Hilton Honors Surpass vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card.

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• Cardholders earn 6 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and receive automatic Gold Elite status, though the card does have an annual fee.
• You can earn a free night award valued at up to 50,000 points after meeting the annual spending requirement on the card.
• The 1,000 bonus points earned on each paid stay are worth about $8.50, helping to offset the card's annual cost (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Cardholders automatically receive complimentary Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, which provides benefits like room upgrades and late checkout.
• You can earn a free night award after meeting an annual spending requirement.
• The card offers a range of travel protections, including trip delay and lost luggage reimbursement.

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Cons

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• The card comes with an annual fee that may be high for the value it provides, especially when compared to other Marriott co-branded cards.
• An annual free night award is not granted automatically; it must be earned by meeting a significant spending requirement each year.
• While the card offers complimentary Gold Elite status, it provides no pathway to earn higher status tiers through spending.

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®

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Categories

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When deciding between these two hotel co-branded credit cards, the main question is which is better: Hilton Honors Surpass or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful? The answer often comes down to which hotel brand you prefer and what you value in a travel card.

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is designed for frequent Hilton travelers who want to maximize their rewards and enjoy elite status perks within the Hilton portfolio.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: This card is best suited for travelers who regularly book stays at hotels and resorts participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program.

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Redemption

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Points earned with this card are most valuable when redeemed for free nights across Hilton's vast portfolio of hotels and resorts. Cardholders can also use points for on-property rewards, car rentals, or transfer them to airline partners.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: The points you accumulate are primarily used for award nights at thousands of properties within the extensive Marriott Bonvoy program. Additionally, points can be redeemed for flights through partner airlines and unique travel packages.

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Travel Perks

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is a strong companion for international travel as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. A key travel perk is the complimentary Priority Pass™ lounge visits cardholders receive each year, though the number of visits is capped. Terms apply. The card's ecosystem is deeply integrated within the Hilton Honors platform for booking and redemptions.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: Like its competitor, this card also comes with no foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for purchases abroad. However, it does not offer any airport lounge access benefits. Its travel ecosystem is centered entirely around the Marriott Bonvoy program, with all bookings and redemptions managed through Marriott's own platform.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make a data-driven decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply, all without a hard credit pull.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for various credit cards based on your credit report.
• Stack rewards by earning Kudos Boost rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when shopping at participating stores.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months of approval.
• Discover new credit cards and get personalized matches for cards that will earn you the most based on your spending history.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a strong contender for travelers who frequently stay with Hilton and want to maximize their rewards without paying a premium annual fee. It's particularly beneficial for those who can leverage the automatic Gold elite status for perks like room upgrades and who spend regularly at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations to accelerate point earnings. Ultimately, this card suits value-conscious travelers aiming to save points for special trips, especially when taking advantage of benefits like the fifth-night-free on award stays, as detailed in our full review.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is designed for frequent Marriott guests who want more than basic hotel perks without committing to a high-end luxury card's annual fee. It's a strong contender for travelers who can leverage the complimentary Gold Elite status, earn 1,000 bonus points on paid stays, and meet the $15,000 annual spending requirement to unlock a valuable free night award. Essentially, this card hits a sweet spot for those seeking enhanced Marriott benefits and are willing to pay a moderate $250 annual fee for them.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, the Hilton Honors Surpass vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful comparison didn't yield a winner for your wallet? Not a problem. Let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that might be a better match for your specific needs.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Most travel rewards cards require a good to excellent credit score for approval.
• Plan your spending: Ensure you can naturally meet the welcome offer's spending requirement without overspending.
• Review eligibility rules: Be aware of issuer-specific restrictions that may affect your eligibility for a welcome offer.

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Application Strategy

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• Understand issuer-specific rules: Many issuers have restrictions, like Amex's once-per-lifetime rule or Chase's complex Marriott card family rules, that can affect your bonus eligibility.
• Time your application strategically: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement more easily.
• Look beyond the welcome offer: Consider how ongoing benefits, like annual credits or spending-based free nights, fit into your long-term strategy.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What are the annual fees for the Hilton Honors Surpass and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful cards?

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The Hilton Honors Surpass® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card each have an annual fee. For the most current fee information, it is best to review each card's official rates and fees disclosures before applying.

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What level of elite status comes with each card?

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Holding the Hilton Honors Surpass Card automatically grants you complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status. Similarly, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card provides cardholders with complimentary Gold Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program.

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Can I hold both the Hilton Honors Surpass and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful cards at the same time?

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Yes, it is possible to have both cards, as they are part of separate hotel loyalty programs and are typically issued by different financial institutions. This strategy can be beneficial for travelers who frequently stay at both Hilton and Marriott properties.

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