Marriott’s Eat Around Town Dining Program: Is It Worth It?

Want to earn extra Marriott Bonvoy reward points without staying at a Marriott property? Marriott’s Eat Around Town dining program may be an easy way to earn additional rewards on purchases you’re already making.

Dining rewards programs are a common but frequently overlooked way to earn additional rewards. These programs earn points or miles by linking a credit card and making a qualifying restaurant purchase.

Marriott’s Eat Around Town dining program provides Marriott Bonvoy members the opportunity to earn Marriott Bonvoy points when using their linked credit card to dine at participating locations. Anyone who is a Marriott Bonvoy member, even new members, can earn Marriott Bonvoy points that can be used for free hotel nights, and more.

Here’s how the program works and information for discovering whether the program is a winner for you.

How Marriott’s Eat Around Town Program Works

U.S. residents can join the Eat Around Town program for free. You must have a Marriott Bonvoy account, which is also free to join.

Once you have your Marriott Bonvoy account number handy, you can join Eat Around Town and link any credit cards you’ll be using to pay for your dining purchases.

That’s it. No special membership card or number is needed. Use your linked credit card when dining at participating restaurants and automatically earn Marriott Bonvoy points. Once earned, you’ll find the points deposited into your Marriott Bonvoy account in 1 or 2 weeks.

Earning Rewards With Eat Around Town

It’s simple to earn Marriott Bonvoy points with Eat Around Town by just using your linked card and dining at participating restaurants.

Here’s how you earn points with the program:

Earning Base Points

Marriott Bonvoy members earn 4 points per $1 spent when using their linked card at Eat Around Town restaurants, including takeout.

Earn More as a Marriott Bonvoy Elite

If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program member with any level of elite status, you earn 6 points per $1 spent when using your linked card for Eat Around Town restaurant purchases.

Bonus Earnings in the First 60 Days

New members have a unique opportunity to earn up to 6,000 bonus points within the first 60 days of membership in Eat Around Town.

• 1,000 Bonus Points: Spend $30 with Eat Around Town and earn 1,000 bonus points.
• 2,000 Bonus Points: Spend $30 a second time during the first 60 days and earn an additional 2,000 points.
• 3,000 Bonus Points: Spend $30 or more a third time during the first 60 days and earn an additional 3,000 points.

Bonus points are in addition to any base points you would earn on your qualifying purchase.

Finding Participating Restaurants

Fortunately, over 11,000 U.S. restaurants participate in the Eat Around Town program. Even in my small hometown of 20,000 residents, there are 25 choices! You can find a map of the participating restaurants near you on the Eat Around Town website.

The Best Cards for Earning With Eat Around Town

While you can link any card and use it at Eat Around Town restaurants, using a card that earns well on dining, takeout, and eligible deliveries helps you earn rewards faster.

Here are a few of the best cards for earning on your dining purchases:

American Express^® Gold Card

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• 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.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Amex Gold card earns 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases each year, then 1x. It’s the perfect card to pair with the Eat Around Town program.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

BEST BEGINNER CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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 fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

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.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 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

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on dining.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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 top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

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.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

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!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel^SM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 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 Pass™ 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

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on dining.

Is Marriott’s Eat Around Town Worth It?

Setting up and using Eat Around Town seems simple enough, but let’s do the math to see if the effort is worth it.

As a Marriott Bonvoy elite member, if you spent $1,200 on eating out with the program, you’d earn 7,200 points (6 points per $1 multiplied by $1,200) plus the new member bonus points, for a total of 13,200 points. We value Marriott Bonvoy points at about 0.7 cents each, making 13,200 points (6,000 points plus 7,200) worth about $92.

You can easily book a 1-night stay at a budget-friendly property for 13,200 Marriott Bonvoy points. You can book a 5-night stay at an AC in Spain for as few as 35,000 points. Earning with Eat Around Town could certainly result in a free hotel night each year!

Remember, points earned via Eat Around Town are in addition to any rewards earned on your card. If you used the Amex Gold card for purchases at restaurants worldwide, for example, you would earn 4x Membership Rewards (4,800 points) on $1,200 in dining.

Final Thoughts

Is the Marriott Eat Around Town program worth it? If you spend money on eating out, earning bonus points for the same purchase is worthwhile.

These are Marriott Bonvoy points you could redeem for a free hotel night … points that you would not have otherwise. Not bad for just signing up for the program and spending on something you would be purchasing anyway.