Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide.‍
• With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 50% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
• ‍Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.‍
• With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Using points for gift cards or merchandise [.dontreco]
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The redemption value is much lower for non-travel options. You’ll always get more out of your points by redeeming them for free nights.
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[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Transferring points to airline partners [.sometimesreco]
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Marriott has a wide variety of airline transfer partners, but the transfer ratios usually aren’t as strong unless you’re topping off for a specific redemption.
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[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Redeeming points for high-end Marriott stays [.alwaysreco]
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Whether it’s a boujee Ritz-Carlton or W hotel, your free night certificate and welcome offer can go far at top-tier properties, especially when combined with your Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite perks like suite upgrades and late checkout.

Don’t forget to stack: Use your card at Marriott hotels to earn 6x points, plus another 10x from your Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status for 16x total on paid stays. That is seriously epic, y'all.

1. The Marriott Loyalist

If you stay at Marriott properties even a few times a year, this card could be a good addition to your wallet. The automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status means your check-ins will come with better rooms, upgrades (including suites when available), and 4 p.m. late checkouts — all without meeting a single night requirement. Combine that with the annual Free Night Award (worth up to 85,000 points) and you’re already checking off a large portion of the card’s annual fee. If you ever find yourself at high-end brands like St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton, this card gives you access to premium perks that other Marriott do not provide.
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2. You Want Hotel and Travel Perks in One

If you’re already using a premium travel card for flights and airport benefits, the Bonvoy Brilliant might replace or complement it well. This card includes Priority Pass™ Select lounge access, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, and an annual $300 dining credit — plus hotel perks that even the best airline cards don’t offer. Whether you’re traveling for business or just for fun, having one card that includes hotel elite status, dining perks, and lounges makes your travel days that much sweeter. And because you also earn points back on flights booked directly with airlines, you’ll still rack up rewards when you fly.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is low, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.

The recommended credit score for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is good to excellent. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, call to please their case, and be granted this card.