Business Platinum Card from American Express
130,000 MR points
Why Marriott Rewards Is So Hot Right Now
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Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
- Earn 65,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months
- Earn an additional 30,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $20,000 in the first 12 months
- Plus, earn 15,000 Bonvoy points when you make a purchase between 15 and 17 months of Cardmembership.
- Also, receive an annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 Bonvoy points starting in your second year with the card
- Also, receive 15 elite-qualifying nights every year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
- Bonus Bonvoy points for referring family and friends
- Annual fee: $120
16 Comments
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Another awesome article. Marriott is definitely my first go-to when I am planning our next trip. Love how your blog is developing! It is amazing how quick it is growing.
Thanks Arlene! Agreed, it’s definitely a rewarding effort! Thank you for being a loyal reader 🙂
I am hoping on March 15 when the Chase Marriott Card expires that a new similar Marriott Visa Card will be introduced associated with another Canadian Bank. The Amex cards unfortunately does not have enough merchant acceptance in Canada. The Chase Marriott Visa card gave a free hotel category 1-5 certificate which more than paid for the annual card fee and the no foreign exchange fee was superb.
Disagree. Amex is accepted far more places than many realize. Of course, if you do the majority of your shopping at Costco, Superstore, or No Frills, then you’re out of luck. Though there are ways around this, like buying a reloadable MasterCard and then using that card at places that do not accept Amex.
I stayed in an SPG hotel (Sheraton) in Florida last week. Stayed on their executive floor and had a lounge with complimentary breakfast and hours- de overs. Moreover every second night I stayed was 40% off plus SPG points. Is their Amex card accepted by most merchants in Canada
You’d be surprised at how many merchants take Amex. Most travel purchases, drugstores, gas stations, restaurants, and retailers take it. A few grocery store chains (Loblaws in particular) are the only high-profile names I can think of at the moment that don’t take it.
The fact that for Canadians, the Marriott System is really the only practical way to get outstanding rewards is a boon for Marriott as well as for the members. For myself, I stay at a Marriott every chance I get and that means a win for Marriott too.
Let us hope that this program stays the same as it is now.
I don’t know how I feel about this Steve character stealing my name 😉
All joking aside, if I had to guess, I don’t think we’ll come out ahead once the merger finalizes. As amazing as we have it now with the current system, I can’t see it staying this way. (One can hope! I know I am 🙂 )
Cheers Ricky for the awesome
content my man.
Ricky, this is a great blog and your writing is clear and balanced on issues.
Marriott also has a Look No Further Rate guarantee; they’ll match the rate from a third party OTA and either give you 25% off or 5000 points. My rate went from $210 usd per night to $125/night, for two nights, saving over $200usd after taxes. I get to collect points, use my gold benefits, and save quite a bit compared to booking with the OTA.
Moreover, since SPG was a 2:1 transfer partner of American Express, you could also earn points that way. The signup bonus on the American Express Business Platinum Card of 75,000 Membership Rewards points, for example, converted to 37,500 Starpoints.
I have 20000 SPG starpoints in my account, so I am able to transfer to my AMEX membership points for 40000 points? Am I correct? If I am, can you show me how to do it? Thanks a lot, Ricky.
Unfortunately the Amex -> SPG transfer is valid in one direction only. You can transfer MR points to SPG at a 2:1 ratio, but not vice versa.
Got it, thank you Ricky.
Thanks so much Ricky for this comprehensive post on Marriott Rewards, wish I was a pro like you! May be one day 🙂
That’s my goal – to help everyone become pros 🙂
Holding reservations without the points is by far my favourite part of Marriott. I wish more programs did this.
Agreed – an incredibly useful and versatile feature that I suspect is too generous for most programs’ liking.