Which Chase Marriott Card Earns the Most — and which one should you use?
If you frequently stay at Marriott properties (or plan to), using a Marriott-branded credit card (especially from Chase) is one of the best ways to boost your point accrual. But not all of these cards are created equal. In this post, I’ll break down how much you can effectively “earn” (in points per dollar of hotel spend) on different Chase Marriott/Bonvoy cards, consider other perks (free nights, elite nights, etc.), and then suggest which card is likely the best choice for most.
How Marriott’s base earning + elite bonus works
Before diving into credit cards, it helps to understand the baseline:
- Marriott Bonvoy’s standard “base” earning for most members at most Marriott hotels is 10 points per $1 spent (on qualifying hotel charges).
- If you have Marriott elite status, you add a bonus:
- Silver: +10%
- Gold: +25%
- Platinum: +50%
- Titanium / Ambassador: +75%
- Some brands (e.g. Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, etc.) or “extended stay / apartment” units may have lower base rates (e.g. 5 points per dollar) in certain cases.
So, for example, a guest with Gold status at a “normal” Marriott might earn (10 times 1.25 = 12.5) points per dollar (often rounded or floored depending on how Marriott handles fractional points). But that’s the hotel’s side of the equation. Now let’s layer on what the credit card gives you.
Chase Marriott / Marriott Bonvoy Cards: Earning at Marriott Hotels
Here are key Chase (or Chase-issued) Marriott/Bonvoy credit cards and how they perform when used for Marriott hotel spending:
| Card | “Accelerated” points on Marriott hotel spend | Plus base & elite bonus (i.e. total effective points) | Notes / extras (free nights, elite credits, etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless (Chase) | 6× points on Marriott hotel spend (Chase card benefit) | 6× from the card + (10× base + elite bonus) = up to 17× total (6 + 10, plus additional from elite) | $95 annual fee. Comes with automatic Silver elite and 15 elite-night credits per year. Free night award each year up to 35,000 points. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful (Chase) | 6× points on Marriott hotel spend (Chase card benefit) | 6× + base/elite = up to 18.5× total (i.e. 6 + 10 + 2.5 bonus at Gold, or 6 + 10 + 5 for Platinum) depending on status | $250 annual fee. Comes with Gold elite status, 15 elite-night credits, 1,000 bonus points per eligible stay, and a free night reward if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold (Chase) | Up to 14× (this is “total” points) on Marriott stays (card + Marriott program) | Because it’s lower-tier, you get a smaller incremental bonus from the card; effective total is lower than Boundless / Bountiful in many scenarios | No annual fee. It’s a good fallback or starter Marriott card. |
A few caveats to keep in mind:
- The “up to 18.5×” number is combining card bonus + base earning + elite bonus. In reality, your elite status matters a lot, and many people won’t reach the top-tier.
- There may be caps or “per stay” limits (for example, Bountiful has a 1,000-point bonus per stay cap)
- The greater the annual fee, the more perk incentives the card provides — but you have to “earn back” that fee via the incremental points or benefits.
From the comparison, Bountiful claims the highest potential multiple (up to 18.5×) on Marriott hotel spend, beating out Boundless “up to 17×” figure.
Which card is “best” to use on Marriott nights?
“Best” depends partly on your travel profile, status, and how much you stay, but here’s a reasoned judgment:
- If you stay frequently and can justify a higher annual fee, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful (Chase) is likely the strongest performer for Marriott hotel spend because of its higher earning multiple and deluxe perks (free night after $15K spend, Gold elite status, etc.).
- Boundless is a solid mid-tier pick: lower fee, still good earning, and decent perks.
- Bold is useful for those who are less committed (or want a no-fee card) — you get meaningful Marriott stay returns without paying an annual cost.
Bottom line suggestion for most people: Use Bountiful (if you have or plan to have Marriott stays often) for your Marriott nights — it gives you the highest upside on hotel spend.
If you don’t want to pay a high fee or you stay only occasionally, Boundless is a safer, lower-risk bet. Use Bold as a fallback or secondary card when your primary isn’t ideal.
On average, MAP Traveler recommends the Boundless. Low annual fee, a decent sign up bonus, and great rate on return. Check them all out here:
Miles and Points Travel 
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