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New Marriott debit cards – earn elite night credits plus Gold or Silver
If you are familiar with the Hilton Debit cards that we wrote about here, the same company, Currensea, has launched new Marriott debit cards. I would say the benefits on offer are much better than the Hilton options, so if you want to gain hotel status easily, these cards may be for you.
The Marriott Bonvoy Debit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Premium Debit Card offer the ability to earn loyalty points on day-to-day spending, as well as real-time exchange rates with low foreign exchange fees. As it is a debit card, it is great for those who don’t want a credit card. It is also worth considering if you travel a lot and don’t have a card with low or zero foreign exchange fees.
With Hilton changing their loyalty scheme, it may be that some people are considering switching their loyalty to Marriott, and this could be a good way to get status instantly, plus some points. Having held both Hilton Diamond and Marriott Platinum, I generally prefer Marriott for the free upgrade nights and guaranteed late check out (except resorts). I also find that there are more luxury hotel brands to choose from.
Andrew Watson, Chief Commercial Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International, said: “The launch of two new Marriott Bonvoy debit cards represents a significant step forward in our commitment to offering members more rewarding ways to earn points through everyday spending—both at home and abroad. This co-brand partnership with Currensea not only expands our reach to new members but also enhances the travel experience by providing a faster path to Marriott Bonvoy elite status and unlocking even more exclusive benefits.”
With the cards you will receive automatic Silver or Gold Marriott Bonvoy status and a welcome bonus of up to 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, Elite Night Credits and more. The cards work directly with all major UK banks (except Metro Bank, Co-op Bank, and Chase), so you don’t need to open a new bank account, keep a separate card topped up, or change your spending behaviour to benefit.
What are the two card options?
- The Marriott Bonvoy Debit Card has an annual fee of £55 and comes with Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, as well as a bonus of 10 Elite Night Credits per year. New cardholders also will receive 5,000 points as a welcome bonus once £1,000 has been spent abroad in the first year.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Premium Debit Card comes with Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status for an annual fee of £175. In addition, cardholders will receive a 15,000-point welcome bonus upon spending £3,000 overseas in the first year, as well as receiving 15 Elite Night Credits. One additional Elite Night Credit can be earned for every £4,000 spent, up to five Elite Night Credits per annum.
Other benefits of the cards
- A free night worth up to 25,000 points when you spend over £5,000 abroad, which you get on renewal. If you spend over £9,500 abroad you get a free night worth 50,000 points to be redeemed on a stay at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties.
- Marriott Bonvoy Debit Card holders will earn
- 1 Marriott Bonvoy points per £1 spent within the UK and European Currencies
- 2 points per £1 for spending outside the UK and Europe.
- 2 points per £1 or 4 points per £1 abroad for spending on stays or experiences with Marriott Bonvoy
- Marriott Bonvoy Premium Debit Card holders will earn
- 1.5 Marriott Bonvoy points per £1 spent within the UK and European Currencies
- 3 points per £1 for spending outside the UK and Europe.
- 4 points per £1 or 6 points per £1 abroad for spending on stays or experiences with Marriott Bonvoy
- Marriott Bonvoy Premium Debit Card holders will earn one additional Elite Night Credit for every £4,000 spent, up to five Elite Night Credits per annum.
- Real-time exchange rates with foreign exchange fees as low as 0.5%
Sign-up bonuses
As well as all the benefits, there’s also a good opening offer for those who sign up to one of the new debit cards and activate it by 11.59pm on 4th February 2026 as you get double the points as a welcome bonus:
- 10,000 points for new Marriott Bonvoy Debit Cardholders when you spend £1000 in the first 12 months of membership
- 30,000 points for new Marriott Bonvoy Premium Debit Cardholders when you spend £3000 in the first 12 months of membership
- Order your card by 4 February 2026 to be entered into a weekly draw for 100,000 points.
How does it compare to the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card?
If you mainly plan to use the card in the UK and want to earn the maximum points, the Amex may be a better fit:
Marriott Bonvoy American Express:
- 6 points per £1 spent at Marriott properties and 2 points per £1 on all other eligible purchases
- 15 Elite nights included per year
- 20,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy® points when you spend £3,000 in the first three months of Card membership.
- £95 yearly fee
- Silver status
- Receive one free night after you spend £25,000 in an anniversary year, redeemable for a one-night stay (redemption level at or under 25,000 points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit - Book direct with Marriott for a 2-night minimum stay at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® and get up to $100 in credit for qualifying charges.
Is it worth holding the Marriott and a debit card? Can you stack the elite nights with the American Express Bonvoy card?
One benefit I particularly like is that if you already have the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Credit Card, you will be able to stack Elite Night Credits generated from both cards and can generate up to 35 Elite Night Credits per year. That only leaves 15 nights to get Platinum which is great. At Platinum, you get 5 upgrade vouchers as well as 4pm check out and breakfast in many hotel brands, as well as lounge access.
So if you want to get the maximum amount of Elite nights, then it could be worth holding both cards as the cost is cheaper than paying for stays. It also allows you to earn better points rates in the UK for Marriott stays, although that means diluting your spending across two cards, which can affect the bonuses.
How do I apply?
- Download the App
- Link your existing bank
- Choose a plan
You can find all the details and apply for your card here.
British Airways First Wing Refurbishment complete at Heathrow
British Airways has been working on giving the First Wing a bit of a makeover, and the results were revealed today. This should be followed by the Heathrow lounges getting a full refurbishment next year in the new style.
There are no real fundamental changes, just a bit of a spruce-up with a lot of red accents, which I am not overly keen on.
There is a more defined entrance to security, and the panelling has changed by the entrance to the First Lounge. The seating area has expanded, with a bar offering drinks to help yourself to and a bit more greenery.
There were some nice luggage tag giveways this morning for those flying in first but they only had them for the first 100 passengers passing through.
Many thanks to my friend Alexis for the photos. You can follow his frequent flying adventures on X @alexisk79
What do you think of the First Wing changes? Let us know in the comments below.
