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Back in May, Marriott and Chase announced a new co-branded credit card, the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus. The card was launched as a part of Marriott’s campaign to launch one new, integrated rewards program for the various hotel brands it owns.
Although the new card has a lot in common with the older Chase Marriott card that it replaces, it has a few minor upgrades. One of the new card’s most notable features is its introductory sign-up bonus.
However, according to Chase, that limited-time bonus is about to drop.
Until July 12, new cardholders can get 100,000 Marriott points when they spend $5,000 on the card in the first three months. After that date, the bonus will decrease.
This many points can be worth 4-5 nights at a major hotel, or even more nights if you go outside of a city center. Off-peak stays at category 1 hotels start at just 5,000 points, while peak nights at the most expensive properties — category 8, which goes into effect in February — are 100,000 points. When you search in a major city like New York, Chicago, or London, it’s currently possible to find great options for 20,000-35,000 per night.
If you’re planning to travel or take a vacation anytime soon — for instance, during the holidays, next winter, or even sooner — this is the best time to apply for the new Marriott card.
Here’s why you should open the card now.
Keep in mind that we’re focusing on the rewards and perks that make this card a great option, not things like interest rates and late fees, which can far outweigh the value of any rewards.
When you’re working to earn credit card rewards, it’s important to practice financial discipline, like paying your balances off in full each month, making payments on time, and not spending more than you can afford to pay back. Basically,treat your credit card like a debit card.
The sign-up bonus
Travel website The Points Guy — an Insider Picks partner — values Marriott points subjectively at around 0.9¢ each. That means that 100,000 bonus points are worth $900. That’s enough to offset the card’s $95 annual fee for nine years.
One thing to keep in mind is that the bonus is not available if you earned a sign-up bonus on the old Marriott card within the past 24 months. However, if you have a Marriott card and fall within the 24 months, Marriott is offering bonus points to cardholders who upgrade to the new product. Everyone gets a different bonus, which seems to be anything from 0-50,000 points, according to the blog Doctor of Credit. Check here to see what your offer is.
If you have the old Marriott Premier card, but opened it more than two years ago, you can close it or downgrade it, wait a week or two, and then apply for the new card in order to get the full sign-up bonus.
Earn points on spending
The new Marriott Premier Plus earns 6x points on every dollar spent at Marriott and Starwood properties. Using the 0.9¢ valuation, that’s a nice 5.4% rate of return. The card also earns 2x points on all other purchases.
That’s an increase of one point per category from the previous card — the old Premier only earned 5x points at Marriott properties and 1x point elsewhere.
Free night certificate
Each year on your account anniversary, you’ll get a free night certificate — you can use it at any hotel property that would normally cost up to 35,000 points.
The past version of the card offered a similar free night certificate valid at a category 1-5 hotel — at off-peak rates, a category 5 hotel is 30,000 points, so these are essentially the same.
Elite status and credits
Holding the Premier Plus card earns you automatic Marriott Silver elite status. Silver status gets you guaranteed room availability, a 10% bonus on top of points you earn, late check-out, and a dedicated elite reservation phone line.
If you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’ll be upgraded to Gold elite status. That features similar perks, except that the points earning bonus is 25%, plus you’ll get premium Wi-Fi for free, a welcome gift when you check-in (it’s often extra points), and complimentary room upgrades.
Starting in 2019, Premier Plus cardholders will automatically get credits for 15 nights stayed, which go toward earning status. Those can be helpful if you stay at Marriot hotels regularly, since it can make the difference between one level of status or the next.
Bottom line
With the bonus on the Marriott Reward Premier Plus card about to decrease, now is the best time to sign up for the card. Although the bonus has a steep spending requirement, you can likely leverage your normal spending — plus any planned vacation spending — to meet that without having to spend more than you would otherwise.
Between the elite credits, the points earning, and the automatic silver status (and Gold if you spend enough), the card represents a great value to anyone who stays in Marriott or Starwood hotels regularly.
With the 100,000 points sign-up bonus about to disappear, you should apply or upgrade now, before it’s too late.
Click here to learn more about the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus card from Insider Picks’ partner: The Points Guy.
