After I dimension up the roster of bank cards for Marriott Bonvoy loyalists, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Categorical® Card definitely stands out. Sadly, it is for all of the fallacious causes.
For a $250 annual price (see charges and costs), the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy is positioned to characteristic mid-tier perks when cardmembers stick with Marriott. However with a steep spending requirement for a free night time award and no extra assertion credit to offset this price, this card falls utterly wanting expectations.
No matter your Marriott Bonvoy spending habits or preferences, here is why it is doubtless you are higher off with one other Marriott cobranded card. Card score*: ⭐⭐½
*Card score is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: The fundamentals
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy is a cobranded Marriott card with American Categorical. There are seven complete Marriott bank cards accessible. American Categorical points two private Marriott card choices and a enterprise card. Chase points 4 private Marriott cobranded playing cards.
The Bevy sits in the midst of these choices. It gives some perks for Marriott loyalists, together with mid-tier standing and elite night time credit.
Annual price: $250.
Advantages:
- Complimentary Marriott Gold Elite standing
- Free night time award value as much as 50,000 factors at collaborating inns (sure inns have resort charges) after making not less than $15,000 in eligible purchases in the course of the calendar yr
- Journey and buy protections
- 15 elite qualifying night time credit every calendar yr (which could be stacked with elite night time credit earned on a Marriott enterprise card)
- 1,000 bonus factors per paid eligible keep
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These advantages are lackluster when in comparison with the cardboard’s annual price, since there is not a complimentary free night time award or any built-in assertion credit.
Rewards: Cardmembers earn Marriott Bonvoy factors for spending on the Bevy.
TPG’s November 2025 valuations deem Marriott factors to be value 0.7 cents every. You possibly can redeem these factors for award nights, experiences, reward playing cards, merchandise and room credit. It’s also possible to transfer your Marriott factors to one among its airline switch companions for journey redemptions.
I extremely advocate utilizing your Marriott factors for lodge stays, since that is most definitely the highest-value possibility for you.
Associated: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy well worth the annual price?
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy execs and cons
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Associated: The most effective methods to earn Marriott Bonvoy factors
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy advantages
Whilst you should not anticipate the complete suite of premium Marriott advantages with this mid-tier card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy does present just a few perks. Nonetheless, it falls wanting the place it needs to be at its annual price threshold.
Automated Gold Elite standing
You will obtain Marriott Gold Elite standing as quickly as you get the Bonvoy Bevy. This can be a midlevel tier inside Marriott’s program, with advantages that embody:
- Enhanced room upgrades (topic to availability)
- Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi
- Factors welcome reward (quantity decided by property)
- 2 p.m. late checkout (topic to availability)
- 25% bonus factors on stays
Bonus factors
Cardmembers earn 1,000 bonus Marriott factors for each paid eligible keep booked immediately with Marriott.
Per TPG’s valuations, these bonus factors are value $7.
Elite night time credit increase
Whilst you cannot spend towards qualifying for elite standing on the Bevy, you’ll obtain 15 elite qualifying night time credit every calendar yr.
The profit could be stacked with the nights you earn with a Marriott small-business card (such because the Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Categorical® Card), which can be utilized to fast-track to as much as 30 elite nights.
For reference, you want 50 nights per yr to qualify for Platinum Elite standing, the following tier up from Gold Elite.
Spending-based free night time award
That is the Bevy profit that I take probably the most challenge with. For a $250 annual price, you do not obtain a complimentary annual free night time award. As an alternative, cardmembers should make not less than $15,000 in eligible purchases in the course of the calendar yr to earn a free night time award. This award is valued at as much as 50,000 factors at collaborating inns (sure inns have resort charges).
Per TPG’s valuations, this free night time award is value as much as $350.
Different Marriott playing cards provide a free night time award by default on the similar annual price threshold because the Bevy or much less.
Journey and buy protections
A few of the Bevy’s optimistic attributes embody its purchasing and journey protections.
*Eligibility and profit stage range by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
**Eligibility and profit stage range by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
***Eligibility and profit stage range by card. Not all car sorts or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable via American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Associated: Can I earn greater than 1 Marriott Bonvoy bank card free night time?
Easy methods to earn and use Marriott factors
Whenever you pay with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, you will earn Marriott factors to redeem with the model and a few loyalty companions.
Incomes factors
When cardmembers pay with the Bevy, here is what they’re going to earn:
- 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at inns collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4 factors per greenback spent on the primary $15,000 per yr in mixed purchases at eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (then 2 factors per greenback spent after reaching this restrict)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on different eligible purchases
Per TPG’s valuations, you will get a 4.2% return on Marriott Bonvoy purchases, 2.8% on the primary $15,000 per yr in mixed purchases at eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, and 1.4% on all different purchases.
Whenever you add within the 10 factors a cardmember earns for being a Marriott Bonvoy member, the 6 factors from card membership and the as much as 2.5 factors earned through Gold Elite standing, you may complete as much as 18.5 factors per greenback spent in your keep.
These incomes charges are strong, however cannot solely justify the cardboard’s annual price, for my part. Plus, the $15,000 spending cap on U.S. supermarkets and eating places is much from superb, contemplating the cardboard fees a $250 annual price.
Redeeming factors
With regards to redeeming Marriott factors, it is pure that probably the most beneficial redemptions are for lodge stays.
Marriott Bonvoy makes use of dynamic award pricing. Which means that the variety of factors wanted for an evening at any property can range relying on timing and demand.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for one of the best deal on your Marriott factors, it is best observe to go looking forward to search out decrease costs and stay versatile along with your dates.
Past redeeming for lodge stays, you may switch your factors to airline companions; use them to cowl flights, automotive leases and cruises; or redeem them for merchandise and reward playing cards.
Nonetheless, these choices will doubtless yield much less worth per level than TPG’s valuation of 0.7 cents per level, so we advocate utilizing your factors for stays each time attainable.
There are quite a few Marriott properties to redeem your factors at. TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson used 37,000 factors in the summertime to ebook an evening at The St. Regis Belgrade, the place the money value was $375. This got here out to almost 1 cent per level in worth, a lot greater than our valuation of Marriott factors.
In the meantime, TPG lead factors and miles author Katie Genter will get outsize worth from her Marriott factors by redeeming them for stays in increments of 5 nights to maximise Marriott’s “Keep for five, Pay for 4” profit. She’ll sometimes contemplate transferring factors to one among Marriott’s airline companions, however often prefers to save lots of her factors for stays.
Transferring factors
Whereas it is usually really helpful that you just redeem your Marriott factors for lodge stays, you do have the choice to switch your factors to greater than 35 airline companions.
Nonetheless, this hardly ever affords good worth until you want to high off an account stability for flight redemptions. You may additionally contemplate this feature in order for you entry to an airline loyalty program that does not associate with any of the main U.S. bank card issuers, reminiscent of Japan Airways’ JAL Mileage Financial institution.
Associated: When does it make sense to switch Marriott factors to airways?
The place the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy falls brief
There are a number of causes for many Marriott followers to contemplate one other cobranded card as a substitute of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy. Listed here are three of an important notes.
It’s a must to spend $15,000 for a free night time award
That is the purpose the place it feels solely honest to say that the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card (see charges and costs) gives an annual free night time certificates no matter spending. The Marriott Boundless prices $95 annually — a whopping $155 much less for a profit you do not have to spend towards.
Admittedly, the free night time award on the Boundless is value as much as 35,000 factors, which is 15,000 wanting the Bevy’s. Nonetheless, you may high the Boundless award off with 15,000 factors to complete 50,000 (sure inns have resort charges).
Consider how you must spend $15,000 for the same perk on a $250-annual-fee card just like the Bevy, and this card is just outclassed by its less-expensive sibling.
The highest-tier Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Categorical® Card additionally gives a free night time award valued at as much as 85,000 factors (sure inns have resort charges). Nonetheless, this card is available in at a a lot greater $650 annual price (see charges and costs).
You possibly can’t spend your solution to greater elite standing
Whilst you can keep your solution to elite standing (helped out by a lift of 15 credit annually), you may’t attain the following tier up primarily based on really spending on the cardboard, which is a perk we have come to anticipate throughout comparable playing cards from competing manufacturers.
This contains the Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card, the mid-tier card for Hilton loyalists. Cardmembers obtain complimentary Hilton Gold standing with the chance to spend their manner towards top-tier Diamond standing. The Surpass fees $150 in annual charges (see charges and costs) — $100 lower than the Bevy.
You will not obtain assertion credit that offset the annual price
Whereas the Bevy’s perks do present some worth, it’s disappointing to not see a single premium perk or assertion credit score meant to assist offset its annual price.
Many comparable cobranded playing cards provide an utility price waiver for International Entry or TSA PreCheck, and even present quarterly brand-specific assertion credit for on-property purchases. However you will not discover that on the Bevy.
Bonvoy Bevy vs. Bonvoy Bountiful
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit score Card is the cardboard most just like the Bevy. It affords the identical incomes charges, Gold Elite standing and elite night time credit every calendar yr, for a similar annual price.
The data for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Neither card gives a free night time certificates with card membership. For each, you must spend $15,000 in your card in a calendar yr to earn one.
The most important distinction is that the Bountiful earns bonus factors at supermarkets outdoors of the U.S., whereas the Bevy doesn’t.
Associated: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful: Which shines brighter?
When to use for the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy
Maybe one of many few causes to use for the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy in any respect is its welcome provide, since incomes a bonus is a fast solution to high off your account for a redemption.
The present Bonvoy Bevy provide gives new cardmembers with the possibility to earn 85,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership.
Per TPG’s valuations, these 85,000 bonus factors are value $595.
The present bonus would not meet our threshold for when to use, which is any time the provide is over 85,000 factors.
Do not forget that Amex has restrictions limiting your capability to gather a new-member bonus in case you’ve had related Marriott merchandise from Chase or earlier Starwood Most popular Visitor playing cards from American Categorical.
Associated: The most effective bank card welcome bonuses at present accessible
Different playing cards to contemplate as a substitute of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy
If you need extra or totally different lodge advantages than the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy gives, one among these playing cards could also be a greater match:
- If you need a better-value Marriott card for a decrease annual price: The $95-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is the cardboard I would advocate to most Marriott vacationers who aren’t within the premium Bonvoy Good. The advantages on the Boundless present sufficient ongoing worth to make it value holding your pockets annually. To be taught extra, learn our full evaluate of the Bonvoy Boundless.
- If you happen to aren’t loyal to Marriott: The Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card gives premium advantages for Hilton stays, together with top-tier Diamond standing with Hilton Honors and a free night time award annually in your account anniversary. To be taught extra, learn our full evaluate of the Hilton Amex Aspire.
- If you need a extra basic journey card: The American Categorical Platinum Card® earns Membership Rewards factors (which could be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy) and gives Marriott Gold Elite standing to cardmembers. It gives many extra travel-related assertion credit and lounge entry to assist offset its excessive $895 annual price (see charges and costs). To be taught extra, learn our full evaluate of the Amex Platinum.
For added choices, take a look at our full record of the greatest lodge playing cards.
Associated: Who ought to (and should not) get the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Categorical card?
Backside line
The Bonvoy Bevy is the weak hyperlink within the Marriott card lineup. I discover it tough to see how its ongoing perks justify a $250 annual price, particularly when you think about its cobranded counterparts.
If you need baseline Marriott advantages, go for the Bonvoy Boundless. If you happen to choose luxurious, apply for the Bonvoy Good.
No matter you resolve, purpose for one thing higher than the mediocre Bevy. Until the cardboard undergoes a serious overhaul (or not less than receives just a few assertion credit), there’s little motive to waste a arduous pull on this one.
Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Categorical Card
For charges and costs of the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Good, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
