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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.
Reviews
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex review: Marriott’s most premium card
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.
March 13, 2026 • 11 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.
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Quick summary
A premium hotel card offers valuable perks, including an annual free night award, elite status, and monthly dining credits.
Benefits also include lounge access, travel protections, and credits for expedited airport security programs.
The card is best suited for those who stay at Marriott properties a few times a year and dine out regularly.
Comparisons highlight that lower-tier options may offer less value, while this card's benefits can offset its high cost if maximized.
What to consider
Certain benefits, such as the property credit, are limited to specific luxury brands and may be difficult to use for some cardholders.
Strict eligibility rules apply, so reviewing requirements before applying is important.
Marriott points are valued at 0.8 cents each as of May 2026 per TPG's valuations.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of hotel card options and strategies for maximizing annual free night and dining credits.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
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.
at American Express's secure site. Terms & restrictions apply. View rates & fees.
Rewards rate
Up to 21X
Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
6X
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
3X
Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
2X
Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
Earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points
Annual fee
$650
Regular APR
19.49%-28.49% Variable
Recommended credit
670-850
Excellent/Good
The is Marriott's top-tier card, offering a slew of perks for a $650 annual fee (see rates and fees). Unlike some other premium airline and hotel cards, it's relatively easy to get great value out of the Bonvoy Brilliant without committing to staying exclusively with Marriott.
Assuming you stay with Marriott a few times a year and dine out monthly, it's very easy to get a lot out of this card. I'm a Hyatt girl through and through, yet the Bonvoy Brilliant has been on my list for a while for this exact reason.
Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Bonvoy Brilliant Amex: The basics
As a premium hotel card, the has plenty of benefits, including:
Annual free night award after your card anniversary (certain hotels have resort fees)
You'll also earn bonus points in a few categories, such as on Marriott and flight purchases and at restaurants worldwide. You'll get the best value from these points by redeeming them for hotel stays, but you can also use them to top off your airline loyalty accounts (more on that later).
Bonvoy Brilliant Amex pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Annual free night award (certain hotels have resort fees)
Platinum Elite status
Priority Pass Select lounge membership
Up to $25 in monthly statement credit for restaurant purchases worldwide
Travel protections
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
High annual fee
May not make sense if you don’t stay at Marriott properties often
Subject to Marriott's strict application eligibility rules
Ritz-Carlton/St. Regis on-property credit is hard to use
Bonvoy Brilliant Amex benefits
The easiest path to recouping the 's $650 annual fee is through its annual free night award** and up to $25 in monthly statement credits for eligible dining purchases.
The Bonvoy Brilliant's free night award** can be redeemed for an award night costing up to 85,000 points. The best way to maximize this benefit is to use it when the cash rate is over $350 per night (particularly if you'll get greater than TPG's May 2026 valuation of Marriott points at 0.8 cents per point).
That means you can get outsize value from the Bonvoy Brilliant from the free night award** alone, while the dining statement credits can add up to another $300 in value each year.
The $100 on-property credit could be hard to maximize if luxury stays at Marriott properties generally don't fit into your plans or budget.
It’s rare to see a Priority Pass Select membership on a hotel card. You'll be able to bring two guests in for free, which is valuable when traveling with others. Between this, the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit and dining statement credits, I definitely see the intention for the Bonvoy Brilliant to be more than just a hotel card.
That said, unless this is your first premium credit card, you probably already have a Priority Pass Select membership and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credits from other cards. Of course, you can always gift your Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit to someone else if you already have a membership.
3 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines
2 points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Keep in mind that thanks to this card's complimentary Platinum Elite status, you'll earn an additional 15 points per dollar spent on Marriott purchases, bringing the grand total to 21 points per dollar spent when you pay with this card.
I suggest using the Bonvoy Brilliant for Marriott purchases and nothing else, unless you need Bonvoy points or are working toward a welcome bonus. That said, if you have a premium travel rewards card that earns bonus rewards on hotels, you'll want to consider whether you prefer earning Bonvoy points or a more valuable transferable currency. Even if you pay with another card, you'll still earn 15 Bonvoy points per dollar spent thanks to your Platinum status.
Since Bonvoy points are only worth 0.8 cents apiece per TPG's valuations, you'll get more bang for your buck with a card that earns transferable rewards on dining or flights. Transferable rewards from issuers like American Express and Chase are usually worth more than Bonvoy points, since you can earn them more quickly and then transfer them to airline and hotel partners.
Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points
When it comes time to use your rewards, your best bet will usually be to redeem them for hotel stays.
TPG Contributing Editor for Credit Cards Matt Moffitt redeemed 43,200 Marriott Bonvoy points for a two-night stay at the Palacio Santa Clara, Autograph Collection in Valencia, Spain, during the busy Christmas period last year. He booked the stay using a PointSavers redemption and, thanks to his Platinum Elite status, received an upgrade to a room with a better view along with free breakfast for two each day.
If you have a ton of Marriott points to use but no hotel stays in mind, you can also use your points for merchandise, gift cards, cruises and charity donations. You can also transfer Marriott points to 38 different airlines.
If you do, you'll receive an additional 5,000 points or miles for every 60,000 Bonvoy points you transfer to most airline programs. (You must transfer a minimum of 3,000 points, and you may transfer no more than 240,000 points per day.)
The definitely leaves a lot to be desired with its non-Marriott earning rates, considering the value of Bonvoy points. In addition, this card will be hard to maximize if you rarely eat out. You'll need to be strategic in getting enough value from the Bonvoy Brilliant's free night award (certain hotels have resort fees) to break even on this card's annual fee.
I wish the on-property credit could be used at more properties than just St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton. As someone who rarely stays at luxury properties, I know I'd have a hard time using this credit each year.
Bonvoy Brilliant Amex vs. Bonvoy Bevy Amex
The is the other personal Marriott card issued by Amex. While I believe the Bonvoy Brilliant is one of the best hotel cards available, in my view, the Bonvoy Bevy is one of the worst.
It charges a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees) but offers little in exchange. You must spend at least $15,000 on this card to earn a free night award (certain hotels have resort fees), an unreasonable requirement for a card with this annual fee.
Even if you're a Bonvoy loyalist, it will be extremely hard to get outsize value from the Bonvoy Bevy each year. I recommend sticking with the all the way.
If the Bonvoy Brilliant's annual fee is too much for you, skip the Bonvoy Bevy and instead go with one of Chase's Marriott cards, such as the (see rates and fees).
Currently, the allows new cardmembers to earn up to 150,000 bonus points: 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 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 $8,000) in the first six months of card membership.
According to TPG's valuations, the full offer of 150,000 Bonvoy points is worth $1,200.
This is a decent offer based on the card's bonus history, so now is a good time to apply.
Other cards to consider if you don't want the Bonvoy Brilliant Amex
If the isn't for you, consider one of these options instead:
If you want a more affordable Marriott card: The only charges $95 each year, but still offers compelling benefits like a free night award worth up to 35,000 points each year (certain hotels have resort fees). To learn more, check out our full review of the Bonvoy Boundless.
If you want to maximize your dining purchases: The offers up to 4 points per dollar spent on restaurant purchases worldwide (on up to $50,000 each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent) and a few dining-related statement credits (enrollment is required for select benefits). To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Gold.
If you want to earn more on flights: The earns 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly or through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent). You can also earn up to $200 as statement credits for airline incidental charges on an eligible airline you select each calendar year (enrollment is required). To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.
For additional options, check out our picks for the best travel cards.
Bottom line
I hope to eventually open the Bonvoy Brilliant, since its annual free night award (certain hotels have resort fees) and up to $25 in monthly dining statement credits would be easy for me to use. I imagine the same will be true for many travelers, although it's always important to consider how easy a card's benefits would be for you to use before applying.
Even if its $650 annual fee seems intimidating, you'll come out ahead as long as you use the full $25 in monthly dining statement credits and redeem the free night award for at least $350 in value each year.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex, click here.
