Compare the Features and Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and
Bilt Mastercard®

If you’re on the hunt for a Marriott credit card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card is a relatively newcomer to the family of Marriott cards. Issued by American Express, this card debuted in 2022 and offers a middle ground for Marriott loyalists who are looking for solid perks without paying up an annual fee as high as $700, as with some other premium cards.

Instead, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card comes with a $250 annual fee. And with that, you’ll get automatic Gold elite status just by being a cardholder. Normally requiring 25 elite nights per night, carrying the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card is one of the ways to bypass this threshold. As such, you’ll get 2 p.m. late checkout (based on availability), 25% bonus points at Marriott properties, and enhanced room upgrades upon availability. However, even Gold elite status leaves a bit to be desired, as it doesn’t come with complimentary breakfast, suite upgrades, or a guaranteed late checkout benefit.

Outside of elite status, the Bevy card offers 1,000 bonus points per paid eligible stay at properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy and earns 6x bonus points per dollar on eligible Marriott Bonvoy hotels. You can also earn 4x bonus points per dollar on restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets, on up to the first $15,000 spent per year combined. That’s a potential of earning 60,000 bonus points on those two bonus categories alone, and you’ll earn 2x points after this limit and all other eligible purchases.

Another incentive to keep the card and pay the ongoing annual fees is the potential to earn a free night award, with a redemption value of up to 50,000 points. This certificate is actually much better than the one that comes on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, as its redemption value is capped at 35,000 points per night. Unfortunately, the major downside is that you have to spend at least $15,000 on the card per year to earn it, which breaks down to $1,250 in monthly spending.

In estimated monetary value, we calculate that Marriott Bonvoy points are worth about 0.6 cents each. That means you can achieve around $300 in value from the Bevy free night award if you can meet the spending requirements, which can easily wipe out the $250 annual fee before considering all the other perks.

Lastly, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express card makes for a solid travel card with no foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees), trip delay reimbursement, baggage insurance and more. However, you may want to look for a credit card with primary rental car insurance, as the Bevy only provides secondary coverage for theft and damage.

Rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

What is Bilt?

The Bilt Mastercard® is the only credit card that lets you pay your rent with no transaction fees and earn one point per dollar in the process.

This works with any landlord, up to $100,000 in rent per year as long as you make 5 other purchases each statement period.

Alaska Airlines – a Bilt Rewards Transfer Partner (Image Courtesy: Alaska Airlines)

Bilt Transfer Partners

💳 This card earns Bilt Rewards points. Bilt often runs transfer bonuses where you can get even more points when you transfer to airline or hotel partners at designated times. Transfer bonuses are awesome. Get 20%, 50%, 100% or more bonus miles when you transfer points at the right times. But they are easy to miss!

You can see all past Transfer Bonuses from Bilt Rewards points.

Even better? Get notified when a new transfer bonus comes out and again before it ends (either or both, your choice). Sign up for free alerts right here. 🔔

Rent Day

On the 1st of every month, Bilt Rewards has “Rent Day” – where you’ll earn double points on dining, travel and other purchases excluding rent and tax payments (up to 1,000 bonus points each Rent Day) on that one day.

On Rent Day, they also have other bonuses and giveaways, which may include status trials on an airline or hotel partner or a points transfer bonus.

Summary

Overall, this card is pretty much a “must have” for renters, since there is no other way to earn points – with no transaction fees – when paying your rent.

There is also no annual fee to hold the card and no Foreign Transaction Fees.

I have one myself and don’t see any reason for any renter not to have it.

Disclaimers

• Rates and Fees