Amex Gold vs Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (See Rates & Fees) a standout choice for frequent travelers.

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• Enjoy automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status just for being a cardmember, unlocking valuable on-property benefits (Terms Apply).

• Earn accelerated points on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties, restaurants worldwide, and U.S. supermarkets (Terms Apply).

• Kickstart your points balance with a generous Welcome Offer available to new cardmembers (Terms Apply).

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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

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Pros

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• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status provides access to valuable on-property benefits like room upgrades and late checkout where available (Terms Apply).

• Opportunity to earn an annual Free Night Award after meeting spending requirements each year (Terms Apply).

• Helpful travel perks, including no foreign transaction fees and various travel insurance protections (Terms Apply).

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Cons

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• The annual Free Night Award is not automatic and requires meeting a significant spending threshold each year (Terms Apply).

• Card benefits are heavily skewed towards Marriott loyalists, offering less value if you don't frequently stay with the brand.

• Lacks some premium perks, such as statement credits for hotel purchases, that are available on higher-tier travel cards (Terms Apply).

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card vs American Express® Gold Card

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Amex Gold or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, ultimately depends on your primary spending habits and travel preferences.

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• American Express® Gold Card: This card is a powerhouse for foodies, offering top-tier rewards on spending at restaurants globally and at U.S. supermarkets. It's also a strong choice for those who book flights directly with airlines.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Tailored for frequent travelers loyal to the Marriott brand, this card provides excellent rewards on hotel stays. It also offers strong rewards for spending at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.

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Redemption

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American Express® Gold Card: Points are part of the highly flexible Membership Rewards program, allowing transfers to a wide array of airline and hotel partners. This gives you significant freedom to book travel across various loyalty programs.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Rewards are earned as Marriott Bonvoy points, which are primarily redeemed for hotel stays, room upgrades, and other experiences within the Marriott ecosystem. This is ideal for travelers who are loyal to the Marriott brand.

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Travel Perks

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• American Express® Gold Card: This card provides access to the AmexTravel portal for bookings and includes benefits with The Hotel Collection. Its main strength lies in the flexibility to transfer rewards to a wide range of airline partners, converting them into miles. The card does not have foreign transaction fees. Terms apply.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Centered on the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem, this card’s primary travel perk is the automatic Gold Elite Status it confers, which can lead to benefits like room upgrades. Rewards can be transferred to numerous airline partners for miles. This card also has no foreign transaction fees. Terms apply.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the right choice, you can use a financial companion like Kudos to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards and find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Use your real spending data to simulate potential earnings with different cards before you apply, all without a hard credit pull.
• Comprehensive approval odds: Get a detailed analysis of your chances of approval for various cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, they will match it.
• Personalized matching: Receive card recommendations and access exclusive offers based on your actual spending history.
• $100 Kudos Kickstart+: Unlock $100 in rewards by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?

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The American Express® Gold Card is tailor-made for foodies and frequent travelers who spend a significant portion of their budget on dining out and groceries. With high earning rates at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, it's a powerhouse for turning everyday purchases into valuable points. The card is most valuable for those who can maximize its statement credits, like the up to $120 annual dining credit and up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (Terms apply).

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is an excellent choice for travelers loyal to Marriott who want to enhance their stays with automatic Gold Elite status. It particularly suits moderate-to-high spenders who can maximize the 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year, then 2X points; Terms apply). These cardholders can also unlock a valuable Free Night Award after meeting the annual spending threshold, making the card ideal for those who appreciate hotel perks but don't travel enough to earn elite status organically.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Amex Gold vs Marriott Bonvoy Bevy comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel and dining rewards cards on the market worth considering.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score. Most successful applicants have good to excellent credit.
• Plan your spending. Ensure you can naturally meet the spend requirement for the Welcome Offer.
• Review the benefits. Remember that some American Express benefits require enrollment to activate.

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Application Strategy

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• Try different channels. If you don't see the best Welcome Offer, try applying through different links or browsers.
• Have loyalty numbers ready. For co-branded cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, you'll need your loyalty program number to apply.
• Call if you're not instantly approved. A quick call to the reconsideration line can sometimes help clarify information and overturn a pending decision.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card is better if I'm not loyal to a specific hotel brand?

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The American Express® Gold Card is generally a better fit if you don't have a preferred hotel chain, as its points offer great flexibility. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card is designed for travelers who frequently stay within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotels.

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How do the rewards programs for these cards differ?

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The American Express® Gold Card earns Membership Rewards® points, which can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners. In contrast, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card earns Marriott Bonvoy points, primarily used for stays and experiences within the Marriott ecosystem.

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Can I hold both the Amex Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy cards?

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Yes, holding both cards can be a strategic choice for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. This approach allows you to enjoy both flexible travel rewards and hotel-specific benefits and perks.

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