Originally Posted by darthbimmer

Here's a quick pencil of how you might do it in 10 years, using the CC in combination with staying at MR:

Without the credit card:
- Suppose you average 52 nights/year of paid MR stays.
- Your average cost/night is $150.
- Your base earning of points is 78,000 per year.
- But because you are Gold you get a 25% bonus, so your total is 97,500 per year.
- Add in another 20,000/year for arrival gifts and various bonuses
- After 10 years you have 1,175,000 points and 520 nights.
- This isn't even enough for LT Gold!

Now, with the credit card:
- Every year you earn 15 elite nights just for renewing the credit card.
- You also earn one night for every $3,000 spent.
- Suppose in addition to the $7,800 you spend on MR nights you also put another $20,000/year in spend on the card.
- This is worth 9 extra nights, bringing you to 76 (52+15+9) per year
- Now you are Platinum. Among other benefits your points bonus increases to 50%.
- Now your base points of 78,000 from stays become 117,000/year.
- And from the credit card you earn 7800*5 + 20000 = 59,000/year.
- Plus the 20,000/year misc as above.
- After 10 years, you've earned 1,960,000 points and 760 nights.
- This is virtually enough for LT Platinum!