Which is the Best Marriott Credit Card?

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Marya Sutimi

Marya’s passion is travel, spending three to four months of the year exploring the world, mostly Southeast Asia. Without the thoughtful use of points programs, like AirAsia’s Big Rewards and Emirates Skywards, giving her free or discounted flights, this would not be possible. Marya has a bit of an advantage when it comes to insider tips for her readers because of her previous years as a flight attendant.

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Co-branded credit cards are popular among users for many reasons. Typically, it is easier to get approved for co-branded credit cards, making them popular for first-time credit card owners. In addition, the hybrid function between a loyalty card and a credit card comes with some perks for those who build their credit while simultaneously collecting points to get rewards from their favorite brands. 

Among many other brands that issue co-branded credit cards, today I want to specifically talk about some of the best Marriott credit cards and why they are suitable for you. 

Marriott and its loyalty programs, Marriott Bonvoy, have partnered with various credit card issuers. As a result, customers have multiple options for choosing the best Marriott credit card based on what they need since each credit card usually comes with different perks. 

So, which one is the best Marriott credit card for you? 

Bottom Line Up Front

With multiple co-branded credit cards that Marriott offers for their guests, the best credit card may vary depending on the kind of benefit you need for your credit card. 

Suppose you’re looking into building your credit by owning your first credit card. In that case, Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card can be the best alternative for you as it offers no annual fee and rewards for every dollar you spend at the Marriott hotel portfolio and beyond! 

Among other Marriott credit cards, my personal favorite would be Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, as the benefits they offer are the most valuable with what I’m looking for in a credit card.

The automatic earning of Silver status for the Marriott Bonvoy membership is good enough, especially since I’m not precisely a Marriott loyalist when choosing accommodation for my travel. With a relatively affordable annual rate, their travel protection seems seamless for a frequent traveler like me!

Why You Should Have a Marriott Credit Card

The automatic elite status for cardholders is the main benefit you get when you have a Marriott Bonvoy credit card. Even the most basic option, Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card, guarantees Silver status if you intend to use the rewards from your Marriott Bonvoy membership. 

Apart from collecting direct rewards through points from all Marriott properties worldwide, holding a Marriott credit card also comes with other perks, as we can earn points from transactions with other merchants. If you’re a frequent flyer of some major airlines, chances are you can transfer your miles to Marriott Bonvoy points and vice versa. Marriott has partnered up with 40 airlines in the world, from American Airlines to Emirates.

Tips to Maximize Rewards for Your Marriott Credit Card

All Marriott Bonvoy credit cards offer a welcome bonus with terms and conditions applied to get bonus points for your Marriott Bonvoy membership. The terms and conditions may differ, depending on the type of Marriot credit card you have, so you need to understand them accordingly to get more rewards in return. 

Here are some tips you can do to maximize rewards for your Marriott credit card!

• Use your credit card regularly. Every transaction will earn you points, and your points will not be expired as long as you use your credit card for payment. 
• If you’re a Marriott credit cardholder from Chase, you can also take advantage of the Marriott credit card referral program to get up to 200,000 bonus points for every approved application. 
• Transfer your airline miles to Marriott Bonvoy points and vice versa. You can even get a 10% mileage bonus if you’re a member of United MileagePlus miles. 
• Maximize using the rewards you earn from staying at any Marriott property. As a Marriott Bonvoy credit card holder, you’ll earn at least Silver status, making you eligible for extra perks as a member of the Marriott loyalty program. To name a few, you can request a priority late checkout or redeem points for anything from cocktails to spa experiences. 

Best Marriott Credit Cards 

Selection Criteria

For this post, I use several criteria to list the best Marriott credit cards, including: 

• The annual fee. 
• The chance of approval. 
• The automatic Marriott Bonvoy membership status upon approval. 
• The perks and rewards. 

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Issued by Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is a good start if you’re looking to apply for your first credit card that generates miles and points along the way. Chase offers many co-branded credit cards that give various rewards to frequent travelers, as they’ve partnered up with many big brands like United Airlines, Southwest, and even Disney! 

The primary Marriott credit card they offer, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card, has the advantage for first-time credit card holders. With a free annual fee, you can earn 60,000 bonus points on your Marriott Bonvoy membership and start collecting rewards for your next stay at any Marriott property. 

You can apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card with a credit score as low as 670 and start collecting your Marriott Bonvoy points while earning 15 elite night credits, which gives you the qualification for the Silver status on Marriott Bonvoy membership. 

Pros

• No annual fee!
• You will get a Visa card for Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card.
• After spending $2000 on your first three months, you’ll be entitled to 60,000 bonus points on your Marriott membership. 
• You won’t have to pay any foreign transaction fees when you use the card to purchase anything outside the United States. 
• Travel protection is included, which will cover the reimbursement for any baggage delay, lost luggage, and trip delay. 
• For every dollar spent at hotels under the Marriott portfolio, you can earn up to 14x total points on your Marriott Bonvoy membership. 
• You can earn up to 2x total Marriott points for every dollar spent on other travel purchases. 
• You can earn points for every transaction you make with your Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card!

Cons

•  You can get limited rewards as a credit card holder, with no annual free night award included. 

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

With Chase as the bank issuer for Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, you will get a Visa card for this credit card, making it convenient to use as a frequent traveler. With more than 200 countries and territories accepting Visa as a payment network, you can use this Marriott credit card anywhere worldwide. 

I think that Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is the best option to start collecting points and getting more rewards for your Marriott Bonvoy membership. With a few significant upgrades from Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card, I think having Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card brings more value with a relatively affordable annual rate of $95!

You will get the automatic Silver status for your Marriott Bonvoy membership, and you can take advantage of a free night award on your first year as a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card holder. You can redeem up to 35,000 points to get a free night stay at any hotel under the Marriott portfolio. 

Pros

• Compared to other Marriott credit cards with an annual fee, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card has an affordable rate of $95 per year. 
• You get 100,000 bonus points on your Marriott Bonvoy membership after spending $3,000 in your first 3 months. 
• You get similar perks as Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card and more! 
• For every dollar spent at hotels under the Marriott portfolio, you can earn up to 17x total points.
• You can earn up to 2x total Marriott points for every dollar spent on other travel purchases. 
• You can earn 2x total Marriott points for every dollar spent for other transactions.
• For your first $6,000 spent in combined transactions, you can earn 3 points for every dollar spent!
• You can earn an elite night credit for every $5,000 spent with your Credit Card to elevate your status. 
• You can upgrade your membership to Gold status if your annual spending is $35,000 at the minimum. 
• You will get a free night after your card anniversary, valid for a free night at the hotel with a maximum of 35,000 points per night. 

Cons

• Compared to other credit cards with higher annual fees, the perks of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card are pretty limited. 

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

One of the recent co-branded Marriott credit cards with American Express, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card, can be the best Marriott card for you. Compared to Visa, American Express has some advantages, primarily if you reside in the United States. 

As American Express has a double role as a card issuer and the payment network, American Express has top-notch customer service. Unlike Visa, where you need to contact the bank issuer for any payment dispute, you will get assisted by American Express customer service directly if you have any issues with your credit card transaction. 

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy AmEx Card will give you the automatic Gold status for your Marriott Bonvoy membership. As a Gold member, you can earn 25% more points on every transaction. Depending on the availability, you’ll also be entitled to a room upgrade for your stay at any Marriott property. 

As a welcome bonus, you can get 125,000 Marriott bonus points after your first $4,000 combined purchases within the first three months as a Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express cardholder. 

Pros

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card comes with solid rewards.
• Travel protection is included, covering baggage delay, baggage loss, trip delay insurance if the delay takes more than 12 hours, and you’re covered for up to $50,000 for any car rental loss and damage. 
• As a Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card holder, you will also get access to the 24-hour Global Assist Hotline for any emergency during your travel. 
• You can earn up to 6x total points on your Marriott Bonvoy membership. 
• You can earn up to 4x total Marriott points for every dollar spent on restaurants worldwide. It’s also eligible for takeout and delivery in US supermarkets, and you earn double points after spending your first $15,000 for this transaction. 
• You can earn 2x total Marriott points for every dollar spent for other transactions.
• You’re entitled to earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for every reservation at Marriott property booked directly through the Marriott website. 
• Each calendar year, you can get 15 elite night credits on your path to upgrading to Platinum status on your Marriott Bonvoy membership. 
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Cardholders can use the American Express Plan It® feature.
• You will get a free night award after $15,000 on eligible purchases, valid for a free night stay at the hotel with a maximum of 50,000 points per night. 
• You will receive complimentary premium wi-fi access at any Marriott property. 

Cons

• The annual fee is quite steep, costing you $250 per year.
• American Express will restrict your eligibility to earn the welcome bonus if you have any other type of Marriott card. 
• American Express is not widely accepted, with only around 160 countries and territories accepting it. 

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card

The newest Marriott credit card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card, has similar features to Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card. 

Besides getting a Visa instead of an AmEx card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card has the same annual fee as its AmEx counterpart, which is $250 per year. However, since almost everything else between the two credit cards is similar, I think choosing between Visa or AmEx can be a make-or-break to deciding which Marriott credit card is the best for you. 

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card is more accessible with its expansive reach to 200+ countries and territories with Visa. It also comes with the Visa Signature Concierge Service benefit, which you can take advantage of for 24 hours. The service ranges from travel coordination to personal services like making a reservation at a restaurant, outlining gift ideas, and delivery. 

Pros

• Compared to Marriott Bonvoy Bevy AmEx Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card by Chase is more practical if you don’t want to worry about your card being accepted at your destination. 
• You will get the automatic Gold status in your Marriott Bonvoy membership. 
• You can earn up to 18.5x total points for every dollar spent at Marriott hotels.
• For every dollar spent on grocery shopping and dining, you earn up to 4x total Marriott points. 
• You can earn 2x total Marriott points for every dollar spent for other transactions.
• You will get an additional 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for every booking at a Marriott property. 
• You will get a free night after earning 7,500 points, valid at a hotel with a maximum of 50,000 points per night. 
• Members are eligible for a DashPass membership that offers unlimited deliveries and various discounts. 
• As a Gold Marriott Bonvoy member, you can get all the extra benefits, including late checkout, room upgrades, and a premium wi-fi connection. 

Cons

• It lacks some benefits that the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card offer, including the travel protection feature that includes car rental loss and damage. 

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card

The high-end credit card that charges $650 for the annual fee, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is the best Marriott credit card you can get if you want to get the most perks and rewards that Marriott Bonvoy has to offer. 

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AmEx Card is the only Marriott credit card that gives you the automatic Platinum status for your membership. It also offers 150,000 Marriott points as the welcome bonus, redeemable after spending $5,000 on your first three months of membership. 

As a Platinum member of Marriott Bonvoy, you will be entitled to 50% of eligible purchases for every dollar you spend at any Marriott property. Besides a room upgrade, you will get a welcome gift and premium service for your stay at any hotel under the Marriott portfolio, including free lounge access and complimentary breakfasts. 

The good news is that despite the high annual fee, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AmEx Card also comes with what seems to be endless perks for frequent travelers. From enjoying $300 dining statement credits for eligible restaurants worldwide to the eligibility to enroll for Priority Pass Select, you’ll get what you paid for this Marriott Credit Card!

Pros

• The perks of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express are similar to Marriot Bonvoy Bevy AmEx Card and more!
• For every dollar spent at hotels under the Marriott portfolio, you earn 6x points on your membership. 
• For every dollar spent on restaurants and flights worldwide, you can earn up to 3x total Marriott points. 
• You can earn 3x total Marriott points for every dollar spent for other transactions.
• Extra travel protection includes baggage delay or loss, trip delay insurance, and car rental loss or damages for up to $75,000. 
• You will be entitled to a free night, valid at a hotel, with a maximum of 85,000 points per night. 
• You’re eligible to select one of the Earned Choice Award benefits after spending $60,000 a year.
• You can receive up to a $100 property credit, usable at the Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis.
• You can receive a statement credit every four years after applying for Global Entry or a statement credit for a 5-year membership for TSA PreCheck.
• You’re eligible to enroll in Priority Pass Select to get unlimited free access to over 1,200 airport lounges.
• You earn a $300 dining statement credit each calendar year.
• Cardholders are entitled to use the Pay It Plan It® feature.

Cons

• $650 a year for an annual rate sounds excessive for a credit card. Even the regular Platinum AmEx Card only costs around $550 per year! 
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AmEx Card doesn’t bring much value if you’re not a frequent traveler who stays exclusively at Marriott properties. 

FAQ

Which is the Best Marriott Credit Card: Conclusion

I don’t see any point in applying for a high-end credit card like Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Credit Card. Unless you only stay at the Marriott property when you travel, for a similar (and even lower!) annual rate, there are credit cards that offer more perks if you’re an avid traveler.

As a globetrotter who doesn’t reside in the United States, I don’t see the benefits of being an American Express cardholder either. All things considered, I think the Visa credit card brings more valuable benefits for me because it’s easily accessible worldwide, and the additional perks that American Express offers aren’t that significant.

For instance, compared to Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Credit Card has the advantage of covering car rental loss and damage insurance. However, the perks come with terms and conditions, as the coverage is only available in selected destinations.

If I had to choose the best Marriott credit card, I think my answer would be the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card. With $250 for the annual rate, it’s not too expensive, and I’d get to enjoy various perks like other credit cards on the higher end, including the free night stay!