Premium Marriott Card with Gold Status
You get automatic Gold Elite status, 1,000 bonus points per stay, and solid 4x on dining and U.S. supermarkets up to $15,000 a year. If you sleep at Marriott often, those points and on-property perks add up.
There's no automatic free night; you must spend $15,000 each calendar year to earn a certificate up to 50,000 points. Bottom line: frequent Marriott guests can make the $250 fee work; casual travelers should compare Boundless.