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How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget
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When we bring up the Maldives on a budget as a holiday destination, those words don’t seem to belong together.

In fact, they are perceived as expensive with their luxurious resorts with overwater villas and it doesn’t have to be. While we can usually cover the cost of the stay of Marriott’s overwater villas with rewards points, we still have to pay for the expensive seaplane transfer and/or the pricey food and drinks on the site. Although that can also be done with travel rewards points you can apply on any travel purchases, it’s still a hefty bill.

A shoestring trip is definitely doable as there are tons of local guesthouses, free things to do and independent operators.

10 beautiful landscapes to discover with reward points - Maldives

The best islands for a Maldives on a budget trip

There are over a thousand islands grouped together in clusters or atolls. Thankfully, there are plenty of choices for a Maldives on a budget holiday.

Other than not breaking the bank, this way of exploring the Maldives will allow you to interact more closely with the locals and have a more authentic experience of the Maldivian culture.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Locals On Maafushi

How to choose your island?

In order to pull off the Maldives on a budget trip, you should aim for those that are easily accessible by public ferries and speedboats from Male thus avoiding expensive seaplanes. There are three kinds of islands in the Maldives:

  • Private islands
  • Inhabited islands
  • Uninhabited islands

Obviously, to travel on a budget, you’ll have to avoid the private islands that are often quite secluded from local life; while it feels like being in paradise on your own little island, you are confined to the properties’ restaurants and tour operators.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Maldives on a budget

The majority of the local inhabited islands in the archipelago harbour local life which centres around Muslim culture. Therefore, you will have limited choices for a designated « bikini beach »; while the water is as pristine as everywhere else, you might have to swim fully clothed. Most guest houses will be able to help you navigate through them on the island.

Also, you’ll have to abstain from alcohol during your stay on local islands.

As there’s over a thousand islands, it’s impossible to talk about all of them. Here are the standouts for a Maldives on a budget trip.

Maafushi

Maafushi is the main island that comes to mind when you think about the Maldives on a budget trip. The island is just 27 kilometres from Malé so it’s very easily accessible. There’s a prison located on the island, but you won’t notice it as tourism is concentrated on the other side.

A lot of tour operators are based on the island and they offer a variety of excursions such as whale shark spotting and scuba diving trips. You won’t find any shortage of hotels or guesthouses either; pretty much everyone who lives on Maafushi works in tourism.

The bikini beach is a bit small and can be overcrowded even during the off season. Therefore, I won’t recommend coming to Maafushi if your intention is to lay all day on the white sand. Also, the house reef isn’t in good shape due to mass tourism.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Watersports Beach Maafushi

What is interesting about Maafushi are the snorkelling sites nearby as they are blooming with marine life and beautiful coral gardens. You’ll have to check with your guesthouse or a tour company as you need to book a group tour.

Also, there’s a lot of watersports available on Maafushi such as water skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, kite surfing, parasailing, etc. as well as a huge playground for kids.

Maafushi is a perfect base for exploring the Maldives on a budget.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Maafushi
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Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Fulidhoo

Fulidhoo is known for its authenticity, beauty, charm and local vibe. The island is easily incorporated in an itinerary with Maafushi by public ferry and public speedboats.

The rates of scuba diving and snorkelling are on the cheaper side here making it a prime choice for a Maldives on a budget trip.

Wildlife is diverse and amazing over here: hammerheads, manta rays, dolphins and whale sharks! The visibility is pretty great all year round so you can’t really go wrong with Fulidhoo if you want to explore the seabed.

The beach is amazing and the turquoise water is spectacular; there’s a spot where sting rays hang out by the shore!

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Fulidhoo Maldives Sting Rays

Rasdhoo

Rasdhoo is a very nice island for a Maldives on a budget trip as it caters to most types of travellers. It is situated about 60 kilometres west of Malé.

There are affordable guesthouses, restaurants and stores along with some dive shops to keep you busy.

The vibe on Rasdhoo is definitely an island one so you should expect « slow ».

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Turtle 2081273 1280

In terms of bikini beach, there’s a small one (about 100 metres in length) with a lovely house reef just a bit off shore which is perfect for some snorkelling. Be wary of the low tide and coral though; you should wear special water shoes to avoid injuries if you are walking.

The house reef is more lively on the outer side, but be careful of currents which are constantly changing being easy to swim on one day to impossible on another.

Rasdhoo is famous for black and white tip reef sharks along with the reef regulars (parrot fish, barracudas, batfish, etc.). If you want to get a good taste of marine life in the Maldives on a budget, this is a good one.

Nearby, there are also a few uninhabited islands and sandbanks that are beautiful for a day trip either to wander around paradise or to snorkel or dive.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Maldives sandbanks

Ukulhas

This one is also easy to incorporate on a Maldives on a budget trip as there’s a public ferry connecting it with Rasdhoo. You’ll have to plan accordingly though as it doesn’t operate every day of the week.

The 1-kilometre long bikini beach is great on Ukulhas so this is where you should aim if you want to sunbathe. Indeed, there are a lot of trees for shade, sunbeds and umbrellas which are perfect for a day at the beach.

For families, especially those with younger children, Ukulhas is perfect because hotels and guesthouses are not that far from the beach.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Maldives Family

The reef is also pretty great for snorkelling with lots of life such as stingrays, manta rays, turtles and huge schools of fishes although the coral might be dead or unhealthy.

Unlike other islands, it’s fairly easy to organize a private candlelight dinner on the beach on a sandbank. Your hotel can help you with that and the cost starts around $125 US for two.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Maldives beach dinner

Thoddoo

Thoddoo is also a good option for a Maldives on a budget trip.

There’s a lot of agriculture on Thoddoo so you can expect a lot of fresh fruits. In fact, they often export their sweet watermelons and juicy papayas to other islands!

There are two splendid and clean beaches on Thoddoo and you can reach them while passing through farms on a bicycle! This is actually a very nice way to explore this island; you can usually rent them from your accommodation.

There’s a small reef near the bikini beach but the current can be quite strong so don’t swim alone.

There’s a manta ray station near Thoddoo which is a good place to see them as they usually prefer deeper waters and stronger currents.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Maldives Manta Ray

How to get to the Maldives on a budget?

According to Google Flights, airfare to from Montreal to Malé can easily reach over $2,000 CA per person for a round trip. Is this a result of Revenge Travel? Maybe. But whatever the reason, that’s the cost to fly to the Maldives now.

Thankfully, there are great options with Aeroplan points!

You can fly to Malé for 70,000 points on a one way from Canada which is the fixed price on a partner airline under the Air Canada Aeroplan award chart from the North American zone to the Atlantic zone.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - yul mle en
How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - yvr mle en

However, there is a nice trick here; if you input Singapore as your destination and Malé as your stopover point, you can visit both the Maldives on a budget and Singapore for only 65,000 Aeroplan points!

Singapore is also doable on a shoestring and a gateway to a whole lot of budget-friendly destinations such as Thailand or Bali.

Singapore is located in the Pacific zone; therefore, if we are flying from Eastern Canada, we move on to a cheaper mileage bracket in the North American-Pacific chart and make use of that amazing 5,000 points stopover option. The best thing is that you can book all of this online yourself!

Here’s the award price from Montreal:

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - yul mle sin en

And here’s the same routing trick from Toronto:

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - yyz mle sin en

Air Canada partner airlines can be tricky to juggle with as availability isn’t always there. You can use a tool such as ExpertFlyer to monitor award space and be alerted when it opens up.

So for only 130,000 Aeroplan points, you can fly round-trip to the Maldives and to South-East Asia. While that amount still might seem high, Aeroplan points are quite easy to accumulate with the many credit card sign-up bonuses offered in Canada; a card or two will do the trick.

My favourite cards are the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card and the Platinum Card® because they require no minimal income and have plenty of amazing travel perks in addition to their bonuses.

They do have high annual fees, but think of them as the cost of your airfare; you are, in a way, buying the points to make your trip. When viewing the fees with that perspective, $599 is quite fitting for a plane ticket to the Maldives on a budget as compared to our $2,000+ prices found on Google Flights earlier!

Also, award flights in the Aeroplan program for infants (below the age of two) are fixed to 2,500 points per direction which is a steal whether you fly economy or in a premium cabin (should you want to have a family holiday).

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How to get around the local islands in the Maldives?

From the airport

You’ll be landing at the international airport (MLE) located on Hulhumale Island. The first step is to get to the capital island of Malé which you can do with a ferry boat ride; the ferry terminal is on the left side of the airport. This will take about 10 minutes and set you back around 30 rufiyaa (CA$3).

This ferry unfortunately takes you far from the local island public ferry terminal, so you’ll have to fork out around 85 rufiyaa (CA$7) for a taxi (especially if you have lots of luggage). Alternatively, you can walk between the airport terminal and the public ferry terminal in about an hour.

Alternatively, to save on time, you can also take a speedboat transfer directly to Maafushi (and back) from the airport (approximately CA$34). This is also something to consider as accommodation on Malé or Hulhumale is more expensive than on a local island such as Maafushi.

From Malé

The Villingili ferry terminal is where most of the boats leave for local islands. While some timetables can be found online, they are not always reliable so it’s best to ask the ticket office directly in Malé.

Once you’re there, it’s best to plan out your Maldives on a budget trip. This is especially crucial if you are visiting more than one island; some routes require backtracking to Malé while some islands are linked.

Prices for public ferries can be as cheap as 5 rufiyaa which is about 50 cents. On the flip side, they can be incredibly slow compared to speedboats.

From Malé to Maafushi, we paid around CA$7 per person for the 90-minute trip on the local ferry.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Public Ferry Maldives On A Budget

The speedboats cost between CA$35 and CA$170 per person depending on the destination. While that is significantly more expensive than public ferries, it might be worth it to avoid losing precious vacay time. It’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons for your situation.

To get back to Malé after our Maldives on a budget trip, we took a speedboat because the public ferry did not match our schedule at all. The 30-minute journey set us back around CA$25 per person.

You can also ask your accommodation if they offer a pick-up service by private speedboats and compare prices; it is sometimes included in your package so it’s best to check. How pleasant would it be if it was complementary?

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Boat 4140131 1920
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For a limited time, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 Avion points, worth up to $1,500 in travel.

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The annual fee is $120.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
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Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

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1st Year Value$1,369
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Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,500 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Where to stay in the Maldives on a budget?

On local islands mentioned in this article, you’ll have plenty of options between hotels and guesthouses. While they may not be as cheap as some real backpacking destinations such as Thailand or Bali, you will get your money’s worth with a superior quality and standard.

Most of these accommodations can be booked on Booking.com or on Airbnb. Therefore, you can easily use reward points such as Scene+ points to cover those costs.

In addition, by using a card such as the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you are avoiding a foreign exchange fee that most other cards pass on to you. Also, the welcome bonus for that card is actually almost enough for a week of lodging in the Maldives on a budget trip! Talk about a triple win!

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - booking maldives en

Most places offer food as well and it’s almost always better to eat where you stay (and pass off those costs on your hotel bill in order to use points). In fact, restaurants can be limited in some places so it’s best to have a wander around town and look at your options before declining the food plan at your accommodation.

Scene+ points are quite simple to use; you can simply book whatever place you like and take care of redeeming points for your stay when you get back home. They’re my favourite for budget travel as they allow me to plan whatever I see fit without being restricted.

Some activities can even be covered with points as well such as scuba diving (if the operator is listed as a travel agency).

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How to get to an all-inclusive resort island in the Maldives on a budget?

While this article centres around visiting the Maldives on a budget, there’s a way to incorporate a little day trip to a resort island without going broke. You know, just to get that little taste of Maldivian luxury and to be pampered a bit!

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - JW Marriott Maldives Villa sur pilotis second25

All-inclusive resort – The day trip experience

I previously mentioned that Maafushi is a good island as a base for exploring the Maldives. Well, from there, you can also easily book a day trip that includes boat transfers, entrance fees, resort amenities as well as food and drinks between CA$135 to CA$275 per person.

Check out the activities you can do on your local island first so you don’t pay for something you could have done cheaper elsewhere.

Review : JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa | Marriott Bonvoy - JW Marriott Maldives Resort and Spa restaurants571

All-inclusive resort – The full overnight experience

Alternatively, if you do want to experience the lavish side of the Maldives on a budget without (or in addition to) going to local islands, you can do so by racking up Marriott Bonvoy points since it’s easy to do so. The welcome bonus from each Bonvoy co-branded cards (Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card & Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card) can give you a big headstart.

Technically, the cheapest resort to get to is the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa because they offer a complimentary speedboat transfer while the others require boarding a seaplane and the rate (either with cash or points) is lower than their sister properties in the Maldives. The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa also offers overwater villas that are quite nice if that is the experience you seek.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - marriott bonvoy maldives en

You can also use your annual free night award certificate from either cards and top it up with points for an amazing value since the redemption is worth far more than the annual fee you pay to earn the free night award certificate.

Indeed, rates start around CA$300 per night while the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card has a CA$120 fee.

This hotel is also in a perfect location to book-end your trip as it is close to the airport; this will be a nice way to relax before the journey home, especially if you’ve got a early flight out.

Review: Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa - Maldives On A Budget Use Of A Certificate
Review: Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa - Maldives On A Budget Use Of A Certificate 2

Then there’s also the issue of pricey meals, but at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, half board and full-board plans are available at CA$135 and CA$200 respectively (per person, per day).

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card is again quite useful as the welcome bonus is enough to cover a few days of food here. Should you have a status with Marriott, you can save even more as breakfast is usually one of your welcome gift choices.

Marriott has quite a few amazing properties in the archipelago, 7 to be exact, which we reviewed here:

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What activities can you do in the Maldives on a budget?

  • Bikini beaches are free, as is snorkeling off shore. Bring your own mask and snorkel.
  • The price for scuba diving in the Maldives is pretty standard though with each dive (tank) costing about CA$55 to CA$80.
  • Dolphins can be spotted while walking on the beach so there’s no incentive to book a tour for that; ask your host for the best spots around the island!
  • As for exploring the islands, they can often be done on foot, so no expenses to be had there!
How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - shark-2683184-1920

You can also book a handful of excursions at a very reasonable price on local islands.

The tour operator we chose on Maafushi was Travel Scape Maldives; the reason we went with them was because they are a local operator who went out with small groups of 10 at the most with 3 local guides. We did not want to go with a major company because they took up to 35 people on their excursions.

The 10 best scuba diving sites with points - Maldives Whale Shark

Our cost and use of reward points

To sum up, here is the rundown of our 4 nights and 5 days Maldives on a budget trip in Canadian dollars. We were a party of 2 adults and 1 child and chose Maafushi and Fulidhoo. Excursions for our toddler were free, but we did opt for a bigger hotel room and ordered more food for him.

We could have gone more frugal and brought it down to less than CA$50 per person per day, but we just followed our heart’s desires without looking at cost so much.

Grand total$787.28
CategoryCost
Accommodation$229.68
Restaurants$230.48
Groceries$12.84
Activities and excursions$136.11
Transportation$82.64
Cash expenses$95.53

Everything was paid with the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® with the exception of the cash expenses. Upon our return home, I applied 135,000 HSBC Reward Points for a CA$675 statement credit.

While that card isn’t available anymore, I employed the same strategy for my Maldives resort expenses in the same way with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card and Scene+ points.

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Hsbc Maldives On A Budget
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Ends Nov 1, 2026
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on Scotiabank's website

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers an excellent welcome bonus.

Until November 1, 2026, you can earn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points, broken down as follows:

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This represents a value of up to $500 for travel (including Airbnb).

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, you earn 6 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà par IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! grocery stores. FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

Also, you earn 5 points per dollar for:

  • Grocery stores
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And 3 points per dollar on gas, transit and streaming services purchases.

You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). You can also use your points as cash back rewards with Scene+.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card also offers no foreign transaction fees, excellent insurance for your travel or purchases, concierge service, exclusive American Express benefits like the Front of the Line program.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$29

Annual income required

Individual$12,000
Household$12,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 6xWith the partner brand
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xEntertainment
  • 5xRestaurants
  • 3xStreaming
  • 3xTransit
  • 3xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,460
2nd Year Value$461

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

Useful tips for your trip to the Maldives

When is the best time to visit the Maldives?

The high season (dry season) in the Maldives runs from November and April. Therefore, for a Maldives on a budget trip, it’s best to aim for October or May to get the best of both worlds in the shoulder months; a bit cheaper but not too wet either.

We were in the Maldives during the last two weeks of October and we had about 5 days with brief showers (mostly early morning and during the late afternoon).

How to travel to the Maldives on a Budget - Le Meridien Maldives Resort Spa 5836

Are credit cards accepted on local islands in the Maldives?

Most guesthouses and tour operators will accept credit cards, but it is always better to carry some cash around. This is especially true if the island is more remote.

We mostly had to bring out the cash for taxis and ice cream shops.

Unlike the resort islands where everything is quoted in US dollars, you’ll pay with either the local currency or dollars. In fact, we could have paid with US dollars all the way but the exchange rate was not always in our favor so we were glad to have some rufiyaa (the local currency).

I’d recommend getting your rufiyaa at an ATM while in Malé or Hulhumale to get the best exchange rate. Alternatively, foreign exchange kiosks aren’t so bad either. Also, I’d carry a bit of US dollars in cash just in case I’d run out of local currency in a place where there’s no working ATM.

Bottom line

A trip to the Maldives on the budget can be done if you are open-minded; it’s not just filled with expensive resorts. Then again, even if you wanted to stay in an overwater villa in the Maldives and call it a budget trip, you can do so with the magic of points!

Why visit the Maldives while you can go gallivant somewhere else that is also a budget destination? The marine life is quite incredible, the scenery is majestic and the sunsets are beautiful. In addition, for me personally, it was a way to stay in an overwater villa without going broke.

So there you have it, a real local inexpensive option and how to stay in a deluxe property without breaking the bank for your Maldives on a budget holiday.

Our tips for a scuba diving travel with points - tortoise-5029662-1920

My family and I wandered around the Maldives both on a budget and deluxe style; a trip made possible with the use of many reward points program. I documented my adventure with stories. To follow me on Instagram, it’s this way: wanderingaline

Frequently asked questions about the Maldives

Are the Maldives expensive?

The Maldives, often considered luxurious, offers affordable options. Choose budget accommodations on local islands, focus on inexpensive activities such as snorkeling, and opt for less expensive means of transportation such as public ferries. With clever planning, a trip to the Maldives can be more affordable than expected, despite the slightly high cost of living.

When is the cheapest moment to visit the Maldives?

To save money, avoid the high tourist season from November to April and favor the low season from May to October. Although this is the rainy season, showers are generally short and pleasantly cool.

How much does a trip to the Maldives cost?

The budget for a trip to the Maldives can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the type of accommodation, choice of island, activities and season. For a low-budget trip, expect to pay between CA$50 and CA$80 per person per day, staying on a local island with daily activities. On a resort island, budget at least CA$200 per day per person for a half-board stay, with no activities.

What language is spoken in the Maldives?

The official language is Dhivehi, used in all aspects of daily life. Although Dhivehi is predominant, many Maldivians also speak English, especially in tourist areas.

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points
Ends Sep 22, 2026
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

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