American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card review

How the Marriott Bonvoy Card earns points

The card has just two earn rates. Marriott Bonvoy stays earn 5 points per dollar, and everything else earns 2 points per dollar. The 2-point base rate is its quiet strength: there are no categories to track, and grocery runs, gas and bills all add to your hotel balance at the same rate.

For example, a household that puts $1,500 a month of everyday spending on the card and spends $2,000 a year at Marriott hotels would earn 36,000 points from everyday purchases and 10,000 from hotel stays, or 46,000 Marriott Bonvoy points a year.

The welcome offer

New cardholders can earn up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. The full amount depends on meeting the offer’s conditions, so check the spending requirement and timeline on the American Express website before you apply.

To put the bonus in context, earning 75,000 points at the card’s 2-point base rate would take $37,500 of regular spending. If you qualify for the full amount, the bonus can make up a large share of your first-year points.

The free night, status and elite credits

The perk most cardholders keep this card for is the Annual Free Night Award. If you stay at a Marriott property at least once a year and actually use the certificate, it goes a long way toward justifying the fee. Read the certificate terms so you know which hotels it can be used at and how long it stays valid.

The card also gives you automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status and 15 Elite Night Credits each year. Those credits count toward your yearly elite night total, so frequent guests begin each year partway toward the next status level.

Fees, interest and the fine print

The annual fee is $120, which works out to $10 a month. That’s a moderate price for a hotel card, but it only makes sense if you use the free night or value the steady 2-point earning.

Foreign currency purchases carry a 2.5% fee, so $1,000 spent at a hotel or shop abroad adds about $25. That matters on a card you’re likely to carry when travelling. Purchases and cash advances are both charged 21.99% interest; pay your full statement balance by the due date to avoid purchase interest.

Insurance coverage

The card includes a short list of travel coverage that’s useful on hotel trips. Check the insurance certificate for limits, eligibility and exclusions before relying on it.

• Travel emergency medical
• Car rental theft and damage
• Flight and baggage delay

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The Marriott Bonvoy Card suits people who stay with Marriott at least once a year and want their everyday spending to build toward more hotel nights. It’s especially handy if you’ll redeem the Free Night Award every year.

Look elsewhere if you rarely stay at Marriott properties, want points you can use across several airlines and hotel chains, or often spend in foreign currencies. In those cases, the 2.5% fee and single-brand points work against you.

How it compares

The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card earns the same 5x at Marriott and costs $150 a year. It’s the version to consider if you want to keep business hotel spending separate from personal spending.

For the same $120 fee, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card earns Scene+ points instead, with up to 6x at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and other grocers, and it charges no foreign transaction fee. It suits people who care more about everyday earning than hotel benefits.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 720 or higher, and American Express makes the final decision using your full credit profile. The welcome offer, perks and fees can change, so confirm the current terms on the American Express website before applying.