Originally Posted by
iahphx
Thanks guys.
I decided to apply for the Marriott Premium Visa Signature card using the link at FreeFrequentFlyerMiles.com, credit card, free cards (I don't see a way to link to this page).
$65 gets you 50K points, a free up-to-Cat. 4 night, and a free night (seems limited to Cat. 5) on your anniversary. First year $65 fee is not waived, but seems worth it in my situation. You only need a one-time charge, so I should get the points on my first cc statement.
In case something goes wrong -- like Chase is being picky with apps -- I can combine points with my wife and reach the 35,000 I need. And Marriott is helpfully allowing me to make the award rez even though I don't have enough points yet in my account.
Indeed, it's worth it. As long as you have a need for one Cat 5 Marriott night per year, it's well worth the $65.
I find that Cat 4 to Cat 5 is a pretty big jump in the Marriott system - in many cities it's the difference between a Courtyard and an FS Marriott (Washington DC is one that immediately comes to mind). I sometimes find myself stretching a bit to find good uses for the Megabonus Cat 4 certs I get all the time but I never have any problem finding a solid FS hotel to use Cat 5's.
Not that 4's are awful...I do find uses for them too. But 5 opens up a lot of good hotels in most places - hotels you couldn't simply get on Priceline for $65.
The category creep from 4 to 5 is recent (IMHO) so I imagine we still have a few years before someone returns to this thread and posts "Now you need Cat 6 to escape the Courtyards and Residence Inns."