Marriott Bonvoy Launches New Debit Cards in the UK - With Up To 30,000 Points Sign Up Bonus
- Sam
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Marriott has teamed up with Currensea to launch a debit card that earn Marriott Bonvoy points. This makes Marriott the second major hotel chain to partner with Currensea for UK debit cards, following Hilton's launch of the world's first hotel loyalty debit cards in September 2024.
We currently hold the Hilton Honors Plus debit card, so we know how easy it is to setup and use. So lets give you a run down of the Marriott Bonvoy debit cards, and how it compares to the Hilton offering. We'll also let you know how to convert these points to a scheme of your choosing...
Two Card Options
Marriott Bonvoy Debit Card (£55/year)
Automatic Silver Elite status
10 Elite Night Credits annually
5,000 bonus points after spending £1,000 in foreign currency in year one - Until 4th February 2026 earn 10,000 Bonvoy points for spending £1,000 in foreign currency in first 12 months
Earn 1 point per £1 in UK/Europe, 2 points per £1 elsewhere
Double points at Marriott properties (2 points per £1 UK, 4 points per £1 abroad)
0.5% foreign exchange fee
Marriott Bonvoy Premium Debit Card (£175/year)
Automatic Gold Elite status
15 Elite Night Credits annually
15,000 bonus points after spending £3,000 in foreign currency in the first 12 months - Until 4th February 2026 earn 30,000 Bonvoy points for spending £3,000 in foreign currency in first 12 months
Extra Elite Night Credit for every £4,000 spent (up to 5 per year)
Free night award (up to 25,000 points) when you spend £5,000+ abroad
Upgraded free night (up to 50,000 points) when you spend £9,500+ abroad
Earn 1.5 points per £1 in UK/Europe, 3 points per £1 elsewhere
Earn 4 points per £1 at Marriott hotels in UK, 6 points per £1 abroad
0.5% foreign exchange fee
How It Works
These debit cards link directly to your existing UK bank account, allowing seamless transactions without the need for a separate account. At the end of the day, you will receive an email detailing all the transactions made that day, and when to expect the funds to be taken from your current account.
How Do These Compare to Hilton's Cards?
Currensea already offers two Hilton Honors debit cards: a £60/year card with Silver status and 0.5% FX fees, and a £150/year Plus card with Gold status and 0% FX fees.
Key Differences:
Pricing & FX Fees: The Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card charges no foreign exchange fees, while both Marriott cards charge 0.5% FX fees. However, Marriott's base card is £5 cheaper (£55 vs £60), and the premium card is £25 more expensive (£175 vs £150).
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Elite Night Credits: This is where Marriott pulls ahead significantly. The Marriott cards offer 10-15 Elite Night Credits automatically, plus the ability to earn up to 5 additional credits through spending on the Premium card. Hilton offers 15 Qualifying Nights on the Plus card, but only as a limited-time promotion requiring £4,500 in spend within three months, not as a permanent feature.
Points Earning: Hilton cards earn 1 point per £1 domestically (1.5 on the Plus card) and up to 4.5 points per £1 at Hilton properties abroad. Marriott's structure is similar but with different multipliers: 1-1.5 points per £1 domestically, scaling up to 6 points per £1 at Marriott properties abroad with the Premium card.
Free Night Certificates: Marriott's Premium card offers a major perk that Hilton's cards don't: annual free night certificates worth up to 25,000-50,000 points based on overseas spending. This alone could justify the higher annual fee.
Gold Status Value: Hilton Gold status includes complimentary continental breakfast, which can easily save £50 per day at upscale properties. Marriott Gold status offers different perks including late checkout, room upgrades, and bonus points, but doesn't include complimentary breakfast (that's a Platinum benefit).
The Foreign Exchange Advantage
Both Marriott cards charge 0.5% FX fees, which is still competitive compared to typical UK bank cards that charge 2.99%. However, Hilton's Premium card with 0% FX fees has the edge for travellers who spend heavily abroad.
Elite Night Credit Stacking
If you already have the Marriott Bonvoy American Express, you can combine Elite Night Credits from both cards, earning up to 35 credits annually. This could significantly accelerate your path to Platinum status (50 nights required).
How Do You Convert These to Airmiles?
Wait, what? Let me explain:
Marriott Bonvoy allows people to transfer their points into 39 different airline points, including Avios and Virgin Points, see the full list here
The rate of conversion is three Marriott Bonvoy points to one airline mile (excluding Air New Zealand)
On top of this, Marriott will give you an additional 5,000 airline miles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer.
Who Should Consider These Cards?
Choose the Marriott Premium card if:
You regularly spend £5,000+ overseas annually (the free night certificate essentially covers the annual fee)
You want to fast-track to Platinum Elite status through Elite Night Credits
You prefer Marriott properties over Hilton and value Gold status benefits
Choose the Hilton Plus card if:
You want to avoid FX fees entirely (0% vs 0.5%)
You stay at Hilton properties where free breakfast is available
You prefer a lower annual fee (£150 vs £175)
Choose either base card if:
You're looking for entry-level hotel elite status at minimal cost
You spend modestly abroad but want better FX rates than your bank
You're building loyalty with one chain and want to accelerate points earning
Sam
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