Marriott Credit Cards: What to Know Before You Apply
A Marriott credit card can help you rack up points for free hotel stays at over 8,000 properties worldwide — from budget-friendly city hotels to dreamy overwater bungalows in the Maldives. Here’s what you need to know before applying.
1. Marriott Bonvoy Offers Six Credit Cards
There are currently six Marriott Bonvoy credit cards: five for individuals and one for businesses. These cards are issued by Chase or American Express and come with generous welcome bonuses:
-
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (Annual fee: $0)
Welcome offer: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening. -
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (Annual fee: $95)
Welcome offer: Earn 3 Free Nights (each valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months. Some hotels charge resort fees. -
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (Annual fee: $250; see rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Earn 155,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first 6 months. Terms apply. -
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card (Annual fee: $250)
Welcome offer: Earn 85,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months. -
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Annual fee: $650; see rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Earn 185,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months. Terms apply. -
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (Annual fee: $125; see rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Earn 125,000 points after spending $8,000 within the first 6 months. Offer ends 10/22/2025. Terms apply.
Marriott Card Highlights
| Card | Annual Fee | Rewards Structure | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bold® | $0 | 3X on Marriott stays, 2X on groceries and streaming, 1X elsewhere | Silver status |
| Boundless® | $95 | 6X on Marriott, 3X on grocery/gas/dining (up to $6K/year), 2X elsewhere | Silver status + Free Night (35K points) |
| Bevy® | $250 | 6X on Marriott, 4X on supermarkets and restaurants (up to $15K/year), 2X elsewhere | Gold status + Free Night (50K points after $15K spend) |
| Bountiful™ | $250 | Same as Bevy® | Same as Bevy® |
| Brilliant® | $650 | 6X on Marriott, 3X on dining and flights, 2X elsewhere | Platinum status, Free Night (85K points), $300 dining credit, Priority Pass |
| Business® | $125 | 6X on Marriott, 4X at restaurants, U.S. gas, wireless, shipping | Gold status + Free Night (35K points) |
2. Marriott Points Have Different Values Based on Hotel
For example, at the Royal Hawaiian in Oahu, you might pay 61,000 points for a night. That same room could cost $478, giving you about 0.78 cents per point. But the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel might cost 92,500 points — but with a $1,009 cash value, you’d get 1.09 cents per point.
💡 CreditVana Tip: Use CreditVana’s benchmark of 0.9 cents per point to gauge whether you’re getting good value.
3. “Free” Nights May Still Have Resort Fees
Unlike Hyatt and Hilton, Marriott does not waive resort fees for award bookings. Even if your stay is fully paid for with points, you might still owe $40+ per night in fees.
4. You Can Transfer Marriott Points to 39 Airlines
Need more miles for a flight? Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to 39 frequent flyer programs — typically at a 3:1 ratio.
✈️ CreditVana Tip: Transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points and you’ll get a 5,000-mile bonus on most airlines (not including American, Delta, or Avianca).
5. You Can Hold Multiple Marriott Cards
Since both Chase and American Express offer Marriott cards, it’s possible to hold more than one. But be aware of:
-
Annual fees stacking up.
-
Limited welcome bonuses: You’re typically ineligible if you’ve received a bonus on a Marriott card in the past 24 months.
6. Card Perks Go Beyond Points
Consider the extra perks to determine a card’s real value:
-
Rental Car Insurance: Included on the Bevy® and Brilliant® cards (terms apply).
-
Elite Status:
-
Platinum: Brilliant®
-
Gold: Bevy®, Bountiful™, Business®
-
Silver: Bold®, Boundless®
-
-
Free Night Awards:
-
Automatic with Boundless® (35K) and Brilliant® (85K).
-
Conditional with Bevy® and Bountiful™ (50K after $15K spend).
-
7. Your Spending Habits Should Influence Your Choice
Different cards reward different kinds of spending:
-
Brilliant®: 3X on flights and restaurants.
-
Bevy® / Bountiful™: 4X at supermarkets and restaurants (up to $15K/year).
-
Business®: 4X at U.S. gas stations, restaurants, wireless, and shipping.
Think about where you spend most — travel, dining, groceries — to pick the best fit.
8. High Fees Don’t Always Mean High Value
The Brilliant® Card has strong benefits but costs $650 annually. You can offset it with perks like:
-
Free Night (85K)
-
$300 dining credit
-
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
-
Lounge access
But for many, the Boundless® Card at $95/year is a better value: you get a free night (35K) every year automatically, with less spending required than the $250 cards (Bevy® and Bountiful™), which require $15,000 in annual spend to earn their free nights.
