Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card with 50,000 Bonus Points
October 18, 2011
| Thomas Carr-Glyn
Personal and especially business travelers are easily able to accumulate substantial amounts of airline miles and hotel points simply by being a member of travel rewards programs. The rest of us look to other ways of traveling for free, including credit cards that are co-branded with our favorite travel providers.
The Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Card from Chase is a good tool for travelers seeking to acquire free night stays at Marriott’s expansive line of hotel brands as well as for current Marriott rewards members looking to boost their current stash of Marriot points via the 50,000 bonus points and free night stay offered to new card-members.
As is the case with most travel rewards credit cards, Marriott and Chase are enticing new applicants with a recently improved, highly competitive sign up bonus. New card-holders are awarded 50,000 bonus points after completing their first purchase, as well as a free night stay at one of their category 1-4 hotels. In a departure from previous Marriot credit card offers, Chase is also waiving the first year’s annual fee, which is normally $85.
When it comes time to pay the annual fee, Marriott will also grant an additional free night’s stay at a category 1-5 hotel – a reward that essentially offsets the cost of being a card-member. Card members also receive a 15 night stay credit towards elite status in the Marriott Rewards program. That credit will automatically elevate travelers to Silver status, entitling them to late checkout, free Internet access, and other perks.
On a day to day basis, card-holders will earn one point per dollar spent, with two points for spending on airline, dining, and rental cars. Furthermore, Marriott credit card users will earn five points per dollar spent on all purchases at one of their properties. Finally, customers can earn an additional night stay credit for each $3,000 in spending, allowing them reach higher levels of status quickly. Another perk that international travelers can benefit from is a waiver on international transaction fees. These typically run 3%, so this feature can be a nice value-add for those who vacation outside the U.S., even if they are not staying at a Marriott.
With hotel awards available for as little as 6,000 points per night, 50,000 sign up bonus points can be worth up to eight free nights at a lower end property – plus, a free night’s stay certificate that can boost the sign-up bonus value to 9 nights. This card also provides and instant status boost in the Marriott rewards programs, moving infrequent travelers up quickly and potentially boosting more regular travelers into the highest tier.
The primary weaknesses of the Marriot card is the nature of the Marriott Rewards program itself. Marriott claims there are no blackout dates on awards, yet they are free to impose capacity restrictions that have the same effect. In contrast, Starwood, Hilton, and Intercontinental Hotels Group have no blackout dates or capacity controls; they offer any room available as an award. Additionally, Marriott’s award chart requires more points than Starwood’s program does. However, the significantly larger number of hotels available offset many of these weaknesses.
Ultimately, the Marriot Rewards Premier Visa is a good card for individuals looking to easily obtain nearly a week’s worth of free hotel stays. However, those who would prefer a card with a lower fee can trade in some of the benefits and still do well with the standard Marriott Visa.
For additional information, please see the information tables below.
Personal and especially business travelers are easily able to accumulate substantial amounts of airline miles and hotel points simply by being a member of travel rewards programs. The rest of us look to other ways of traveling for free, including credit cards that are co-branded with our favorite travel providers.
