Question about Marriott Visa Cards
Jun 16, 2008 | 11:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 993
Question about Marriott Visa Cards
Never own one. Want to open one mainly to get additional nights towards status. Couple of questions:
Is the 25,000 bonus points the best I can get?
I noticed they all have annual fees. Do they ever waived them? Can one pay them with Marriott points?
Like to get the premier for the extra 5 nights credit towards status. However, the annual fee is much higher. Anyone had luck getting them to lower the annual fee?
Is the 25,000 bonus points the best I can get?
I noticed they all have annual fees. Do they ever waived them? Can one pay them with Marriott points?
Like to get the premier for the extra 5 nights credit towards status. However, the annual fee is much higher. Anyone had luck getting them to lower the annual fee?
Jun 16, 2008 | 12:16 pm
#2
Company Representative - Marriott Concierge
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,083
Hi qazw1,
At this time, I believe so.
The annual fee for the standard Marriott Rewards Signature and Business Visa credit cards are waived for the first year. The annual fee for the Premier Signature Visa credit card is not waived, however, and I don't believe one can pay the annual fee with Marriott Rewards points.
I don't think Visa lowers the annual fee.
I hope that answers your questions.
Best regards,
Drew
At this time, I believe so.
I noticed they all have annual fees. Do they ever waived them? Can one pay them with Marriott points?
Anyone had luck getting them to lower the annual fee?
I hope that answers your questions.
Best regards,
Drew
Jun 17, 2008 | 5:41 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: St. John's, NL
Programs: Marriott Gold Elite, Avis President's Club, National Executive
Posts: 36
Does the fee waived apply to the Canadian version of the Marriott Card?
Jun 17, 2008 | 9:42 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 114
When you sign up for the card you'll also get an e-certificate for one night free at a category 1-4 hotel. If you have the premier card, each year on your sign-up anniversary, you'll get an e-certificate for a free night at a category 1-5 hotel (certs expire 6 months after issue date, so you can't save 'em up). To me, those free nights more than cover the annual fee, so I've never worried about it. I look at it as paying $65 for a $200 dollar hotel room, and convince myself that it's more of a perk than a fee.
Jun 17, 2008 | 10:13 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 993
I don't know...but one thing to consider:
When you sign up for the card you'll also get an e-certificate for one night free at a category 1-4 hotel. If you have the premier card, each year on your sign-up anniversary, you'll get an e-certificate for a free night at a category 1-5 hotel (certs expire 6 months after issue date, so you can't save 'em up). To me, those free nights more than cover the annual fee, so I've never worried about it. I look at it as paying $65 for a $200 dollar hotel room, and convince myself that it's more of a perk than a fee.
When you sign up for the card you'll also get an e-certificate for one night free at a category 1-4 hotel. If you have the premier card, each year on your sign-up anniversary, you'll get an e-certificate for a free night at a category 1-5 hotel (certs expire 6 months after issue date, so you can't save 'em up). To me, those free nights more than cover the annual fee, so I've never worried about it. I look at it as paying $65 for a $200 dollar hotel room, and convince myself that it's more of a perk than a fee.
Also - Drew - thanks for taking the time to submit a clear answer.
Jun 17, 2008 | 10:17 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: St. John's, NL
Programs: Marriott Gold Elite, Avis President's Club, National Executive
Posts: 36
The Canadian version of this Visa card doesn't come with the same offer. What you do get is...
Receive 10,000 bonus points1 Receive 10,000 bonus points after your first card purchase. Since hotel rewards start at just 7,500 points, you will automatically qualify for a free nights stay!
Earn 3 points for every CAD $1 spent at Marriott2 Earn 3 points for every $1 spent at over 2,800 Marriott locations.
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else2 Earn 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else, including gas stations, restaurants, movie theatres and more.
Get an automatic upgrade in Marriott Rewards Get an automatic upgrade to Silver Elite membership in Marriott Rewards.
Enjoy all the benefits of a Platinum Visa card.
Annual Fee $75
Could someone estimate the value of 10,000 marriott points?
Receive 10,000 bonus points1 Receive 10,000 bonus points after your first card purchase. Since hotel rewards start at just 7,500 points, you will automatically qualify for a free nights stay!
Earn 3 points for every CAD $1 spent at Marriott2 Earn 3 points for every $1 spent at over 2,800 Marriott locations.
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else2 Earn 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else, including gas stations, restaurants, movie theatres and more.
Get an automatic upgrade in Marriott Rewards Get an automatic upgrade to Silver Elite membership in Marriott Rewards.
Enjoy all the benefits of a Platinum Visa card.
Annual Fee $75
Could someone estimate the value of 10,000 marriott points?
Jun 17, 2008 | 10:26 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 114
I believe that is correct. My interpretation of the Visa website is that you get a sign-up e-cert (cat 1-4) when you are approved for either card. However, you only get the anniversary e-cert (cat 1-5) with the premier card.
Jun 17, 2008 | 10:37 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 993
The Canadian version of this Visa card doesn't come with the same offer. What you do get is...
Receive 10,000 bonus points1 Receive 10,000 bonus points after your first card purchase. Since hotel rewards start at just 7,500 points, you will automatically qualify for a free nights stay!
Earn 3 points for every CAD $1 spent at Marriott2 Earn 3 points for every $1 spent at over 2,800 Marriott locations.
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else2 Earn 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else, including gas stations, restaurants, movie theatres and more.
Get an automatic upgrade in Marriott Rewards Get an automatic upgrade to Silver Elite membership in Marriott Rewards.
Enjoy all the benefits of a Platinum Visa card.
Annual Fee $75
Could someone estimate the value of 10,000 marriott points?
Receive 10,000 bonus points1 Receive 10,000 bonus points after your first card purchase. Since hotel rewards start at just 7,500 points, you will automatically qualify for a free nights stay!
Earn 3 points for every CAD $1 spent at Marriott2 Earn 3 points for every $1 spent at over 2,800 Marriott locations.
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else2 Earn 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else, including gas stations, restaurants, movie theatres and more.
Get an automatic upgrade in Marriott Rewards Get an automatic upgrade to Silver Elite membership in Marriott Rewards.
Enjoy all the benefits of a Platinum Visa card.
Annual Fee $75
Could someone estimate the value of 10,000 marriott points?
One can also buy a $1000 cheque for 135,000 points (elite only). Sometimes it is cheaper doing this than booking room with points.
Also, I think some indicate the most optimal use is the travel package awards with hotel and frequent flyer miles. There are many different combinations of those. Starting with 165,000 points and up. These are for week long vacations.
Jun 18, 2008 | 1:27 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, Marriott Ambassador, HiltonLT Diamond, AA LT Platinum
Posts: 475
I currently have the regular personal card and previously had the biz card. If I sign up for the Premier card, will I get the free cat. 4 cert the 1st year? It says in the fine print that you only get it if not a previous card holder. But if I pay the $65 fee, and I would get a free cat. 5 cert the following year, why wouldn`t I get the cert the 1st year, the fine print notwithstanding?
Jun 18, 2008 | 1:50 pm
#10
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,775
It used to be that you would get a free night cert with each card even though the T&Cs state you should only get one. I think based on previous posts in this forum that they are better at tracking who already has receive a cert and who hasn't. So the moral of the story is that you will probably only receive one sign-up Cat. 1-4 cert no matter how many different Marriott branded cards you sign up for.
Sep 5, 2008 | 9:23 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bay Area
Programs: HH, PC, SPG, MR, GP, US, UA, AA
Posts: 3,680
If I apply for both cards (sig & premier) before this promo ends, will I get 2 free night certs + 2X20k points, or only 1 FN cert + 20K? Thanks.