Is the annual fee for the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy worth it?

The credit card community was intrigued when Marriott Bonvoy and Amex introduced this card.

Unlike most credit cards, which are either budget-friendly (annual fees under $100) or premium (over $400), the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card debuted in September 2022 with a $250 annual fee (check rates and fees).

What benefits accompany this fee? Does the card offer enough advantages over entry-level options to warrant an extra $150, and what features are missing compared to $400-plus cards?

Let’s explore what the $250 annual fee for the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy offers to determine its value.

Welcome bonus

New users can earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points by spending $5,000 within the first six months of opening their account. This bonus is valued at $723, based on TPG's August 2024 assessments.

Top destinations 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. Skiers and snowboarders might prefer resorts like The St. Regis Aspen Resort, The St. Regis Deer Valley, or The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch.

If you've previously held Marriott credit cards from Chase or American Express, there are restrictions that may affect your ability to earn a new member bonus. Thankfully, a pop-up will notify you if you're ineligible for the bonus during the application process, prior to Amex checking your credit — and our chart can clarify your eligibility as well.

Elite status and associated benefits

Cardholders automatically receive Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. This level offers benefits such as upgrades to preferred rooms (but not suites), late checkout, and a welcome gift of bonus points during check-in.

Cardholders earn 15 elite night credits each year in their Marriott Bonvoy account. These credits help you achieve higher status levels and can be combined if you also have a Marriott business credit card. For example, holding the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card gives you an additional 15 elite night credits, totaling 30 elite night credits at the start of the year.

To achieve Platinum Elite status—where perks like suite upgrades and complimentary breakfast are offered—you'll need 50 elite night credits annually with Marriott Bonvoy. Holding these two credit cards would bring you well over halfway to that goal.

However, unlike many hotel credit cards, you can't reach elite status through spending on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card. No matter how much you spend, there's no pathway to Platinum Elite status.

With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you receive automatic Platinum Elite status, but this card has a steep $650 annual fee (check rates and fees).

bonus points for every stay

Cardholders can earn 1,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points for each eligible paid stay at participating hotels or resorts.

According to TPG's July 2024 evaluations, Marriott points are valued at 0.85 cents each, making 1,000 points equivalent to $8.50. Note that these bonus points are not available for stays booked with points or free night awards.

Option for an annual free night

Cardmembers who spend $15,000 or more on their cards in a calendar year can earn a free night award valued at up to 50,000 points (some hotels may charge resort fees). This award can be redeemed at locations such as the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, St. Regis Langkawi in Malaysia, The Ritz-Carlton, Bali, and the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort in Hawaii.

However, because of Marriott Bonvoy's dynamic pricing, it's advisable to perform a calendar search with flexible dates to locate nights costing 50,000 points or fewer. It can be particularly challenging to redeem free night awards around holidays or events and concerts, as award prices on those dates tend to be higher. If you wish to use your free night award at a more expensive hotel, you have the option to add up to 15,000 points for additional redemption choices.

While having the possibility of earning a free night with the Bevy is appealing, many hotel cards automatically provide a free night each year—often for a lower annual fee. The requirement to work towards a free night makes it harder to justify the card's $250 annual fee.

Additional benefits

Earning points with the Bevy card mirrors the structure of other Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. Cardholders earn 6 points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 in combined spending at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (then 2 points per dollar), and 2 points per dollar on other purchases.

Bevy cardholders can also benefit from various travel protections to assist them if issues arise during their trips.

According to TPG's July 2024 evaluations, this translates to a return of approximately 5.1% on Marriott purchases, 3.4% at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and 1.7% on general spending. While these rates aren't extraordinary, they are reasonable for a cobranded card.

Cardmembers also gain access to Amex Offers, which can offer targeted discounts or bonus points on qualifying purchases.

In summary

If you're aiming for Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy but don’t stay enough nights each year to qualify, you might find the Bevy's $250 annual fee justifiable. However, many will find greater value in the automatic free annual night included with the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card (which also grants automatic Gold status) for a $125 annual fee, or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase (which provides Silver status) for a $95 annual fee.

For further details, check out our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex card.