Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex worth the annual fee?

When a bank card’s annual price is over $600, many individuals elevate an eyebrow and query whether or not its advantages make that price price paying.

That is definitely the case with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card — probably the most premium card within the Marriott credit card family. This card has a set of spectacular advantages, but in addition an eye catching $650 annual price (see rates and fees).

The reality is, cobranded hotel cards often aren’t the very best for maximizing your spending past purchases with a given lodge chain. However when a bank card provides a free night time award annually and elite standing that may present suite upgrades and complimentary breakfast, individuals concentrate.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card proves that it is potential to get significant value from at the very least one premium lodge card. Let’s break down whether or not the identical holds true for the Marriott Bonvoy Good.

The knowledge for the Hilton Aspire Amex card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, for a restricted time, you’ll be able to earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus factors after spending $6,000 within the first six months of cardmembership. This provide ends on Might 14.

TPG’s March 2025 valuations peg Marriott factors at 0.7 cents apiece, that means this bonus is price $1,295.

A number of the finest makes use of of Marriott Bonvoy factors embrace free nights at properties equivalent to The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos, The West Hollywood Version and the London Marriott Lodge Park Lane. Those that get pleasure from winter sports activities might love ski-adjacent choices at The St. Regis Aspen Resort, The St. Regis Deer Valley or The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch.

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Keep in mind that American Specific has restrictions limiting your capacity to gather a brand new welcome bonus should you’ve had different Marriott merchandise earlier than. Fortuitously, a pop-up will inform you in case you are not eligible for the bonus if you apply earlier than Amex runs your credit score — and our chart can help clarify things as well.

In case you want some inspiration for what that can get you, this could embrace the luxurious St. Regis New York and St. Regis Deer Valley within the U.S., The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos for a Caribbean getaway or The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto in Japan.

That mentioned, resulting from Marriott’s dynamic pricing mannequin, you will wish to do a calendar seek for versatile dates to search out nights that price 85,000 factors or much less.

The annual free night time award has vital worth, nevertheless it’s additionally price stating which you can solely use this award to remain for a single night time. This could possibly be difficult you probably have plans to remain two nights or longer.

You may also prime up these awards with as much as 15,000 factors out of your Bonvoy factors stability.

In case you maximize this award night time and keep at a property costing 85,000 factors, you could have three less-than-ideal choices for subsequent nights:

• Pay 85,000 factors per night time out of your Marriott stability
• Pay the money price (which will be fairly excessive)
• Transfer to a special lodge

Because of this, individuals have differing opinions on the worth of free night time awards which can be price a single night time at a luxurious property.

Associated: 8 places to maximize an 85,000-point Marriott award night certificate

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex cardmembers obtain as much as $300 every calendar yr in assertion credit for eating purchases. This profit is doled out in as much as $25 month-to-month increments. Enrollment is required; phrases apply.

This credit score will be barely sophisticated to make use of, as you have to bear in mind to make use of this profit every month. We suggest setting a reminder in your telephone or utilizing a spreadsheet to trace your card advantages.

That mentioned, nearly everybody spends at the very least $25 per 30 days at eating places, so so long as you bear in mind to make use of the credit every month, this can assist to offset practically half of the cardboard’s $650 annual price.

One other small bonus? Credit are likely to publish to your account pretty rapidly.

Associated: How to use Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant’s $25 monthly dining credit

The cardboard provides automatic Marriott Platinum Elite status, which is likely one of the finest candy spot lodge elite statuses, and the extent the place invaluable perks begin to kick in. Phrases apply.

Platinum Elite members are eligible for 4 p.m. late checkout and early check-in, when out there, plus room upgrades primarily based on availability at arrival — together with eligibility for upgrades to suites. On the Platinum Elite stage, you even have entry to welcome items at check-in and free breakfast at choose properties.

Sadly, you aren’t entitled to a Choice Benefit (probably the most invaluable of that are 5 Suite Night time Awards) simply by having this card. You possibly can, nonetheless, get an Earned Selection Award by spending $60,000 in your card in a calendar yr or, alternatively, by reaching 50 elite night time credit.

You will mechanically get 25 credit by having your card, so you have to keep simply 25 extra nights to qualify for the Selection Profit. Phrases apply.

Observe which you can solely earn one set of elite night time credit from private Marriott playing cards, no matter what number of you could have. Nevertheless, this profit can stack with the 15 elite night credits given to cardmembers of a Marriott enterprise card — just like the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (phrases apply).

When you’ve got each the Bonvoy Brilliant and the Bonvoy Enterprise playing cards, you will have 40 elite night time credit, so you will solely want to remain 10 qualifying nights to get the Selection profit.

TPG senior director of content material Summer Hull says, „This card is an absolute no-brainer for individuals who keep at full-service Marriott manufacturers a number of occasions a yr, however not fairly sufficient to naturally earn the Marriott Platinum Elite standing that unlocks perks like free breakfast, membership entry and suite upgrades. I’ve acquired the cardboard in order that I can get pleasure from tons of of {dollars} in annual standing perks plus the annual 85,000-point award certificates that saves me tons of of {dollars} on an evening at higher-end Marriott lodges and resorts.“

In case you’re taking pictures for Titanium Elite status, you will want 75 qualifying elite night time credit. The 40 elite credit you’d get from holding each the Good and the Enterprise playing cards will get you over midway there.

Associated: Your complete guide to earning Marriott elite status with credit cards

Different built-in perks of the Marriott Bonvoy Good card embrace a Priority Pass Select membership, which provides you and two visitors limitless entry to greater than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide, in addition to an software price credit score for International Entry ($120 each 4 years for International Entry; as much as $85 each 4½ years for TSA PreCheck). Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.

It is very important observe that the Precedence Go membership doesn’t embrace non-lounge visits to eating places.

The Precedence Go membership just isn’t a large value-add should you already obtain the profit by different playing cards. Nevertheless, if you have already got International Entry or TSA PreCheck since you acquired an announcement credit score for the applying price with another credit card, you should use this credit score to cowl a pal’s or member of the family’s software price.

The Marriott Bonvoy Good Amex’s incomes construction is just like the opposite Marriott playing cards. Cardmembers earn 6 factors per greenback on eligible purchases at lodges taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 factors per greenback at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked straight with airlines and a couple of factors per greenback on other eligible purchases.

Based mostly on TPG’s March 2025 valuations, that is basically a 4.2% return on Marriott purchases, 2.1% on flights booked straight with airways and eating places worldwide and 0.7% on on a regular basis spending. These charges aren’t earth-shattering however aren’t dangerous for a cobranded card.

The Bonvoy Good additionally comes with as much as $100 in property credit if you ebook the „Luxurious Credit score Card Charge“ for at the very least two nights at a taking part St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton lodge. This credit score can be utilized on the lodge on spa providers, eating and non third get together lodge leisure actions.

Associated: Earn bonus Marriott points on your Uber rides and food delivery orders

To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.

Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

For charges and charges of the Marriott Bonvoy Good Amex, click on here.