What the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card offers
The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card earns points on hotel stays and everyday purchases, then lets you redeem those points for free nights at Marriott properties worldwide. You earn points faster at Marriott hotels than you do on other spending, and the card comes with a sign-up bonus that typically requires you to spend a set amount within the first few months.
The card is issued by Chase and works like any other credit card — you get a physical card, use it to make purchases, and receive a monthly bill. The difference is that every dollar you spend earns Marriott Bonvoy points instead of cash back. Those points accumulate in your Marriott Bonvoy account, which is separate from your credit card account but linked to it.
This card is designed for people who stay at Marriott hotels regularly or who want to earn points toward free nights even when they are not traveling. It is not a hotel booking tool — you still book through Marriott.com or a travel agent — but it accelerates how fast you accumulate the points needed to pay for those bookings.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns bonus points on Marriott hotel stays and dining at participating restaurants, plus standard points on all other purchases.
- A sign-up bonus gives you a large point balance if you spend a required amount within the first few months of opening the account.
- You redeem points directly through your Marriott Bonvoy account to book free nights, room upgrades, or other Marriott experiences.
- The card charges an annual fee, which is offset by an annual free night certificate that you can use at many Marriott properties.
- Points do not expire as long as your Marriott Bonvoy account remains active, even if you close the credit card.
How to open a Chase Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card account
You start by visiting Chase.com or calling Chase directly to request the card. Chase will ask for your Social Security number, date of birth, income, and current address — the same information you would provide for any credit card. Chase then checks your credit report and decides whether to approve you within minutes or a few days.
If approved, Chase mails the physical card to your address, which usually takes 7 to 10 business days. You can also request a temporary digital card number when ready after approval so you can start earning points right away, before the physical card arrives. Once the card arrives, you set up it by calling the number on the back or through the Chase mobile app.
When you set up the card, you should also link it to your Marriott Bonvoy account if you do not already have one. You create a Marriott Bonvoy account at Marriott.com using your email address and a password. Once both accounts are linked, points from your credit card spending automatically post to your Marriott account within one to three business days.
Understanding the sign-up bonus and how to earn it
The sign-up bonus is a large number of points that Chase gives you after you meet a spending requirement. The exact bonus and spending threshold change periodically, but a typical offer might be 75,000 points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months. That bonus is separate from the points you earn on those purchases — you get both.
The spending requirement is measured from the date your account opens, not from the date you receive the physical card. Purchases made with a temporary digital card count toward the requirement. The requirement includes purchases you make, but not balance transfers, cash advances, or fees.
If you do not meet the spending requirement within the timeframe, you straightforward do not receive the bonus. Chase does not penalize you or close your account — you just earn points at the regular rate on whatever you did spend. You can still use the card normally and earn points going forward.
How points are earned on different types of spending
The card earns points at different rates depending on where you use it. At Marriott hotels worldwide, you earn 6 points per dollar spent on the room rate. At restaurants, gas stations, and on airline tickets, you earn 2 points per dollar. On all other purchases, you earn 1 point per dollar.
The higher earning rate at Marriott hotels applies only to the room charge itself, not to resort fees, parking, or other incidental charges that appear on your hotel bill. Those incidentals earn at the standard rate for that merchant category — usually 1 point per dollar.
Points post to your Marriott Bonvoy account automatically once the transaction settles on your credit card, which is typically one to three business days after you make the purchase. You can see pending points in your Marriott account when ready, but they become available to redeem only after they settle.
Redeeming points for free nights and other rewards
You redeem points through your Marriott Bonvoy account on Marriott.com. Log in, search for your hotel and dates, and select the option to pay with points instead of cash. The number of points required varies by hotel, location, and season — a budget hotel in a small city might cost 10,000 points per night, while a luxury resort in a major city might cost 50,000 or more.
Marriott uses a dynamic pricing system, meaning the point cost for the same room can change based on demand. A night that costs 15,000 points on a Tuesday in January might cost 35,000 points on a Saturday in July. You can see the point cost before you complete the booking, so you know exactly what you are spending.
Points can also be redeemed for room upgrades, airline miles, experiences, or merchandise through the Marriott Bonvoy program, though free nights are typically the best value. You do not have to use points for travel — you can hold them indefinitely as long as your Marriott account remains active, even if you close the credit card.
The annual fee and the free night certificate
The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card charges an annual fee, typically in the range of $95 to $150 depending on which version of the card you hold. This fee is charged to your credit card account once per year, usually on your account anniversary date.
The card comes with an annual free night certificate that you can use at participating Marriott properties. The certificate covers one night's room rate at hotels in a certain category — usually properties that cost up to a certain number of points per night. You receive this certificate each year you keep the card active, and it can offset or exceed the annual fee if you use it.
The free night certificate does not cover resort fees, taxes, or other charges — only the room rate itself. You must use the certificate within one year of receiving it, or it expires. You book the free night through your Marriott account just like a points redemption, but you select the certificate as payment instead of points.
Managing your account and keeping points active
You manage your Chase Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card through the Chase website or mobile app. You can view your balance, make payments, set up automatic payments, and read statements. You also see pending points and recent point transactions there.
Your Marriott Bonvoy points are managed separately through your Marriott account on Marriott.com. You can see your total points balance, view point expiration dates, and check the point cost of specific hotels. Points do not expire as long as you have account activity — which includes earning points, redeeming points, or staying at a Marriott property — at least once every 24 months.
If your Marriott account becomes inactive for more than 24 months with no activity, your points may expire. However, you can reactivate your account and restore your points by logging in or making any account activity. Closing the credit card does not affect your Marriott points — they remain in your Marriott account as long as that account stays active.
Comparing this card to other hotel credit cards
The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card is one option among several hotel-branded cards. Other major hotel chains offer their own credit cards through Chase or other issuers — Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG all have cards with similar structures: earning bonus points on stays, a sign-up bonus, an annual fee, and an annual free night certificate.
The choice between them depends on which hotel chain you stay at most often. If you stay at Marriott properties regularly, this card makes sense. If you split your stays between chains, you might earn points faster with a general travel card that earns cash back or flexible points on all spending, then use that cash or those points however you want.
The annual free night certificate is valuable only if you actually use it. If you rarely stay at hotels, or if you stay at properties where the free night certificate does not explore, the annual fee becomes a net cost rather than a benefit. Calculate whether the free night certificate covers hotels you would actually book before opening the account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn points on the annual fee itself?
No. Annual fees and other card fees do not earn points. Only purchases you make with the card earn points. The annual fee is charged separately and does not count toward your spending requirement for the sign-up bonus.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points remain in your Marriott Bonvoy account and do not disappear. Closing the credit card does not close your Marriott account or affect your points balance. You can continue to redeem points for free nights as long as your Marriott account stays active, even without the credit card.
Can I transfer my points to someone else?
Marriott allows you to transfer points to another Marriott Bonvoy member's account, though there is typically a fee per point transferred. You cannot transfer points to a non-Marriott member or to an airline directly from this card — you would need to redeem points for an airline ticket through Marriott first.
Do I have to stay at a Marriott hotel to keep my points from expiring?
No. Your points stay active as long as your Marriott Bonvoy account has any activity within 24 months. This includes earning points on the credit card, redeeming points, or logging into your account. You do not have to stay at a hotel to keep points alive.
What if I do not meet the spending requirement for the sign-up bonus?
You straightforward do not receive the bonus. Your account remains open and active, and you continue to earn points at the regular rate on whatever you do spend. There is no penalty for missing the requirement — you just miss out on the bonus points themselves.