What’s the Best Credit Card for Marriott Stays? A Look at the Numbers

When you stay at a Marriott property, which credit card gives you the best return on your hotel spending? Is it better to use a co-branded Marriott card, or should you choose another card that earns bonus points on travel? It’s a question that comes up regularly, so let’s break it down.

The best card to use for Marriott hotel stays

I’ve previously covered the best credit cards for hotel purchases, but this time the focus is narrower: if you’re paying for a Marriott stay, which card should you use? Here’s a look at the main options.

It’s important to remember that everyone values points differently, so you should use your own assumptions when doing the math. The numbers below are based on my personal valuation of different points currencies.

I also want to make clear that your choice of credit card does not affect your ability to earn elite qualifying nights, enjoy elite benefits, or earn the standard points available through the Marriott Bonvoy program. The extra value from the payment card is simply on top of those normal earnings.

The case for using a co-branded Marriott card

In the United States, Marriott offers co-branded credit cards issued by American Express and Chase. The cards with annual fees all follow the same earning structure for Marriott spending, awarding 6x Bonvoy points on eligible charges.

That includes cards such as the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, among others. I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents apiece, which means these cards effectively provide a 4.2% return on Marriott purchases.

One detail worth noting is that the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card also gives 1,000 Bonvoy bonus points per Marriott stay when you pay with the card, in addition to the usual earnings.

On paper, that makes it the strongest co-branded option for Marriott spending, since you get 6x points plus the extra 1,000 points per stay. Even so, I would still view it as one of the weaker Marriott cards overall when considering the full value proposition.

The best non-Marriott card to use

In general, I prefer putting most spending on cards that earn transferable points, since those rewards are more flexible and often have stronger bonus categories.

For hotel purchases, I would argue the two best options are the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card and Sapphire Reserve for Business℠, both of which earn 4x transferable points on direct hotel bookings. Since I value Ultimate Rewards points at 1.7 cents each, that works out to a 6.8% return, which is excellent.

There are also other cards that earn 3x points on hotels, including the Citi Strata Premier® Card, which I would value at a 5.1% return. Another strong option is the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card, which earns 5x points on hotel purchases, although I do not value those points quite as highly as some other transferable currencies.

The card I personally use for Marriott spending

For my own hotel spending, I typically use the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve Business. Put simply, I would rather earn 4x Ultimate Rewards points than 6x Bonvoy points on Marriott purchases.

The difference in value is simply too large, since I consider 4x Ultimate Rewards points worth more than 6x Bonvoy points. That said, this also connects to a broader point: points valuations do not always determine how people actually behave.

For example, when the Chase Sapphire Reserve earned only 3x Ultimate Rewards points on hotel spending, I still preferred using a co-branded Marriott card for Marriott stays. Why? Because it is harder to earn Bonvoy points efficiently.

I can earn transferable points in many ways, including through everyday spending. By contrast, there are not many efficient ways to build up Bonvoy points besides staying at Marriott properties. As I often say when discussing points strategy, there can be value in collecting rewards that are harder to earn, even if they are not the currency you value most. That used to influence my thinking more strongly, although my view has changed now that the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 4x points per dollar on hotels.

Bottom line

Everyone approaches credit card rewards differently, and it can be difficult to decide which card is best for a given spending category.

For Marriott stays, I would say the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve Business are now the most rewarding choices, since they earn 4x Ultimate Rewards points on hotel spending, which I value at a 6.8% return. That compares favorably with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, which earns 6x Bonvoy points that I value at a 4.2% return.