Cardholders carrying the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card receive an annual Free Night Certificate on their card anniversary valid for a free night at hotels costing up to 50,000 points—this covers the majority of Marriott properties, including high-end hotels and hotels in otherwise expensive destinations.
We’ve selected some of the best options for cardholders looking to redeem their certificates this year in some of the most exciting of Marriott’s over 7,000 participating hotels. Here are some of our top picks.
The free night certificate offered through the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card can also be used to book our favorite Marriott hotels costing up to 35,000 points per night.
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa
Located in North Malé Atoll, this 5-star family Resort & Spa offers its guests a luxury experience in the Maldives. Not only is it conveniently just 20 minutes away from the Velana International Airport, but it is also an optimal location for hundreds of outdoor activities along the stunning beaches and islands of the Maldives and close to the capital city of Malé. Rooms at this hotel often cost over $340 per night. During Standard dates, this hotel costs 50,000 Bonvoy points per night for a beach view room.
The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa is surrounded by a clear, turquoise lagoon, white sand beaches, and tall palms. Guests report loving the private plunge pools, full service spa treatments, overwater bungalows and a wide range of cuisine options among seven onsite restaurants and bars.
Home to over 40 world class diving points, North Malé Atoll is a must-visit spot on the map for anyone who enjoys water recreations such as scuba diving, snorkeling and jet skiing. Perhaps the most unique aspect of this particular resort is its “Adopt a Coral” program, which invites guests to participate in hands-on local coral planting activities at one of the largest manmade coral structures in the Maldives as part of an ongoing effort to promote and reclaim reef habitats.
JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach
This immaculate designer-appointed hotel accommodates guests with elegant interiors, 5-star amenities, and a sleek atmosphere that combines Singapore’s heritage with its more contemporary cosmopolitan style. Rooms typically start around $220 per night or can be booked for 50,000 Bonvoy points during Standard season dates.
Located in the downtown city center, the JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach places guests conveniently near popular attractions such as the National Stadium, National Gallery, the Central Business District and the many waterside activities at Marina Bay.
From the center of Singapore, a thriving city of business, art and culture, guests can venture out to visit exceptional cultural enclaves like the well-known Arab Street, Chinatown, the Esplanade Theatres designed after the local Durian fruit, and of course the iconic Gardens by the Bay park with its supertrees, cloudforest and giant flower dome.
San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
This stunning resort sits directly on the edge of Condado Beach, one of the many natural attractions of the city of San Juan. Cash rates typically start around $250 per night. Rooms can be booked for 50,000 points during Standard dates.
With a pool bar, spectacular ocean views, an onsite casino as well as multiple onsite dining options, guests indicate that the resort offers a full cultural experience of recreation and relaxation. For guests who want to explore beyond the Marriott, however, there are plenty of local activities.
Close to the hotel is the Old San Juan neighborhood, which exhibits charm in its timelessness. For more adventurous guests, the famous Camuy Caves, accessible from San Juan, offer one of the world’s largest cave networks, ready to be explored. And of course, one of only five known beaches in the world where guests can experience the unique phenomenon of bioluminescence is within driving distance from San Juan at Laguna Grande, on the eastern tip of the island.
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
One of the most innovative and unique cities in the modern world, Dubai displays impressive feats of human design, ready for exploration by all who find themselves there for any length of time. Room prices vary significantly here and can cost as little as $100 per night but can reach $450 per night or higher. Depending on the rates, it may or may not be a great use of the certificate. Point rates are 50,000 Bonvoy points during Standard dates.
The JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai’s structure inspires awe. Located within two towers in the city center, guests often show photos of breathtaking views from high above the city of both the metropolis itself and its surrounding coast. One of the tallest hotels in the world, the Marquis Hotel Dubai has impressed guests with a sense of luxury fit for royalty and offers a convenient location close to some of the most attractive aspects of the local culture.
Should guests wish to venture out from the eagle’s perch, the bustling Dubai Mall, along with the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Opera are all just minutes away by foot or public transportation. The Dubai Water Canal, the expansive Jumeirah Beach and the Wild Wadi Waterpark also present attractive sightseeing opportunities nearby. Some of the city’s most unique cultural landmarks also offer nearby recreation: the Dubai Museum, the Jumeirah Mosque, the central City Walk and its Green Planet Biodome within.
W New Orleans – French Quarter
At the W Hotel New Orleans, guests can enjoy the proximity to all of the French Quarter’s most sought-after attractions, while relaxing into a quieter side of the neighborhood when needed. The surrounding cobblestone streets and traditional buildings add to the French Quarter experience, and the hotel itself offers design elements that both honor historical architecture while spicing things up with a contemporary spin. Cash rates are commonly over $250 per night with Standard award nights costing 50,000 Bonvoy points.
When not reclining in one of the hotel’s modern jazz or tarot-themed guest rooms, guests can enjoy public lounge areas, a fitness center, and even move outside to the picturesque courtyard pool nestled beneath large Southern Magnolia trees.
Beyond the hotel just up the road are Jackson Square and Bourbon Street, as well as a handful of fun museums such as the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum or Mardi Gras World. Along the cobbled streets are also a wide variety of bars and restaurants that offer quintessential French Quarter cuisine with live shows and authentic Creole recipes. And if the food, music, and art aren’t enough, New Orleans is also full of entertaining tours such as the Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours and the French Quarter Phantom Tours. Guests will never be bored while staying at the W Hotel New Orleans.
La Posada de Santa Fe, a Tribute Portfolio Resort & Spa
This Southwestern style Resort and Spa is one of New Mexico’s finest, and the only of its kind in downtown Santa Fe. For those looking to save points, this is an excellent Category 6 Hotel with room options available for as low as 35,000 points and Standard dates costing 50,000 points per night. Cash rates are regularly around $200 per night.
While at the hotel guests can retreat to spacious rooms with private patios, fireplaces, beautiful garden views and more. They can enjoy the hotel’s spa, fitness center, a choice of on-site restaurants, and an outdoor heated saline pool. The setting caters to relaxation while the location offers utmost convenience.
Only a couple blocks away from the historic Santa Fe Plaza, guests can quickly and easily explore and wander by foot through the sweet adobe corridors of the downtown area. Also accessible by foot is Santa Fe’s renowned Canyon Road, a winding half mile road lined with galleries and museums featuring some of New Mexico’s finest contemporary art.
In addition to the many galleries, shops and southwestern restaurants available near the plaza, Santa Fe boasts exceptional and unique cultural experiences such as the Georgia O’Keefe, the Museum of International Folk Art, as well as the Santa Fe Opera. The nearby mountains provide lovers of the outdoors a neverending network of hiking trails and peaceful ski opportunities. No matter what season you may find yourself in Santa Fe, the local nature and culture will always have something unique to offer.
The Ritz Carlton Atlanta
The Ritz Carlton Atlanta is an impressive mix of modern style and classic Southern comfort and hospitality. Located right in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the hotel offers its guests comfortable onsite amenities including exquisite private rooms with uplifting views of the city, sophisticated and tasteful lounge areas, as well as an inhouse bar and Southern steakhouse that also offers luxurious brunch experiences. Cash rates start around $230 per night with points redemptions on Standard nights costing 50,000 Bonvoy points.
Thanks to the MARTA public transit system, guests have easy access to the entirety of this iconic city the minute they step out of the hotel. Popular attractions like the Georgia Aquarium and the College Football Hall of Fame are just moments away. An exciting dive into Atlanta’s history can begin at the nearby Margaret Mitchell House, and for those looking for some wide open space there are 22 sprawling green acres close by at Centennial Olympic Park.
Atlanta is a fantastic mix of history and modern advancements in art and culture. Known as the Gateway to the New South, it is a lively, thriving urban center with something to offer for guests from around the globe.
The London EDITION
One of the most beloved cities of the Western world, London bustles as a vibrant hub for culture and industries across the board. Whether passing through for work or pleasure, anyone visiting this historical and progressive metropolis will want to see the sights. Cash rates start at $500 per night and can be booked for 50,000 Bonvoy points during Off-Peak dates.
The London Edition hotel is located in Soho, quite close to the beautiful and spacious Regent’s Park, the National Gallery, The British Museum, Oxford Circus, Covent Garden and the chic residential neighborhood of Marylebone. Guests report rooms to be quaint and cozy, with private balconies that offer breathtaking views of the city.
From the convenient placement of the hotel, guests can easily access nearby tube stops which lead to just about anywhere within London’s major zones, including the West End theatre district, the many museums and galleries along the River Thames and exciting surprises such as late night street markets and flower-filled alleyways. London offers a magical adventure and the London Edition hotel seems to offer an affordably luxurious sense of home-away-from-home.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card Details
For members of Marriott Bonvoy, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card provides significant benefits to cardholders who can use them.
For an annual fee of $450, members not only receive a complimentary Free Night Certificate each account anniversary year valid at hotels costing up to 50,000 points, but also offers the opportunity to earn points and access to credits that can make the high annual fee worth paying.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant cardholders can receive up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year of membership, eligible for use at any participating Marriott Bonvoy hotel in the world. The card also provides complimentary Gold Elite status, along with 15 annual Elite Night Credits that can help users accelerate to Platinum Elite status or higher.
The card offers a welcome bonus:Earn 125,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Plus, earn up to $200 in Statement Credits for eligible purchases at U.S. Restaurants within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Expires 5/12/2021. This card also earns 6 Bonvoy points per dollar spent at participating Marriott hotels, 3 Bonvoy points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants or on flights booked directly with the airline, and 2 Bonvoy points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. This card does not charge foreign transaction fees. (See rates & fees.)
Bottom Line
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card offers a major benefit: an annual free night certificate valid at Marriott hotels costing up to 50,000 Bonvoy points per night. This benefit alone can go a long way toward making the card’s high $450 annual fee worthwhile.
While this free night certificate does seem pretty sweet, most cardholders aren’t going to want to go stay at a hotel for just one night: Marriott expects that anyone visiting one if the higher end hotels will want to stay much, much longer. For those considering getting this card for the benefits, realize that the card is highly specific and won’t make sense for folks who don’t plan to visit Marriott properties for at least one or two stays per year.
While it won’t make sense for those who don’t ever stay at Marriott hotels, even only a few nights will reap rewards that may make the high annual fee worthwhile. Make no mistake, though: The card is more valuable for the benefits it provides than for actual spending.
To view rates and fees of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant(TM) American Express® Card, please visit this page.
