If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
Hotel credit cards don't get much more feature-packed than the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Marriott's most luxurious card offers a rich welcome offer, spending credits, a free night award, and much more (terms apply). However, this card also comes with a hefty annual fee (see rates and fees). Decide if it's worth the cost with our Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card review.
Great for: Marriot Bonvoy benefits
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Rewards Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
2X-6X points
Annual Fee
$650
Welcome Offer Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points
It's one of the most expensive hotel cards we've seen, but the benefits could be worth thousands for the right type of cardholder.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
Intro: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR |
||
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
||
![]()
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
25,000 points 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5 points per dollar Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. |
Intro: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
This credit card is a good fit for: Frequent guests of Marriott hotels who want a luxury card with perks to cover both hotel stays and air travel.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is one of the most feature-packed hotel cards.
You can earn 185,000 bonus points from Marriott Bonvoy when you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. Terms apply.
CHECK OUT MORE BIG BONUSES: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card earns:
Those points are in addition to the points you already earn as a member of the Marriott Bonvoy program. You also earn 50% more points on hotel purchases with Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, which is a complimentary perk of this card. Terms apply.
COMPARE TO OTHER TOP OPTIONS: Best Hotel Credit Cards
Each cardmember year, your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card covers $300 in eligible dining statements (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. You receive this as a statement credit. Terms apply. Assuming you use the credit every month, it effectively brings this card's annual fee down to $350.
When you use your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card to book and pay for a stay of two nights or longer at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® using the "$100 Property Credit, Luxury Credit Card" rate, you receive a credit of up to $100 to redeem toward qualifying purchases at the property. The property credit appears as a credit on your bill at checkout, not as a statement credit on your credit card. Terms apply.
After your card renewal month each year, you receive one free night award. You can redeem this for one night at a participating Marriott Bonvoy hotel with a redemption level at or under 85,000 points. Terms apply.
This card offers complimentary Platinum Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. Terms apply. Platinum Elite status unlocks perks that include:
Benefits like these can elevate every stay. You also receive 25 Elite Night Credits each year, which gets you closer to the next level of Elite status. Terms apply.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card includes a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. Once you enroll in this benefit, you get unlimited lounge visits for you and up to two guests in the more than 1,200 Priority Pass lounges. Terms apply; enrollment required.
Most premium travel credit cards offer airport lounge access, but this is still a useful feature for frequent flyers.
SEE MORE OPTIONS: Best Credit Cards With Airport Lounge Access
Your Marriott card covers your membership fee to Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, two Trusted Traveler programs. You can get either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years, or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years. Terms apply.
Global Entry is the superior choice, and not just because it's the larger credit. A membership to that program also automatically enrolls you in TSA PreCheck, so you get both programs' benefits for the price of one.
LEARN MORE: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR: Which Program Is the Best?
American Express cards tend to have top-notch protections, and this one is no exception. It offers (and here, too, terms apply):
Like just about all the best travel credit cards, this card doesn't charge you extra for international transactions in a foreign currency. This can easily save you 2% to 3% on every transaction in non-U.S. dollars versus cards that charge foreign transaction fees. (see rates and fees)
RELATED: Best Airline Credit Cards
There is one downside to know about with this Marriott card.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card certainly doesn't come cheap at $650 per year. However, that annual fee is justifiable if you visit Marriott properties often.
The $300 dining statement credit can bring this card's annual cost down to $350. It also has plenty of additional benefits, including the annual free night award. That can be used at some of the most expensive Marriott properties, including many that charge $500 to $1,000 per night. Assuming you can use its benefits, this card's value more than makes up for its annual fee. If you're not sure you can, you're better off checking out other credit card reviews.
Have a business? Then you should check out The Ascent's Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card review.
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
We recommend a FICO® Score of 670 or higher to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. It generally takes a good or excellent credit score to get approved for this card.
As with any credit card application, your credit score isn't the only factor that matters. American Express reviews your credit history as well as your income when evaluating your application. You can get approved with a lower score or denied with a higher one.
GET THE CREDIT CARD YOU WANT: How to Increase Your Credit Score
You book stays at Marriott properties several times per year and want the card that will get you the most benefits there.
If you visit Marriott often, you're just about guaranteed to get your money's worth from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. It offers a spectacular list of features, rivaled only by the best credit cards. Not only can you save a substantial amount of money on your Marriott stays, but the complimentary perks can result in a better hotel experience
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
The minimum starting credit limit for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is usually $3,100, but higher limits are possible depending on your income and credit profile. Some people have reported receiving credit limits of $20,000 or more.
This card isn't hard to get if you meet its qualifications. Approval depends on several factors, one of the most important being your credit score. A FICO® Score of at least 670 gives you a good chance of getting approved.
Yes, you can use this card internationally, and it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
**Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
***Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
For rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here
The Motley Fool recommends Amex.