If you’re collecting Marriott Bonvoy points, there’s some news worth paying attention to. The welcome offers on Amex Marriott Bonvoy cards have recently changed, with both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Bevy cards now offering statement credits in addition to their welcome bonuses.

Here are the current offers:

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

• Welcome Offer: 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points + $250 Statement Credit
• Spending Requirement: Spend $6,000 within 6 months of account opening
• Annual Fee: $650

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy

• Welcome Offer: 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points + $150 Statement Credit
• Spending Requirement: Spend $5,000 within 6 months of account opening
• Annual Fee: $250

A Statement Credit is essentially a reimbursement that is applied directly to your credit card statement after you make an eligible purchase.

So, what can you actually do with 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points?

As an example, let’s search for hotels near Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on marriott.com. Depending on the dates and property, you can find rooms starting at around 21,600 points per night. At that rate, 125,000 points would be enough for at least five nights at a mid-range or better Marriott hotel.

Marriott also offers the Stay for 5, Pay for 4 benefit when you book five consecutive award nights with points. The lowest-point night is effectively free, making a five-night award stay even more valuable.

If you choose your dates and destination carefully and add the new Statement Credit to the value of the points, it is possible to get more than $1,000 in total value from the Bevy welcome offer.

 

Things to Check Before Applying

There is one particularly important thing to understand about these Amex Marriott Bonvoy offers:

Your eligibility for the welcome bonus.

(1) Brilliant Eligibility

• Simply having the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card does not by itself make you ineligible for the Brilliant welcome bonus.
• However, if you were approved for a Chase Bountiful, Boundless, or Bold card within the past 90 days, you may not be eligible for the bonus.
• If you received a new-card bonus or upgrade bonus from one of those Chase cards within the past 24 months, you may not be eligible for the bonus.
• If you have held the Ritz-Carlton card within the past 30 days, you may not be eligible for the bonus.

(2) Bevy Eligibility

• If you have held certain Chase Marriott cards within the past 30 days, you may not be eligible for the bonus.
• If you were approved for a Chase Bountiful, Boundless, or Bold card within the past 90 days, you may not be eligible for the bonus.
• If you received a new-card bonus or upgrade bonus from any of these three Chase cards within the past 24 months, you may not be eligible for the bonus.

If you’re planning to get both cards and want to earn both welcome bonuses, the order in which you apply matters. Applying for the Brilliant first can make you ineligible for the Bevy welcome bonus.

 

Which Card Is Better: Brilliant or Bevy?

(1) The Brilliant May Be a Better Fit If…

The Brilliant may be worth considering if you:

• Stay at Marriott hotels frequently.
• Are comfortable paying the $650 annual fee.
• Can spend $6,000 within six months.
• Are likely to use the following hotel-related benefits.

Automatic Platinum Elite Status: You receive Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status without having to complete the usual hotel stays required to earn the status. Depending on the hotel and brand, you may receive benefits such as breakfast and lounge access. Room upgrades, including some suites, are subject to availability, while 4 p.m. late checkout is available at most participating hotels.

Annual Free Night Award (FNC): Receive one Free Night Award worth up to 85,000 points every year after your card renewal.

Restaurant Credit: Receive up to $25 per month, for a total of up to $300 per year in dining credits.

Earning Rates: Earn 6 points per $1 spent at participating Marriott hotels, 3 points per $1 on worldwide restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points per $1 on other eligible purchases.

Additional Benefits: Unlimited access to participating airport lounges through Priority Pass Select, plus a credit toward the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

(2) The Bevy May Be a Better Fit If…

The Bevy may be a better option if you:

• Want to keep your annual fee lower.
• Can spend around $5,000 within six months.
• Want to earn Marriott points primarily through everyday spending. (Earn 4X points on combined U.S. supermarket and worldwide restaurant spending, up to a total of $15,000 per year.)
• Want to build Elite Night Credits more quickly. (The card provides 15 Elite Night Credits each year.)
• Spend at least $15,000 per year on the card. (Once you reach $15,000 in eligible annual spending, you receive one Free Night Award worth up to 50,000 points.)
• Find the Brilliant’s $650 annual fee too high.

 

There are quite a few eligibility restrictions to consider, but if you take the time to review the terms carefully and consider your bonus eligibility, choosing the card that best matches your normal spending habits can be a great way to reduce the cost of future trips with your partner, friends, or family.