Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card review

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card is worth considering if you stay with Marriott often, want to earn points fast, and don't mind paying a high annual fee for better earning rates and premium travel perks like Gold elite status. But the card has some notable caveats compared to some other Marriott Bonvoy credit cards that affect its overall appeal. 

Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express card the best credit card for you? 

With the launch of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card (and its new sibling card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card ), there are now a whopping six Marriott credit cards available to new applicants.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, with a $250 annual fee, is positioned as a mid-tier card between the popular Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card ($95 annual fee) and premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card ($650 annual fee). For example, it comes with automatic Marriott Gold elite status, compared to the Silver status awarded by the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Platinum status with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.

New cardholders can earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $4,000 in eligible purchases on your card in the first three months from account opening. That's worth about $875 in stays, based on Insider's valuations, but keep in mind that the actual value of your points will vary depending on how you redeem them. 

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card earns 6x points on hotel purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy locations, as well as 4x at restaurants globally and at U.S. supermarkets on the first $15,000 in combined purchases per year (then 2x). All other purchases earn 2 points per dollar. While that's a great earning rate for dining and groceries, if you spend more than $15,000 in those categories annually, the cap could be a significant drawback. 

Surprisingly, unlike other annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card doesn't get you an annual free night certificate. Instead, you can only receive a Free Night Award worth up to 50,000 points after making $15,000 in purchases in a calendar year. This is a major snag in the overall value of the card. On other Marriott Bonvoy cards, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, the free anniversary night certificate is one of the best perks, so its absence on the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card really sticks out. 

If you're interested in getting the annual free night, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card currently has a welcome bonus offer of 3 Free Night Awards (each worth up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening for a $95 annual fee. It earns 3x points at grocery stores, gas stations, and on dining (on up to $6,000 in combined purchases per year, then 2x). And, you can earn one Elite Night Credit every time you spend $5,000 on your card. 

Outside of the Marriott Bonvoy program are other valuable hotel cards, like the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card , which are also worth considering. This card offers cardholders automatic Hilton Gold elite status and a $95 annual fee, with a welcome bonus offer of 130,000 points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership.

Before you apply, you should check out all your hotel credit card options to find the card that best suits you.  

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

How to earn points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy credit card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card was designed with speed in mind; cardholders are meant to earn points quickly in useful categories, but in reality that depends on how you spend. The easiest way to earn rewards is on hotel purchases, as it's the highest earning category. 

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card earns valuable Marriott Bonvoy points on purchases including: 

• 6 points per dollar spent on purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases a year, then 2x)
• 2 points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card also awards 1,000 bonus points for each qualifying Marriott stay (more on that in a bit).

How to use rewards from the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card

The Marriott Bonvoy program lets you redeem points for free hotel stays at thousands of participating properties around the world. Hotel rates can range from 5,000 points per night up to 120,000 points per night. Since Marriott Bonvoy uses dynamic award pricing, prices can significantly fluctuate depending on travel season and room pricing. 

You can also transfer points to airline partners, or redeem them for rental cars, gift cards, and exclusive culinary, sports, arts, and lifestyle experiences through Marriott Bonvoy moments.

Marriott Bonvoy hotel brands

• AC Hotels
• Aloft
• Autograph Collection
• Courtyard by Marriott
• Delta Hotels
• EDITION
• Element
• Fairfield Inn & Suites
• Four Points by Sheraton
• Gaylord Hotels
• Homes & Villas by Marriott International
• JW Marriott
• Le Meridien
• The Luxury Collection
• Marriott Executive Apartments
• Marriott Hotels & Resorts
• Marriott Vacation Club
• Moxy Hotels
• Protea Hotels
• Renaissance Hotels
• Residence Inn
• The Ritz-Carlton
• Sheraton
• SpringHill Suites
• St. Regis
• TownePlace Suites
• Tribute Portfolio
• W Hotels
• Westin

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex benefits and features

Complimentary Gold Elite Status

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card comes with automatic Gold Elite Status for the primary cardholder. This gets you exclusive perks like a 25% bonus points on stays, upgrades to better rooms (when available), 2 p.m. late checkout (when available), and welcome gift points. 

Bonus points on stays

When you use your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card card to pay at Marriott Bonvoy properties, you can earn 1,000 Marriott bonus points for each eligible stay. To receive the points, you must book directly through Marriott and not a third-party site or online travel agency.

According to Insider's valuations, 1,000 Marriott points are worth about $7 in stays, which isn't a lot. But if you stay with Marriott frequently, this benefit could add up.

Free Night Award

Unlike other Marriott cards that award a free night after every account anniversary, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card only offers a free night after you make $15,000 in purchases in a calendar year. The Free Night Award is valid at hotels that cost up to 50,000 points per night, and you can top up free night awards with up to 15,000 Marriott points from your account if you want to stay at a pricier hotel. 

15 annual elite night credits

You'll receive 15 elite night credits per calendar year toward higher elite status (the next tier after Gold is Platinum Elite status, which requires 50 elite nights per year). 

Secondary car rental insurance

When you decline the car rental company's collision damage waiver and use your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card to pay for your vehicle rental, you can be covered for damage or theft. This coverage is secondary, and does not include liability insurance.

Baggage insurance plan

If you paid for your airline ticket or fare with other common carriers using your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, you'll be covered for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage up to $1,250 per covered person.

Trip delay insurance

Pay for your ticket with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, and you can get reimbursed up to $300 per covered trip for essentials like meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal items if you're delayed by 12 hours or more, up to two times per consecutive 12-month period.

Purchase protection

If you've paid for an eligible item with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and it's accidentally damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase, you could be eligible for up to $10,000 in coverage per covered purchases, and up to $50,000 per eligible card (up to $500 for a natural disaster covered event).

Extended warranty

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card cardholders can also qualify for an extended warranty on eligible items when they use their card to pay — up to one additional year added to eligible US manufacturer's warranties of five years or less. Coverage is up to $10,000 per purchase and up to $50,000 per eligible card.

Global Assist Hotline

With the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, you'll get access to Amex's Global Assist Hotline, which can help you arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services if you're away from home. While the service itself is complimentary, you'll be responsible for any third-party costs. 

Fees and costs

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card has a 19.99% - 28.99% Variable APR. It doesn't have a foreign transaction fee, so it's a good option for international purchases. 

The card does have a $250 annual fee. It also charges fees for cash advances, late payments, and returned payments.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy vs other Marriott Bonvoy cards

*Bonus points at Marriott hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay

***the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card offers a free night award after you spend at least $15,000 in a calendar year for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 50,000 points

****the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers an annual free night award each year after your account anniversary for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 35,000 points

***the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers an annual free night award each year after your card renewal month for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 85,000 points

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy vs other hotel credit cards

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy frequently asked questions (FAQ)