Are you an avid traveler who frequents Marriott hotels and uses Amex cards regularly? The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card will likely become your new best friend. This premium travel rewards credit card offers an impressive array of benefits perfect for jet setters. From an enormous welcome bonus of up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to an annual free night award worth up to 50,000 points. Read on as we dive deep into the offerings of the Amex Marriott Bonvoy card and point out its advantages!
Introducing The Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card
If free stuff sounds like your thing, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card could be exactly what you need in your wallet. But you’ll want to grab this card for more than just the free hotel perks - it offers a solid mix of benefits whether you travel a lot or sporadically.
The main draw is the enormous welcome bonus offer of up to 65,000 Marriott Bonvoy points once you spend $3,000 on the card in the first 3 months. Those points are worth at least one free night at many Marriott properties - so right off the bat, you’ve covered two free night stays at a standard hotel. Not a bad start!
The Amex Marriott Bonvoy card also includes an annual free night award worth up to 50,000 points on each cardmember anniversary. The annual free night certificate can be used at any participating Marriott hotel.
On top of the two free night awards, cardholders get automatic Gold elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Gold status unlocks perks like free breakfast and room upgrades.
The annual fee for this card is $120. Additional cards carry no annual fee. The purchase APR is 20.99%, and the cash advance APR is 21.99%. You also earn an additional 10,000 points after your first purchase between 14 and 17 months of the card membership.
Additionally, Featured Perks Beyond Points and Free Nights
Dining Credit
$300 Dining Credit - Each year, you'll receive up to $25 in monthly statement credits ($300 total annually) on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide. This effectively reduces the cost of the card by offsetting some of your dining expenses.
Free Night Award
Free Night Award - Besides the welcome bonus, you'll receive one free night award worth up to 85,000 points for each card renewal. You can use this award at any participating Marriott hotel.
Luxury Hotel Credit
$100 Hotel Credit - When you book a stay of two nights or more directly with The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels, you'll earn up to a $100 property credit to use during your stay on spa services, dining, and more.
APR and Interest Rates
While the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card offers significant perks and rewards, it's essential to know the interest rates you'll be charged on your purchases and balance.
The standard APR for this card ranges from 20.74% to 29.74% Variable APR. Your exact APR will vary based on the Prime Rate and your creditworthiness but will fall within that upper range.
How You Earn Points and Rewards
The Marriott Bonvoy Amex card offers a lucrative points-earning structure to help you accumulate free nights at Marriott hotels quickly:
6X points on Hotel Stays - You'll earn an outstanding 6 points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. This is the best points-earning rate for Marriott hotel spending.
3X points on Dining
The card earns 3 points for every $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, allowing you to accumulate points beyond hotel stays.
3X points on Flights
You'll earn 3 points for every $1 charged directly to airlines for flight purchases, helping you gain points on another type of travel expense.
2X points on Other Purchases
For all other eligible purchases on the card, you'll still earn 2 points for every $1 spent.
This robust points-earning structure
With 6x, 3x, and 2x multipliers on different spending categories - the card helps you acquire Marriott points quickly. And what does this translate to? Faster access to free nights at redemption. The higher multipliers apply to common travel expenses like hotel stays, dining out, and flight purchases, so you're likely already doing the spending.
Combined with welcome bonuses, free night awards, and other perks, these points-earning rates make an appealing package for Marriott loyalists and frequent travelers.
Is It Worth The 250 Bucks?
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is ideal for frequent Marriott travelers who want to maximize the benefits of their hotel spending. The annual fee of $250 may seem high for occasional hotel users. But rest assured, the card more than pays for itself if you can capitalize on its perks. If anything, it grants you Automatic Gold elite status. Thereby providing free breakfast, upgrades, and other privileges at Marriott properties
When paired with the points earning and redemption flexibility, these benefits make the card compelling for regular Marriott guests. It is perfect for people who frequent Marriott routinely. But weigh the annual fee and high-interest rates carefully to ensure the value outweighs the costs for your habits.
For loyal Marriott customers, this card can truly and very royally level up your hotel experiences. If you book Marriott stays regularly, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card may be worth it. Worthy of a spot in your wallet.
