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Every dollar you spend with this credit card at a participating Marriott location earns 5 rewards points. Your other travel purchases, including airfare, car rentals and restaurant tabs, earn 2 points per dollar. Everyday purchases rack up 1 point per dollar, with no earning caps. The Marriott Rewards Premier card justifies its annual fee with bonus points and financial incentives that just might convince you to make Marriott the only place you'll stay throughout the year.
Comparing travel rewards credit cards
You may have noticed that Chase already offers a variety of hotel and airline credit cards, tied to brands including InterContinental and Hyatt. When you compare those offers with the bank's own popular rewards programs, you might have trouble telling some of their features and benefits apart.
The Premier version of the Marriott Rewards credit card stands out from the pack. Chase has issued signup offers with as many as 50,000 bonus rewards points, while waiving the first year's annual fee. That's enough points for a free night in any of Marriott's most luxurious properties, or for a weekend getaway using a "PointSavers Reward" rate at many of the company's more exclusive locations.
More value-added perks from Chase and Marriott
Chase sweetens the deal for international travelers by eliminating foreign transaction fees on Marriott Rewards Premier accounts. Compared to most credit cards, that perk saves you between 3 and 5 percent on every purchase outside the U.S. The card also accelerates your Elite status, qualifying you even faster for free hotel Wi-Fi, late checkout, room upgrades, and exclusive reservation assistance.
Under Marriott's published rewards guidelines, staying just one night at a Courtyard property and paying with your Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature Card can earn you an amazing 13 points per dollar spent. Once you achieve Elite status, you can earn a premium on your earned points of up to 50 percent, speeding you to your free travel goals. Plan your next company meeting at a participating Marriott location, and you can add as many as 50,000 bonus rewards points to your balance.
How the best travel rewards cards stack up against Marriott's
Marriott's diverse brand portfolio assures travelers that they'll find the right kind of lodging at the right price, almost anywhere. Courtyard appeals to budget travelers that don't want to skimp on quality, while the Renaissance brand beckons to business travelers that want movie star treatment.
The Starwood Preferred Guest program through American Express leverages a similar set of brand offerings, including Westin, Sheraton and W Hotels. SPG members love the program's market-driven redemption system, allowing last-minute deals that use rewards points like a currency.
However, the Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature Card levels the playing field with bonus points and multipliers that offer exceptional value, if not flexibility. Members can redeem points for room nights across eight property categories with no blackout dates. Marriott even offers its own last-minute deals website, with specials available at new properties and at resorts that have recently completed renovations.
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