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Introduction: Level Up Your Marriott Bonvoy Game
As a travel rewards enthusiast, I’m always looking for ways to maximize my benefits and travel experiences. One strategy I’ve found incredibly effective is strategically using credit cards. Today, I want to delve into a fantastic strategy for maximizing your Marriott Bonvoy rewards: holding both a personal and a business Marriott Bonvoy credit card. I’ll explain why this combination can unlock significant value, accelerate your path to elite status, and ultimately enhance your travel experiences.
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The Power of Elite Night Credits: A Fast Track to Status
One of the most compelling reasons to hold multiple Marriott Bonvoy cards is the opportunity to stack elite night credits. Marriott Bonvoy credit cards offer a valuable perk: automatic elite night credits each year. These credits count towards achieving higher elite status tiers within the Marriott Bonvoy program, unlocking benefits like complimentary upgrades, lounge access, and more.
Here’s where the magic happens: you can stack these elite night credits from both a personal and a business card. Several personal Marriott credit cards come with either 15 or 25 elite night credits annually. I personally hold the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, which grants me 25 elite night credits each year. Similarly, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers 15 elite night credits.
Therefore, by carrying both cards, I begin each year with a significant head start: 40 elite night credits. This is especially advantageous for those aiming for Platinum Elite status or higher.
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Platinum Elite Status: Unlocking Choice Benefits
Platinum Elite status requires 50 elite night credits. By holding both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (25 elite night credits) and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (15 elite night credits), I begin the year just 10 nights away from Platinum status. Furthermore, if I didn’t have the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card already giving me Platinum status, the additional 10 nights could easily be achieved through actual hotel stays or by leveraging credit card spending to earn elite night credits.
Platinum Elite status opens the door to Marriott’s coveted Choice Benefits. Once you reach 50 elite nights, you can select one of the following perks:
* Five Elite Night Credits: Provides a boost toward the next elite tier, like Titanium Elite. * Five Nightly Upgrade Awards: Allows you to confirm suite upgrades in advance of your stay. I find these invaluable for securing premium accommodations. * $1,000 off a Mattress: For those looking to upgrade their sleep experience at home. * $100 Charity Donation: A meaningful way to give back to a cause you care about. * Gift Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status: Share the benefits of Silver Elite status with a friend or family member.
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The Sweet Spot: Aiming for Titanium Elite
Continuing beyond Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy offers Titanium Elite status at 75 nights. As I mentioned, I automatically get 40 elite night credits from simply holding my personal and business Marriott credit cards. This means I only need 35 more nights to unlock Titanium Elite status.
Titanium Elite status elevates your Marriott experience with benefits like:
* Enhanced Suite Upgrade Possibilities: Increased chances of being upgraded to standard suites, even at Ritz-Carlton properties. * Another Choice Benefit: Unlock another valuable benefit after you hit 75 nights. * 4 PM Late Checkout: Enjoy the luxury of a late checkout, whenever available.
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Maximize Value with Annual Award Nights
Beyond elite night credits, Marriott Bonvoy credit cards also offer valuable annual award nights. The value I get from these nights often surpasses the cards’ annual fees, making them a worthwhile investment.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offer an annual award night certificate worth up to 35,000 points. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, while having a higher annual fee, offers a certificate worth up to 85,000 points.
Redeeming these certificates strategically can provide substantial value. I’ve personally used my certificates at high-end properties in popular destinations, saving hundreds of dollars per night. I’ve found that even with Marriott’s dynamic pricing, it’s possible to get outsized value from these awards.
However, it’s important to note that some Marriott Bonvoy cards, like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card, require spending $15,000 annually to earn a free night award worth up to 50,000 points.
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Optimizing Your Spending: Bonus Categories
Having both a personal and business Marriott card enables you to maximize points earning across a wider range of spending categories. While all Marriott cards offer bonus points on Marriott purchases, the additional bonus categories vary, which makes holding multiple cards beneficial.
Here’s a breakdown of some key spending categories:
* Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card: Earns 4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 of combined purchases at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets each calendar year (then 2 points per dollar after that). * Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card: Earns 2 points per dollar spent at grocery stores, ride-hailing services, select food delivery, select streaming, internet, cable and phone services and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. * Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: Earns 3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year at gas stations, grocery stores and dining (then 2 points per dollar spent after that). * Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: Earns 4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 in combined purchases on grocery stores and dining each year (then 2 points per dollar spent after that). * Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card: Earns 3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. * Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card: Earns 4 points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and U.S. shipping purchases.
By strategically using these cards based on their respective bonus categories, I can earn Marriott Bonvoy points at a faster rate, accelerating my path to free nights and other valuable rewards.
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Conclusion: Double Down on Marriott Bonvoy Rewards
In conclusion, holding both a personal and business Marriott Bonvoy credit card is a powerful strategy for maximizing your travel rewards. The ability to stack elite night credits provides a significant boost toward achieving higher elite status, unlocking valuable benefits like complimentary upgrades and lounge access. Furthermore, the annual award nights offered by these cards can easily offset the annual fees, providing exceptional value. When combined with the opportunity to earn bonus points across various spending categories, the benefits of holding multiple Marriott Bonvoy cards are clear. As a travel enthusiast, I highly recommend considering this strategy to elevate your Marriott Bonvoy experience and unlock a world of travel possibilities.
