Which credit card is best for stays at Marriott hotels?
Planning a trip to a Marriott hotel or a resort in the Marriott Bonvoy program? Discover the ideal credit card to use. Should you opt for a Marriott co-branded card, or is there a better alternative?
Here’s an overview of some popular credit cards to consider for your next Marriott hotel stay, highlighting their rewards and benefits.
Evaluating credit card options for a Marriott hotel visit
In addition to using a Marriott co-branded card, you may want to explore a solid travel rewards card that offers transferable points. Let’s examine some common choices and the potential benefits of using them.
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| Card name | Earning rate at Marriott hotels | Value of the rewards earned* | Marriott-related benefits from the card | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | 6 points per dollar | 5.1 cents | Automatic Platinum Elite status, which offers complimentary breakfast, late checkout and upgrades to suites when available at check-in, as well as 50% bonus points on paid stays
25 elite night credits per year Earn an annual choice benefit when you spend $60,000 per year on this card | $650 (see rates and fees) |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card | 6 points per dollar | 5.1 cents | Automatic Gold Elite status (which includes upgrades to preferred rooms and 25% bonus points, available for Qualifying Rates), plus 1,000 bonus points on each paid stay with Marriott Bonvoy at participating properties | $250 (see rates and fees) |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card | 6 points per dollar | 5.1 cents | Automatic Gold Elite status (which includes upgrades to preferred rooms and 25% bonus points), plus 1,000 bonus points on each paid stay with Marriott Bonvoy | $250 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card | 6 points per dollar | 5.1 cents | Automatic Gold Elite status (which includes upgrades to preferred rooms and 25% bonus points), plus cardholders receive up to a 7% discount on room rates when booking directly | $125 (see rates and fees) |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | 6 points per dollar | 5.1 cents | Automatic Silver Elite status provides 10% bonus points on paid rates (though you can achieve Gold Elite status if you also have a small-business credit card from Marriott) | $95 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card | 3 points per dollar | 2.55 cents | Automatic Silver Elite status | $0 |
| American Express® Green Card | 3 points per dollar | 6 cents | None | $150 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 3 points per dollar (or 10 points per dollar if booked via the Chase Travel℠ | 6.1 cents (or 20 cents) | None | $550 |
* Bonus value is estimated according to TPG's August 2024 valuations and is not provided by the card issuer.
The details for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful and American Express Green cards have been gathered independently by Dinogo. The information on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.
Which credit card is ideal for making payments for Marriott hotel stays?
Your choice depends on two key factors: the benefits you receive during your stay and the points accrued on the card when settling your bill.
For the initial aspect, it's quite straightforward. Your elite status benefits will apply no matter which card you use for your stay. For instance, you don't have to use the Bonvoy Brilliant card to receive your Platinum Elite status perks during your next visit to a Marriott property.
(The only exception is when you book a paid Marriott stay via the Sapphire Reserve through the Chase travel portal. This typically counts as a third-party booking, so while you will earn 10 Ultimate Rewards points for each dollar spent, you might miss out on any benefits associated with your Marriott elite status.)
Using your Marriott co-branded credit card might not be the most advantageous choice for earning points when spending at Marriott Bonvoy locations. This is because certain cards that accumulate transferable points can yield a higher return on your hotel expenditures. Furthermore, these points can be utilized for more than just future hotel stays.
CHRIS DONG/DinogoWhen earning points through American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards, you have the option to transfer them to Marriott Bonvoy for hotel redemptions. However, you can also use these points for other purposes, such as flights or cruises. If you choose to pay with a Marriott co-branded card, you'll earn Marriott Bonvoy points, which come with fewer redemption opportunities.
The only exception arises if you're aiming to reach higher tiers of Marriott Bonvoy status or working towards an annual choice benefit. To meet the spending requirements for an annual choice benefit, you must use your Bonvoy Brilliant card. If your goal is to attain Gold Elite status through spending, you'll need to use your Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, which requires $35,000 in purchases each year.
Nonetheless, you can likely attain Platinum Elite status without such high spending on a hotel credit card. For many, it’s more cost-effective to achieve Marriott Bonvoy status by staying at budget-friendly properties and maintaining both a personal and a small-business Marriott credit card.
In summary
The credit card you should use for your next trip might not be the one you initially think. Often, a card associated with the hotel or airline isn't the optimal choice for that purchase. You may find that a different card earns you more valuable (or a greater quantity of) rewards. This is because transferable points are generally worth more than points tied to a single rewards program.
Fortunately, using a credit card that isn't linked to the Marriott Bonvoy program doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on your Marriott elite status benefits (if you have any). Therefore, you should use whichever card will provide you with the most valuable rewards.
Discover more: The top Marriott Bonvoy credit cards
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