Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®

American Express Premium Hotel Card

Annual Fee $650

Earning Rate 6x hotels at Marriott Bonvoy • 3x restaurants worldwide • 3x flights booked directly with airlines • 2x everything else

Welcome Bonus 185,000 points after $6,000 spend in 6 months

Card Material Metal card with premium finish • colors: Black

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Practical Recommendation

If you sleep at Marriott even a handful of nights a year, this card makes the math pretty easy. The free night certificate (worth up to 85,000 points) plus the monthly dining credits can wipe out most of the annual fee, and Platinum Elite status gets you upgrades, breakfast at many brands, and late checkout. Many holders value it mainly for status + 85K cert + monthly dining.

If you do not care about Marriott at all, skip it. But if you book their hotels sometimes this is one of the few "top shelf" hotel cards that can pay for itself without heroic effort. Bottom line: Marriott people will get clear value; everyone else won't.

Credits

$300 Brilliant Dining Credit (up to $25 per month) – Up to $25 per calendar month in statement credits for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide charged to the card. Automatic once you enroll the card benefit; credits do not roll over month to month, so plan a small meal or takeout if you're about to miss one. Shows up as a statement credit after the charge posts.
$100 Property Credit (Ritz-Carlton & St. Regis only) – Up to $100 in property credit per eligible stay for qualifying charges when you book a special "rate code" directly with Marriott at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis, two-night minimum, and pay with the card. Great if you already book these brands; otherwise, do not bend your travel plans just to use it.
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck® Credit – Statement credit for one application fee for Global Entry (up to $100) every 4 years or TSA PreCheck (up to $85) every 4.5 years when you pay the application fee with the card. Easiest win if you (or a family member) still need it.

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Practical Tip

You can edit the amounts in the number fields if you value a credit at less than the full value. For example, if you only use a $10/month Uber credit half the months, you might value it at $60 instead of $120.

Brilliant Dining Credit

What It Is:	Up to $300 per calendar year as $25 monthly statement credits for restaurant purchases worldwide.
How It Works:	Use the card at eligible restaurants; after the charge posts, Amex auto-applies up to $25 back that month. Unused amounts do not roll over. No portal or pre-registration hoops beyond enrolling the benefit once in your Amex account.
Gotchas:	Must hit it monthly; tips/fees count if charged by the restaurant but third-party processors can code oddly. Credits post after charges settle, so end-of-month swipes might credit in the next month.
Who Actually Benefits:	Anyone who eats out or orders takeout at least once a month.
Practical Value:	Near-guaranteed $300 if you set a reminder; worth $0 if you forget monthly.

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Property Credit (Ritz-Carlton & St. Regis only)

What It Is:	Up to $100 property credit per eligible stay when booking a special rate at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis with a two-night minimum.
How It Works:	Book direct with Marriott using the designated "$100 property credit" rate for this card, stay at least two nights, pay with the card; the credit applies to on-property charges like dining or spa (varies by hotel).
Gotchas:	Only at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis; must use the specific rate (often not the cheapest); two-night minimum; prepaid or certain promo rates usually do not qualify.
Who Actually Benefits:	Travelers who already book these brands and value on-property dining/spa.
Practical Value:	Nice add-on for luxury stays; do not chase it if it raises your room rate.

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Global Entry / TSA PreCheck® Credit

What It Is:	Reimburses one application fee: up to $100 for Global Entry (includes TSA PreCheck) every 4 years, or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years.
How It Works:	Pay the application fee with the card; Amex posts a statement credit automatically. You can use it for yourself or someone else.
Gotchas:	One credit per time window; application/renewal must be charged to this card; program approvals are handled by the government and can take time.
Who Actually Benefits:	Anyone who flies even a few times a year and wants shorter lines.
Practical Value:	Effectively free Trusted Traveler membership; easy win.

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Annual Fee: $650

Your Credits: $0

YOUR Annual Fee: $650

This is effectively what you are paying for this card. It is now up to you if the perks, protections, and earning rates are worth this fee to you over other cards.

Perks

Earning rates (detail) – 6x on hotels at Marriott Bonvoy, 3x on restaurants worldwide, 3x on flights booked directly with airlines, 2x on everything else. Simple categories with solid hotel earn if you stay at Marriott.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status – Automatic as long as you hold the card. Think room upgrades, late checkout, and breakfast/lounge at many brands; strongest if you actually stay at Marriott.
Free Night Award (up to 85,000 points) – Get one each year after renewal; you can top it off with up to 15,000 points to reach a pricier night. Good for aspirational one-night stays.
25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year – A head start toward higher status. Common strategy: pair with a Marriott business card to stack additional nights and accelerate status.
Priority Pass Select lounges – Enrollment required. Unlimited visits for the cardmember and typically two guests per visit where permitted; no Priority Pass restaurants/credits. Handy if your airports have usable lounges.
No foreign transaction fees – Use the card abroad without extra percentage fees on purchases.

Protections

Trip Delay Insurance – If a round-trip is purchased entirely with the card and you are delayed (e.g., 6+ hours), coverage can reimburse essentials like meals and lodging up to stated limits. Saves you from an airport camp-out.
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance – Reimburses non-refundable prepaid travel if you cancel or cut a trip short for covered reasons. Helpful for illness or severe weather.
Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance – Secondary coverage for theft or damage to a rental car when you pay with the card and decline the rental counter's collision waiver. Can save you on add-on insurance.
Baggage Insurance Plan – Coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage up to plan limits when travel is paid with the card. Good backstop if the airline shrugs.
Purchase Protection – Eligible new purchases covered against theft or accidental damage for up to 90 days, up to plan limits. Useful for electronics and gadgets.
Extended Warranty – Extends eligible U.S. manufacturer warranties by up to one additional year (on warranties of 5 years or less), up to plan limits. Can save you from buying store add-ons.
Cell Phone Protection – Pay your wireless bill with the card to be eligible for reimbursement (damage or theft) up to $800 per claim, subject to terms and deductible.