Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card Review

Who Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card For?

Frequent Marriott Guests

If you stay at Marriott properties a few times a year, Gold Elite status adds a 25% bonus on base points from stays. American Express says that bonus works out to up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases.

Travelers Working Toward Higher Status

The 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year give you a head start on the next Elite tier. Marriott limits card Elite Night Credits per member account, so check the program terms if you hold more than one Marriott card.

Cardholders Who Spend $15,000 a Year

The Free Night Award only unlocks after $15,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year. If that spending fits your budget, the certificate can be used for one night with a redemption level at or under 50,000 points.

Who Should Skip It

• You rarely stay at Marriott properties
• You prefer cash back or flexible travel points
• You will not spend $15,000 a year on the card and do not value Gold Elite status

How Does the Bevy® Compare With Other Travel Cards?

The Bevy competes with other hotel and travel cards. Here is how it stacks up against four common alternatives.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the premium Marriott card. It includes Platinum Elite status, 25 Elite Night Credits a year and Priority Pass™ enrollment, and it earns 6X at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Its annual fee is much higher than the Bevy's; see the card details above. Read our Brilliant vs. Bevy comparison.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express earns 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1X, plus 5X on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com. It includes Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite status and access to over 1,550 airport lounges, but its fee is among the highest on the market.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, plus 2X miles on all other purchases. The annual fee is $395 (Rates & Fees).

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns 8x points on purchases through Chase Travel℠, 4x on flights and hotels booked directly and 3x on dining. It has a $795 annual fee and a $300 annual travel credit.

^{Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.}

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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.}

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Card Benefits in Detail

Welcome Offer

New Card Members can earn a Welcome Offer after meeting a spending requirement in the first months of membership. The amount changes often, so check the current offer and terms on the card details above before you apply.

How the Bevy® Earns Points

• 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
• 4X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X
• 2X points on all other eligible purchases

Why You May See Up to 18.5X at Marriott

The card itself earns 6X at Marriott properties. American Express also advertises up to 18.5X total, which adds up to 10X base points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and up to 2.5X from the Gold Elite 25% bonus on stays.

Those extra points come from the Marriott Bonvoy program, not the card, so you only get them on eligible stays credited to your Marriott Bonvoy account.

Elite Status Benefits

• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite status
• 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year (limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account)
• 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott

Free Night Award

After you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, you can earn one Free Night Award. It covers one night with a redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points at a participating hotel, and some hotels charge resort fees.

Travel and Purchase Protections

• No foreign transaction fees from American Express
• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
• Baggage Insurance Plan
• Trip Delay Insurance: if a covered reason delays a round trip paid entirely with the card by more than 12 hours, reimbursement of certain expenses up to $300 per trip, with a maximum of 2 claims per card per 12 consecutive months
• Purchase Protection for up to 90 days from the purchase date, up to $10,000 per covered purchase and $50,000 per calendar year
• Extended Warranty of up to one extra year on eligible manufacturer warranties
• Global Assist® Hotline and Amex Offers

^{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.}

How Kudos Helps Bevy® Cardholders

The Bevy earns 4X at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, but most cardholders also carry another card for everything else. The free Kudos browser extension and app recommend the best card for each online purchase, so you do not have to remember which card earns more where.

With Kudos Premium, Kudos automatically activates your Amex, Chase, Citi, Bank of America and Wells Fargo card-linked offers when you visit issuer portals, then reminds you to use them at checkout. The Premium Benefits Tracker also shows the credits and perks you have across every card, how much you have used and what is still waiting.

Our Expert Takeaway

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Card works best for Marriott guests who want Gold Elite status and strong points on dining and groceries without paying for the Brilliant. The Free Night Award adds value, but only if you reach $15,000 in eligible spending in a calendar year.

If you rarely stay with Marriott or want flexible points you can move between programs, a general travel card such as Venture X or Sapphire Reserve is likely the better fit. Learn more about the status tiers in our guide to Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card FAQ

How many points does the Bevy® earn at Marriott hotels?

The card earns 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. With up to 10X base points as a Marriott Bonvoy member and up to 2.5X from Gold Elite status, American Express says you can earn up to 18.5X total on eligible hotel purchases.

What credit score do I need for the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Card?

American Express does not publish a minimum credit score. Travel rewards cards like the Bevy are generally aimed at applicants with good to excellent credit, and Kudos shows your approval odds before you apply.

Does the Bevy® have foreign transaction fees?

No. American Express does not charge foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad with this card.

Can I combine Elite Night Credits from more than one Marriott card?

Marriott limits how many card Elite Night Credits a single member account can receive. If you hold more than one Marriott card, check the Marriott Bonvoy program terms before you count on stacking them.

Can I transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to airlines?

Yes. American Express notes that you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy® points to over 38 airline partners, or redeem them for free nights at more than 10,000 participating hotels. Transfer ratios vary by partner, so check Marriott's current chart before moving points. To keep your balance active, see how to keep Marriott Bonvoy points from expiring.

How does the 1,000 bonus points per stay benefit work?

You earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points for each paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott at a participating property. These points come on top of your base points and Gold Elite bonus points.

^{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.}