Marriott Bonvoy VisaThe Ritz Carlton Card
Issued by Chase
Reviewed by the CardCurator Editorial Team
$400/year in trackable credits — never leave money on the table
Earning Categories
Statement Credits
Use it for qualifying airline purchases such as baggage fees, seat upgrades and preferred lounge memberships or passes. To apply travel credit call us at 1-855-896-2222 after using your Card.
Enjoy a complimentary $100 credit for qualifying dining, spa or other hotel recreational activities.6 Use the credit with any paid stay at The Ritz-Carlton™ or St. Regis® of two nights or more.
Card Perks
Receive three club level upgrade certificates each year for The Ritz-Carlton Club®.5 To use one of your three Club Level Upgrades e-certificates, please call The Ritz-Carlton Reservations at 1-800-542-8680.
Maximize Your Marriott Bonvoy Points
Expert tips to get the most value from this program
Program Overview
Marriott Bonvoy is the world's largest hotel loyalty program with 30+ brands and 8,000+ properties worldwide. Points are earned through hotel stays, co-branded credit cards, and transfer partners. Key strengths: - Massive global footprint across luxury (Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W) to budget (Fairfield, Four Points) - 5th night free on award stays of 5+ nights (effectively 20% off) - Elite status benefits (upgrades, late checkout, lounge access at higher tiers) - Points can transfer to 40+ airline partners at varying ratios - Off-peak/standard/peak pricing allows savvy booking - PointSavers offers reduced-rate awards at select properties
Earning Tips
Earning strategy: Credit cards: - Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: 6x at Marriott, 3x dining/flights, 2x everything else - Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 6x at Marriott, 2x everything else - Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold: 3x at Marriott, 2x travel, 1x everything else Hotel stays: - Base members earn 10 pts per $1 at most brands - Elite members earn 12.5-17.5 pts per $1 depending on tier - Register for Marriott promotions each quarter for bonus earnings Key tips: - Always register for quarterly Marriott promotions before stays - Use your Marriott co-brand card for Marriott purchases (6x) - Book directly with Marriott (not via OTAs) to earn full points and elite benefits - Amex Brilliant's $300 Marriott credit offsets the $650 annual fee - Stack credit card earning with elite status bonuses for maximum points per stay - Credit card elite nights count toward status qualification
Redemption Tips
Best redemption values: 5th night free (key benefit): - Book 5 nights, pay for 4 in points (20% savings) - Plan trips around 5-night stays for maximum value - Works at any property with standard award availability Off-peak pricing: - Off-peak rates can be 20-40% less than standard - Use Marriott's flexible dates search to find off-peak nights - Categories 1-4 off-peak (5,000-20,000 pts) offer great value PointSavers: - Select properties offered at reduced point rates - Check the PointSavers page before booking at standard rates - Can stack with 5th night free for even better value Sweet spots: - Category 1-3 off-peak: 5,000-17,500 pts/night for budget properties - International properties often offer better value than US locations - All-inclusive resorts during off-peak can be excellent value - Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis during off-peak: Luxury at reduced rates Avoid: - Peak pricing at Category 8 properties (over 100,000 pts/night) - Cash + Points unless the point discount is substantial - Transferring to airlines when hotel stays offer better value
Transfer Strategy
Airline transfer ratio: 3:1 (3 Marriott = 1 airline mile) Bonus: Transfer 60,000 Marriott pts → get 25,000 airline miles (instead of 20,000) Best airline transfer uses: - Only transfer in multiples of 60,000 to get the 25% bonus - Top airline partners: United, American, Delta, Alaska, and many international carriers - Use for topping off airline accounts when you're just short of an award Strategy tips: - Hotel stays are almost always better value than airline transfers (3:1 ratio is poor) - The 60,000 → 25,000 bonus makes bulk transfers slightly more palatable - Transfer to airlines only as a last resort or to top off an account - Consider whether the hotel stay value exceeds the airline mile value - Some partners like Emirates and Singapore have premium sweet spots worth considering
Milestones & Bonuses
Enjoy a Free Night Award every year after your account anniversary, valid for a one-night stay in a standard guest room with a redemption level up to 85,000 points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® (based on availability).1 Plus, now you can combine your Free Night Award with up to 15,000 points to access more hotels you’ll love (certain hotels have resort fees).
Marriott Bonvoy Program
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the annual fee for the The Ritz Carlton Card?
- The The Ritz Carlton Card has an annual fee of $450 per year.
- What is the best category to use the The Ritz Carlton Card for?
- The The Ritz Carlton Card earns 6x on hotel brands around the world participating in Marriott Bonvoy, making it the strongest earning category for this card.
- Does the The Ritz Carlton Card charge foreign transaction fees?
- No, the The Ritz Carlton Card does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for international purchases.
- How much are Marriott Bonvoy points worth?
- Marriott Bonvoy points are worth approximately 0.80¢ per point on average, with premium redemptions reaching up to 1.20¢ per point. Values based on industry estimates including The Points Guy and NerdWallet.
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