- Are you a credit card beginner? See this post for background information about credit cards and miles.
There are 6 Marriott cards that you can get today. These cards aren’t as lucrative as they were under Starwood, but they do come with some unique perks.
This post will examine which cards are best for you.
Chase cards (You can switch between any of the Chase Marriott cards below):
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card
AMEX cards (You can switch between the Marriott Consumer AMEX cards below):
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX
Table of Contents
Marriott Bonvoy Points:
Marriott Bonvoy points are among the more flexible hotel point currencies as they have a good airline transfer ratio.
You can transfer increments of 60K Marriott points into 25K airline miles or 27.5K miles with United. Additionally, airlines often have their own bonuses for hotel point transfers.
Marriott has dozens of valuable airline transfer partners, such as Aegean, Alaska, American, JAL, Lufthansa, Qantas, and dozens more!
Miles from these airlines can be very valuable and hard to get from other sources. For example JAL miles allow you to book awards on Emirates, AA, and BA with discounted or no fuel surcharges as well as mileage bargains. Alaska miles opens up bargains on airlines like Cathay Pacific and Qantas with no fuel surcharges and they allow 2 free stopovers on awards.
You can also use Marriott points at thousands of hotels worldwide like the S. Regis Maldives:
Or the S. Regis Bal Harbour:
Or the Ritz Carlton Herzliya:
You can view Marriott’s award chart in this post.
Signup bonus:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: Normally 30K points, now 50K points for spending $1,000 in 3 months. Read more about this limited time offer here.
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: Normally 75K points, now 100K points for spending $3,000 in 3 months. Read more about this limited time offer here.
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Not open for direct applications, Only available for card conversions.
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: Not open for direct applications, Only available for card conversions.
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: 75K points for spending $3,000 in 3 months.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: 75K points for spending $3,000 in 3 months.
Winner: Chase Marriott Boundless
Annual fee:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: $0
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: $95
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: $450
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: $95
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: $450
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: $125
Winner: Chase Marriott Bold
Annual fee for additional cardholders:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: $0
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: $0
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: $0
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: $0
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: $0
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: $0
Winner: Tie
Points per dollar on airfare:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: 2
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: 2
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: 3
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: 2
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: 3
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: 2
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Points per dollar on dining:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: 1
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: 2
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: 3
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: 2
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: 3, in the US only
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: 2, in the US only
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton
Points per dollar on gas stations, wireless service, and shipping:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: 1
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: 2
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: 2
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: 2
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: 2
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: 4, in the US only
Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Business
Points per dollar on Marriott Hotels:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: 3
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: 6
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: 6
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: 6
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: 6
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: 6
Winner: 5 way tie.
Points per dollar on everyday spending:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: 1 (2 on travel)
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: 2
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: 2
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: 2
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: 2
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: 2
Winner: 5 way tie.
Foreign Transaction Fees:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: None
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: None
Winner: Tie
Free elite status level:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: Silver
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: Silver
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Gold
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: Silver
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: Gold
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: Silver
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Elite status with annual spending:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: Gold with $35K spending
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Platinum with $75K spending
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: Gold with $35K spending
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: Platinum with $75K spending
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: Gold with $35K spending
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Anniversary free night:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: Up to 35K Marriott points
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Up to 50K Marriott points
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: Up to 35K Marriott points
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: Up to 50K Marriott points
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: Up to 35K Marriott points
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Additional Anniversary free night:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: None
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: Bonus night up to 35K Marriott points for spending $60K in a calendar year
Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX
Additional Ritz Carlton Club Level Upgrade Certs:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: None
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: 3 certs good for up to 7 nights each on qualifying paid stays
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: None
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton
Annual Marriott/Starwood hotel credit:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: None
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: $300
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: None
Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Annual airline fee credit:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: None
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: $300
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: None
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: None
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Full credit every 4 years.
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: Full credit every 4 years.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: None
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Complimentary premium in-room internet:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: No
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: Yes
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: Yes
Winner: 5 way tie.
Priority Pass lounge membership:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: None
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Yes, with unlimited free guests and free restaurant spend for each guest
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: Yes, with 2 free guests and no restaurant spend
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: None
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton
Priority Pass lounge membership for free additional users:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: None
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Yes, with unlimited free guests and free restaurant spend for each guest
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: None
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton
Return Protection:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: None
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: None
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Elite night credits:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: 15 consumer nights
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: 15 consumer nights
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: 15 consumer nights
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: 15 consumer nights
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: 15 consumer nights
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: 15 business nights
Winner: Tie
Roadside Assistance:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: None
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: 4 free uses per year
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: None
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton
US Car Rental CDW Coverage:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: Secondary
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: Secondary
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Primary
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: Secondary
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: Secondary
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: Secondary
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton
Baggage Insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: Yes
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: Yes
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: Yes
Winner: Tie.
Trip Delay Reimbursement:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: Yes
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: Yes
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: No
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: No
Winner: 4 way tie
Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: Yes
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: Yes
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: No
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: No
Winner: 4 way tie
Emergency Medical and Dental when traveling:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: None
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: None
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: Yes
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: None
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: None
Winner: JPMorgan Ritz Carlton
Comparison chart of the card benefits:
| Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card | Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card | JPMorgan Ritz Carlton Card | Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX | Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $95 | $450 | $95 | $450 | $125 |
| Welcome Bonus | Only available for card conversions | Only available for card conversions | ||||
| Points earned on everyday purchases | 1 (2 on travel purchases) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Points earned on airfare | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Points earned on Marriott hotels | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Points earned on restaurants | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3, US only | 4, US only |
| Points earned on gas stations, wireless service, and shipping | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4, US only |
| Free elite status level | Silver | Silver | Gold | Silver | Gold | Silver |
| Elite night credits | 15 consumer nights | 15 consumer nights | 15 consumer nights | 15 consumer nights | 15 consumer nights | 15 business nights |
| Elite status with annual spending | None | Gold for $35K | Platinum for $75K | Gold for $35K | Platinum for $75K | Gold for $35K |
| Anniversary night | None | Automatic free night up to 35K Marriott points | Automatic free night up to 50K Marriott points | Automatic free night up to 35K Marriott points | Automatic free night up to 50K Marriott points | Automatic free night up to 35K Marriott points |
| Additional Anniversary night | None | None | None | None | None | 35K night if you spend $60K in a calendar year |
| Annual Marriott/Starwood hotel credit. | None | None | None | None | $300 | None |
| Annual Ritz-Carlton Club Level Upgrade Certs On Paid Stays | None | None | 3 | None | None | None |
| Annual airline fee credit | None | None | $300 | None | None | None |
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit | None | None | Full credit every 4 years. | None | Full credit every 4 years. | None |
| Foreign transaction fees | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Complimentary premium in-room internet | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority Pass lounge membership | No | No | Yes, with unlimited free guests and free restaurant spend | No | Yes, with 2 free guests | No |
| Priority Pass lounge membership for free additional users | No | No | Yes, with unlimited free guests and free restaurant spend | No | No | No |
| Return Protection | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Roadside Assistance | No | No | 4 free uses per year | No | No | No |
| US Car Rental CDW Coverage | Secondary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary |
| Emergency Medical and Dental when traveling | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Trip Delay Reimbursement | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Baggage Insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Win count:
- Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card: 7
- Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: 10
- JPMorgan/Chase Ritz Carlton Consumer Card: 23
- Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX: 7
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX: 16
- Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX: 8
Of course this battle isn’t entirely fair, as the annual fees range from $0-$450, but at the premium $450 level, the JPMorgan Ritz Carlton wins easily. In the lower end range, the Chase Marriott Boundless card is the winner. If you want the JPMorgan then you’ll want to take advantage of the limited time 100K offer on the Chase Marriott Boundless card and then upgrade it to the JPMorgan Ritz Carlton down the line. Read more about this limited time offer here.
Which Marriott cards do you have and which benefits do you value the most? Which “battle” post do you want to see next?
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25 Comments On "Battle Of The Marriott Cards: Which Marriott Cards Should You Have? Plus: Comparison Chart Of 6 Marriott Cards"
All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.
If I have the Bonvoy Consumer Amex, what is the best move? Do I cancel the card, wait 30 days, and then sign up for Chase Boundless card? Will I lose any elite night credits in the interim?
Makes sense to me as long as you’re under 5/24.
Once you get elite nights, you won’t lose them.
What about the anniversary night and my Marriott points? Will I loose those if I cancel my Bonvoy Consumer Amex card?
No
How do you get the ritz Carlton card what do you need to do to get Eligible
Just call Chase to upgrade from any of their Marriott consumer cards. Some reps won’t upgrade unless you have had the card for 12 months.
Thanks for the info
Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card: 2,Mine and my wife’s
which benefits do you value the most? Signup bonuses (and upgrade bonus from the old marriott card 10k+40j+40k)
You didnt write anything about how you are eligible for the sign up bonuses… Meaning if you have any of their cards etc.
The terms can be seen on the application form, or in posts on individual cards like:
https://www.dansdeals.com/credit-cards/limited-time-offer-earn-100000-points-chase-marriott-bonvoy-boundless-card-50000-points-no-fee-marriott-bonvoy-bold-card/
How can I find out if I am eligible for the bonvoy chase credit cards? I got a bonus on the business and one of the personal card but not sure how long ago it was
Rules are here:
https://www.dansdeals.com/credit-cards/limited-time-offer-earn-100000-points-chase-marriott-bonvoy-boundless-card-50000-points-no-fee-marriott-bonvoy-bold-card/
Call and ask when you got them.
Which “battle” post do you want to see next?
AmEx MR cards
If starting clean, how many of them can I get at the same time? Interested in getting 30 elite night credits from 2 cards.
The only way to get 30 credits is to have a business card and a consumer card and I might only be the AMEX biz that stacks (not sure if Chase biz does, but I know AMEX for sure does as I have that and the Brilliant and got 30 credits this year from them).
Thanks, would I be able to get a Chase consumer card and a Amex business card at the same time and still get the sign on points for both? Couldn’t find this info anywhere.
Technically, if you have received the bonus on one of those 2 in the past 24 months, you aren’t eligible for a bonus on the other one. There might be DPs of people who applied for both on the same day to try to skirt that- I think the results were mixed but not entirely sure.
Now that I have the Amex Bus Platinum card, is there a benefit of also having the ritz card.
Sure, completely different benefits.
137
Darn, should have been at least 250.
Too funny Dan…
Great analysis of the Marriott Cards. Don’t overlook the benefits of the current cards you hold…some will overlap and possibly be better. I have the conversion card from SPG.
Hi Dan, I currently have a consumer marriott card, If i get a business one too, will I then get 30 elite night credits?
You can and will get 30 elite night credits, but Marriott’s rule is you can’t earn a welcome bonus on both Chase AND Amex-issued Marriott cards within a 24-month period. So that would apply if you have either the Chase Bonvoy Boundless or Chase Bonvoy Bold.
Plus, if you do apply without being eligible for the welcome bonus, you then can’t receive one if you try to cancel the Bonvoy Business Card and open a new one in the future (once per lifetime rule on all Amex cards), unless Amex happens to send you a targeted offer without lifetime language.
However, if your Marriott consumer card is from Amex- either the Bonvoy Brilliant OR the legacy Bonvoy/Starwood Amex (which the Chase Boundless replaced after the Marriott/SPG merger)- you CAN earn a welcome bonus on the Bonvoy Business Card if you haven’t had either it (or the legacy Starwood Amex Business Card) previously.
This is because Marriott does allow you to earn welcome bonuses on both the Amex Brilliant and Business Card within a 24-month period if you don’t have the equivalent legacy Chase card that was issued before the merger (Chase Ritz Carlton or any Chase Marriott Business Card, respectively).