My handful of credit cards (somewhere between 10 and 20 đŸ™‚ ) makes me a neophyte in the miles and points bloggerverse. Nonetheless, I evaluate the cards that are in my wallet from time to time, and occasionally decide it’s time to purge. At the top of my goodbye list for 2015 is the Marriott Rewards Premier Visa. I spend an above average number of nights at Marriott hotels compared to your typical blogger, and that’s probably not going to change even if I am spending more nights at Kimpton properties this year.
It’s been real and it’s been valuable here and there, but my Marriott Premier Rewards Visa is on its way out. It bailed me out when my (then EMV chipless) Sapphire Preferred couldn’t in Italy a few years ago, and I’ve enjoyed some benefit from carrying the card from time to time. Frankly, it’s been fine. When I first got the card and promoted it here on the blog, a question I frequently got was “where can you use those “useless” free night certs.” At the time, I could spout off a list of hotels that I had used it, but my favorite was the JW Marriott – Miami where I’ve redeemed more than once. The JW is a favorite pre-cruise hotel stay for me. Well, the JW in Miami was a category 5 hotel at the time, but since then, it’s risen to category 7. The value of the free night with the Marriott Rewards Premier Visa? Unchanged. Any benefit from the card? Also unchanged. VFTW notes this today, and yes, his thoughts spurred my post. Why follow onto that?
Aside from the SPG Amex, the Marriott Premier Visa is the only hotel card I currently carry, and it’s been a while since I’ve made a change in hotel cards. Benefits matter, even to a traveler like me who is less focused on “hacking” the best deal I can get than perks. It’s been real, but my Marriott Rewards Premier Visa’s days are numbered. It’s competitive out there, and if you aren’t innovating with your card products, you aren’t going to last with me or anyone else.
-MJ, April 28, 2015
I got rid of it when I applied a while back for another card. Chase wanted one card gone rather than just moving around credit limits. I ranked the Marriott card the lowest of the 5 cards I had with them.
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Points earned from the Mariott Visa also count towards lifetime Silver, Gold, Platinum status. This data is now available on their website, so you can see how far you are away. The ‘double dipping’, may be worth to maintain the card- even short term. Agree the cat 5 is useless & previous free nights earned for cat 4 or 5 also wasted.
Mines is on the way out as well. I also don’t like the fact that it only gives you 6 months to book and stay at a hotel, the hyatt and IHG offer 1 year.
Agree, will be cancelling mine. Marriott silver is worthless, could rarely get any updates as a Marriott gold.
I keep mine for the 15 night credits per year. It sure helps if you want to try to hit Gold. Marriott Gold is the only status that I actively try to maintain nowadays!
I dumped the card six months ago because as you pointed out the free night award is useless unless you are staying at an airport hotel and even then it’s usually a courtyard not a full service Marriott hotel.
Dumped mine last renewal. Using the free night this week (they gave it to me even though I cancelled the card!).
Also recently dumped Hyatt so I can get the 2-night sign up bonus again someday.
Speaking of Kimpton, have you heard anything about their hotels becoming bookable under the IHG Priority Club program?
Nothing so far, Larry. I’m sure it’s coming, just don’t know when.
In the same boat. Renewal comes up later this summer for me and I’m not keeping it. Every year has been harder and harder trying to find a use for the free night cert. There are simply not hotels in Cat 5 or under in places I travel to regularly.
Agreed.