Marriott vs Hilton credit card comparison
When it comes to choosing a hotel credit card, two giants in the industry stand out: Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. Both loyalty programs offer a range of credit cards with enticing rewards and benefits, making it challenging to determine which one is the best fit for your travel needs. In this article, we’ll delve into the differences between Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors credit cards to help you make an informed decision.
Best Marriott Card Best Hilton Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card .
- Annual Fee: $650
- Earning Rates: 6 points per $1 at Marriott Bonvoy properties, 3 points per $1 at restaurants, flights
- Welcome Offer: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months of Card Membership
- Key Benefits: Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status, annual $300 Marriott Bonvoy Statement Credit, annual free night award, Priority Pass Select membership, and more.
- Annual Fee: $550
- Earning Rates: 14 points per $1 at Hilton properties, 7 points per $1 on flights, car rentals, U.S. restaurants
- Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months of Card Membership
- Key Benefits: Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond Status, $400 annual Hilton resort statement credit, $200 annual airfare credit, annual weekend night certificate, and more.
Choosing Between a Hilton and a Marriott Credit Card:
side-by-side comparison table of when to choose a Hilton credit card versus a Marriott credit card:
| When to Choose a Hilton Credit Card: | When to Choose a Marriott Credit Card: |
| Seeking Top-Tier Elite Status: 1. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status. 2. Hilton is the only hotel chain offering its most exclusive elite status to credit card holders. | Traveling to Remote Locations : 1. Marriott has a global footprint covering over 8,000 properties in 139 countries. 2. Marriott credit cards may provide more accommodation options in remote or less-populated areas. |
| Value-Driven Benefits: 1. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers numerous high-end perks such as $400 annual Hilton resort statement credit, $200 annual airfare credit, and more. 2. Despite the $550 annual fee, the card’s cash credits total over $750, making it a lucrative option. | Desire for Flexible Point Currency: 1. Marriott Bonvoy points are valuable for their flexibility and can be transferred to over 35 airlines. 2. Marriott has partnerships with airlines, offering favourable transfer ratios and bonuses for point transfers. |
| Frequent Spending on Groceries, Gas, and Dining: 1.Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card provides solid benefits and competitive earnings on groceries, gas, and dining. 2. This card could be more valuable compared to Marriott’s mid-tier option, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. | Earning Elite Status through Card Spending: 1. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers opportunities to earn elite status through card spending. 2. Cardholders receive 15 elite nights credits each year and can earn one elite night credit for every $5,000 spent. |
| Best For : | Best For : |
| If seeking top-tier elite status, value-driven benefits, and spend heavily on groceries, gas, and dining, a Hilton credit card might be the right choice. | If traveling to remote locations, desiring flexible point currency, and aiming to accelerate elite status, a Marriott credit card could be the better option. |
Marriott Bonvoy vs Hilton Honors credit card
A comparison table for credit cards offered by both Hilton and Marriott:
This table provides a quick overview of the key features and benefits of credit cards offered by both Hilton and Marriott, allowing consumers to compare and choose the card that best suits their travel needs and preferences.
| Aspect | Hilton Honors American Express Cards | Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards |
| Annual Fee | $0 – $550, depending on the card | $0 – $650, depending on the card |
| Earning Rates | Varies by card, up to 14 points per $1 on eligible purchases | Varies by card, up to 6 points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties |
| Welcome Offer | Varies by card, up to 155,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points | Varies by card, up to 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points |
| Complimentary Breakfast Benefit | Available at select Hilton brands, executive lounge access with Aspire Card | Available at select Marriott Bonvoy brands |
| Elite Status Benefits | Gold status or higher provides additional perks like room upgrades and lounge access | Platinum status or higher provides similar benefits |
| Additional Travel Benefits | Travel credits, airport lounge access, statement credits, and more | Travel credits, airport lounge access, statement credits, and more |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | Varies by card, some cards have no foreign transaction fees | Varies by card, some cards have no foreign transaction fees |
| Transfer Partners | AmEx Membership Rewards at 1:2 ratio | AmEx Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and others at 1:1 ratio |
Learn about how to use credit card at ATM for withdraw Money
Family Travel Comparison
A clear comparison between Hilton and Marriott in terms of breakfast offerings and elite status benefits for family travellers.
Best hotel for Family travel
| Aspect | Hilton | Marriott |
| Brands with Free Breakfast | Embassy Suites by Hilton – Hampton by Hilton – Home2 Suites by Hilton – Homewood Suites by Hilton – Tru by Hilton | Residence Inn – TownePlace Suites – Springhill Suites – Fairfield by Marriott – Element – City Express |
| Access to Breakfast | Complimentary breakfast at select brands – Elite status (Gold or higher) for complimentary breakfast or food/beverage credit | Complimentary breakfast at select brands – Elite status (Platinum or higher) for complimentary breakfast |
| Additional Benefits | Executive lounge access with Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card – Diamond elite status for suite upgrades | Limited suite upgrades with Platinum elite status |
| Conclusion | Hilton offers more brands with free breakfast and easier access to breakfast for elite members. | Marriott has fewer options for free breakfast, requiring higher elite status for complimentary breakfast. Hilton may be preferable for family travel due to inclusive dining options. |
Business Travel Comparison
Best hotel for business travel
| Aspect | Hilton | Marriott |
| Best Hotel for Business Travel | Hilton’s easier access to elite status and valuable benefits makes it preferable for business travellers. | Marriott’s wider geographic footprint may offer more properties, but Hilton’s elite status perks tilt the scale in its Favor for business travellers. |
| Elite Status Benefits | Hilton Honors members can enjoy benefits like early check-in, late checkout, premium Wi-Fi, executive lounge access, suite upgrades, and complimentary breakfast. | Marriott offers elite status benefits, but Hilton’s mid-tier elite status may provide more valuable perks for business travellers. |
| Access to Benefits | Hilton’s elite status benefits are accessible through holding the right card, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, without requiring actual stays. | Marriott also offers elite status benefits, but Hilton’s accessibility and value of perks may be more appealing to business travellers. |
| Conclusion | Hilton’s combination of easier access to elite status and valuable benefits makes it the best choice for business travellers. | While Marriott has a larger property portfolio, Hilton’s elite status perks and accessibility make it a preferred option for business travel. |
Hotel loyalty Rewards Programs Overview:
Marriott Bonvoy:
Marriott Bonvoy, the loyalty program of Marriott International, encompasses over 7,000 properties worldwide across 30 brands, including luxury names like The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis, as well as more budget-friendly options like Courtyard by Marriott. Members earn points for every dollar spent on eligible stays, which can be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, and other travel perks.
Marriott Bonvoy’s recent shift to a dynamic pricing system for award stays has raised concerns among travellers. Unlike Hilton, which still maintains an award chart, Marriott’s pricing now fluctuates based on demand, potentially leading to higher costs for redemption.
In Marriott eliminated its traditional award chart, adopting a dynamic pricing model instead. This change means that the price of award stays can vary widely depending on factors like demand and availability, making it challenging for members to predict redemption costs.
Although Marriott Bonvoy points are valued slightly higher than Hilton Honors points by NerdWallet at 0.8 cents each, the difference is minimal. Despite this, Marriott Bonvoy offers multiple avenues for earning points, including credit card spending, hotel stays, dining, and more. Additionally, points can be transferred from partner loyalty programs such as American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, or Chase Ultimate Rewards® at a 1:1 ratio.
Hilton Honors:
Hilton Honors, the loyalty program of Hilton Worldwide, boasts a portfolio of over 6,000 hotels and resorts in 119 countries and territories. From iconic brands like Waldorf Astoria and Conrad to family-friendly options like Hampton by Hilton, Hilton Honors offers a diverse range of accommodations. Members earn points for stays, dining, and other eligible purchases, which can be used for free nights, room upgrades, and more.
Similar to Marriott, Hilton has also done away with its traditional award chart. However, unlike its counterpart, Hilton maintains a base pricing system for its standard room rewards. These standard room redemptions can start as low as 5,000 points per night, offering excellent value for Hilton Honors members.
On the downside, if standard room rewards are unavailable, members must opt for premium room rewards, which come with variable rates and can cost millions of points per night with no upper limit.
According to NerdWallet’s analysis, Hilton Honors points were valued at approximately 0.5 cents each, indicating a lower valuation compared to Marriott Bonvoy points.
Earning Hilton points is possible through various channels, including spending on co-branded credit cards, dining, and hotel stays. While Chase Ultimate Rewards points cannot be directly transferred to Hilton, American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred at a ratio of 1:2, providing another avenue for accumulating Hilton Honors points.
Where you can find Marriott and Hilton hotel brands:
Here’s a list showing where you can find Marriott and Hilton hotel brands:
| Marriott Brands: | Hilton Brands: |
| AC Hotels. | Canopy by Hilton. |
| Aloft Hotels. | Conrad Hotels & Resorts. |
| Autograph Collection Hotels. | Curio Collection by Hilton. |
| City Express. | DoubleTree by Hilton. |
| Courtyard Hotels. | Embassy Suites by Hilton. |
| Delta Hotels. | Hampton by Hilton. |
| Design Hotels. | Hilton Garden Inn. |
| EDITION. | Hilton Grand Vacations. |
| Element. | Hilton Hotels & Resorts. |
| Fairfield by Marriott. | Home2 Suites by Hilton. |
| Four Points. | Homewood Suites by Hilton. |
| Gaylord Hotels. | LXR Hotels & Resorts. |
| Homes & Villas by Marriott International. | Motto by Hilton. |
| JW Marriott. | Project H3 by Hilton. |
| Le MERIDIEN. | Signia by Hilton. |
| Marriott Executive Apartments. | Spark by Hilton. |
| Marriott Hotels. | Tapestry Collection by Hilton. |
| Marriott Vacation Club. | Tempo by Hilton. |
| Moxy Hotels. | Tru by Hilton. |
| Protea Hotels. | Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts. |
| Renaissance Hotels. | |
| Residence Inn. | |
| Sheraton. | |
| SpringHill Suites. | |
| St. Regis. | |
| The Luxury Collection. | |
| The Ritz-Carlton. | |
| The Ritz-Carlton Reserve. | |
| TownePlace Suites. | |
| Tribute Portfolio. | |
| W Hotels. | |
| Westin. |
Bottom line:
Choosing between Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors credit cards ultimately depends on your travel preferences, spending habits, and loyalty to each hotel brand. Whether you prioritize luxury accommodations, elite status benefits, or flexible redemption options, there’s a credit card tailored to your needs within each loyalty program.
Before applying for a hotel credit card, carefully consider the benefits, annual fees, and terms and conditions to ensure it aligns with your travel goals. By leveraging the rewards and benefits offered by Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors credit cards, you can enhance your travel experiences and unlock exclusive perks at properties around the world.