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Earn 125,000 Bonus Points + 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening. Special offer through 6/30/2027: Get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases (up to $50 semi-annually).
Full benefits & perks
- 1 Free Night Award every year after your account anniversary (valid at properties up to 35,000 points)
- Automatic Silver Elite Status in Marriott Bonvoy® — includes late checkout, priority reservations, and 10% bonus points on stays
- 15 Elite Night Credits every calendar year toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status
- Path to Gold Elite Status when you spend $35,000 in a calendar year
- No foreign transaction fees
My thoughts
For a $95 annual fee, this card basically pays for itself on day one every year with that anniversary Free Night Award. Even though properties that cost 35,000 points per night or less are a bit harder to find, the certificate can be worth $150–$300+, which more than covers the annual fee before you even think about the welcome offer. If your family stays at Marriott properties at all — even a handful of nights a year — the math here is solid, especially since free nights can be topped off with an additional 25,000 Marriott points. The Silver Elite Status is a nice bonus too, especially for families who want that little extra when traveling. Just know that if you already have (or recently had) a Marriott card through Amex, there are some bonus eligibility restrictions to be aware of before applying. If it has been less than 24 month since your last Marriott card, you are likely not eligible for a new one.
How to use your points
Marriott Bonvoy points are best used for hotel stays across Marriott's massive portfolio of brands. Here's how to get the most out of them:
- Book free hotel nights at any of Marriott's 9,000+ properties across 35+ brands worldwide
- Use your annual Free Night Award for a stay worth up to 35,000 points
- Top off a Free Night Award with up to 25,000 additional points to reach a higher-tier property
- Transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to 40+ airline partners (every 60,000 points transferred = 25,000 airline miles + a bonus 5,000-mile transfer bonus) This is not my favorite way to use Marriott points but worth knowing about — Learn more
The best low-fee Marriott card — that anniversary Free Night Award alone covers the cost each year.
- 1 Free Night Award every year at account anniversary (up to 35,000 points) — worth $150+
- Automatic Silver Elite Status + 15 Elite Night Credits toward Gold
- Up to $100 in airline statement credits through 6/30/2027
- No foreign transaction fees
- Note: Amex also issues Marriott cards — welcome bonus eligibility restrictions apply across both issuers
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Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.