My First Year With the HDFC Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card - Was It Worth It?
I signed up for the HDFC Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card mainly for two benefits: A Free Night Award (up to 15,000 points redemption) 10 Elite Night Credits every membership year The annual fee is ₹3,000 + taxes, which felt reasonable if the card delivered enough value. Card Acceptance: Excellent in India, Weak Overseas In India, the card has worked smoothly around 95% of the time — from local shops to high-end restaurants. No issues there. However, when I travelled to Azerbaijan, the experience was completely different. I stayed at Pik Palace Shadag, and the staff did not recognize the Diners Club network. Throughout the country, very few places accepted the card. I had to rely entirely on a VISA card for all payments. Summary: • India – strong acceptance • Some international destinations – poor acceptance If you travel abroad frequently, you must carry a backup VISA or Mastercard. Free Nights and Milestone Benefits Along with the joining Free Night Award, I reached the spending milestone...
