Independent ClearFin review · American Express
Full earn rates, fees and benefits for the Amex Marriott Bonvoy.
Offers can change without notice
Certificate terms apply
🏨 Hotel PointsA Marriott-focused hotel card whose value rests on the annual Free Night Award, 15 elite-night credits, and 5-point earning at participating Marriott properties—not bonus earning on general travel or dining. Its strongest published earn rate in our data is 2.0% on dining. The $120 annual fee should be weighed against the rewards and benefits you expect to use.
Checked 2026-08-09 · Product page and insurance certificateIssuer promotions change frequently. Check the card's official page before applying.
Confirm final approval criteria and current rates directly with the issuer.
Applicants typically have the strongest approval odds with a good to excellent credit profile.
ClearFin estimate on Canada's 300–900 scale. This is not an issuer cutoff or approval guarantee; lenders may use different bureau scores and underwriting criteria. This is an estimated approval range based on industry data and cardholder reports. American Express does not publish a minimum credit score requirement, and approval decisions consider additional factors such as income, credit history, existing debt, and payment history.
Redemption values and availability may vary by option and can change.
Redeem points for eligible Marriott Bonvoy hotel stays; required points vary by hotel and date.
Use eligible Free Night Awards within their validity period and add up to 15,000 points when program rules permit.
Transfer points to participating airline programs or redeem for eligible Marriott experiences and other options; ratios and values vary.
Consider these extras by the value they add to purchases and experiences you already use.
Annual Free Night Award
Starting after the first Cardmembership year, receive an award for an eligible room costing up to 35,000 points; up to 15,000 points may be added under program rules.
15 Elite Night Credits
Receive 15 elite-night credits each calendar year toward Marriott Bonvoy status.
Silver Elite status
Receive automatic Silver Elite status while eligible; Gold Elite can be earned after $30,000 in annual card purchases or through qualifying nights.
6 coverages listed. Key terms are summarized below; full certificate terms apply.
Up to $500 combined for eligible flight and baggage delays after the certificate's waiting periods.
Up to $500 per trip for eligible baggage and personal effects.
Up to $500 for eligible personal-property loss from a covered hotel burglary.
Eligible vehicles up to $85,000 MSRP for rentals of 48 days or fewer.
Up to $500,000 for an eligible common-carrier accident.
Up to $1,000 per eligible purchase-protection occurrence and up to one additional warranty year.
Coverage is subject to eligibility, exclusions, limits, payment requirements, and claim rules in the insurance certificate.
Review official insurance details ↗What we like
Worth noting
A practical reading of where the card earns, what the fee buys, and which limits matter.
A Marriott-focused hotel card whose value rests on the annual Free Night Award, 15 elite-night credits, and 5-point earning at participating Marriott properties—not bonus earning on general travel or dining.
Dining, Groceries, Gas, Travel, Everything else receive the strongest estimated return at 2.0%. Purchases outside the accelerated categories earn an estimated 2.0%.
Using the strongest estimated category return alone, roughly $6,000 in annual spending at that rate would equal the $120 fee before considering the value of insurance, partner benefits, or a welcome offer.
This card is most relevant for someone who spends consistently on dining and groceries and can use enough of the included value to justify the yearly cost.
Compare the purchase interest rate, foreign-transaction fee, approval requirements, reward limits, and insurance certificates. Pay particular attention to merchant-category rules because a store may not receive the reward rate its products appear to suggest.
⛽ Gas Cashback
✈️ Travel Rewards
💼 Business Card
Issuer terms apply. ClearFin is not affiliated with this provider. How we make money. Card facts were checked against the issuer's official source. Card terms and the linked insurance certificate were checked against official issuer material.
