Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card Review
Pros
- Generous sign-up bonus for new cardholders
- Earn points on everyday purchases
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
- Annual free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel & purchase protection benefits
Cons
- Annual fee of $120
- Points are mainly beneficial for Marriott stays
- Limited benefits for those not interested in hotel stays
- Some Marriott Bonvoy properties may require substantial points for redemption
- Not as versatile as other travel or cashback credit cards
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Performance test results
At DollarWise, for each credit card we test 7 different factors including the rewards, value for money, perks, insurance, strengths and weaknesses of the card.
You can see our full testing methodology here to learn why we’re the most trusted source for credit card reviews.
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card has earned a 4.17 DollarWise Rating out of 5. This score is based on a weighted average of the two highest scoring factors (excluding acceptance and approval).
4.1
Rewards
1.7
Fees
2.6
Perks
2.7
Interest rates
4.2
Insurance
4.0
Acceptance
2.5
Approval
The highest scoring categories for the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card are insurance and rewards.
These factors are weighted 70% to the highest scoring factor and 30% to the second highest score to get an overall review score.
This weighting allows us to judge cards on their merits and the customers they are designed for.
For the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card the most important factors for scoring this card are its insurance and rewards.
Rewards
With the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card, here’s the rates at which you earn rewards for different spending categories per dollar you spend:
| Bills | 2 points |
| Pharmacy | 2 points |
| Gas | 2 points |
| Groceries | 2 points |
| Restaurants | 2 points |
| Specific Stores | 5 points |
| Travel | 2 points |
| All Other Spend | 2 points |
Calculating your annual rewards
We estimate that spending $2,000 per month with the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card would earn $568 in rewards over the year.
Our performance testing research uses an accurate estimation of the average Canadian households spending patterns to predict the rewards a card will earn.
We found that you’d earn this per category:
| Specific Stores | $66 |
| All Other Spend | $502 |
Our study investigating the value found that each dollar spent on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is worth up to $0.01, depending on how you redeem.
This $568 in rewards value puts the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card in the top 20% of credit cards in Canada based on rewards earned.
The average credit card in our database earns $337 in rewards for the same spend that the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card earns $568 in rewards value.
We can compare this card to other options by looking at the earn rate by category.
This earn rate is the percentage return that you would get when you spend on this card, assuming you redeem at the predicted maximum value.
For example, if a card earned 5 points per dollar on gas and each point is worth up to $0.02, then the earn rate is 5 points multiplied by $0.02 each, divided by the dollar you spent.
In this example, that’s a 10% earn rate on gas.
| Spend | This Card | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bills | 2.20% | 1.25% |
| Pharmacy | 2.20% | 1.17% |
| Gas | 2.20% | 1.48% |
| Groceries | 2.20% | 1.71% |
| Restaurant | 2.20% | 1.53% |
| Store | 5.50% | 1.94% |
| Travel | 2.20% | 1.19% |
| Other | 2.20% | 1.08% |
| Redemption method | Annual rewards |
|---|---|
| Transfer to partner airlines | $428 |
| Transfer to partner hotels | $501 |
| Redeem for travel | $568 |
| Gift cards | $175 |
| Merchandise | $191 |
| Car rentals | $67 |
| Flight rewards | $243 |
For an annual spend of $24,000, we estimated annual rewards value at up to $568.
That’s equivalent to a 2.37% return on spending.
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card has an annual fee of $120. After deducting this, we predicted net annual rewards of $448.
This puts it in the top 20% of credit cards for net rewards after fees.
In comparison, the average card earns net annual rewards of $254.
Fees
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card has a $120 annual fee.
The average card charges $85. So, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is in the top 30% of cards based on the cost of the annual fee.
Perks
We manually review the perks of each credit card to determine how they compare to other cards.
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card scored a 2.6 out of 5 for perks, putting it in the top 20% of cards.
The average card scores 1.6 out of 5 for perks.
Interest Rates
| Purchase | 20.99% |
| Cash Advance | 21.99% |
| Balance Transfer | N/A% |
The average (median) credit card has a purchase interest rate of 19.99% and so the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card charges 1% more than the average.
For cash advances it costs 21.99% compared to the average of 19.96%.
Testing the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card with a $2,000 starting balance, you can see in the graph how the 1% more in interest rates impacts the interest over a year, compared to the average card.
Insurance coverage
| Insurance | This Card | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 | $1,000 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes | No |
| Hotel Burglary | $500 | $1,000 |
We scored it 4.2 out of 5 for insurance.
It offers 8 types of insurance, whereas the average card has 5 types of coverage.
Approval and qualifying
| Do I qualify? | |
|---|---|
| Estimated Credit Score | 725 – 759 |
| Personal Income | $0 |
| Household Income | $0 |
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $120 |
| Extra Card Fee | $0 |
| Card type | AMEX |
We scored it 2.5 out of 5 for approval.
We predict that you will require a credit score of at least 725 to qualify for the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card, while the average card requires 652 to qualify.
This puts it in the top top 50% of cards by approval difficulty.
The personal income requirements are $0, while the average card requires $23,896.
This puts it in the top 50% of cards by the income required to qualify.
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is a popular credit card option for those who frequent Marriott-branded hotels and seek to maximize their reward potential from hotel stays and associated expenditures.
In this review, we will evaluate the earning potential, highlight four key benefits, discuss two drawbacks, and provide additional information to help you decide if this card is the right fit for you.
Earning potential with the card
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card offers a competitive rewards program that helps cardholders earn points relatively quickly.
Users can earn 5 points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, 3 points per dollar on eligible dining, grocery, and gas purchases, and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. The reward rates for various spending categories make this card an ideal choice for those who are frequent travelers or dine out often.
Benefits
- Welcome Bonus for New Card Members: One of the primary advantages of the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is the generous welcome bonus it offers.
New cardmembers can receive a substantial number of points upon meeting the minimum spending requirements, which could be redeemed for free hotel stays or other valuable rewards. - Annual Free Night Certificate At Marriott Hotels: This credit card comes with a complimentary annual free night certificate, allowing cardholders to enjoy a free one-night stay at eligible Marriott hotels worth up to 35,000 points.
This benefit can easily outweigh the card’s annual fee and make it a worthwhile investment for Marriott enthusiasts. - Marriott Silver Elite status: Cardmembers holding the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card also gain automatic Marriott Silver Elite status, granting them access to perks such as priority late checkout, bonus points on stays, and complimentary in-room internet access.
- Additional Security: Another advantage of this credit card is the comprehensive travel insurance coverage it provides, including emergency medical, trip cancellation or interruption, lost or damaged baggage, car rental theft or damage, and more.
This offers cardholders additional security and peace of mind while traveling.
Drawbacks
- Annual Fee: A significant drawback of the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is the $120 annual fee. For individuals who don’t frequently travel or stay at Marriott properties, the cost may outweigh the benefits.
- Reward Redemption: This credit card may not be ideal for individuals seeking more flexible rewards redemption options. The primary focus of the rewards program is on hotel stays at Marriott properties, which could be limiting for those who prefer other hotel brands or want greater versatility in redeeming their points.
Additional information
In conclusion, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card offers substantial earning potential and numerous benefits to those who are loyal Marriott customers or frequently dine out and spend on travel-related expenses.
However, the annual fee and limited reward redemption options could be deterrents for some potential users. Therefore, it is essential to carefully evaluate your spending habits and travel preferences before deciding whether this card is the most suitable option for you.
Not the right fit? You could consider the American Express Platinum Card. Or, if you’re looking for other options check out the American Express Essential Credit Card, and the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card.
FAQ
Key benefits
- Earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties
- Earn 2 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- 65,000 Marriott Bonvoy points welcome offer after spending $3,000 within first 3 months
- 15 Elite Night Credits annually, for faster qualification towards higher Marriott Bonvoy Elite status tiers
- Comprehensive travel insurance package, including emergency medical coverage and trip interruption insurance
- Car rental theft and damage insurance
- Access to premier events and offers curated for cardholders via American Express Invites
- $120 CAD annual credit for food-delivery via Uber Eats or eligible restaurants on SkipTheDishes
- Point transfer options to several airline frequent flyer programs
- Eligible for contactless payments and mobile wallets, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay
