Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express

The Bevy's most useful trait is that it earns well away from hotels: 4x at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets on up to $15,000 a year combined, then 2x, with a 2x floor on everything else, which is better than most hotel co-brands manage. At Marriott Bonvoy properties it earns 6x, and complimentary Gold Elite status plus 15 Elite Night Credits each year move you toward higher tiers without any spending requirement. The current 135,000 point bonus arrives in two pieces, 85,000 after $5,000 and another 50,000 after $2,000 more, both within the first six months, and it climbed back up in June after a sharp cut in May. The weak spot is a $250 annual fee against a free night award that only shows up after $15,000 of purchases in a calendar year, so there is no automatic anniversary night to lean on the way most hotel cards provide. Clear that threshold and stay at Marriott a few times a year and it works; fall short and the fee is hard to defend.