Marriott's Eat Around Town dining initiative: Earn 500 Marriott points every time you enjoy a meal in June

When dining out, why not accumulate extra points and miles? Starting with one of the top credit cards for dining is a great idea, along with signing up for restaurant loyalty programs. You can boost your rewards even further by joining a dining rewards program and visiting participating restaurants, clubs, and bars.

This month, Marriott Bonvoy's Eat Around Town program stands out because all members can earn 500 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points whenever they spend at least $75 on dining in June. Additionally, there's a special bonus for new members if you haven’t signed up yet. Here’s what you should know about Marriott's Eat Around Town program.

How to enroll in Marriott's Eat Around Town dining rewards program

Joining the Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy program is completely free. Visit the Eat Around Town website to discover a new-member bonus. For instance, if you sign up and link an eligible credit or debit card to your account by Dec. 31, you can earn up to 6,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points within your first 60 days, in addition to the regular points you would earn.

To enroll in Eat Around Town, click "Join Now" and log into your Marriott Bonvoy account. After signing in, Marriott will automatically fill in your email and ZIP code in a form. Simply check the terms and conditions box and click "Join Eat Around Town" to proceed to the next step.

Next, you’ll need to link at least one credit or debit card to your account. It's best to use a card that offers bonus points for dining. Use this card when you eat at participating restaurants, bars, and clubs to earn extra Marriott Bonvoy points through Eat Around Town. If you opt for a debit card, make sure to request it be processed as credit to qualify for earning points.

How to accumulate points with Marriott's Eat Around Town dining rewards program

Members accumulate points through the Eat Around Town dining rewards program by using an enrolled card at qualifying restaurants, bars, and clubs. Register a credit card (ideally one that provides bonus points for dining) and utilize it at a participating establishment. You can find eligible locations on the Eat Around Town website.

The number of points you earn through Eat Around Town generally varies based on your Marriott Bonvoy elite status:

• 4 points for every dollar spent for Marriott Bonvoy members without elite status
• 6 points for every dollar spent for Marriott Bonvoy elite members

However, Marriott often runs promotions that can help you earn additional points while dining. For instance, during June, all members will receive 500 bonus points each time they spend at least $75 with an eligible card registered in the program.

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You should expect to wait one to two weeks for points to show up in your Marriott Bonvoy account after dining. Additionally, bonus points from promotions may take even longer to be credited. While the Eat Around Town program offers an easy way to earn Marriott points, it isn’t the fastest method to boost your Marriott Bonvoy account for an upcoming redemption.

Cards suitable for Marriott's Eat Around Town dining rewards program

Almost any credit or debit card can be enrolled in the Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy program. However, to maximize your rewards, it’s wise to enroll one or more of your best dining credit cards. Here are some options to consider:

• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 4 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent at restaurants (on up to $50,000 in purchases each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 3 Ultimate Rewards points for every dollar spent on dining.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 3 Ultimate Rewards points for every dollar spent on dining.
• American Express® Green Card: Earn 3 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.

The information regarding the American Express Green Card has been gathered independently by Dinogo. The card details provided here have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

To boost your Marriott Bonvoy points, consider enrolling a Marriott Bonvoy credit card in the program. This way, you'll earn Marriott Bonvoy points from both your credit card and the Eat Around Town program. Here are some Marriott cards worth considering:

• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 4 Marriott Bonvoy points for every dollar spent at restaurants globally.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 4 Marriott Bonvoy points for every dollar spent on up to $15,000 in total purchases each calendar year at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (then 2 points per dollar spent).
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 3 Marriott Bonvoy points for every dollar spent at restaurants worldwide.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn 3 Marriott Bonvoy points for every dollar spent on the first $6,000 in total purchases each calendar year at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.

Of course, the rates mentioned above reflect what you'd earn from spending on your credit card. Additionally, you'd accumulate Marriott points through the Eat Around Town program when dining at participating venues.

Is Marriott's Eat Around Town dining rewards program worthwhile?

Even if you reside in an area with limited participating restaurants, enrolling in a dining rewards program is typically beneficial. Registration is quick, and you might occasionally earn some bonus points.

However, you can only register each card with one Rewards Network-operated dining rewards program at a time. Thus, the more pressing question is whether Marriott's Eat Around Town dining rewards program is the right fit for you.

Many other loyalty programs also offer dining rewards programs, and some may provide a better return on your spending. Here are several other popular dining rewards options:

• Hotels: Hilton Honors Dining, IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn, and Choice Privileges Eat & Earn
• Airlines: American AAdvantage Dining, United MileagePlus Dining, Delta SkyMiles Dining, Alaska Mileage Plan Dining, Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining, JetBlue TrueBlue Dining, and Free Spirit Dining
• Transferable rewards programs: Bilt Dining

Marriott's Eat Around Town program sets itself apart from most other dining rewards programs in a significant way: While many programs determine your earning rate based on your dining frequency and email opt-ins, Eat Around Town typically calculates your earnings based on your Marriott Bonvoy elite status. Therefore, if you hold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, this program might be your top choice.

In summary

You can already accumulate a wealth of rewards by dining with top credit cards for dining. However, enrolling your credit cards in a dining rewards program can further enhance your earning potential.

Since each card can only be enrolled in one Rewards Network dining rewards program at a time, it's crucial to identify which program suits you best. Marriott's Eat Around Town program is especially attractive for Marriott members with Bonvoy elite status, as these members earn at the highest rate, regardless of their usage frequency of the program.