Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy worth the annual fee?
Editor's Note
The credit cards world scratched its collective head when Marriott Bonvoy and Amex launched this card.
While most credit cards fall into the "basic" card camp (with annual fees under $100) or the "luxury" card camp (annual fees of $400-plus), the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card launched in September 2022 with an annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees).
But what do you get for this fee? Is the card sufficiently positioned above those entry-level credit cards to justify an extra $150? And what does it lack that's included on cards with $400 or more in annual fees?
Let's look at what you get for the $250 annual fee on the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy to see if it's worth it.
Welcome bonus
New applicants can earn up to 135,000 bonus points: 85,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership, plus an additional 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases (for a total of $7,000) in the first six months of card membership.
This bonus is worth up to $1,080, according to TPG's May 2026 valuations.
Great locations for using Marriott Bonvoy points include award stays at places like The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos, The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort and The West Hollywood Edition. Skiiers and snowboarders might enjoy properties like The St. Regis Aspen Resort, The St. Regis Deer Valley or The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch.
If you've had Marriott credit cards from Chase or American Express in the past, there are restrictions that will limit your ability to collect a new member bonus. Fortunately, there's a pop-up that will tell you 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.
Related: How to maximize Bonvoy award night redemptions
Elite status and related perks
Cardmembers receive automatic Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. At this level, you can expect benefits like upgrades to preferred rooms (but not suites), late checkout and a welcome gift of bonus points at check-in.
Cardholders also receive 15 elite night credits in their Marriott Bonvoy account each year. These are what you need to reach higher levels of status, and they can be stacked if you also hold a business credit card from Marriott. For instance, if you hold the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, this card will give you another 15 elite night credits — meaning you start the year with 30 elite night credits automatically.
To earn Platinum Elite status — where benefits like suite upgrades and free breakfast kick in — you need 50 elite night credits per year with Marriott Bonvoy, so holding these two credit cards would put you more than halfway there.
However, unlike many hotel credit cards, there's no path to achieving elite status by spending a lot on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card each year. You can't spend your way to Platinum Elite status, no matter how many purchases you make.
You do get automatic Platinum Elite status with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, but that card comes with a hefty $650 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Related: Here's why you need both a personal and business Marriott Bonvoy credit card
bonus points every stay
Cardmembers can receive 1,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points for each eligible paid stay at a hotel or resort that participates in Marriott Bonvoy.
TPG's May 2026 valuations peg Marriott points at 0. cents apiece, meaning 1,000 points are worth $8. The bonus points are unavailable on stays where you redeem points or free night awards.
Annual free night earning option
Cardmembers who spend $15,000 or more on their cards within a calendar year can receive a free night award worth up to 50,000 points (certain hotels have resort fees). You can redeem these awards at properties like the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, St. Regis Langkawi in Malaysia, The Ritz-Carlton, Bali and the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort in Hawaii.
That said, due to Marriott Bonvoy's dynamic pricing, you'll want to do a calendar search for flexible dates to find nights that cost 50,000 points or less. It can be especially difficult to use your free night awards on or near holidays or events and concerts since award prices on those dates also tend to be higher. However, if you want to use your free night award at a pricier hotel, you can add up to 25,000 points for more redemption options.
While it's nice to have the option to get a free night with the Bevy, many hotel cards include a free night each year as an automatic perk — often for a lower annual fee. Having to work for a free night makes it much harder to justify the card's $250 annual fee.
Related: The best ways to redeem the Marriott 50K free night award
Other perks
Earning points on the Bevy card is similar to what you'll see on other Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. Cardmembers earn 6 points per dollar at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 per year in combined purchases at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (then 2 points per dollar) and 2 points per dollar on other purchases.
Bevy cardholders can also take advantage of several travel protections to help if things go wrong during a trip.
Cardmembers also gain access to Amex Offers, which can provide targeted discounts or bonus points on eligible purchases.
Related: Should you have multiple Marriott credit cards?
Bottom line
If you want Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and don't stay enough nights annually to qualify, you'll likely be able to justify the Bevy's $250 annual fee. However, most will get more value from the automatic free annual night that comes with the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card (plus automatic Gold status) for a $125 annual fee (see rates and fees) or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees) from Chase (plus Silver status) for a $95 annual fee.
For more information, read our full review on the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex card.
Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card
For rates and fees of the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, click here.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.