Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card Review 2024

• New Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Cardmembers earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points after you charge $1,500 in purchases to your Card in your first three months of Cardmembership. Subject to change at any time
• Earn 5 points for every dollar in eligible Card purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
• Earn 2 points for every $1 in all other Card purchases
• Receive an Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide every year after your first anniversary
• No annual fee on Additional Cards
• Redeem points for free nights with no blackout dates at over 7,000 of the world’s most desired hotels
  Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status membership
• Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card. These can be used towards attaining the next level of Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program
• Enjoy an automatic upgrade to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card each year or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your card
• American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is a rewards credit card that allows cardholders to earn Marriott Bonvoy Points that can then be redeemed towards hotel stays and more. Points are earned on all purchases but the best value is the accelerated rate of 5 points per dollar when you use your card for eligible Marriott purchases. The card is ideal for frequent travellers who regularly stay at Marriott properties.

However, while the card is great for hotel stays and does include a suite of travel insurance, it is still limited compared to other travel cards. There are no airline perks and you are limited to eligible Marriott Brand properties.

• 5 points per dollar on eligible Marriott purchases
• 2 points per dollar on on all other purchases
• Marriott perks including automatic Marriott Silver Status and one free night stay per year

Earning rewards

Cardholders will earn Marriott Bonvoy Points on all purchases made with this credit card. Eligible Marriott purchases will earn points at a rate of 5 points per dollar spent. All other purchases will earn 2 points per dollar spent. The accelerated rate for Marriott properties is fantastic when travelling, but it is very limited and there are other cards, including travel cards, that will allow you to earn points faster.

Here’s a closer look at how and what you earn more specifically:

How You Earn

• Welcome Offer. 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points after charging $1,500 in purchases to the card in your first three months of cardmembership.
• 5 points per dollar. Get 5 points per dollar on all Marriott purchases at eligible and participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 2 points per dollar. Get 2 points per dollar on all other purchases, which is higher than the base earn rate on most rewards credit cards in Canada.

Even More Ways to Earn

• Earn on all your stays. As long as you’re staying at eligible and participating hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy network, you can earn 5 points per dollar on all your Marriott Bonvoy hotel stays, at Marriott Bonvoy retail locations and on Marriott Bonvoy online purchases, including gift cards. Taxes and fees do not count towards the total points per dollar earned.
• Unforgettable moments. Enjoy a variety of special offers and events curated to you individually. From meeting all-star athletes to taking advantage of weekend getaway packages, enjoy irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind experiences you’ll never forget.
• Flexible rewards. Turn your points into frequent flyer miles by transferring your points to a variety of frequent flyer programs across a number of airlines. Plus, get an extra 15,000 points for the first 60,000 points you transfer to a frequent flyer program.
• Elite status. Each level of Elite status unlocks more benefits and additional points earn. You’ll get things like free Wi-Fi, extra nights to add to your hotel stay, mobile check-in and member rates. Plus, the Marriott Bonvoy will give you a head start with 15 Elite Night credits each year.
• Earn even more. You have access to travel partners, including airlines, cruise lines, and rental cars. Plus, you can earn points with a large selection of tours, activities and event tickets.

Redeeming Rewards

Marriott Bonvoy Rewards are surprisingly flexible. Your points can be redeemed towards hotel stays, upgrades and any charges to your room. However, Marriott Bonvoy Points can also be transferred to airlines, including the Aeroplan program if you would prefer to redeem your points toward a flight or vacation package. That being said, the transfer rate is 3:1 for Aeroplan, which isn’t the best deal out there, but it is an option.

Here are some highlights of what you can redeem for:

• Annual award night. Get one free night worth 35,000 points that you can spend at any participating Marriott Bonvoy hotel every year around your credit card account renewal date.
• Silver Elite Status. Get automatic Silver Elite Status which gives you 10% bonus points on stays from Marriott Bonvoy and priority late checkout.
• Upgrade to Gold Elite Status. Upgrade after you stay 10 additional nights within one calendar year or charge $30,000 in purchases to your Card each year. Gold Elite Status will give you 25% bonus points on stays from Marriott Bonvoy, enhanced room upgrade, 2 pm. late checkout and more.
• 15 Elite Night credits. Get 15 Elite Night credits to get a jump on your Marriott Bonvoy status upgrades and the rewards that come with each status level.

Rewards Potential

The Marriott Bonvoy American Express will be most lucrative with eligible Marriott brand purchases. For all other purchases you will still earn 2 points per dollar spent, however, there are other credit cards on the market that offer more accelerated earn rate categories to allow you to earn rewards faster.

Based on average Canadian spending, Forbes Advisor estimates this card could earn $382.94 in rewards value per year, with the annual fee factored in.

• Extensive travel insurance coverage. Get six types of insurance for travelling, including $500,000 in travel accident insurance and $500 in flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel burglary. Plus, car rental insurance up to $85,000.
• American Express Experiences. One-of-a-kind event experiences like tickets, discounts and exclusive happenings just because you are a cardmember.
• Get more points when you add an additional card. Climb the hotel status ladder and get more points faster when you add an additional user on your card.
• Refer a Friend. If you refer a friend and their American Express application gets approved,  your own American Express account will get rewarded, but you’ll have to log in to your account to find out how.

Events and Access

• Front Of The Line® Presales & Reserved Tickets. Buy tickets to exclusive events, concerts and shows, days before anyone else because you are an American Express customer.
• Dining and Shopping with American Express Experiences. Exclusive shopping and dining experiences that are only available to American Express cardmembers, including one-of-a-kind culinary experiences and special discounts on exclusive items.
• Entertainment Access with American Express Experiences. Red carpet access, special sections, greenrooms and lounges for American Express cardmembers only at various shows and events around the world.

Even More Benefits

• Plan It™ – The American Express® Installment Program. Split purchases of $100 or more into six, eight and 12 month instalments at a lower interest rate than the rest of your purchases on the card. Your card must be in good standing and the program is not available in Quebec, PEI, Nova Scotia and Nunavut.

If you’re looking to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card, make sure you fit the following criteria:

• You are a Canadian resident.
• You have a Canadian credit report.
• You are the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

Interest Rates

• Regular APR (Purchases): 21.99%
• Penalty APR: 25.99% – 28.99% variable

Fees

• Cash Advance: 21.99%
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%
• Annual Fee: $120
• Any Other Fees: N/A

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card vs. Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express allows cardholders to earn Scene+ points at a rate of 6 points per dollar on eligible grocery, dining and entertainment. As these are everyday expenses, cardholders can earn pretty quickly. Scene+ is also a flexible program that allows you to redeem points for many things including towards travel. Plus, the Scotiabank Gold American Express waives the foreign exchange fee, making it a better pick as a general card. However, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express might still be a good option if you frequently stay at Marriott properties.

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card vs. American Express Cobalt Card

The American Express Cobalt Card has a slightly higher annual fee at $155.88 per year—but it also has a much more lucrative earning schedule. You can earn 5 points per dollar on dining, groceries and drinks, 3 points per dollar on streaming services, 2 points per dollar on travel and transit and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The American Express Rewards program is also very flexible and can be transferred to a number of different airlines and hotel partners, including Marriott Bonvoy—and 5 Membership Rewards points transfers to 6 Marriott Bonvoy points. You can even transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. That flexibility and higher earning potential on daily spending make it a better choice for most Canadians—especially for groceries.

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card vs. CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card

At $499 per year, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege is much pricier than the Marriott Bonvoy American Express. The earning schedule ranges between 1 and 3 points per dollar spent so it’s not known for any major accelerated categories. However, when it comes to perks and benefits, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege comes out on top with extensive travel insurance, lounge passes, NEXUS rebates and an annual travel credit. That being said, this is a high-end credit card with a hefty annual fee and not what everyone is looking for.

Related: Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards In Canada

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. For this card, the scoring model used takes into account factors such as, but not limited to, rewards rates and categories, fees, welcome bonus, and other benefits and features. Keep in mind what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

The Marriott Bonvoy American Express credit card may not be the best general or even travel card on the market for the average Canadian. However, frequent travellers who regularly choose and book Marriott properties can benefit from this card and the perks and rewards attached to it.

Related: Best Credit Cards To Get in Canada