American Express Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card
Updated March 1, 2024.
The Facts
The Math
Even though Marriott points are probably our favorite frequent traveler currency, the earning rate of 2x points in the general spending category offered by this card is not that impressive. Our current valuation of Marriott points is 0.75 cent a piece, which means that this card returns 1.5%, 3%, 4.5% travel rewards for the 2x, 4x, and 6x categories, respectively. For general spending, you might want to consider a 2% cashback card without annual fees (such as Citi Double Cash) or a miles credit card with potential higher return such as Amex EveryDay Preferred (which returns 2.25% travel rewards when you have at least 30 transactions per month), Chase Freedom Unlimited (which returns 2.25% travel rewards when you pair it with Chase Sapphire Reserve or similar premium UR cards), or Capital One Venture (which returns 3% travel rewards). The bottom line is that we won't recommend this card for spending, probably except for purchases at Marriott hotels.
Then its $250 annual fee doesn't get you much because Marriott Gold status is much less useful than the next tier Marriott Platinum and a 50K-point free night requires $15K spending. The free night additionally costs you $15,000 x (2 - 1.5)% = $75 compared to using a non-fee 2% cashback card. So for those who don't stay at Marriott often, a 50K-point free night costs a total of $325, hardly a good deal.
The Conclusion
The mid-tier Amex Marriott Bonvoy card doesn't offer much in terms of rewards and perks. You might consider it if you are willing to pay about $325 for the 50K-point free night and/or you can make use of its other Marriott related perks.
The Facts
- Annual Fee: $250
- Signup Bonus: 155,000 points after you spend $5,000 within 6 months of new account opening. The welcome offer is not available to applicants who (i) have or have had JP Morgan Ritz-Carlton Credit Card, JP Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card, Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card, Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card, Chase Marriott Bonvoy Premier Credit Card, Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card, Chase Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business Credit Card, or Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Business Credit Card in the last 30 days, (ii) have acquired Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card, Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, or Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card in the last 90 days, or (iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card, Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, or Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card in the last 24 months. Historical best bonus: (1) 155,000 points in 2024; (2) 125,000 points when introduction in 2022, and in 2023.
- Application Landing Page
- Rewards: 6x Marriott portfolio hotels, 4x groceries & dining (up to $15,000 in combined purchases), and 2x everywhere else.
- Best Use of Marriott Bonvoy points: (1) You may redeem points for hotel stays or upgrades at over 6,500 Marriott portfolio hotels worldwide, including Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, EDITION, W Hotels, Marriott, Renaissance, Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, Delta, Gaylord, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels, Courtyard, Four Points, Fairfield, SpringHill Suites, AC Hotels, Protea, moxy, aloft, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, element, Marriott Executive Apartments, and Marriott Vacation Club. (2) You may transfer points into airline miles of 40+ frequent flyer programs, mostly at 3:1 ratio. If you transfer 60,000 points in a bulk you will get 5,000 miles as a bonus (60K points = 25 miles). Please see our review on Marriott vs. MR vs. UR vs. TY vs. CR for details of the programs that allow frequent flyer miles transfer. (3) You may also redeem points for Marriott Hotel+Air Travel Packages - you exchange a certain number of Marriott points for a certain number of frequent flyer miles plus a 7-night certificate for a Marriott portfolio hotel at a certain redemption level. Generally, the new Travel Packages represent devaluation from the old Travel Packages before August 2018 - you save some points when use this option, but in our opinion most of the time the saving is not big enough for the hassle of finding a single hotel to stay seven nights in a row.
- Marriott Benefits: (1) 1,000 bonus points per stay at Marriott portfolio hotels booked directly with Marriott Bonvoy. (2) An annual free night at any Marriott portfolio hotels with a redemption level of 50,000 points or less when you spend $15,000 in the previous calendar year; the e-certificate expires 12 months after issuance; you might also top off the free night certificate with your own Marriott points, up to 15,000 additional points for a higher redemption level. (3) Complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status, the third tier status, which is normally achieved by staying at least 25 nights per year but does not offer much compared to the next tier. (4) Annual 15 night credits toward elite status each calendar year. (6) Free premium internet access at Marriott portfolio hotels.
- Other Benefits: (1) Waived foreign transaction fees, with an embedded EMV chip. (2) Amex 24/7 Concierge Service. (3) Amex Offers - you receive savings in form of statement credit or earn bonus points on select merchants when using your Amex card; you need to manually add an offer to your Amex card to be eligible for savings or bonus, and unlike other savings/bonus programs, you don't need to shop through a certain portal. (4) ShopRunner membership for free 2-day shipping with select merchants. (5) Entertainment Access including American Express Presale, American Express Preferred Seating, and Premium Access (dining access).
- History: this card was introduced in 2022 as a mid-tier Marriott Bonvoy Amex, slotted between the $650 Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and the $125 Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card. The card is almost identical to Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Visa.
The Math
Even though Marriott points are probably our favorite frequent traveler currency, the earning rate of 2x points in the general spending category offered by this card is not that impressive. Our current valuation of Marriott points is 0.75 cent a piece, which means that this card returns 1.5%, 3%, 4.5% travel rewards for the 2x, 4x, and 6x categories, respectively. For general spending, you might want to consider a 2% cashback card without annual fees (such as Citi Double Cash) or a miles credit card with potential higher return such as Amex EveryDay Preferred (which returns 2.25% travel rewards when you have at least 30 transactions per month), Chase Freedom Unlimited (which returns 2.25% travel rewards when you pair it with Chase Sapphire Reserve or similar premium UR cards), or Capital One Venture (which returns 3% travel rewards). The bottom line is that we won't recommend this card for spending, probably except for purchases at Marriott hotels.
Then its $250 annual fee doesn't get you much because Marriott Gold status is much less useful than the next tier Marriott Platinum and a 50K-point free night requires $15K spending. The free night additionally costs you $15,000 x (2 - 1.5)% = $75 compared to using a non-fee 2% cashback card. So for those who don't stay at Marriott often, a 50K-point free night costs a total of $325, hardly a good deal.
The Conclusion
The mid-tier Amex Marriott Bonvoy card doesn't offer much in terms of rewards and perks. You might consider it if you are willing to pay about $325 for the 50K-point free night and/or you can make use of its other Marriott related perks.