IHG One Rewards Traveler vs Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we think the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is a solid choice for Marriott loyalists.

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• Cardholders receive automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which helps justify the card's annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
• It offers strong earning rates on everyday spending categories like restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, in addition to bonus points on eligible Marriott stays.
• Spending $15,000 in a calendar year unlocks an Annual Free Night Award worth up to 50,000 points, which can easily offset the annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

_{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.}

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Pros

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• A valuable Welcome Offer for new cardholders helps you kickstart your points balance.
• Receive an annual deposit of Elite Night Credits to help you qualify for higher status tiers more quickly.
• Travel internationally without incurring foreign transaction fees on your purchases.

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Cons

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• Carries an annual fee that is not waived in the first year.
• The Free Night Award is not an automatic benefit and requires meeting a high annual spending threshold.
• Offers limited value for travelers who don't frequently stay with Marriott and lacks premium benefits like airport lounge access.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card vs IHG One Rewards Traveler

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Categories

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When deciding which is better, IHG One Rewards Traveler or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, it's crucial to look at your personal travel habits and hotel brand loyalty.

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• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card - This card is an excellent choice for occasional IHG hotel guests who want to earn rewards and benefit from perks on longer stays without committing to an annual fee. It serves as an accessible entry point into the IHG One Rewards program.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card - This card is tailored for frequent travelers loyal to the Marriott brand who want to maximize rewards on both hotel stays and everyday spending categories like restaurants and supermarkets.

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Redemption

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IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Points earned with this card are redeemed for stays across IHG's extensive network of hotels and resorts. This straightforward redemption process is ideal for travelers who primarily use their rewards for hotel nights.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Cardholders can redeem points for free nights at thousands of properties within the vast Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Beyond hotel stays, points also offer the flexibility to be transferred to numerous airline partners or used for unique experiences.

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Travel Perks

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card waive foreign transaction fees, making them suitable for international travel.
• Lounge Access: Neither card offers complimentary airport lounge access as a standard benefit.
• Hotel Elite Status: The IHG card provides automatic Silver Elite status, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card offers a higher-tier complimentary Gold Elite status, which can include perks like room upgrades. Terms apply.
• Point Flexibility: While points from both cards are primarily for hotel stays, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® card’s ecosystem allows for transferring points to numerous airline partners, adding significant flexibility. Terms apply.
• Award Night Perks: The IHG card features a fourth-night reward on award stays of four or more nights. In contrast, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® card offers a Free Night Award annually after meeting a specific spending requirement. Terms apply.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To simplify the decision, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards by analyzing your personal spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards with your real transaction data to see personalized earning projections before you apply.
• Receive data-driven recommendations to find the best card for your unique spending patterns.
• Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for various cards based on your credit report.
• Earn extra rewards, called Kudos Boost, on top of your regular credit card rewards when shopping at participating stores.
• Benefit from a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months of applying.

Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Traveler?

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The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is a great fit for occasional IHG hotel guests who want to earn rewards without the commitment of an annual fee. It's also an excellent entry point for those new to hotel loyalty programs or budget-conscious travelers looking for basic protections and a way to accumulate points for future trips. According to a Kudos review, travelers who often book stays of four nights or more can particularly benefit from the fourth-night-free perk on reward stays.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is best suited for frequent Marriott guests who want to elevate their stays with automatic Gold Elite status but don't travel enough to earn it organically. The ideal user is a moderate-to-high spender who can comfortably meet the $15,000 annual spending requirement to earn a Free Night Award. They also maximize rewards on everyday purchases by taking advantage of bonus points on dining and at U.S. supermarkets, a key use case detailed in our card review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the IHG One Rewards Traveler vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card showdown didn't crown a winner for your travel style, perhaps one of these alternative cards will.

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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 good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review spending requirements - Plan how you'll meet any spending thresholds for welcome offers or key annual benefits.
• Have your loyalty account ready - Some co-branded cards require your loyalty program number during the application.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application to align with large planned purchases.
• Research an issuer’s rules on welcome offer eligibility before applying.
• Use pre-approval tools to check for offers without a hard credit inquiry.

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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Do both the IHG Traveler and Marriott Bevy cards have an annual fee?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card has an annual fee, while the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card does not. This can be a significant factor depending on your budget.

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Can I earn elite status with these hotel credit cards?

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Yes, both cards offer a pathway to elite status. The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card provides automatic Silver Elite status, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card grants automatic Gold Elite status (Terms Apply).

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Which card offers a better free night award?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card allows you to earn one Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year (Terms Apply). The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card does not offer a recurring free night award, though you can earn one through its welcome offer.

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How do the points earning structures compare?

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Both cards offer accelerated earning at their respective hotel brands. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card also provides bonus points at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (Terms Apply), whereas the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card offers bonus points at gas stations, restaurants, and on select utilities.

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