Every frequent traveler knows about the best travel credit cards. Some are more expensive than others, but everyone agrees they offer perks or benefits worth considering. The Marriott Bonvoy credit card has amazing benefits, but the good part of owning one is that it provides benefits whether or not you travel often.
American Express and Chase Bank issue them, and they are available in various types, from premium to entry-level. Understanding them will help you separate the benefits to avoid confusion. Each has unique benefits, but confusing them is easy because there are five options: American Express issues two and three are from Chase Bank. Let’s start with those from each issuing institution.
American Express offers three Marriott Bonvoy options: the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express, and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express. Chase Bank usually offers two options, although a third one is not popularly talked about: the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit, and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit.
You will notice that some features overlap, making it easy to confuse one for the other, especially if you are a new or infrequent user. However, regular use acquaints you with unique features, easing the process of identifying which has what features and deciding what works best for your needs.
Perks of Using the Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
If you are wondering what the fuss is about them, it shows you have never seen the benefits offered by the issuer. The perks of the Marriott Bonvoy credit card are many; determining which perks best suit your travel and home needs is the only challenge. That way, you can take advantage of the offers and reduce expenses, especially when on a tight budget.
1. Bonuses for New Cardholders
The Bold Credit card from Chase has no annual fee, so new owners pay $0 in annual fees for usage. If you spend up to $1,000 within the first three months of opening an account, you can earn 30,000 bonus points.
However, the bonuses are the least attractive because they are not much, which is not surprising because of the zero annual maintenance fee. The Bountiful Credit card offers 85,000 bonus points when new users spend up to $4,000 within the first three months of opening an account.
The Bevy American Express card allows new users to earn as much as 155,000 bonus points if they spend up to $5000 within the first six months of opening their accounts and getting one.
The Brilliant American Express card has an annual maintenance fee of $650, but the bonuses for new users are much better. The Marriott Bonvoy bonus points for new users are 185,000, but they must spend at least $6,000 within the first six months of the acquisition.
The Boundless Credit card offers three free nights to new holders eligible for the bonus, but they must spend at least $3,000 within the first three months of the card acquisition. Click here to learn more about the options from Chase Bank.
2. Free Nights Awards
You can use the Free Nights Awards if you have a Marriott Bonvoy card, as long as the hotel where you plan to stay is part of the Bonvoy program network. These free nights also include anniversary nights for eligible holders; these refer to the account opening anniversary.
The Bountiful Credit card awards a certificate worth 50,000 points for each account anniversary. However, you can only receive it if you have spent a minimum of $15,000 the previous year. The Boundless Credit card awards a certificate worth 35,000 points for each account opening anniversary.
The Bevy Credit card awards a certificate worth 50,000 points for each anniversary if you spend a minimum of $15,000 the previous year. The best offer comes from the Brilliant Credit card, the premium Marriott Bonvoy card. The award certificate is worth 85,000; no minimum spending level is required to earn it.
Your account expenses count for more benefits. For example, although there is no minimum limit, if you spent up to $60,000 the previous year, the issuer allows you to select a Choice benefit from various options, among which is another certificate worth 85,000 points.
3. Access to Airport Lounges
The Brilliant Credit card, the premium choice, has a Priority Pass Select membership perk. This membership provides unlimited access to airport lounges for you and two people traveling with you. Since the Marriott Bonvoy program has more than 1,000 lounges worldwide, you will surely come across one or more, especially if you are a frequent traveler.
4. Provides Statement Credits
The American Express Brilliant card has the highest annual maintenance fee as a premium option. However, the perks make the payment worth it if you know how to use it. For example, the issuer can send a monthly statement credit of up to $25, accumulating to $300 a year. They can be used anywhere in the world for restaurant expenses.
If you return to the U.S., you can skip immigration, customs, and security checks at international airports with a TSA Precheck and Global Entry credit to your account. The TSA Precheck credit costs about $85, while the Global Entry costs about $100, but you only have to pay it every four and a half years.
Other perks include shopping benefits, including huge discounts at select stores such as DoorDash. Travel protection includes reimbursement for lost or damaged luggage and baggage delay insurance. This resource, https://www.americanexpress.com/, explains more about the American Express Brilliant card.
Conclusion
Using Marriott hotels and resorts allows you to enjoy bonuses and perks when you spend, reducing the impact on your finances. Join the Marriott Bonvoy worldwide program by getting one or more of the Marriott Bonvoy cards.
You will enjoy benefits such as travel protection, swift clearance through immigration and customs, access to airport lounges, statement credits, and free nights at select hotels. These allow you to maximize your usage, even if you must pay a hefty yearly maintenance fee.
