Ritz-Carlton Credit Card review: Should you book a spot in your wallet for this card?

August 10, 2026 • 20 min read

One of the best premium hotel credit cards is hiding in plain sight.

The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card offers outsize perks like an annual free night award worth up to 85,000 points (certain hotels have resort fees), automatic Marriott Gold elite status and club-level upgrades. But you've got to actually use those perks to make it worth paying the $450 annual fee.

The information for the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card offers one of the richest benefits packages of any travel rewards card and lucrative earning opportunities on everyday spending. But because you can only get it by “upgrading” from another Marriott cobranded credit card from Chase, most travelers might not even be aware it exists. The card closed to new applications way back in 2018.

If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy devotee and like fancy hotel stays, though, you should get to know this under-the-radar credit card and think about whether it’s right for you. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Ritz-Carlton Credit Card: The basics

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card remains one of the most valuable hotel credit cards despite no longer being open to new applicants. Its premium travel perks, including annual travel credits, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and valuable free night awards, can easily outweigh the annual fee for frequent Marriott guests and travelers who take advantage of its benefits.

Let’s just get it out of the way; this is an expensive card to carry. The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card’s annual fee is $450.

But for all that, you do get a lot of valuable benefits.

And for Marriott loyalists who qualify through a product change, it's still one of the best hotel cards you can carry.

Ritz-Carlton Credit Card pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Annual free night award worth up to 85,000 points (certain hotels have resort fees) Annual $300 airline credit Automatic elite status Annual club-level upgrade certificates Airport lounge access Global Entry application fee statement credit Strong travel protections	No welcome bonus Requires an upgrade from another Chase Marriott card $450 annual fee Might trigger eligibility rules for other Marriott cards You can get higher elite status with another Marriott card

How do you get the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card?

Marriott currently offers half a dozen cobranded credit cards from both American Express and Chase. Because there’s a lot of overlap among these products, you should be aware of eligibility rules if applying for one or more of them, or you might miss out on a lucrative welcome bonus.

Unfortunately, the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card does not offer a welcome bonus of its own, and you don’t exactly apply for it in a traditional sense, but it might still be worth getting because of the benefits we’ll dive into below.

Open another Chase Marriott credit card

So, how exactly do you get the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card? First, you’ve got to open another Chase Marriott card, including one of the following:

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Wait a year, then call Chase

Then, after you’ve had it for at least 12 months, you can call your credit card’s customer service number and request to upgrade to the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card. You don’t need to be invited to do so, and you don't need any sort of special code or information. Just call and ask.

Before you do, though, you should make sure your credit score is 670 or above. There are reports that you also need to have a credit line of $10,000 or more with Chase to be considered.

No credit pull, no Chase 5/24 impact

An upgrade generally does not count as a new account opening, so Chase should not need to pull a new inquiry on your credit report, and your credit score should not be affected by the process. What’s more, because you’re technically not opening a new account, getting the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card should not count as one of the slots for Chase's 5/24 rule.

Other application restrictions

There is, however, one final restriction to be aware of. You won’t be eligible for the welcome offer on the if you’ve held the Ritz-Carlton card in the past 30 days.

The best strategy here would be to get the Brilliant first and then upgrade to the Ritz-Carlton card rather than opening the Ritz-Carlton card before applying for the Brilliant.

Otherwise, you’d have to close your Ritz-Carlton card, wait at least 30 days, then apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant if you decide to open that card instead and want to earn its welcome offer.

Ritz-Carlton Credit Card benefits

Among the main hotel- and other travel-related benefits the Ritz-Carlton Credit card offers, these are the most valuable.

Annual free night award

Each card after your account anniversary, you’ll receive a free night award worth up to 85,000 points, which you can then “top up” with up to 25,000 additional points (certain hotels have resort fees).

That’s more than enough for a night at some luxurious Marriott hotels, including the swanky St. Regis Hong Kong, where you’d otherwise be paying upward of $555 per night, meaning you could more than make up for the card’s annual fee from the value of this benefit alone.

Automatic Marriott Gold elite status

Cardholders automatically get Marriott Gold elite status, which normally requires staying 25 nights or more each year and confers benefits like a 25% bonus on earning points on stays, availability-based room upgrades and 2 p.m. late checkout.

Cardholders are also credited with 15 elite night credits each calendar year toward achieving a higher status level.

Finally, cardholders can unlock Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status by spending $75,000 or more on purchases with the card in a calendar year.

Ritz-Carlton Club upgrades

Cardholders receive three certificates each year for upgrades to club-level rooms on eligible paid stays of up to seven nights at Ritz-Carlton properties with club levels. This often means access to lounges with meal service, drinks and snacks throughout the day, dedicated staff members and concierges and more.

To use these, you’ve got to call Ritz-Carlton reservations at 1-800-542-8680 and apply them to each stay.

$300 annual airline credit

This is another great credit that can offset a huge portion of the card’s annual fee just on its own. Each account year, cardholders can earn up to $300 in credits toward airline purchases like seat selection, checked bag fees, inflight Wi-Fi, food and beverages and lounge membership or passes. You can’t use it for airfare, though.

The hitch is, these credits won’t be applied automatically. You’ve got to call Chase at 1-855-896-2222 and ask for them to be credited against applicable charges.

$100 hotel credit

Those with the Ritz-Carlton card get a $100 credit for qualifying charges on dining, the spa or other activities on qualifying paid stays of two nights or more at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels. This is valid only on member, non-discounted rates, but there’s no limit to the number of times you can take advantage of this.

Airport lounge access

With the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card, cardholders and authorized users are automatically enrolled for Priority Pass Select membership, which includes access to more than 1,900 airport lounges worldwide.

Also worth noting, cardholders can access Chase Sapphire Lounges along with up to two guests.

Global Entry credit

Cardholders receive a statement credit of up to $120 once every four years when they use the card to pay for a Global Entry application.

Car rental status and upgrades

Thanks to the fact that the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card is a Visa Infinite, cardholders can register for complimentary Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz Gold+ Rewards and National Emerald Club Executive status, which also confers discounts and upgrades when booking rental cars with Avis and National.

Travel protections

Woman on vacation — OSCAR WONG/GETTY IMAGES

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card provides robust travel protections that include:

Other benefits: Additional cardholders and no forex fees

Finally, this card is unique among premium travel rewards credit cards in that you can add authorized users for no additional cost, and they can enjoy some of its benefits, including lounge access.

Other than that, those who travel abroad frequently should appreciate the fact that the card does not charge foreign transaction fees.

How to earn and use your rewards

Earning points on the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card earns points at the following rates:

6 points per dollar spent at Marriott hotels
3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants, car rentals and airline purchases
2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases

Thanks to the automatic Gold status afforded by the card, cardholders earn 12.5 points per dollar spent on Marriott stays, bringing their grand total up to 18.5 points per dollar spent on most stays (not at some of the more budget brands), assuming they use their card to pay.

Redeeming points on the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card

There are several ways to redeem the Marriott Bonvoy points you earn with the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card, including for hotel stays, flights, car rentals, cruises and gift cards.

However, redeeming your points for Marriott hotel stays will typically provide the best value. Marriott's portfolio includes more than 9,000 properties across more than 30 brands in over 140 countries, giving you plenty of options whether you're looking for a budget-friendly stay or a luxury resort.

We've consistently found that Marriott points can deliver especially strong value at high-end properties in regions such as Asia and the Middle East.

Marriott's extensive luxury portfolio, including Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Edition, JW Marriott and W Hotels, also gives members opportunities to redeem points for stays that might otherwise cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per night.

TPG principal spokesperson Clint Henderson recently redeemed 365,000 Marriott points to book his brother and his three kids at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort in June for four nights.

Westin Hapuna Beach Resort Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Since Marriott uses dynamic award pricing, the number of points required for a free night varies based on factors like demand and cash rates. It's worth comparing several travel dates before booking, as shifting your stay by a day or two could require significantly fewer points for the same room type.

If you're booking an award stay of five consecutive nights, Marriott's Stay for 5, Pay for 4 benefit automatically gives you the lowest-priced award night free, making longer stays an even better value. To maximize your points, look for stays where the redemption value exceeds TPG's monthly valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points.

Transferring points from the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card

Since the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card earns Marriott Bonvoy points, you can transfer them to the program’s airline partners, including American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards and United Airlines MileagePlus.

United Airlines Boeing 737-800 taxis at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

Points transfer to most partners at a 3:1 ratio; for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer, you get a 5,000 airline mile bonus. In other words, if you transfer 60,000 Marriott points to an airline, you end up with 25,000 miles in most cases.

Marriott actually has a special partnership with United Airlines, where you receive 10,000 bonus miles instead of 5,000, so for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer, you end up with 30,000 United miles.

Where the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card falls short

The biggest drawback of the Ritz-Carlton card is that it's no longer open to new applicants, meaning you'll need to product change from an eligible Chase Marriott card you've held for at least 12 months to get it.

The card's $450 annual fee is also a significant investment. While its annual travel credit, free night award and premium travel protections can more than offset the cost, those perks provide the most value to frequent Marriott guests.

Also, keep in mind Marriott Bonvoy points generally have a lower value than flexible rewards currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, making this a less compelling card for travelers who aren't loyal to Marriott.

If you don't regularly stay with Marriott or travel enough to maximize the card's benefits, a lower-fee hotel card or a flexible travel rewards card may be a better fit.

Ritz-Carlton Credit Card versus Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

There are several high-end credit cards that compete with the Ritz-Carlton card.

The most direct comparison is probably with the since it is Marriott’s other premium card.

Here’s a snapshot of how the two cards compare.

	Ritz-Carlton Credit Card
Welcome offer	No	Yes — see here for historical data on how high the offer has gone
Annual fee	$450	$650 (see rates and fees)
Annual free night	Up to 85,000 points (certain hotels have resort fees)	Up to 85,000 points (certain hotels have resort fees)
Automatic elite status	Gold	Platinum
Club-level upgrades	3 per year on eligible rates	None
Earning rates	6 points per dollar spent at Marriott hotels 3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants, car rentals and airfare booked directly with airlines 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases	6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines 2 points per dollar spent on other eligible purchases
Statement credits	$300 annually for airline incidental fees $120 every four years for Global Entry	Up to $300 each calendar year in statement credits for dining purchases at restaurants worldwide (up to $25 monthly) $120 every four years for Global Entry or up to $85 every four years for TSA PreCheck
Lounge access	Priority Pass Select Chase Sapphire Lounges	Priority Pass Select (enrollment required)

The Ritz-Carlton card’s annual fee of $450 is expensive, but still lower than the Brilliant’s $650.

If you stay at Ritz-Carltons a lot and can use those club-level upgrades, that perk alone is probably worth considering the card for, but if you play the field of Marriott brands, the Bonvoy Brilliant’s automatic Platinum status can help you upgrade stays at far more hotels.

The Ritz-Carlton card’s airline incidental fee credit might be easier to use for some folks than the Brilliant’s up to $25 monthly dining statement credit, which you have to remember to use every month.

So, really, it comes down to your personal travel habits and which card’s benefits you’ll be able to maximize.

Is the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card worth it?

To make the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card worth it, you must take full advantage of its benefits, most notably, the annual free night award (certain hotels have resort fees), the $300 airline incidental fee credit and the perks of Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.

Nekajui Ritz Carlton Reserve. — RITZ CARLTON

Even more than that, though, Ritz-Carlton should probably be the Marriott brand you stay at the most since two of its main perks — club-level upgrades and a $100 stay credit on eligible rates — are predicated on Ritz-Carlton (and St. Regis, in the case of the $100 credit) stays.

If you don’t have another card that gets you airport lounge access, that’s another great reason to consider this card.

Other cards to consider if you don't want the Ritz-Carlton Card

All that said, here are a few other options to consider if the Ritz-Carlton card isn't the right fit for you:

If you stay periodically with Hilton: The is a great choice for those who stay with Hilton at least a couple of times each year. Its near-top-tier complimentary Diamond status is a strong rival to the Ritz-Carlton card's Gold elite status. To learn more, check out our full review of the Hilton Aspire.
If you want a flexible premium card with Chase: The (see rates and fees) is one of our favorite premium cards, offering a variety of statement credits to offset its $795 annual fee. You'll still receive a Priority Pass lounge membership and Sapphire lounge access with this card. To learn more, check out our full review of the Sapphire Reserve.
If you want a transferable rewards card that offers Marriott status: The offers complimentary Marriott Gold elite status (enrollment required). It earns Membership Rewards points; as transferable rewards, Membership Rewards are a lot more flexible than Marriott Bonvoy points. To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.

For additional options, check out our picks for the top hotel cards and top Marriott cards.

Bottom line

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card is an unsung hero when it comes to premium hotel cards, probably because it’s a bit mysterious and you can’t apply for it outright.

That said, it offers plenty of great perks, from an annual free night award (certain hotels have resort fees), automatic elite status, upgrade certificates and more.

Before you upgrade another Chase Marriott card to the Ritz-Carlton one, think through which benefits you’ll actually take advantage of and if the suite of perks offered by the more expensive might make more sense.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, please click here.

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

TPG editor's rating

at American Express's secure site.
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

Rewards rate

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
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	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.

Intro offer

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

Annual fee

$325

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended credit

Excellent to Good

Pros + cons

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

More details

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.
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.
$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.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status 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.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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.