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Now is the time to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express® Card is the most premium credit card in the Marriott co-brand card portfolio and just underwent a major refresh.

The perks add up even though the card has a hefty annual fee. In this post, I want to explain why I think this card is worth it's annual fee.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card welcome bonus

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card will give you 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months. Bonvoy points are worth 0.7 cents each and this is an excellent bonus. The bonus is worth over a thousand dollars to me.

The real benefit of this card is its ongoing value, which is why the bonus is only one reason to consider it.

Redeem your points at Santa Marina Mykonos

Why the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is worth it

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card has an annual fee. On the surface, some people might say that they don't want to pay that much for a card if they don't have to.

For most people this card will be worth it. I have a card that I get a lot of value from. The five perks that I like most about the card are listed below.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card gives up to $300 in restaurant credits each year, which helps to justify the annual fee. You can get up to $25 per month in credits for dining out.

You can take advantage of this by spending $25 at a restaurant each month and getting a statement credit for it. It could be used for a nice dinner or just for coffee. The statement credit will post automatically if you don't register.

Receive a $25 statement credit for restaurants every month

Free night award worth up to 85,000 points

Every year, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card gives a free night award on your account anniversary, valid at a property that costs up to 85,000 Bonvoy points per night. The free night award on some Marriott credit cards is only valid at properties that cost up to 50,000 points.

You can use up to 15,000 points to top off your free night award, meaning you can use the certificate at a hotel that costs 100,000 points. There are some pretty awesome hotels.

Between the restaurant credit and the free night certificate, you are already breaking even on the card, not accounting for the other perks.

Use your free night award at the St. Regis Venice

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status

Platinum Elite status is offered on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card for as long as a cardmember is a member. It normally requires 50 elite nights a year. This is where you can get valuable hotel status, and you can get perks like free breakfast, suite upgrade, and more.

Use your Platinum Elite status at the St. Regis Bora Bora

25 elite nights toward Bonvoy status

Every year, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card gives 25 elite nights. I get 40 elite nights each year between the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card.

The benefit of this is that you already have Platinum Elite status with the card. If you want to earn Marriott Bonvoy Choice Benefits or Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status, the elite nights are a must.

Use a suite night award at Hotel Grande Bretagne Athens

A Priority Pass membership

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has a Priority Pass Select membership that gives you access to over 1,300 lounges. Two people can usually be brought into lounges with you. Anyone who travels by air with any frequencies will find this useful.

Get airport lounge access with the Bonvoy Brilliant Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is worth a lot. I don't think the annual fee is justified because of the restaurant credit and free night award.

The card really shines when you add in perks like Platinum Elite status, Priority Pass membership, and more.

What have you experienced with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card?

The rates and fees can be found in the links. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card has rates and fees.