Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Best for: Frequent Marriott guests who will use Platinum Elite perks, a monthly dining credit, and a free night at an expensive hotel
- What Sets It Apart: Platinum Elite status, a tier that otherwise takes 50 nights a year; a yearly free night at hotels costing up to 85,000 points
- Cost: $650 annual fee; no foreign transaction fee; 19.74% to 28.74% variable APR
- Features: 100,000 points after $6,000 in purchases in 6 months; 6X at Marriott Bonvoy hotels; 3X at restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines; 2X elsewhere; a $25 monthly dining credit; 25 Elite Night Credits a year; Priority Pass enrollment
- Pros: Platinum perks without 50 nights of stays; dining credit and free night can cover the fee; up to 25,000 points can be added to the free night; unlimited Priority Pass lounge visits
- Cons: No free night until after the first renewal month; dining credit capped at $25 a month; 2X on everyday purchases, about 1.4% at NerdWallet’s valuation, trails a 2% cash back card; free night excludes resort fees
Get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card only if you’ll use its Platinum Elite status, $25 monthly dining credit, and yearly free night, because those perks pay for the $650 annual fee. If you stay at Marriott once or twice a year, choose the Bonvoy Boundless, which charges $95 a year and still includes a yearly free night.
Platinum Elite status is the main draw of Marriott’s premium card from American Express, because that tier otherwise takes 50 nights a year to earn. The card suits guests who stay at Marriott hotels often and want a free night somewhere expensive.
Key Features
- $650 annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and a 19.74% to 28.74% variable APR, the interest rate on balances you carry
- 100,000 bonus points after $6,000 in purchases in your first six months, about $700 in hotel stays at NerdWallet’s estimate of 0.7 cent a point
- 6X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3X at restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on everything else
- A Free Night Award each year after your card renewal month, covering a standard room and taxes at hotels that cost up to 85,000 points a night
- Platinum Elite status, plus 25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year that count as nights toward the next tier
Pros
- Platinum perks such as upgrades to suites when available and lounge access wherever the hotel brand offers one
- Up to $300 a year in statement credits at restaurants worldwide
- The option to add up to 25,000 of your own points to the free night for a pricier hotel
- Priority Pass enrollment, with unlimited visits to more than 1,300 airport lounges
Cons
- No free night in your first year, since the first award arrives after your first card renewal month
- A dining credit capped at $25 a month, so getting all $300 means eating out every month
- 2X on everyday purchases, about 1.4% back at NerdWallet’s valuation, below the 2% some flat-rate cash back cards pay
- Resort fees that the free night doesn’t cover
Get the Brilliant if you’ll use the full $300 dining credit and redeem the free night for a room you’d otherwise pay $350 or more for, since those two together cover the $650 fee. Everyone else should take Chase’s Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, which charges $95 a year and still includes a free night at hotels costing up to 35,000 points.
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