Charles H. Miller
The Chase-issued Marriott Rewards Premier Business credit card has always offered a ton of points to the new applicants. Now, it is taking an even bolder step, offering 100,000 points (up from 50k) to anyone signing-up for the card and spending $5,000 in the first three months.
Note: This is a business credit card – click here if you’re looking for a personal version of this card.
Highlights:
- This is the biggest sign-up bonus we’ve ever seen.
- Great for frequent Marriott visitors, though it also works for Ritz-Carlton customers since their points are interchangeable.
- A free night stay in a category 1-5 hotel each year
- Guaranteed Marriott Rewards Silver Elite status, ability to earn Gold Elite status.
- 5% Balance Transfer Fee ($5 minimum)
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $99 annual fee.
How it works
Points galore: Get 100,000 points when you sign-up and after spending $5,000 in the first three months. Also, you get to:
- Earn 5 points per every dollar spent at over 4,000 participating Marriott locations worldwide.
- Earn 2 points per every dollar spent on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline and at car rental agencies, restaurants, office supply stores; the same applies for internet, cable and phone service purchases.
- Earn 1 point per every dollar spent on all other purchases.
Up your “game” with all those points: You can change those points for a few nights at some luxurious property, say, in the middle of London during the peak season.
Free night per year: Every year you get a free night every at a Category 1-5 property.
Marriott Rewards Status: The card offers guaranteed Silver Elite status, with 15 credits going toward your next membership level and every year after your account anniversary. One credit toward elite status is awarded for every $3,000 spent on purchases, with no limit to the number of credits you can earn. Ability to earn Marriott Rewards Gold Elite status when you spend $50,000 on purchases per year.
No foreign transaction fees: This card is, obviously, made for travelers.
$99 annual fee: You get that free night in return so it’s practically paying for itself.
Costs
- APR of 16.24% – varies with the market based on the Prime Rate
- $99 annual fee
- 5% Balance Transfer Fee ($5 minimum)
- No foreign transaction fees.
Pros
- The biggest sign-up bonus ever! Use those 100k points wisely, and you’ll end-up sleeping at some of the fanciest hotels in the world.
- Guaranteed Silver Elite status means Marriott staff will treat you even better than they used to.
- Free night per year – speaks for itself.
- With no foreign transaction fees, this is the card you’ll want to carry around when travelling abroad, even if you don’t end up sleeping in a Marriott.
Cons
- No one likes annual credit card fees – despite the fact that those $99 will easily pay for itself.
- Earning the Gold status is still rather expensive.
Is This The Card For You?
There are no doubts that if you frequent Marriott hotels, this is the card for you. It will let you stock up on points, which you can later convert to free stays at some premium locations. Also, if you are in that sort of things, Marriott Rewards Premier Card offers its own path to Gold status, though it requires spending at least $50,000 per year.
