featured-image

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy BountifulTM Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer. The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program includes over 10,000 destinations across 30+ brands worldwide.



You can earn Marriott points from paid stays, co-branded credit cards, or flexible reward transfers. Marriott eliminated its award chart, and now uses dynamic pricing for award stays at all hotels. Read Business Insider's guide to the best travel rewards credit cards to learn more.

Introduction to Marriott Bonvoy Marriott offers some of the most aspirational points hotels on the planet. Think overwater bungalows in Bora Bora, luxury villas in the desert, ski resorts in Aspen, and so much more. You can pay tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket for these experiences — or you can book them with points through the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty rewards program for free, or just for the cost of taxes and fees.

Earning Marriott Bonvoy points through hotel stays is one of the most obvious ways to accumulate free nights, but you can also maximize Marriott Bonvoy credit card rewards. You don't even need a Marriott credit card to build up your award stash: Many of the best travel rewards credit cards are Marriott partners that earn points that transfer to the Bonvoy program, while many others from Business Insider's guide to the best credit cards also earn transferrable rewards. Our comprehensive guide teaches you strategies for maximizing Marriott Bonvoy points, elaborates on the benefits of Marriott Bonvoy elite status tiers, and will have you redeeming points in the Marriott Bonvoy program in no time.

Marriott is the largest major hotel chain in the world by a long shot. Size isn't everything, but its broad footprint is great news for Marriott customers who'll usually have multiple hotels to choose from in big cities and smaller destinations worldwide. Marriott has merged many hotel brands into the fold over the years, including the luxury Ritz-Carlton brand, and acquired Starwood Hotels and Resorts in 2016 — a chain that was very popular with corporate travelers.

Marriott combined the various loyalty programs across its many brands in 2019, launching the Marriott Bonvoy Rewards program as we know it today. With dozens of different brands within the Marriott Bonvoy family, this massive hotel chain makes it easy to find the right place to stay on your next trip. If you're looking for a luxury hotel, you can choose from well-known brands like St.

Regis, Ritz-Carlton, and JW Marriott. Budget or extended-stay travelers may instead for Courtyard, Aloft, or Four Points properties within the same city. And if your plans change and you don't need to book a hotel, Marriott lets you transfer your points to over 35 different airlines — it's hard to find more versatility than that.

Marriott Bonvoy hotel brands AC Hotels Aloft Autograph Collection Courtyard by Marriott Delta Hotels Design Hotels EDITION Element Fairfield Inn & Suites Four Points by Sheraton Gaylord Hotels Homes & Villas by Marriott International JW Marriott Le Meridien The Luxury Collection Marriott Executive Apartments Marriott Hotels & Resorts Marriott Vacation Club Moxy Hotels Protea Hotels Renaissance Hotels Residence Inn The Ritz-Carlton The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Sheraton SpringHill Suites St. Regis TownePlace Suites Tribute Portfolio W Hotels Westin Earning Marriott Bonvoy points Award travelers value flexibility above almost any other value metric. Here are some ways to boost your points stash: There are many different ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, beginning with earning them from hotel stays.

Marriott Bonvoy members earn Bonvoy points per eligible dollar spent at the following rates: 10 points per dollar at most brands 5 points per dollar at Element, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Homes and Villas by Marriott International 2.5 points per dollar at Marriott Executive Apartments including room rate, food and beverage, spa treatments, and other incidental charges If you stay often enough with Marriott to earn elite status, you'll earn a bonus multiplier at the following rates: Marriott Silver status: 10% bonus Marriott Gold status: 25% bonus Marriott Platinum status: 50% bonus Marriott Titanium status: 75% bonus Marriott Ambassador status: 75% bonus This means that a general member of the Marriott program who spends $500 staying at a hotel (excluding taxes) will earn 5,000 points ($500 x 10 points per dollar), while a top-tier Ambassador elite member would earn 8,750 points on the same stay ($500 x 17.5 points per dollar).

When booking stays at a Marriott hotel, it's important to book directly with Marriott and make sure that your Bonvoy number is attached to the reservation to make sure your points are posted correctly. Since the program has a number of known glitches when it comes to tracking credit for hotel stays, our experts strongly recommend double-checking your earnings after check-out to make sure everything is correct. Once you start racking up points and using them for memorable family vacations or luxury getaways around the globe, you're bound to get questions from friends who want to get in on the action.

The best part is that you can be rewarded for good advice. If you refer a friend who gets approved for a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, you can earn 20,000 points or more per referral. Marriott allows you to purchase points in 1,000-point increments, starting at $12.

50 for 1,000 points. You can only purchase or receive as a gift up to 100,000 points a year. Make sure to keep your eye out for sales or bonuses on purchased points.

We've seen several this year alone, and these promotions can help make this a compelling option to boost your balance. If you're short on points, you can also buy up to another 100,000 Marriott points each year while booking a hotel reservation. Marriott offers the ability to earn bonus points when dining at local restaurants with the " Eat Around Town " dining program.

It's free to join. Register and link your preferred credit card(s), and the points will automatically roll in when you dine at a participating partner. You can even earn a modest bonus after signing up.

Redeeming Marriott points Marriott has officially ditched its award chart and now prices hotel nights between 5,000 and 120,000 points per night. The number of points required for an award stay will vary based on demand, paid rates, season, and other factors. Marriott points are worth 0.

7 cents apiece on average, based on Business Insider's valuations of what points and miles are worth . The exact value you'll get depends on where and when you stay. Where you'll get the most value depends on how and when you like to travel, but the best deals usually fall at both ends of the spectrum.

Unsurprisingly, you'll get the best value by redeeming your Marriott Bonvoy points for properties that cost five figures per night. If you want to stretch your points, you can combine cash and points on most Marriott hotel bookings. If you are slightly short on the points you need for an upcoming reservation, you can consider transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards ® or Amex Membership Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy.

Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, though transfer bonuses are occasionally available to sweeten the deal. This is generally a pretty poor value compared to redeeming your Chase and Amex points for flights, and you should really only consider this option if you're short on points and running out of time. You can also transfer United Airlines miles to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio.

We don't recommend this, since United Airlines miles are significantly more valuable than Marriott points, according to our valuations. But it's still nice to know your options, especially if you just need a few more points to book your dream stay. Marriott Bonvoy members who book with points can get a fifth night free when booking five or more consecutive nights on a single stay.

This perk applies to the cheapest night of your stay, not necessarily the actual fifth night. Whether you're getting pampered in a beachfront Ritz-Carlton or stretching your points on a backpacking trip, getting around 20% off your award rate in the form of a fifth night free is an incredible deal. Business Insider's credit card experts have used this benefit to enjoy free nights in the Maldives, Dubai, and Greece, to name just a few aspirational destinations.

Marriott makes the "Stay 5, Pay for 4" benefit quite easy to use, as the discount will automatically appear when you search for eligible award stays of five nights or more. Most Marriott Bonvoy credit cards offer a free night certificate on your card member anniversary each year. The value of your free night certificate depends on which card(s) you hold.

There are three tiers of free night certificates, worth up to the values below: Up to 35,000 Bonvoy points: Offered on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card credit cards Up to 50,000 Bonvoy points: Offered on the Marriott Bonvoy BevyTM American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy BountifulTM Card credit cards Up to 85,000 Bonvoy points: Offered on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card credit card Marriott allows members to spend up to 15,000 additional Bonvoy points to each free-night certificate to book hotel nights that have a higher award rate. For example, you could use a 35,000-point certificate plus 15,000 Bonvoy points to book a hotel that costs 50,000 points. If you're selective and intentional with how you redeem these free night certificates, they can provide a comfortable stay while saving you hundreds of dollars.

One of my best uses came on a business trip to Chicago. Nearly every hotel room in the city was booked up for a major conference, but I was able to redeem a free night certificate at the JW Marriott Chicago for a room that would've cost $680 instead. I've also used certificates to stay at luxury hotels like the St.

Regis Beijing , as well as boutique properties in places like Hong Kong and Cambridge. You'd be surprised at some of the hotels that are priced reasonably enough to redeem your certificates. If you hold Marriott Bonvoy elite status, you'll often be offered complimentary room upgrades — in fact, an automatic upgrade to a room or suite one level up is guaranteed when available for some Bonvoy elite status tiers.

But if you don't have status, you can use your points to upgrade certain Marriott hotel rooms. You can typically do so in one of two ways: You can book a standard awards room on points and upgrade to a higher tier with cash, or you may be able to select a higher-tier room directly on points at booking. We've talked a lot about flexibility, which is why I want to end by highlighting the fact that Marriott Bonvoy offers more airline transfer partners than Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards combined.

Some of these partners overlap with other programs such as United MileagePlus or British Airways Executive Club, but many are unique to Marriott and offer generous value. Nearly all airlines transfer at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. Plus, when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points to United, you'll receive 30,000 United miles thanks to a 10,000-mile bonus per 60,000 Bonvoy points.

Note: A handful of airline partners no longer offer a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. The exceptions are American Airlines, Avianca, Delta, and Korean Air. Take Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan , for example.

Spending 180,000 Marriott points could get you a nice two- or three-night stay in an upscale luxury hotel. But you could also transfer that into 75,000 Alaska Airlines miles, which is enough to book a one-way first-class ticket from the U.S.

to Asia on Cathay Pacific. Alaska even lets you include a free stopover on one-way awards, so you could fly from New York to Hong Kong, stop for a week or two to explore the city, and continue on to Singapore at no added cost. Since Alaska's only other transferable points partner is Bilt Rewards , Marriott transfers are a great way to quickly accumulate Alaska miles.

There are many other options for using Marriott points including non-travel redemptions, but you'll typically get much less value than if you redeem for Marriott stays or transfer your points to airlines: Use points to book airfare, car rentals, or air and car packages Redeem points for exclusive events, experiences, concerts, tours, and more through Marriott Bonvoy Moments Cash in points for gift cards or merchandise through Marriott Shop With Points Donate points to charity for disaster relief, including the American Red Cross and Unicef Marriott also offers the ability to share points with other members, up to a maximum of 100,000 points a year, in increments of 1,000 points. This is helpful if you (or a friend) are short points for an award stay, or if you're traveling together and want to pool your points for a redemption. Marriott Bonvoy elite status Marriott Bonvoy members can benefit significantly from earning elite status with this global hotel chain.

Noteworthy perks include free breakfast, 4 p.m. check-out, early check-in, and more.

While staying in hotels is the standard way to earn status, multiple credit cards grant cardholders complimentary Marriott Bonvoy status. All Marriott credit cards come with Silver-level elite status at minimum and at least 15 elite night credits, which can help you quickly rise to the next status tier. Every year, you can earn one set of credits from a personal card, and one from a business card.

If you hold both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, for example, you'll earn 40 elite night credits a year. That means you just need to spend 35 nights in a hotel in order to earn Titanium status and the extra perks it unlocks. Another elite-status tip: If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you'll get complimentary Marriott Gold elite status.

Just be sure to activate the benefit , since you won't automatically receive the Marriott elite status boost. These are the five tiers of Marriott Bonvoy loyalty levels that members can earn: 10% Marriott points bonus on eligible hotel purchases Ultimate reservation guarantee: The hotel will compensate you for a nearby stay if it cannot honor your reservation Priority late checkout Member rates and complimentary WiFi 25% Marriott points bonus on eligible hotel purchases 2 p.m.

late checkout, subject to availability Complimentary room upgrade when available Ultimate reservation guarantee Welcome gift of bonus Bonvoy points when checking in Earn Emirates Skyward miles on Marriott stays and Bonvoy points on Emirates flights Complimentary option to fast-track earning Hertz elite status Member rates and complimentary WiFi 50% Marriott points bonus on eligible hotel purchases 4 p.m. late checkout, subject to availability Complimentary room upgrade when available Ultimate reservation guarantee Welcome gift of points, breakfast, or property-specific amenity (guest's choice) Dedicated 24/7 customer support hotline Annual choice benefit after staying 50 qualifying nights Earn Emirates Skyward miles on Marriott stays and Bonvoy points on Emirates flights Complimentary Hertz Five Star elite status Member rates and complimentary WiFi 75% Marriott points bonus on eligible hotel purchases 4 p.

m. late checkout, subject to availability Complimentary room upgrade when available Ultimate reservation guarantee Welcome gift of points, breakfast, or property-specific amenity (guest's choice) Dedicated 24/7 customer support hotline Annual choice benefit after staying 50 qualifying nights Second annual choice benefit after staying 75 qualifying nights 48-hour room guarantee: Book by 3 p.m.

48 hours before arrival to ensure a room Complimentary Hertz Five Star elite status Complimentary United Airlines Silver status Earn Emirates Skyward miles on Marriott stays and Bonvoy points on Emirates flights Member rates and complimentary WiFi 75% Marriott points bonus on eligible hotel purchases 4 p.m. late checkout, subject to availability Your24: Ambassadors can set their own check-in and check-out times Complimentary room upgrade when available Ultimate reservation guarantee Welcome gift of points, breakfast, or property-specific amenity (guest's choice) Dedicated 24/7 customer support hotline Dedicated personal Marriott Bonvoy ambassador service Annual choice benefit after staying 50 qualifying nights Second annual choice benefit after staying 75 qualifying nights 48-hour room guarantee: Book by 3 p.

m. 48 hours before arrival to ensure a room Complimentary Hertz President's Circle elite status Complimentary United Airlines Silver status Earn Emirates Skyward miles on Marriott stays and Bonvoy points on Emirates flights Member rates and complimentary WiFi Strategic use of Marriott Bonvoy credit cards Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.

Earn 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the card. $650 N/A 20.99% - 29.

99% Variable Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points Good to Excellent Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual statement credits can save you money on Marriott stays Check mark icon A check mark.

It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. You get a free reward night each year after your renewal month con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High annual fee con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'.

Other cards are more rewarding for earning points on your spending If you're loyal to Marriott, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card can help you save money and improve your stays, thanks to automatic Marriott Platinum Elite status and lots of opportunities to earn additional points. Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.

With Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate. Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.

Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.

Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.

choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.

$100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.

Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.

Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.

Terms apply. Enroll in Priority PassTM Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights.

You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location. No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases. With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account.

A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

$650 Annual Fee. Terms Apply. Earn up to 17X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.

Earn 3X points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. Earn 2X points on all other purchases. $95 N/A 21.

49% - 28.49% Variable Earn 125,000 bonus points Good to Excellent Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.

Annual free night reward for hotels that cost up to 35,000 points can be worth more than annual fee con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. The only lucrative bonus category is participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Upgrading to Gold status requires spending $35,000 on the card in an account year If you want to earn Marriott points on your everyday spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a great option with a reasonable annual fee and a generous welcome bonus offer.

It comes with good benefits, including a free night award each card anniversary and elite status credits for meeting spending thresholds. Earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. Earn 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.

S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S.

service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.

Earn 2x Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card points on all other eligible purchases. $125 N/A 20.49% - 29.

49% Variable Limited Time Offer: Earn 5 Free Night Awards Good to Excellent Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Comes with a free night reward every year after your card renewal month Check mark icon A check mark.

It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earns 4x points on several bonus spending categories, including U.S.

purchases for shipping and restaurants worldwide Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'.

Not the best option for earning rewards on non-bonus category purchases con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $125 annual fee may not be worth it for less frequent Marriott guests Small-business owners with a credit card strategy of free hotel stays will get a lot of value from this card. Even if you own a part-time business or have a side hustle, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is a great pick.

Limited Time Offer: Earn 5 Free Night Awards, valued at up to 50K points each for eligible stays after you use your new card to make $8,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 10/16. Resort fees & terms apply.

Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate. 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.

S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S.

service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.

2x Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card 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.

Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.

Terms apply. Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services.

Earn 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. $0 N/A 21.49% - 28.

49% Variable Earn 60,000 bonus points and one free night award Good to Excellent Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee Check mark icon A check mark.

It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cardholders get 15 elite night credits toward status con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Only offers strong rewards for Marriott purchases The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card comes with an increased limited-time welcome bonus and good perks for a no-annual-fee card, but unless paying an annual fee is a dealbreaker for you, other Marriott cards — like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card , Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — are a better deal.

Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S.

supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points). Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases. $250 N/A 20.

99% - 29.99% Variable Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points Good to Excellent Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.

Substantial welcome offer and 4x bonus points on dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets Check mark icon A check mark.

It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Automatic Marriott Gold elite status (room upgrades and late checkout when available, bonus points on stays) Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.

Earn 1,000 bonus Marriott points per stay con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High annual fee con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No free night award after your account anniversary; must spend $15,000 in a year to earn con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'.

4x points capped at $15,000 in combined purchases on dining and U.S. supermarkets The Marriott Bonvoy BevyTM American Express® Card is worth considering if you stay with Marriott often, want to earn points fast, and don't mind paying a high annual fee for better earning rates and premium travel perks like Gold elite status.

But the card has some notable caveats compared to some other Marriott Bonvoy credit cards that affect its overall appeal. Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.

Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.

S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points). Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.

Marriott Bonvoy 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy. With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy BevyTM Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.

15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy BevyTM American Express Card® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.

Terms apply. Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.

$250 Annual Fee. Terms Apply. Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy Points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.

Earn 4X points on the first $15,000 in combined purchases each year on grocery stores and dining. Earn 2X points on all other purchases. $250 N/A 21.

49% - 28.49% Variable Earn 85,000 bonus points N/A Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.

Substantial welcome offer and 4x bonus points on dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets Check mark icon A check mark.

It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Automatic Marriott Gold elite status (room upgrades and late checkout when available, bonus points on stays) Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.

Earn 1,000 bonus Marriott points per stay con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High annual fee con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No free night award after your account anniversary; must spend $15,000 in a year to earn con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'.

4x points capped at $15,000 in combined purchases on dining and U.S. supermarkets The Marriott Bonvoy BountifulTM Card comes with automatic Gold elite status and other perks that appeal to frequent Marriott travelers.

However, it's got a $250 annual fee, so unless you can maximize its benefits, a different Marriott card would be a better fit. Corporate travelers easily earn Marriott elite status the old-fashioned way: through frequent hotel stays. But for most people who don't live out of hotels, credit cards offer a powerful elite status shortcut and can help boost your earning rates.

Expert insight: Marriott is one of the few travel brands that issues co-branded credit cards with two different banks: American Express and Chase. While the exact earning rates and benefits vary from card to card, most Marriott credit cards offer 6 points per dollar on Marriott purchases and 2 points per dollar on non-bonus spending. Starting at the top of the ladder is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card , which offers upgraded perks such as automatic Platinum Elite status.

The card currently offers a welcome bonus of 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership, worth around $1,295 in stays, based on Business Insider's points and miles valuations . Cardholders receive up to $25 in statement credits a month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide (up to $300 per year), and 25 elite night credits a year. In exchange for the high annual fee of $650, you also get a Priority Pass Select membership and a free night worth up to 85,000 points every year after your card renewal month.

Marriott points are worth 0.7 cents apiece by our valuations, which means you should be able to get an average of $595 in value from the free night award alone. You can book nearly any Marriott hotel on earth with this certificate, depending on the travel season.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card earns 6 Marriott points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program, 3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points on all other eligible purchases. Read our Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex card review . If you're looking to add a Marriott card to your wallet but can't justify the annual fee of the Bonvoy Brilliant, consider the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase.

This card has a welcome offer of 125,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in purchases in your first three months from your account opening. This bonus is worth around $875 in stays, according to Business Insider's valuations. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card carries a $95 annual fee and comes with automatic Marriott Silver elite status and an anniversary night worth up to 35,000 points.

Cardholders earn Bonvoy points at the following rates: 6x on all Marriott purchases in addition to the points they'd normally earn for a stay 3x on dining, gas, and groceries on up to $6,000 in combined purchases each year, then 2x 2x everywhere else Cardholders can also earn one elite night credit for every $5,000 they spend on the card, which is handy if you're working toward a higher level of elite status. Read our Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card review . The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card currently has an offer of five Free Night Awards, valued at up to 50,000 points each for eligible stays, after you use your new card to make $8,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership (offer ends 10/16/2024).

The card comes with a $125 annual fee and an anniversary night worth up to 35,000 points. And if you spend $60,000 or more in a calendar year, you'll receive another anniversary night worth up to 35,000 points. It also offers complimentary Gold elite status, and cardholders can get a 7% discount on eligible bookings made directly with Marriott for participating properties.

Similar to the other cards on this list, the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex Card earns 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program, 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.

S. service providers and on U.S.

purchases for shipping and 2x Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card points on all other eligible purchases. Read our Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex card review . The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card currently offers an elevated bonus of 60,000 bonus points and one free night award after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, worth about $210 in stays.

If you're sticking to a budget, this $0-annual-fee card is an option. When it comes to travel rewards cards, you usually get what you pay for, and cheaper is not necessarily better. This card comes with 3x points on Marriott purchases (in addition to points you'd normally earn from a stay), 2x on other travel purchases, then 1x everywhere else.

It does not offer a anniversary free-night certificate. The card does come with 15 elite night credits, which is a valuable benefit to reaching elite status for a no-annual-fee travel credit card . Read our Marriott Bonvoy Bold credit card review .

If you're looking to earn points fast, consider the Marriott Bonvoy BevyTM American Express® Card. It currently offers a welcome bonus of 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership, worth about $1,085 in stays, based on Business Insider's valuations. There's a $250 annual fee.

The most notable feature of this card is that it earns you a 1,000-point bonus on every qualifying Marriott stay when you use the card to pay. So if you stay with Marriott often, the Marriott Bonvoy BevyTM American Express® Card might be worth considering. Plus, you'll get automatic Gold elite status.

The Marriott Bonvoy BevyTM American Express® Card earns 6x on hotel purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy locations, and 4x at global restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.

However, restaurant and supermarket earning rates are capped after $15,000 in combined purchases, after which you'll earn 2x per dollar. Read our Marriott Bonvoy Bevy credit card review . If you're interested in the Marriott Bonvoy BevyTM American Express® Card, you should also consider its nearly-identical sibling: the Marriott Bonvoy BountifulTM Card.

It's offering 85,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first three months from your account opening, also for a $250 annual fee. The Marriott Bonvoy BountifulTM Card earns 6x on hotel purchases, and 4x on dining and groceries (2x on everything else). Keep in mind that the $15,000 cap on restaurant and supermarket rewards rates also applies to this card.

Card owners get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status which includes exclusive perks such as room upgrades, late checkout, and 25% more points on hotel purchases. The Marriott Bonvoy BountifulTM Card also offers 15 elite night credits every year toward the next elite tier. One of the biggest caveats for both the Marriott Bonvoy BountifulTM Card and the Marriott Bonvoy BevyTM American Express® Card is that you won't be able to earn an automatic annual free night certificate.

Instead, you'll need to make $15,000 in purchases in a calendar year to receive a free night award, redeemable on rooms worth up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. While there are some decent uses for these cards, other Marriott Bonvoy cards are a better value for most travelers. Read our Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card review .

Marriott Bonvoy Rewards frequently asked questions Marriott Bonvoy members earn 10 points per dollar on most hotel stays. Members with elite status can earn up to 75% more on top of the 10x, and Marriott credit cardholders get yet another boost with further multipliers. Cardholders can also use their Marriott credit cards for non-hotel transactions.

Using an online shopping portal to maximize your rewards on every purchase also goes a long way. Points can be redeemed for Marriott hotel stays, room upgrades, used for exclusive experiences such as sweepstakes packages for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour , and transferred to a wide range of airline partners for flights. Elite status members enjoy benefits such as bonus points on stays, complimentary room upgrades, lounge access, late check-out, and more, with perks increasing across Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador levels.

Marriott Bonvoy points are best used on aspirational stays such as overwater villas in the Maldives, all-inclusive resorts in Aspen or the Caribbean, and other properties where the nightly cash value is extremely high. Booking hotel stays directly through Marriott, paying with a Marriott credit card, and earning elite status all help you earn Bonvoy points more quickly. Yes, Marriott offers six credit cards, all of which come with complimentary elite status.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card cardholders get automatic Platinum Elite status, and cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express get automatic Gold Elite status. Marriott points are worth 0.7 cents apiece on average, so 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points are worth $350 by Business Insider's valuations.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Evaluated the Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Loyalty Program Business Insider's team of award travel experts evaluates loyalty programs based on the cash value of each system relative to the points you can earn through various means. Some of the criteria we consider include: Earning potential — How hard is it to earn points in this hotel rewards program? Are there multiple ways to accumulate rewards? Ease of use — Is it easy to redeem earned rewards? How many destinations are available worldwide? Flexibility — Are there multiple ways to use points beyond hotel redemptions? Learn more about what points and miles are worth in our valuations guide..

Back to Luxury Page