the return protection benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card, and Marriott Bonvoy Business card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
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. The information regarding The Ritz-Carlton™ 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 Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Marriott
Frequently Asked Questions
The best Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card for you would be the one that matches your spending habits, how often you stay at Marriott properties, and how much you feel comfortable paying for an annual fee.
You may be comfortable paying the higher annual fee for the premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card that provides statement credits, Priority Pass lounge membership, Gold Elite status, and a higher value Free Night Award.
Or, you could be most comfortable with paying the $250 annual fee for either the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card or the Marriott Bountiful card, which offer complimentary Gold Elite status, a Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points after spending $15,000 in a year), and more.
Finally, you may find that the Marriott Boundless card with a lesser $95 fee, Silver Elite status, and a 35,000-point Free Night Award fits you just fine.
You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to dozens of airline frequent flyer programs, most at a rate of 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.
You cannot transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to other hotel programs.
Yes, you can have more than 1 Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card. For example, you could have 1 personal card and 1 business card.
If you have had the same Marriott Bonvoy-branded or Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Card previously, however, you may not qualify for the welcome bonus.
You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Amex Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio.
However, there are promotions through which you could receive better value.
No. Points earned with the Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards are redeemable for award stays, can be transferred to airline partners, or redeemed in other ways, but these points do not help you toward earning elite status.
However, if you reach specific card spending thresholds, you could qualify for a higher elite status level.
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.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
2 comments
Matthew Martin
November 23, 2022
Can you have the Amex Brilliant as your primary Marriott card and the Chase Boundless to earn elite night credits for every $5,000 spent? Right now, I have both cards and I’m trying to decide if it’s worth keeping the Boundless.
I won’t spend enough on the Brilliant ($60k?) to take advantage of that benefit and I don’t own a business for the business card to make sense either I think. Thanks!
Hi Matthew. There is some redundancy in the 2 cards but the extra free hotel night certificate (in addition to the one on your other card) is worth the annual fee on the Marriott Boundless card. If you need the extra elite night credits to qualify for your preferred elite level and spend enough on the Boundless, then it sounds like you might consider keeping both cards and use as you suggested. Another option if you decide not to keep the Marriott Boundless card is to downgrade it to the Marriott Bold card, with no annual fee but of course, no elite night credits for spending. This would preserve that portion of your credit limit attributed to that card (which could prove helpful in the future).
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
2 comments
Matthew Martin
November 23, 2022
Can you have the Amex Brilliant as your primary Marriott card and the Chase Boundless to earn elite night credits for every $5,000 spent? Right now, I have both cards and I’m trying to decide if it’s worth keeping the Boundless.
I won’t spend enough on the Brilliant ($60k?) to take advantage of that benefit and I don’t own a business for the business card to make sense either I think. Thanks!
Christine Krzyszton
November 23, 2022
Hi Matthew. There is some redundancy in the 2 cards but the extra free hotel night certificate (in addition to the one on your other card) is worth the annual fee on the Marriott Boundless card. If you need the extra elite night credits to qualify for your preferred elite level and spend enough on the Boundless, then it sounds like you might consider keeping both cards and use as you suggested. Another option if you decide not to keep the Marriott Boundless card is to downgrade it to the Marriott Bold card, with no annual fee but of course, no elite night credits for spending. This would preserve that portion of your credit limit attributed to that card (which could prove helpful in the future).
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
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