Daniela Hanna
The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card is tailored for guests and travellers who frequent Marriott properties and seek a meaningful hotel-loyalty credit card. With high points earn at Marriott stays, an annual free night certificate and status benefits, it’s designed to reward loyalty rather than casual credit-card use.
Quick highlights
- 🎁 Earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points after spending $1,500 in the first 3 months.
- 🛏️ 5 points per $1 on eligible purchases at participating Marriott hotels; 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.
- 🎟️ Receive an Annual Free Night Award (worth up to ~35,000 points) on your card anniversary every year.
- ⭐ Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year toward Marriott Bonvoy® elite status.
- 💳 Annual fee of $120 — moderate for a hotel-loyalty card given the perks included.
Why we like it
If you stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels more than a few times a year, this card is a strong match. You’ll earn elevated points on eligible hotel nights, unlock the Free Night Award every year, and get a head start toward elite status with those 15 night credits. Simple redeeming, global hotel network and loyalty perks give it solid value.
Stand-out features
- ✅ 5 Bonvoy points per $1 on stay at participating Marriott hotels.
- ✅ 2 Bonvoy points per $1 on all other purchases (unusually strong base earn rate for a hotel card).
- ✅ Annual Free Night Award to use each year — a major value unlock.
- ✅ 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year, aiding Marriott Bonvoy elite status progression.
Good to know
- ⚠️ Annual fee of $120 means you should plan to use the benefits to get value.
- ⚠️ Points redemptions are best when used for Marriott stays or transfers — using for low-value options reduces return.
- ⚠️ As an American Express card, acceptance may be slightly less widespread than Visa or Mastercard in some international locations.
Pros
- High points earn rate on relevant hotel stays.
- Strong base earn on non-hotel spend compared to many hotel cards.
- Free night certificate every year offsetting the fee.
- Elite night credits favour loyal Marriott guests.
- Points are part of a large global hotel and airline transfer network.
Cons
- Requires you to stay at Marriott properties or redeem strategically to extract value.
- Annual fee means you must make use of the benefits; otherwise the cost may outweigh the return.
- Less valuable if your travel habits aren’t focused on Marriott hotels or you redeem poorly.
- Foreign transaction fees apply on non-CAD purchases (common to Amex in Canada).
Rewards program
- 5 Bonvoy points per $1 spent at participating Marriott hotels.
- 2 Bonvoy points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
How to maximize rewards
- Use the card for all Marriott stays to maximise 5x earn.
- Charge your regular purchases to this card to capture the 2x earn on everyday spend.
- Use the Free Night Award each year and aim to redeem it at a hotel worth more than the annual fee.
- Track your elite night credits and plan stays to convert them into status upgrades within Bonvoy program.
- Consider transferring points to airline partners if you find high-value flight redemptions; avoid low-value gift-card redemptions.
Insurance & benefits
Included
- Travel accident insurance.
- Purchase protection and extended warranty on eligible purchases.
- Earned 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year.
- Automatic Silver Elite status in Marriott Bonvoy programme.
Not included / Limited
- No unlimited lounge access or ultra-premium travel credits.
- Insurance coverages may not be as extensive as ultra-premium cards.
Rates & fees
| Annual fee | $120 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 21.99% |
| Cash advance APR | 21.99% |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% |
| Grace period | 21 days on new purchases |
Best for
- Frequent travellers who stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels regularly.
- Canadians who want to combine everyday spend with travel rewards and hotel benefits.
- Users who value hotel loyalty status and can redeem Free Night Awards at high-value properties.
Where it falls short
- If you rarely stay at Marriott hotels or redeem points for value, the returns may not exceed the cost.
- Other cards may offer higher flexibility for general travel or cash-back if you don’t focus on one hotel brand.
- Using the Free Night Award at a low-worth hotel may not offset the annual fee effectively.
Customer reviews
Positive feedback
“The annual free night alone covers the annual fee for me — and I stay at Marriott hotels often.”
“Earning 5x points when I book Marriott makes the card feel premium without a massive fee.”
Critiques
“If I’m not staying at Marriott hotels I don’t feel the value — and sometimes the offer on other purchases is just decent, not great.”
“AmEx acceptance is still a weak spot in some places — make sure you have a backup card abroad.”
Community insights
In travel-focused Canadian forums this card is often recommended as the “basic hotel loyalty card” for Marriott Bonvoy fans. Many users keep it long-term specifically for the Free Night Award and status benefits, and pair it with another card that covers broader categories or no foreign-transaction-fee spending.
AI review (straight talk)
For a Marriott-loyal Canadian traveller, this card hits the sweet spot: strong earn at brand stays, an annual free night, and hotel-status credits. If you can align your stays and redemptions well, this card offers real value year after year. If your travel style is more flexible or you seldom stay at Marriott properties, then you may find greater return with a more general travel or cash-back card.
Alternatives & comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Top Categories | Other Purchases | Key Perks | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card | $120 | 5× points at Marriott hotels | 2× points general | Free Night Award, Elite Night Credits | Marriott-loyal travellers |
| Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card | $150 | 5× at Marriott + more business categories | 1.5× general | Higher bonus & business perks | Frequent business travellers |
| American Express® Cobalt® Card | $155.88 (monthly $12.99) | 5× on food & dining | 2× on streaming/groceries | Transfer to Marriott + other program | Everyday spend & travel mix |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card | $120 | 5× on groceries/dining/streaming | 2× transit/gas | No foreign-transaction fee | Diversified travel & domestic spend |
FAQ
Is there an annual fee?
Yes — the annual fee is $120.
What is the welcome bonus?
You will earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points after charging $1,500 in purchases in the first three months of card membership.
What are the earn rates?
5 points per $1 at participating Marriott hotels; 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
How does the Free Night Award work?
Each year on your card anniversary you receive a Free Night Award worth up to ~35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points to redeem at eligible hotels.
Final verdict & ratings
Our take If you’re firmly in the Marriott hotel ecosystem and plan both stays and everyday spending that align with its categories, this card delivers strong value. The annual Free Night Award and 5× earn on brand stays make it an excellent choice for loyal Marriott guests. If instead your travel is more flexible, your hotel loyalty is spread across brands, or you want broader category earn and travel perks, you may want to explore other cards.
| Overall | ★★★★☆ 4.3 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Rewards value | 4.4 / 5 — very good when aligned with Marriott stays |
| Benefits & protections | 4.0 / 5 — solid hotel status & free night |
| Fees & costs | 4.0 / 5 — moderate fee with good offsetting perks |
| Ease of approval | 4.1 / 5 — typical good-credit requirement for Amex |
