If you’re looking to make end-of-summer travel plans, two Marriott credit cards currently offer higher welcome bonuses to help you do so.
While these aren’t all-time high offers, they’re a great way to earn a lump sum of Marriott points and a statement credit to elevate any last-minute summer trips or start stockpiling for your next vacation.
Current Marriott and American Express bonuses
While the Bevy and Brilliant offers are just shy of their all-time highs of 175,000 and 200,000 points, respectively, these bonuses are a great head start for stacking hotel rewards:
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is a mid-tier hotel card that provides elite status and the opportunity to earn a Free Night Award each year.
- 15 Elite Night Credits every year
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status
- Bonus points on paid stays booked directly with Marriott
- No statement credits to offset the high annual fee
- Free Night Award has a high spending requirement
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points plus a $150 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/2026.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Marriott Bonvoy® 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Terms apply. Seewww.marriott.com/loyalty/terms/default.mifor more information.
- Earn up to 18.5X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 25% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Gold Elite status.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year, receive 15 Elite Night Credits towards 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.
- Booking the trip is easy. Avoiding delays is next to impossible. If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up large purchases into monthly installments with a fixed fee. A fixed monthly fee is shown upfront so you’ll know exactly how much you’ll pay. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards for the purchases you plan the way you usually do.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- 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.
- See Rates & Fees
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium hotel card that gives you high-level elite status, dining credits and a Free Night Award every year.
- Up to $300 in dining credit every year
- Free Night Award every year worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status
- High annual fee
- Marriott doesn’t publish an award chart and the rewards are typically less valuable compared to the top travel cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points plus a $250 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/2026.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: With the $300 Brilliant Dining Credit, you can get up to $25 per month each calendar year in statement credits for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide when you pay with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
- 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. Seehttps://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliantfor 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.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee every 4 years, when charged to your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Each calendar year, receive 25 Elite Night Credits towards 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™, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,300 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or in-between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a 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.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- 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.
- See Rates & Fees
What can I do with Marriott Bonvoy points?
The points you earn on either card will be deposited into your Marriott Bonvoy account and can be redeemed in a multitude of ways, including:
- Book Marriott hotel stays: This is likely the best value for your points, but award prices will vary depending on the hotel and date
- Upgrade award reservations: Get room upgrades for a better view or larger suite
- Transfer to airline programs: Most partners have a 3:1 Marriott-to-airline mile ratio, making this a less valuable option, but it’s good for niche opportunities
- Bid on or buy Marriott Bonvoy Moments: Try redeeming points for unique experiences, like Inter Miami CF Experiences and exclusive packages for Celine Dion Paris 2026–2027
- Transfer points to another Bonvoy member: This can be a great way for multiple people to pool rewards to afford a slightly more costly trip
On top of the points you’ll earn, the statement credit is a great way to earn tangible value right away. Once you meet the spending requirement, the statement credit — either $150 or $250 depending on the card — will automatically be posted to your account. You can think of it as cash back.
If you’re planning on using points to book a Marriott stay, see if you can take advantage of its “Stay for 5, Pay for 4” benefit. If you redeem points for five consecutive nights for an eligible Award Redemption Stay, you’ll only need to redeem points for four nights and will receive the lowest-cost night for free. Note that you have to book the whole stay using points; it can’t be a combination of points and cash.
Is a Marriott Bonvoy credit card right for you?
Since both of these Marriott Bonvoy cards carry annual fees, the biggest question to ask yourself is: Will I get enough value to at least match the annual cost? This will largely depend on how frequently you anticipate staying at Marriott locations.
Additionally, make sure you’re comfortable reaching the required spending for either welcome offer. If you’re planning on booking a trip and staying at a Marriott location, paying with either card could be a great way to meet the bonus’s minimum spending requirement while earning at least 6X points on your purchase.
It’s important to note that Marriott uses a dynamic pricing system when it comes to booking with reward points. This means the prices will vary based on demand and other market conditions, so flexibility will be key to get the best deals.
The Bonvoy Bevy and Bonvoy Brilliant also offer cardholders Gold Elite and Platinum Elite status, respectively, meaning you could receive several perks upon booking. If you opt for the Bonvoy Brilliant, it comes with a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fee credit, which could be helpful for a smoother airport experience while traveling. The Bonvoy Brilliant comes with a $300 dining credit ($25 in statement credits per month) on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide — a welcome addition if you like testing local cuisine while traveling.
Most of the card benefits are tied to Marriott stays, but they do offer other everyday perks. Both cards earn elevated rewards on restaurants worldwide, with the Brilliant also offering 3X on flights booked directly with airlines.
The limited-time welcome offers provide a boost to the card’s initial value, making it a good option for those looking to amass Marriott points. However, make sure the card will generate value for you beyond its lucrative welcome bonus.
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For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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