Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card: 61,000 points (was 50,000 points), Free Anniversary Night

Some credit cards I like to keep in my wallet and this is one of them.

American Express has released a new credit card to show the new rewards program (Marriott Bonvoy). Their personal card has an offer for 61,000 points if you spend $3,000 the first 3 months of the card. It has an annual fee of $120.

One of the main reasons I like this card is not for the points I earn for spending on it (unless I am at a Marriott), it is for the free Anniversary night. Which rebates the annual fee for me ($120 per year).

Each year, 8-10 weeks after your annual reset date, you will earn an Annual Free Night Award redeemable within 1 year from issuing for an available single or double occupancy standard room at participating Marriott Bonvoy^TM properties with a room rate of up to 35,000 points, inclusive of room rate and applicable taxes but exclusive of resort fee.

Some great properties that currently cost 35,000 points include:

The Westin Snowmass
Sheraton Kauai Resort
Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas
AC Hotel New York Times Square
The St. Regis Bangkok
Westin Punta Cana
Westin Puerto Vallarta
Renaissance Aruba Resort

Some of these properties cost up to $350 USD + per night – so this is a great deal when the card costs only $120 Canadian per year.

To qualify for the 61,000 Welcome Bonus points you must have at least $3,000 in net purchases posted to your account on or before your three month anniversary date. Funds advances, interest, balance transfers, Amex cheques, annual fees (if applicable), other fees, and charges for travellers cheques and foreign currencies are not purchases and do not qualify for eligible purchases.

Please allow up to 8 weeks after earning your points for your account to be updated. If you have already applied for Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express^® Card without using this recommendation, you will not be eligible for the bonus points.