Best Marriott Credit Cards of June 2022: Get Elite Status and Perks
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The best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards of June 2022
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Marriott is the largest hotel company in the world, with nearly 8,000 properties across 30 brands in 139 countries and territories. Marriott includes familiar favorites like Sheraton, Westin, and Residence Inn — but you can also redeem points for luxury stays at upscale brands such as St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, and W Hotels.
If Marriott Bonvoy is your hotel program of choice, it can make sense to have a co-branded Marriott card to enjoy perks like bonus points, complimentary elite status, free reward nights, elite night credits, and more. There are Marriott co-branded cards at various price points, from a no-annual-fee option to a $450-a-year premium card (See Rates) with annual statement credits. Several Marriott credit cards even offer a free night on your account anniversary, with a value ranging from 35,000 to 50,000 points, depending on the card.
Marriott points are worth, on average, 0.7 cents apiece based on Insider's points and miles valuations. So if you're getting that value or better when you redeem your points, you're getting a good deal.
Here's an in-depth look at the Marriott credit cards that are currently available to new applicants.
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Best for luxury benefits during Marriott stays: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
- Annual statement credits can save you money on Marriott stays
- You get a free reward night each year after your renewal month
- High annual fee
- Other cards are more rewarding for earning points on your spending
- Earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 3 months.
- Enjoy up to $300 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program.
- Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. 3 points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy unlimited airport lounge visits when you enroll in Priority Pass™ Select membership.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $450 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Best for occasional Marriott guests: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
- Annual free night reward for hotels that cost up to 35,000 points can be worth more than annual fee
- The only lucrative bonus category is participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Upgrading to Gold status requires spending $35,000 on the card in an account year,
- For a Limited Time Only! Earn 5 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
- Our Best Free Night Offer!
- New Benefit! Earn 3X Bonvoy points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
- New Benefit! 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 Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
- 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
Best for business travelers who prefer Marriott: Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card
- Comes with a free night reward every year after your card renewal month
- Earns 4x points on several bonus spending categories, including U.S. purchases for shipping and U.S. restaurants
- The complimentary Silver elite status isn't very valuable
- Not the best option for earning rewards on non-bonus category purchases
- Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program.
- 4x points at U.S. restaurants, 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 a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status with your Card. Plus, earn Gold Elite status after making $35,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Terms apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Best Marriott card with no annual fee: Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card
- No annual fee
- Cardholders get 15 elite night credits toward status
- Only offers strong rewards for Marriott purchases
- For a Limited Time Only! Earn 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 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 Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
- 2X Bonvoy 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.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Earn unlimited Marriott Bonvoy points and get Free Night Stays faster.
Best for elite status: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
- Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
- Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. And if you fly, you can receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year after you select a qualifying airline and incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded.
- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. There are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
- $189 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® membership. CLEAR® is available at select airports and stadiums.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Best for travelers who also like to stay at other hotels: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- High sign-up bonus starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself BackSM, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- 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, 2024.
Best for travelers who also like to stay at other hotels and want premium benefits: Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
- Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
- Strong travel insurance
- Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
- Very high annual fee
- New Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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 Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- 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 $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card (jump to Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card details »)
If you know you'll spend at least $300 with Marriott each year, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is definitely worth a look. It offers up to $300 in statement credits each year to use at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program — and this applies to room rates as well as incidentals like room service.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is currently offering: 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your new card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
This can effectively reduce the annual fee to $150, and keep in mind that the Bonvoy Brilliant gets you a free night award each year for properties that cost up to 50,000 points — this can easily get you more than $150 in value.
If you have other premium credit cards that also offer benefits like Priority Pass airport lounge access** and a Global Entry application fee credit, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card really only stands out for its high-end Marriott benefits. But if you frequently stay at Marriott hotels, you'll find those perks to be very useful for saving money and enjoying elite status perks. You'll find more details about the card's perks and benefits in our Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card review.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card (jump to Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card details »)
If you want to book your next Marriott stay on points and enjoy a few extras but don't stay at Marriotts enough to warrant paying $450 a year for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a great option.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is also offering a huge welcome bonus: 5 free nights (each worth up to 50,000 points) after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Cardholders receive a free night certificate, valid at hotels that cost 35,000 points or less, each year on their card anniversary — which can be worth much more than the card's $95 annual fee.
The card offers low-level Silver status with Marriott, and if you spend $35,000 on the card in a calendar year, you'll be upgraded to Gold status. (You can also get Gold status as a complimentary benefit with The Platinum Card® from American Express**.)
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card recently got a refresh, adding new bonus categories and the ability to earn one elite night credit for every $5,000 spent on the card. Read our Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card review to learn more.
Marriott Bonvoy Business card (jump to Marriott Bonvoy Business card details »)
If you travel for work and want to maximize your business purchases to earn Marriott points, the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card is a good option. It's currently offering a great welcome bonus: 75,000 bonus points after using your card to make $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership.
It offers helpful perks like complimentary Silver elite status and an annual free night award valid at hotels that cost up to 35,000 points. It also earns 4 Marriott points per dollar on a handful of business spending categories, like U.S. shipping purchases.
If you have a small business (even a part-time venture or side gig counts), check out your best options in our guide to the best small-business credit cards.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex Card rewards high spenders with a second free night award each year after their account anniversary when they spend $60,000 or more in a calendar year. There's also the opportunity to spend your way to Gold status — you'll get the bump after spending at least $35,000 in purchases in a calendar year. Learn more in our Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business card review.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold card (jump to Marriott Bonvoy Bold card details »)
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has a decent list of benefits for a no-annual-fee card, so if you want to earn Marriott points without incurring a yearly cost, it's worth considering.
There's currently an elevated welcome bonus offer of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening, and cardholders receive 15 elite night credits per year (qualifying them for Silver elite status).
No-annual-fee credit cards are popular options for those who want to minimize their out-of-pocket costs, but in many cases, you can get benefits from cards with annual fees that make them well worth the expense.
You'll also get perks like no foreign transaction fees, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, purchase protection, and Visa Signature Concierge access. Check out our Marriott Bonvoy Bold credit card review to learn more.
Amex Platinum card (jump to Amex Platinum card details »)
The Platinum Card is a good option if you want to enjoy perks when you stay at Marriott hotels, but you aren't necessarily a Marriott loyalist. That's because it offers complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold status to cardholders — along with complimentary Hilton Honors elite status**.
Marriott Bonvoy Gold status gets you benefits like room upgrades, late checkout, a 25% points bonus on paid stays, and a welcome gift.
The Platinum Card earns American Express Membership Rewards points, and Marriott is an Amex transfer partner — so if you need to top-off your Marriott account, you can move Amex points over instantly.
Keep in mind that the Platinum Card is a premium card — with a $695 annual fee (See Rates) — so you'll want to make sure you'll take advantage of its many other benefits before applying.
It's currently offering a sky-high welcome bonus of 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 in your first 6 months of card membership. Learn more about the many, many benefits you can take advantage of in our Amex Platinum card review.
Chase Sapphire Preferred card (jump to Chase Sapphire Preferred card details »)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is our top card recommendation for earning travel rewards, because you can use the Ultimate Rewards points it earns to book travel with a great selection of partners — including Marriott Bonvoy.
Right now, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is offering higher bonus than normal: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Because you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio, you can consider this bonus as an equal number of Marriott points.
Chase Ultimate Rewards are among the most flexible points currencies because there are so many ways to redeem them — including non-travel options like gift cards, statement credits, merchandise, and more.
Overall, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a strong pick because it earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases, and it gets you valuable travel coverage, all for a reasonable annual fee of $95. Read more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred card review.
Chase Sapphire Reserve card (jump to Chase Sapphire Reserve card details »)
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is definitely a premium option with a $550 annual fee — but if you want a travel card with all the bells and whistles, it's a top contender. It's currently offering a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The card's $300 in statement credits for travel effectively cuts the annual fee down to $250, and other benefits with DoorDash and Gopuff can add extra value. During the pandemic, Chase introduced a program called Pay Yourself Back through which you can use points for everyday purchases in popular categories, and with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® your points are worth 1.5 cents apiece when you redeem this way.
Torn between the Reserve and Preferred? Check out our post on how to decide which Sapphire card is best for you, and find out more about recent changes and new benefits on both cards.
As with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can transfer the points you earn with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to Marriott Bonvoy. Learn more about the benefits and perks in our Chase Sapphire Reserve review.
Marriott Bonvoy credit card — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are Marriott credit cards worth it?
If you like staying at Marriott Bonvoy brands and enjoy redeeming points for free stays, it's definitely worth considering opening a Marriott credit card. Frequent Marriott guests can earn a lot of bonus points using a card to pay for stays, and if the card you open comes with elite status, you can get extra perks.
That said, if you're not particularly loyal to Marriott or spread your travel among several brands, a travel credit card that earns transferable points is probably a better bet. You'll earn flexible rewards you can use for hotels, flights, and other travel, without being locked into a single loyalty program.
What credit score do you need for a Marriott credit card?
As with many lucrative travel rewards cards, you'll typically need at least good to excellent credit to qualify for any of the Marriott credit cards. That means a FICO score of at least 670, or a VantageScore of at least 700.
Read Insider's guides to improving your credit score and using credit cards to boost your score if you're new to credit or haven't quite reached a good score yet.
Can you have more than one Marriott credit card?
The application restrictions around Marriott co-branded cards are a little tricky to navigate, because the cards are issued by both Chase and Amex.
For Chase-issued cards, the 5/24 rule applies, which means you won't be approved if you've opened five or more cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months. And for Amex cards, you're not eligible if you've received the bonus on the exact same card before (the "once per lifetime rule").
In addition, each card has its own restrictions. Generally speaking, if you've recently opened or received a bonus on one Marriott card, you won't be able to open a different one for a specified amount of time. You can find the card's specific rules under "Offer and Benefits Terms" on the card application page.
For example, to be eligible for the bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, you can't have or have had that exact card (or the Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card, which is no longer available to new applicants). You also won't qualify for the bonus if:
- You are a current cardholder, or were a previous cardholder within the last 30 days, of The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card from JPMorgan or J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card
- You opened the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, or Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days
- You received a new cardmember bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, or Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months
Do Marriott points expire?
Marriott points will expire if your account doesn't have any qualifying activity in 24 months. That said, because of the COVID pandemic, Marriott has paused points expiration until December 31, 2022.
It's relatively easy to keep Marriott points from expiring. Earning points from co-branded credit cards, stays, points transfers from flexible points programs, and converting points to miles can all reset the clock.
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