Link: Apply now for the new Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
Both American Express and Chase issue co-branded Marriott credit cards. In this post, I wanted to take a closer look at the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, which is one of the newest cards in the portfolio.
Let’s take a look at various aspects of the card, including the welcome offer, annual fee, return on spending, and perks.
In this post:
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card welcome offer
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card has a welcome offer of 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $4,000 within the first three months. Personally I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, so to me the bonus is worth $595. That’s a nice bonus.
Amex’s general application restrictions apply, and on top of that there are some additional restrictions for Marriott credit card eligibility.
On the most basic level, the welcome offer is not available to applicants who have had this product (which shouldn’t be many people, since the card just launched). Furthermore, the welcome offer is not available to applicants who:
- Have or have had the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card from JPMorgan, the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, in the last 30 days
- Have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card from Chase, in the last 90 days
- Have received a new card member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card from Chase, in the last 24 months
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card $250 Annual Fee
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card has a $250 annual fee $250, and you can add authorized users at no extra cost. Among Marriott personal credit cards, this card has the second-highest annual fee:
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (review) has no annual fee
- The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (review) has a $95 annual fee
- The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (review) has a $650 annual fee (Rates & Fees)
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card rewards for spending
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card is supposed to be the best credit card for actually earning Marriott Bonvoy points, so the card has a pretty decent rewards structure. The card offers the following return on spending, all with no foreign transaction fees:
- Earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on Marriott purchases
- Earn 4x Marriott Bonvoy points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year at restaurants globally and at U.S. supermarkets
- Earn 2x Marriott Bonvoy points on all other eligible purchases
Ultimately these are just about the best bonus categories you’ll see on a co-branded Marriott credit card. However:
- The 6x points on Marriott spending is what you’ll find on all premium Marriott credit cards
- The 4x points on restaurants and supermarkets is pretty decent, but there are ultimately better non-Marriott cards for both of these categories
- The 2x points on everyday spending still isn’t very compelling, in my opinion, as I value that at a 1.4% return on spending
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card benefits & perks
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card offers a variety of perks for being a cardmember. Some perks are offered just for having the card, while other perks require spending or other activity. Let’s go over the details, in no particular order.
1,000 Bonvoy bonus points per Marriott stay
This is a unique perk of the card. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card offers 1,000 bonus points per paid eligible stay with Marriott. You need to pay for your stay with the card to be eligible, and only paid stays booked directly with Marriott qualify (so third-party bookings and award stays don’t count). Bonus points will post within six weeks of an eligible stay.
For the very frequent Marriott guest, this has the potential to be pretty useful. Based on my valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points, this is like an incremental return of ~$7 per paid stay.
Free night award when you spend $15,000
Unfortunately the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card doesn’t offer a free night award just for being a cardmember. Rather you can earn a free night award valid at a property costing up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year.
This is a disappointing aspect of the card, as other Marriott credit cards don’t require you to spend any amount to earn such a certificate.
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card offers complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status for as long as you’re a cardmember. This is better than nothing, but don’t get too excited. Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status offers perks like 25% bonus points, 2PM late check-out, enhanced Wi-Fi, a room upgrade subject to availability (to non-suites), etc.
15 elite nights toward Marriott Bonvoy status
Just for having the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card you receive 15 elite nights toward status annually. This can help you if you’re looking to earn a higher elite tier, like Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite or Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite status, and it can also help you with earning Marriott Bonvoy Choice Benefits (like Suite Night Awards).
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card worth it?
Looking at the card in isolation, there’s a case to be made for getting the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card, especially if you’re a very frequent Marriott guest. If you put all your Marriott spending on the card, you’d earn 1,000 bonus points per stay, 6x points on Marriott spending, and you could earn a free night award after spending $15,000.
However, if you ask me, this is the weakest card in the Marriott credit card portfolio in terms of value for annual fee, and I think you’re much better off going for a card with either a higher or lower annual fee.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card (review) has a $95 annual fee, and offers:
- 15 elite nights toward Marriott Bonvoy status annually
- An anniversary free night award valid at a property costing up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, with no spending requirement
Meanwhile the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card (review) has a $650 annual fee, and offers:
- Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status for as long as you’re a cardmember
- 25 elite nights toward Marriott Bonvoy status annually
- An anniversary free night award valid at a property costing up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, with no spending requirement
- A $300 annual dining credit
- A Priority Pass membership (enrollment required)
As I see it, either of these cards offers more value. For the occasional Marriott guest, I’d rather pay the lower annual fee and get an annual free night certificate with no spending, while for the frequent Marriott guest, I’d rather get Platinum Elite status, and all the other perks that come along with the card.
Bottom line
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card is one of Marriott’s newest credit cards. The card has a $250 annual fee, and offers some solid bonus categories, plus 1,000 Bonvoy bonus points per stay. The card also offers Gold Elite status, 15 elite nights annually for being a cardmember, and a free night award when you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Ultimately I’d say this is a pretty weak card, especially compared to the rest of Marriott’s card portfolio. Personally I’d much rather get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, as I think the cards represent a better overall value.
What do you make of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees).
I disagree with this article.
For just $155 more I can get a more valuable one night room certificate - as well as accumulate points much more rapidly for future points stays.
A family of four easily spends about $200 a week on groceries - about $10K a year. That right there is 40,000 points under the new 4x structure. Would be easy to hit $15K if you then just throw in all restaurant, gas...
I disagree with this article.
For just $155 more I can get a more valuable one night room certificate - as well as accumulate points much more rapidly for future points stays.
A family of four easily spends about $200 a week on groceries - about $10K a year. That right there is 40,000 points under the new 4x structure. Would be easy to hit $15K if you then just throw in all restaurant, gas and drug store purchases...and then BOOM...a free up to 50K point night award.
Pay $95 for a free 35K certificate and just 2x points on all other purchases? Nah. With the little extras also included in this new AMEX BEVY I am getting it.
SOLID value here. Do not get all excited for paying an extra $155. Look at the forest - not the individual trees.
Would you say with all the changes the Ritz Carlton Card is still worth it?
These new Bonvoy cards recently released represent well the hubris that Marriott has become since the merger with Starwood. I wouldn’t pay a $100 annual fee for either of these cards not to mention $250. Hard, hard pass.
This is a great '3rd' card for the Bonvoy Trifecta ONLY for people who will have at least 30 'stays' and spend $15k at Marriott.
A wild guess, probably less than 300,000 people in the world who should get this card.
Not sure what the target Marriott customers is with this card. No free night and a mere 1000 points per paid stay? Rather go with the 95USD annual fee card, or the premium if I'm feeling fancy
If Marriott is trying to copy Hilton with a "good, better, best" card strategy, this one I guess is comparable to Hilton Surpass. It fails that comparison handily:
1) Surpass offers a better return for $15K in spend - you get an uncapped weekend night, and can earn up to 6x on grocery/dining while making that spend
2) Hilton Gold > Marriott Gold
3) I think Hilton comes with a few Priority Pass...
If Marriott is trying to copy Hilton with a "good, better, best" card strategy, this one I guess is comparable to Hilton Surpass. It fails that comparison handily:
1) Surpass offers a better return for $15K in spend - you get an uncapped weekend night, and can earn up to 6x on grocery/dining while making that spend
2) Hilton Gold > Marriott Gold
3) I think Hilton comes with a few Priority Pass visits
4) Fee is $95 vs $250
If they want to make the card competitive Marriott should increase the earnings on general spend and probably lower the fee, $250 is too much for this card. Delta Platinum (another mid range card) is I think $250 or something, but gives you ability to earn MQM and a companion pass, much better deal.