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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex worth the $650 annual fee?
Chris Nelson is a credit cards writer for TPG. He specializes in budget travel, hotels, earning elite status through minimal spending and redeeming points for maximum value.
Olivia Mittak is a credit cards editor at TPG. She specializes in maximizing earn for points and miles, finding the best welcome bonuses and choosing the right credit cards for your wallet.
also contributed to this story
September 18, 2026 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
A premium hotel card offers benefits like an annual free night award, elite status and dining credits, but comes with a high yearly fee.
The annual free night award can be redeemed at properties costing up to 85,000 points, with the option to top up using additional points.
Cardholders receive automatic elite status, providing perks such as late checkout, room upgrades and complimentary breakfast at select hotels.
Additional benefits include statement credits for dining, airport lounge access and application fee credits for expedited airport security programs.
What to consider
Eligibility for the welcome offer may be restricted if you have or have had certain other hotel cards; a pop-up during application will clarify your status.
The annual free night award is valid for a single night and may be challenging to maximize for longer stays due to dynamic hotel pricing.
Dining credits are issued monthly, requiring consistent tracking to ensure full use throughout the year.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of how to maximize each benefit and whether the card’s perks can offset its high annual fee for your travel style.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
When a credit card’s annual fee runs into the hundreds of dollars, many people raise an eyebrow and question whether its benefits justify that fee.
The truth is, cobranded hotel cards usually aren’t the best for maximizing your spending beyond purchases with a given hotel chain. But when a credit card offers a free night award each year and elite status that can provide suite upgrades and complimentary breakfast, that can easily justify the annual fee for some travelers.
Let’s start with the welcome offer to see if the card is worth it.
New Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex cardmembers can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
TPG’s October 2026 valuations place Marriott points at 0.75 cents apiece, meaning this bonus is worth $750.
THE POINTS GUY
Some of the best uses of Marriott Bonvoy points include free nights at properties such as The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos, The West Hollywood Edition and the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane. Those who enjoy winter sports may love ski-adjacent options at The St. Regis Aspen Resort, The St. Regis Deer Valley or The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch.
Remember that American Express has restrictions that limit your ability to earn a new welcome offer if you’ve previously had other Marriott products. Fortunately, a pop-up will let you know if you are not eligible for the bonus when you apply before Amex runs your credit — and our chart can help clarify things as well.
Annual free night award
Each year after your card renewal month, you’ll receive a free night award worth up to 85,000 points (certain hotels have resort fees).
That said, due to Marriott’s dynamic pricing model, you’ll want to do a flexible date search to find nights that cost 85,000 or fewer points.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands. CHRIS DONG/THE POINTS GUY
The annual free night award has significant value, but it’s also worth pointing out that you can only use this award to stay for a single night. This could be challenging if you plan to stay for two nights or longer.
You can also top up these awards with up to 25,000 points from your Bonvoy points balance.
If you maximize this award night and stay at a property costing 85,000 points, you have three less-than-ideal options for subsequent nights:
Move to a different hotel
Pay 85,000 points per night from your Marriott balance
Pay the cash fee (which can be quite high)
For this reason, people have differing opinions about the value of free night awards for a single night at a luxury property.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex cardmembers receive up to $300 each calendar year in statement credits for dining purchases at restaurants worldwide. This benefit is divided into monthly increments of up to $25.
This credit can be a bit complicated to use, as you must remember to maximize it each month. We recommend setting a reminder on your phone or using a spreadsheet to track your card benefits.
The Miami Beach Edition. NICK ELLIS/THE POINTS GUY
That said, just about everyone spends at least $25 per month at restaurants. As long as you remember to use your statement credits each month, this can help to offset nearly half of the card’s $650 annual fee.
Another small bonus? Statement credits tend to post to your account fairly quickly.
Platinum Elite members are eligible for 4 p.m. late checkout and early check-in (when available), plus room upgrades based on availability at arrival (including suites). At the Platinum Elite level, you also have access to welcome gifts at check-in and free breakfast at select properties.
If you’re shooting for Titanium Elite status, you’ll need 75 qualifying elite night credits. The 40 elite credits you’d get from holding both the Brilliant and the Business cards will get you over halfway there.
Other built-in perks of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card include a Priority Pass Select membership and an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years ($120 statement credit for Global Entry or up to an $85 statement credit for a five-year TSA PreCheck membership; enrollment is required for select benefits).
It is important to note that the Priority Pass membership does not include non-lounge visits, such as to restaurants.
The Priority Pass membership is not a massive value-add if you already receive the benefit through other cards. However, if you already have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck because you received a statement credit for the application fee with another credit card, you can use this credit to cover a friend’s or family member’s application fee.
While it might not be the best card for everyday spending, there’s plenty of value in the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant if you frequently stay at Marriott properties and place value in the elite perks the card offers.
Depending on how you value these benefits, you may find significant value in the status, up to $300 in dining statement credits each calendar year and a useful free night award. Still, you may also think the annual fee is too steep because you don’t see yourself maximizing said benefits.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click here.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
