Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card is a "middle child" that struggles to find its place. While it offers solid mid-tier Gold Elite status and decent earning rates on dining and groceries, it charges a hefty $250 annual fee without an automatic annual free night certificate, a benefit found on competitors at far lower prices. Unless you are chasing status and spend heavily on food, most travelers are better off upgrading to the Brilliant or saving money with the $95 Boundless card.
At a Glance
- Welcome Offer: Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Rewards Rate: 6X at Marriott; 4X on U.S. Supermarkets & U.S. Dining (on first $15k/year); 2X on everything else
- Annual Fee: $250
- Status: Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
- Free Night Award: Earn a Free Night Award (up to 50k points) only after spending $15,000 in a calendar year
- Stay Bonus: 1,000 Bonus Points per qualifying stay booked directly with Marriott
- Elite Night Credits: 15 annually
- Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Overview
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card was introduced to fill the gap between the budget-friendly cards and the luxury Brilliant card. It is designed for the "enthusiastic" traveler who wants status (Gold) and the potential to earn points but isn't ready to commit to a $650+ annual fee.
Rewards & Benefits
- Earning Structure:
- 6X Points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
- 4X Points at U.S. Restaurants and U.S. Supermarkets (capped at $15,000 in combined purchases per year).
- 2X Points on all other eligible purchases.
- The "Earned" Free Night: If you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, you receive a Free Night Award worth up to 50,000 points. You can top this off with up to 15,000 points to book a 65,000-point room.
- 1,000 Bonus Points Per Stay: This is a unique perk. Every time you complete an eligible stay at a Marriott property, you get 1,000 bonus points. Note: A "stay" is consecutive nights at one hotel, not per night.
Fees & Requirements
- Annual Fee: $250.
- Credit Score: Requires Excellent/Good credit.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None.
Borrower Experience
- Application Rules: Be aware of Marriott's strict "family language." You may not be eligible for the welcome offer if you have opened or held specific Marriott cards from Chase in the last 30–90 days or received a bonus from them in the last 24 months.
- User Interface: Managed via the Amex app, which offers excellent fraud protection and customer service.
Who It’s Best For
- The "Foodie" Marriott Fan: If you spend exactly $15,000 a year on groceries and dining, you maximize the 4X points cap and trigger the Free Night Award, making the card mathematically work.
- Frequent Short-Stay Travelers: Since the 1,000 point bonus is per stay, business travelers who do many one-night stays will rack up points quickly.
- Those Who Can't Use Brilliant Perks: If the $650 fee of the Brilliant scares you, or you won't use the $300 dining credit, the Bevy is a cheaper way to secure Gold status.
Who Should Skip It
- The "Keeper" Card Collector: If you want a card that pays for itself just by sitting in your sock drawer, this is terrible. You get no annual free night without heavy spending. Get the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® ($95) instead.
- Luxury Seekers: If you want breakfast and lounge access, Gold status won't cut it. You need Platinum status, which comes automatically with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®.
- Low Spenders: If you spend less than $15,000 a year on credit cards, you get zero free nights and are paying $250 just for Gold status.
Compare
Bottom Line
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card is a niche product. It is only worth it if you spend heavily on U.S. supermarkets and dining ($15k/year) to unlock the free night certificate. For everyone else, it sits in an awkward "no man's land", too expensive for casual travelers and not rich enough in perks for loyalists.
Pros
Instant Gold Elite Status: Unlike lower-tier cards that give you Silver, the Bevy grants Gold Elite status immediately
Strong Dining & Grocery Multipliers: Earning 4X points on U.S. supermarkets and dining (up to $15,000 per year) makes it a great card for foodies
Elite Night Credits: You get 15 Elite Night Credits each year, which helps you climb toward Platinum status faster
Cons
Spending Cap on 4X Categories: The 4X earning on dining and groceries is capped at $15,000 per year