The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card provides automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite status and rewards generously for Marriott stays. While it includes 15 elite night credits annually, you’ll need to spend $15,000 in a calendar year to earn a free night certificate worth up to 50,000 points.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus
The Bonvoy Bevy Amex currently offers the following welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full
Marriott co-branded credit cards are issued by both Chase and American Express, which leads to complex rules on eligibility for welcome bonuses for Marriott credit cards.
You are ineligible for the welcome bonus if you currently have or have previously held this Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. The offer is also unavailable if you’ve held any of these Chase cards in the last 30 days: The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™, Boundless®, Premier Plus, Premier, Bold®, and their business versions.
Furthermore, you’re not eligible if you’ve acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™, Boundless®, or Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days. Lastly, if you’ve received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™, Boundless®, or Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months, you’re also ineligible for this welcome offer.
Earning Points
The Bonvoy Bevy Amex earns Marriott Bonvoy® points at the following rates: There is a cap of $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and supermarkets for 4 points per dollar. After that cap, you will earn 2 points per dollar.
This card offers solid earnings on Marriott stays and decent returns on dining and groceries, but falls short for everyday spending. While the 6x on Marriott purchases matches other premium Marriott cards, the 4x categories are capped and may be outperformed by transferable points cards.
It’s worth noting that Marriott points generally have a lower value than other loyalty programs, which impacts the overall earning potential. This card could provide good value for frequent Marriott guests who spend heavily in the bonus categories, but most travelers may find better options for spending with general travel rewards cards.
Annual Fee
The Bonvoy Bevy Amex has a $250 annual fee, which is not waived in the first year. You’ll need to carefully evaluate if the card’s benefits, including automatic Gold Elite status, enhanced point earning, and the ability to earn a free night award through spending, can offset this cost for your specific travel patterns.
Additional authorized users can be added at no extra charge and receive some of the card’s benefits, potentially increasing its overall value for families or couples who frequently stay at Marriott properties.
Bonvoy Bevy Card Benefits
The Bonvoy Bevy Amex comes with the following card benefits: 1,000 Bonus Points Per Stay: This card offers 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott Bonvoy for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Free Night with Spending: You can earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, which can be used at a hotel for up to 50,000 points. Marriott Gold Status: The Bonvoy Bevy card offers automatic Gold elite status for holding the card. Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status offers benefits such as a 25% points bonus available for qualifying rates, welcome amenity, late checkout, enhanced room upgrades, and enhanced internet. 15 Elite Night Credits: Earn 15 elite nights credits to get you closer to obtaining Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador. No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose. Amex Offers: As an American Express cardholder, you can access Amex Offers. These targeted, limited-time promotions provide discounts or bonus points on purchases with select merchants. Offers are added to your card, and you’ll receive either a percentage or dollar amount back as a statement credit when you meet the offer terms. While offers vary and may not always align with your spending habits, this perk can be valuable when an offer matches your preferences. ShopRunner Membership: As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which provides free 2-day shipping and free returns at over 100 participating online retailers. This benefit can help frequent online shoppers save on shipping costs and streamline the return process. Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.* Baggage Insurance Plan covers your baggage if it is lost, damaged, or stolen and you purchase your ticket with this card.* Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first.* 90-Day Purchase Protection: Your new purchases are covered against damage and theft for 90 days when you use your card. This protection helps safeguard your eligible items right from the moment you buy them.* Extended Warranty Protection: When you purchase items with your credit card, you’ll get an extra year of warranty coverage on eligible items that have original manufacturer warranties of up to five years. This valuable perk means you can protect expensive electronics and appliances that come with longer manufacturer warranties without paying extra for store protection plans* * Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Travel and Purchase Benefits
Redeem Marriott Bonvoy Points
Marriott Bonvoy points offer versatile redemption options, with hotel stays typically providing the best value. We value Marriott points at 0.82 cents per point based on our data study, but you can get the best value at luxury properties or during peak seasons. The program’s dynamic pricing model means rates fluctuate, so flexibility in your travel dates can help maximize value. A standout feature is the fifth night free on award stays, effectively giving you a 20% discount on longer bookings. This benefit applies to consecutive award nights and can significantly stretch your points. Marriott also offers Cash + Points options, allowing you to combine cash and points for more flexibility. Transferring Bonvoy points to airline partners is another valuable option. With a 3:1 transfer ratio for most airlines and a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred, this can be an excellent way to top up airline accounts or access niche programs. However, transfer times vary, so plan accordingly. For unique experiences, consider Marriott Bonvoy Moments. These exclusive events and activities, often unavailable for cash purchase, can provide memorable opportunities for point redemptions. While Marriott allows point redemptions for flights, car rentals, and cruises, these typically offer lower value compared to hotel stays or airline transfers. Unless you have a specific need or excess points, it’s generally best to avoid these options.
Bonvoy Bevy Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
Elite Status Benefits: Automatic Marriott Gold Elite status gives you room upgrades and bonus points on stays without needing to qualify through stays.
Strong Earning Structure: You’ll earn 6x points at Marriott properties and 4x points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, making it easy to accumulate points quickly.
Elite Night Credits: The 15 elite night credits help fast-track your status aspirations and can be stacked with a Marriott business card for even more nights.
Travel Protection Suite: Comprehensive coverage including trip delay insurance, baggage protection, and car rental insurance provides peace of mind while traveling.
Cons:
No Automatic Free Night: Unlike many hotel cards in this price range, you’ll need to meet a spending threshold to earn a free night certificate.
High Annual Fee: The $250 annual fee is substantial considering the benefits package, especially compared to other Marriott cards.
Limited Premium Benefits: Missing key premium perks like TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit or airport lounge access that you might expect at this price point.
Alternatives to Bevy Card
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (review) offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status and valuable perks like an annual free night certificate that can be used at many premium Marriott properties. The card includes generous monthly restaurant credits and provides elite nights toward status each year, making it a strong choice for Marriott travelers. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Points: 6x Marriott Bonvoy® points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; 3x Marriott Bonvoy® points on restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines; and 2x Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases. Benefits: Marriott Platinum elite status, 25 elite night credits, $300 dining credit (up to $25 per month) at restaurants worldwide, free anniversary free night award (up to 85,000 points), Priority Pass™ airport lounge access, Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit, cell phone protection, travel insurance (trip delay, trip cancellation, baggage insurance, and secondary rental car), and return protection.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners, 25% bonus when redeeming points through Chase Travel, $50 annual hotel stay credit via Chase Travel, 10% anniversary points bonus, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
Is the Bonvoy Bevy Worth It?
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card is a middle ground in Marriott’s credit card lineup. It offers some solid benefits as the welcome bonus and 6x points on Marriott stays. The 4x points on dining and groceries (up to a limit) can be useful for everyday spending.
However, the $250 annual fee is higher than many mid-tier hotel cards, and there’s no automatic free night certificate. The card does provide Gold Elite status and 15 elite night credits, which could be valuable if you frequently stay with Marriott.
Whether this card is right depends on your travel habits, the value of your Marriott points, and whether you have another option for Marriott elite status. It’s worth considering, but make sure to compare it with Marriott’s other card options and general travel cards to see if it aligns with your needs.
For the rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For the rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
