What are the best Marriott credit card benefits?
Some of the best Marriott credit card benefits include a Free Night Award on each account anniversary and complimentary membership levels, which give you a wide range of extra perks at Marriot Bonvoy's worldwide portfolio of brands. On top of that, you'll get rental car insurance, extended warranty protection, and more.
It is worth noting that Visa and American Express are responsible for several extra Marriott consumer and business credit card benefits, respectively. The rental car insurance and extended warranty protection benefits are among those that come through Visa and Amex. On top of that, both of these card networks also provide roadside assistance, lost luggage reimbursement, and more.
What to Know Before Getting a Marriott Credit Card
The more perks a Marriott credit card has, the highest its annual fee will be. For instance, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has a $95 annual fee. Also, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card features a $650 annual fee. So, if you want to get any of these cards, make sure to use the benefits enough to justify the yearly cost. The annual Free Night Award's redemption value varies by card and the maximum limit ranges from 35,000 to 85,000. This perk alone can cover the annual fee and then some.
Some of the Best Marriott Credit Card Benefits
- Free Night Award: Valid for one night stay at Marriott properties (maximum value ranges from 35,000 to 85,000, depending on the card). An e-certificate will be automatically deposited into your account within 8-12 weeks of the anniversary date.
- $0 foreign transaction fees: You won't pay extra on purchases made outside of the United States or online through internationally-based merchants.
- Automatic Elite Membership Status: Renews each account anniversary year. Perks include a 10% points bonus on stays and priority late checkout. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant will get you Platinum Elite Status while the other cards will get you Silver Elite Status.
- Free in-room premium internet access. Most Marriott credit cards offer this perk at Marriot Bonvoy properties.
- 24/7 cardmember services: Dedicated round the clock customer service lines through Visa and Amex; ability to sign up for personalized account alerts to track your balance payments and available credit by email, texts, or voicemails. There is also a concierge service provided by Visa Signature for last-minute restaurant reservations, among other perks.
- Embedded chip and contactless features: All cards come with a chip for an extra layer of security and wider acceptance, especially during your international travels. The contactless feature also makes for fast, easy, and secure payments.
- Roadside assistance: Visa 24/7 dispatch will help with towaway services (up to 5 miles), tire changes, lockouts, jump starting, and fuel delivery (up to 5 gallons for Visa) if your car breaks down. Service calls have a flat rate of $79.95, but there might be additional charges based on the service provided. Only Visa Marriott credit cards have this benefit.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: This benefit offers coverage if your or an immediate family member's checked bags or carry-on luggage are lost or damaged by the carrier when you pay for your reservation with an eligible Marriott card. Coverage and limits apply, depending on the card.
- Trip delay reimbursement: Eligible cards are covered by reimbursements for essential purchases (food, lodging) if your flight is delayed for more than 12 hours or requires overnight stay. Coverage and limits apply, depending on the card. Must book your trip with an eligible Marriott card in order to qualify.
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Services: Visa's and Amex's services are designed to help you when running into problems while traveling. You can call your Benefit Administrator at (800) 992-6029 or a toll free number while outside the U.S. for Visa cards, and (800) 345-2639 or (715) 342-7979 while outside the U.S. for Amex.
- Rental car insurance: Covers you up to the cash value of the vehicle against damages from accident or theft. Must purchase the entire rental with an eligible Marriott card and decline the rental agency's coverage.
- Purchase protection: Covers purchases against theft, damage, or natural disasters for each card. Item(s) must be purchased with your card and coverage lasts up to 120 days from the moment of purchase, depending on the card. Must purchase an eligible item with a qualifying Marriott card in order to receive this benefit.
- Extended warranty: Adds an extra year to U.S. manufacturers' warranties of up to 5 years or less on items purchased with your card. Must purchase an eligible item with a qualifying Marriott card in order to receive this benefit.
- Fraud protection: The zero liability protection ensures you aren't responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Cardmember events: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless membership gets you invitations to high profile events. To get a sense of what these events have in store, you can check out Chase's Marriot Bonvoy Events web page.
There are a lot of great Marriott credit card benefits that you can take advantage of. But if you don't want your rewards restricted to a single hotel chain, consider a general travel rewards card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This card has all the Visa Signature benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and offers 5 points / $1 spent on travel and dining. Plus, with this card you can earn 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. It also benefits from a $0 foreign transaction fee.
In addition, Chase Sapphire Preferred points have a 1:1 transfer ratio to 14 major airline and hotel rewards programs, giving you some added flexibility. The card also provides travel accident insurance and trip cancellation coverage. Its annual fee is $95, so make sure you take advantage of its benefits enough to justify this cost.