Marriott Bonvoy's cobranded credit cards are running some of their stronger welcome offers at the moment, with bonuses The Points Guy values at up to $1,375. If you're sitting on a good-to-excellent credit score and a stack of upcoming hotel stays, it's a decent moment to look at the lineup — issued by American Express and Chase in the US, spanning personal and business options tied to Marriott's 9,000-plus properties across more than 35 brands.
The headline offer belongs to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex ($650 annual fee): 150,000 bonus points plus a $250 statement credit after spending $6,000 in the first six months, ending Sept. 30. TPG values the package at $1,375. The card comes with automatic Platinum Elite status, a free night award worth up to 85,000 points at renewal, up to $300 a year in dining credits and Priority Pass lounge access — but the site suggests waiting for an offer of at least 185,000 points if you're patient.
Best value for a modest fee is the Chase-issued Bonvoy Boundless ($95): three free night awards worth up to 50,000 points each after just $3,000 of spend in three months, plus up to $100 in airline statement credits — a potential $1,225 in value. TPG calls this the standard offer and would hold out for more, but the annual free night (up to 35,000 points, top-up-able to 60,000) plus 15 elite night credits a year make it the natural pick if you stay at Marriotts only once or twice a year.
Business owners have one option, the Amex Bonvoy Business ($125): 100,000 points plus a 50,000-point free night after $8,000 of spend in six months, valued up to $1,125, with an offer deadline of Nov. 4. It throws in Gold Elite status, 15 elite night credits and an annual free night. The two $250 mid-tier cards — Amex's Bevy and Chase's Bountiful — earn 125,000 points plus $150, and 85,000 points respectively, though TPG notes the Bevy's free night requires $15,000 of annual spending, which makes it hard to justify long-term. There's also a $0-annual-fee card with a small 45,000-point bonus for casual fans.
One catch applies across the board: Marriott uses dynamic award pricing, so free night awards don't stretch as far as they used to. That said, most awards can now be topped up with up to 25,000 points, which can unlock nights worth up to 110,000 points on the premium card.
Why it matters for travellers: a well-timed welcome bonus can effectively cover a long weekend or a chunk of a bigger trip, and the free night awards that come with annual fees often repay the fee on their own. TPG's verdict is that several current offers are worth taking — but nearly all of them have had better, so apply now only if you have stays booked.