The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
If you’re looking for a travel card with premium perks, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card benefits are often enough to offset the $650 annual fee. You can earn 6x points for every dollar spent on Marriot hotel stays, 3x points for flights booked directly with airlines and 3x points for dining. You also get 2x points for all other eligible purchases. These perks plus a $300 annual statement credit for eligible Marriott purchases make this card worth considering if you travel frequently and like to stay at Marriott properties.

Card Details to Know Up Front
- Bonus, Fee or FeatureHas or Not
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card at a Glance
Like most co-branded cards, you will get more of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card benefits if you stay and make purchases at Marriott hotels and resorts. However, this card also earns you generous points on flights, dining and other travel purchases and has no foreign transaction fees so it can also serve as an all-round travel card. If you’re already a member of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty rewards program, you can use the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card to boost your rewards.
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
A great card for frequent travelers who are Marriott Bonvoy members
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $650Annual Fee
- 2–6 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 6xRewards Rate at Hotels
- 3xRewards Rate on Dining
Pros & Cons Explained
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is a great choice for those looking for a luxury travel card. Here are some of its key pros and cons to consider before signing up.
Pros
- BenefitsDescription
- Generous rewards on Marriott purchases and staysAt 6x reward points per dollar for Marriott hotel stays and purchases, this card makes it easy to earn points for being loyal to the Marriott brand.
- Annual statement creditsAs an Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Cardholder, you can receive up to $300 annually in statement credits. These credits can be earned with eligible Marriott Bonvoy purchases.
- Airport lounge accessThe Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card gives you a Priority Pass Select membership meaning that you (and up to two guests) get access to more than 1,000 airport lounges across the globe at no extra charge.
- No foreign transaction feesThis card does not have any transaction fees for overseas use.
Cons
- DrawbacksDescription
- High annual feesCompared to other travel cards, the $650 annual fee for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is relatively expensive.
- No introductory APRThis card does not give you an introductory APR for balance transfers or purchases. All your purchases and transfers will have a regular APR of 20.74% – 29.74%.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is not on MoneyGeek’s list of the best travel credit cards. You can have a look at our recommendations to find out which cards offer the most value for frequent travelers looking for generous rewards and travel perks.
Bonuses & Rewards Explained
If you are a frequent traveler loyal to the Marriott brand, you will get great value from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card which comes with the following rewards program.
Welcome Bonus
New cardholders can earn 95,000 Bonvoy bonus points if they spend $5,000 in purchases within the first three months.
Rewards Programs
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card allows you to earn unlimited rewards based on a tiered reward structure that awards you points as follows:
- 6x points per dollar spent on Marriott hotel stays and purchases
- 3x points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines and for purchases at U.S. restaurants
- 2x points per dollar for all other eligible purchases
You can also earn additional Bonvoy points with Marriott Bonvoy travel partners, including cruise companies and car rentals. You can also earn points when you transfer points to an airline miles partner at a rate of 5,000 bonus points for 60,000 points transferred.
Redeeming Rewards
You can redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points for reward nights at Marriott hotels and resorts. You need a minimum of 7,500 points for a night in a “Category 1” property and at least 85,000 points for a “Category 8” property.
Bonvoy points can also be redeemed for flights, rental cars, room upgrades, gift cards and shopping.
Maximizing Your Rewards
You can get the most out of your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card in the following ways
- Spend $5,000 within the first 90 days to get 95,000 bonus points
- Take advantage of the luxury travel perks including airport lounge access
- Apply for TSA Precheck or Global Entry to get credits
- Get flights by using your points with airlines
Other Features Explained
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is a luxury travel card that offers great value for frequent travelers partial to the Marriott brand
- Card FeatureDescription
- Standard featuresThe Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card comes with the following standard benefits: Car rental collision damage waiver, Access to a global assistance hotline, Purchase return protection, Extended warranties, Baggage insurance, Trip delay insurance
- Customer ServiceAmerican Express has a J.D. Power score of 838 out of 1,000 and is ranked first according to J.D. Power's 2020 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study. The cardholder experience is enhanced by online and mobile access to customer service, live chat options and a 24/7 hotline.
- Security FeaturesThe Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card comes with enhanced security features including EMV chip technology. You can also set up a digital wallet and account alerts to enable you to access your account securely and get notified in case of suspicious card activity.
Frequent travelers who stay in Marriott properties will find it easy to rack up points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card. However, how you redeem your points can impact the value you get from your card. For instance, you get more value for your points if you redeem them for standard or off-peak nights as opposed to peak nights.
Understanding the Fine Print
Before signing up for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, here are the key fees and penalty charges you need to be aware of.
- Card FeatureAmount or Rate
- APR20.74% – 29.74% Variable
- Annual Fee$650
- Cash Back Rewards
- Rewards Rate2–6 Points per $1*
- Airline Benefits
Regular APR
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card has a variable APR of 20.74% – 29.74% based on factors such as creditworthiness. It is important to note that this card does not have an introductory APR.
Annual fee
The annual fee for this card is $650. This rate is higher than the annual fee charged by most travel cards but it can be offset by the annual statement credits you get with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card.
APR for cash advances
Cash advances have a 29.99% APR which may vary depending on the prevailing prime rate.
Cash advance fees
Cash advances are charged $10 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater.
Penalty APR and fees
Late payments and returned payments attract a penalty fee of up to $40. The penalty APR for late and returned payments is 29.99%. Once the penalty APR is applied to your account, it will apply for at least six months.
Foreign transaction fees
This card has no transaction fees for any transactions made outside the U.S., so you can use the card globally at no extra charge.
You can get useful information about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card by checking the card issuer's website. Your latest billing statement will also include updated information on your card so you can also get important updates. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also maintains a credit card agreement database that contains important information that you may find useful when comparing and reviewing credit cards.
Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card?
Other Considerations for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
MoneyGeek’s Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card review highlights the features you need to know about to understand whether this travel card is a good fit for you. These considerations will help you decide whether this can be your primary or secondary travel card.
Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card
If you plan to have the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card as your primary travel card, you need to keep the following considerations in mind.
Co-branded card
If you are looking for an all-around travel card, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card may not offer the most value since it is a co-branded card that will offer the most value to regular Marriott hotel clients.
Spending categories
This offers generous rewards on hotel stays and purchases at Marriott properties at a rate of six reward points per dollar. However, for most other purchases, the reward rate is two points per dollar, so you can get a travel card with a better reward structure if you do not frequently stay at Marriott hotels or resorts.
High APR
Comparatively, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card has a high regular APR that ranges from 20.74% – 29.74%. You will also not get an introductory APR with this card.
Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet
If the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is a secondary travel card in your wallet, you can use it to complement your primary travel card.
Use this card for all your Marriott hotel stays and purchases since it offers generous rewards for this category at six points per dollar spent.
You can get three points per dollar for booking flights directly from airlines and for dining in U.S. restaurants. If your primary card does not offer similar or better rewards, you can use the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card for these spending categories.
MoneyGeek’s methodology and comprehensive review process help us to determine the best credit cards for different consumer profiles based on card fees, interest rates, rewards, benefits and more. We use a comprehensive process that involves collecting credit card information, standardizing data point weights, establishing the cards' value and ranks for different categories, reviewing data monthly and other key rating factors.
How Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card Compares to Other Cards
Hefty annual fees are typical for luxury travel cards and the $650 annual fee for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card can be offset by the generous rewards you get with this card. However, for travelers who may not be partial to the Marriott brand, there are better all-around travel cards that will earn you generous rewards for hotel stays and purchases, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card.
QUICK COMPARISON OF Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
- Annual Fee: $650
- Purchase APR: 20.74% – 29.74% variable
- Foreign Transaction Fee: None
- Rewards Rate: 6x points per dollar for Marriott purchases, 3x points per dollar for flights and dining, and 2x points otherwise
- Redemption Options: Marriott hotel stays, flights, rental cars, room upgrades, gift cards and shopping
- Mini Verdict: Best for travelers who frequent Marriott properties
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
- Annual Fee: $550 (plus $75 for each user)
- Purchase APR: 21.74% – 28.74% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fee: None
- Rewards Rate: 1x–10x points per dollar split among six reward tiers
- Redemption Options: Chase Ultimate Rewards, cash back, gift cards, Amazon.com orders and Apple purchases
- Mini Verdict: Best for travelers looking for an all-around travel card with generous rewards for all travel purchases
Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As
To find out more about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, here are the answers to some of the commonly asked questions about this travel card.
Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card offers great value for travelers loyal to Marriott hotels with plenty of perks and reward benefits. However, depending on your travel preferences, you may want to compare this card with other travel cards to find an option that best suits your needs.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Card for Students
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
Discover it® chrome Credit Card
Discover it® Student chrome
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
NHL® Discover it®
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa®
BankAmericard® credit card
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® Business card
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Amazon Business Card
Discover it® Miles
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
The Plum Card® from American Express
Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa®
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature Flagship Rewards card
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Navy Federal More Rewards American Express card
United℠ Explorer Card
USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students
Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
United Quest℠ Card
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature cashRewards Card
Mastercard® Gold Card™
Discontinued
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Milestone Mastercard® - $700 Credit Limit
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Mastercard® Black Card™
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card
IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card
OakStone Gold Secured Mastercard®
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Chase Slate Edge℠
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Simmons Rewards Visa Signature®
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
United Gateway℠ Card
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Simmons Visa®
Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards
Indigo® Platinum Mastercard®
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
Citi® Double Cash Card
Mastercard® Titanium Card™
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Spark 1.5% Cash Select
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Assent Platinum 0% Intro Rate Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
West Elm Key Rewards Credit Card
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
Aer Lingus Visa Signature®
United℠ Business Card
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Destiny Mastercard® - $700 Credit Limit
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Citi Premier® Card
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Citi Rewards+® Card
Iberia Visa Signature® Card
Citi Simplicity® Card
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card
Learn more about credit cards in general
sources
- American Express. "Interest Rates and Charges." Accessed December 15, 2021.
- American Express. "Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card." Accessed December 15, 2021.
- Chase Credit Cards. "Chase Sapphire Reserve Card." Accessed December 15, 2021.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.