If you’re planning a getaway and need some points ASAP, you may want to check out two major hotel cards featuring their best-ever offers that just returned.
185,000 Bonus Points: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers 185,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on the card within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. (Terms Apply. This offer expires on May 14, 2025.) Learn here how to apply.
The Bonvoy Brilliant features a pair of especially notable perks. The first is complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status (4 P.M. late checkout, enhanced room upgrades, lounge access, and welcome gift choices).
The second is an annual complimentary Free Night Award (starting the second year of card membership) valued at up to 85,000 points.
We’ll break down the Brilliant in more detail below.
155,000 Bonus Points: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
Meanwhile, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card offers 155,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on the card within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. (Terms Apply. This offer expires on May 14, 2025.) Learn here how to apply for this promotion.
A Quick Note About Promotion Eligibility
Marriott Bonvoy credit cards are infamous for excluding people who’ve held certain other Marriott or Starwood cards.
How do you know if you’re eligible? Amex will tell you before you submit your application for approval.
The terms and conditions say, “If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you before processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.”
That said, here are the offer terms for the Brilliant and these are the offer terms for the Bevy.
About Each Card
Here’s some information about the cards.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card offers up to $300 in “Brilliant Dining Credit”: Each card renewal year, get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases charged to the card at restaurants worldwide.
Starting the second year, you’ll receive an annual anniversary night certificate — which is redeemable for a night valued at up to 85,000 points.
Other card features:
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status
- Includes 4 P.M. late checkout, enhanced room upgrades, lounge access, and welcome gift choices
- Earn 50% bonus points on stays
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required)
- Receive either a statement credit every four years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) (Enrollment required.)
- Up to $100 in property credit for qualifying charges (including room service and spa treatments) when you book direct at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis using a special rate for a 2-night minimum stay on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Earn up to 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide
- 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases
- 25 elite night credits
- Trip cancellation, interruption, and delay coverage.
- Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- No foreign transaction fees (See Rates and Fees.)
- $650 annual fee (See Rates and Fees.)
- The welcome offer has some eligibility restrictions (i.e., which Marriott or Starwood cards you had). Check out the terms and conditions for more.
- Learn here how to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Marriott Bevy Card:
Here’s a knock against the Bevy: a card with a $250 annual fee should come with an automatic annual Free Night Award. (Rates and fees.) This does not. The only way to get a Free Night Award is by spending your way there.
The Bevy features:
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- That earns 25% more points on eligible purchases at participating hotels
- Earn up to 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- Earn 4X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X).
- Earn 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points points on all other eligible purchases.
- 1,000 bonus points per stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn one Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card in a calendar year. The free night is valid at properties valued at up to 50,000 points. This does not cover resort or destination fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
- No foreign transaction fees (Rates and fees.)
- $250 annual fee (Rates and fees)
- Terms apply
- There are some eligibility restrictions for the welcome offer (i.e., which Marriott or Starwood cards you’ve had). See the terms and conditions if you’re concerned.
- Learn here how to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
Again, these are the best-ever offers for these cards and the promotions expire on May 14, 2025. (We don’t know when/if they’ll return after that date.)
Happy earning and staying!
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please visit this link.
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Another benefit I don’t see mentioned is the Brilliant Earned Choice Award. Enjoy an Earned Choice Award benefit each calendar year after spending $60,000 in eligible purchases on your card. One of the choices is another 85K free night award.
So what’s better, Marriott Brilliant or Hilton Aspire (assuming equal amount of stays in each chain)?
In my opinion, I say the Aspire. It comes with Hilton Diamond Status, the annual free night is uncapped in terms of points, $400 in annual Hilton statement credits, $50 each quarter in purchases made with airlines, and a lower annual fee.