Marriott Bonvoy continues to have the largest footprint after the acquisition of Starwood. Both Amex and Chase offer co-branded credit cards with Marriott Bonvoy. Last year, I signed up for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card and have been able to max out most of the benefits the card offers. At the moment, the card is offering a limited time welcome bonus offer of 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Also Read: How to leverage this promo to fast track to Marriott elite stauts
MARRIOTT BONVOY BRILLIANT CARD REVIEW
This card charges an annual fee of $650 but is loaded with benefits, elite status and credits for people who frequently stay at Marriott properties. With this offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, you’ll earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months of card membership.
CLICK HERE FOR THE 185,000 POINTS OFFER
EARNING POINTS
The points structure is pretty lucrative for spend at Marriott properties:
- 6x points for every dollar you spend at properties in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio
- 3x points for every dollar you spend at restaurants worldwide
- 3x points for every dollar you spend on flights directly booked with the airline
- 2x points on all other purchases
ELITE STATUS
As long as you keep your card account open, you’ll enjoy Platinum elite status, giving you the following benefits:
- 50% extra points on purchases you make at hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio
- Enhanced room upgrades, which includes suites
- A welcome gift of your choice (this may include an amenity, complimentary breakfast or extra poitns)
- 4 PM late checkout
- Free Wifi
- Dedicated elite support
- Lounge access
FREE NIGHT CERTIFICATE
Each year, you will receive a free night certificate after the month in which you renew your card. This benefit is really valuable as it is capped at 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. Moreover, Marriott allows you to top up by using up to 15,000 points per night. In effect, you can use a certificate and add points to pay for top tier properties that may charge up to 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
If you love staying at luxury properties, then this benefit can go a long way in paying for the annual fee as cash rates are often well over $400 per night at some of these hotels.
CREDITS
In addition to elite status and a free night certificate, you’ll also enjoy the following credits.
$300 DINING CREDIT
Each month, you’ll receive a $25 credit for simply charging any purchase made at a restaurant. The great thing about this credit is the fact that it works on purchases worldwide.
$100 MARRIOTT BONVOY PROPERTY CREDIT
You can earn a $100 credit, provided you satisfy the following conditions:
- You book via marriottbonvoy.com or call 1-800-450-4442 and mention the luxury card rate to book a stay of 2 nights or more
- You book a stay a St. Regis or Ritz Carlton property
The great thing about this credit is that you can use it multiple times! This can be really lucrative if you have a reimbursable business stay coming up. However, in my experience, I haven’t fond the rates to be competitive enough to book using this particular offer.
GLOBAL ENTRY/TSA PRE CHECK CREDIT
Similar to other premium credit cards, you’ll receive a credit when you pay for your global entry/TSA pre check membership with your card.
LOUNGE ACCESS
You’ll also enjoy Priority Pass Select membership with this card. You can access over 1,200 lounges globally simply by keeping your card account active and getting a priority pass select card.
ELITE NIGHT CREDITS
If you’re aiming for higher level status, then this benefit can go a long way. You’ll earn 25 elite night credits each year, as long as your card account is active.
OTHER BENEFITS
In addition, you’ll also enjoy the following benefits:
- Car rental and loss damage insurance
- Baggage insurance
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Trip delay insurance
- Premium internet access
- No foreign transaction fees
- Purchase protection, return protection and extended warranty
- Cell phone insurance for damage or theft
THE PUNDIT’S MANTRA
Overall, this card is a great fit if Marriott Bonvoy is the primary hotel program of choice for you. While the $650 fee is steep, you get a free night certificate each year, which you can redeem at high end properties in the portfolio for great value. Moreover, by simply using your card at restaurants, you can max out the $300 credit each year.
In addition, you can sign up now to get kickstarted with 185,000 bonus points right out of the gate. This limited time offer ends on May 14, 2025.
Click here for the 185,000 points offer
If the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card isn’t a great fit for you, then you can also consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy credit card by American Express. It carries a much lower annual fee and is currently running a limited time welcome bonus offer of 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Click here for the 155,000 points offer
Moreover, the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card is also offering a limited time welcome bonus offer of 3 free night certificates, capped at 50,000 points per night. In effect, once you get the welcome bonus, you can book a 3 night stay at properties that charge up to 65,000 points per night.
Click here to apply for the 3 free nights offer
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