HDFC Marriott Bonvoy vs Axis Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
HDFC Marriott Bonvoy wins 6-3. Marriott loyalists — every ₹150 = 8 Bonvoy points on Marriott + 2 elsewhere. Axis Reserve is still the right call if invitation-only super-premium — for ₹25l+/year spenders..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | HDFC Marriott Bonvoy | Axis Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹3,000 | · ₹50,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹3,000 | · ₹50,000 |
| Top reward rate | 8% (travel) | · 5% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 2% | 5% |
| Forex markup | · 1.99% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 1 free night at any Marriott property + Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status | = 50,000 EDGE points + Taj Epicure membership |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹800,000 / yr | · ₹2,500,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹1,500,000 | · ₹5,000,000 |
| Min credit score | 770 | · 820 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
Benefits compared
HDFC Marriott Bonvoy
- 8 Bonvoy points per ₹150 on Marriott
- 4 Bonvoy points per ₹150 on travel + dining
- 2 Bonvoy points per ₹150 on everything else
- 1 free night annually at Marriott (up to 15K Bonvoy point value)
- Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status (15 elite night credits)
- 8 international + 8 domestic lounge visits/year
Axis Reserve
- 5 EDGE points per ₹100 (effectively 5%)
- Unlimited international + domestic lounge visits
- Taj Epicure + ITC Culinaire memberships
- Concierge 24x7 globally
- 0% forex markup on first ₹15L of FX/year
- Annual ₹25K vouchers at milestones
FAQ
›HDFC Marriott Bonvoy vs Axis Reserve: which is better?
HDFC Marriott Bonvoy wins on more dimensions (6 vs 3). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use HDFC Marriott Bonvoy for its best categories, Axis Reserve for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
HDFC Marriott Bonvoy: 1 free night at any Marriott property + Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Axis Reserve: 50,000 EDGE points + Taj Epicure membership.