I think you just convinced me to fully move to IHG 😂 (based off point value, I’ve recently noticed Marriott point redemptions are trash too) I’m still gonna get the ritz card for sapphire lounge access, protections, and that it’s easy to make up the AF, but otherwise I think I’m gonna be a Hyatt/IHG fanboy. I’ve always wondered why Marriotts multipliers are so bad… no point increase for a $650 card? Wild
The more I researched the Marriott cards the more I was confused why the multipliers were so low. IHG is way better in my opinion especially with the 4th night free you get when paying points as long as you have their credit card
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit there’s no reason the $250+ cards aren’t 8x Marriott and the brilliant should be 10x and also 3x on other purchases. I just got the IHG biz premier tho and I’m hyped to try out platinum and stay at some other properties besides HIE 😂
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit I'm IHG Diamond and Marriott Titanium and I can find good value in both programs - IHG does not have many lounges in the states. If you avoid properties where Americans use their corporate earned points (NYC, London, other West European capitals) you will get excellent value in any point system. Intercontinentals are of great value overseas. 33K in Istanbul and 24K in Amman.
Great points Jacob, never realized how many annoying aspects there were about Marriott and their credit cards. I'm still a fan of the Boundless and Business cards for their subsidized 35k free night but yeah those fees not being waived isn't ideal.
Haha The Ritz card is one of the better ones even though I haven't heavily researched it. I would need to get the Boundless first before I really thought about the Ritz
@@JacobsPointsAndProfityeah. If ur gonna have a no nonsense approach, I’m here for it. A person can be super critical and still recommend products for select cases.
Couple of days ago I paid $429 usd for 34000 pounts. When I try to reserve a hotel for 2 nights I was told 58000 points or $450 cash. It's more expensive to pay by points than cash.
My problem with Marriott is that the dynamic pricing structure is actually insane. Wyndham caps its award nights at 30k points. Hilton's award nights depend on the property, but generally speaking, you're looking at 30-50k for a mid-tier property and 90-115k for a top tier property. The dynamic pricing means that even Courtyards and Fairfields can sometimes show outlandish point values out of range of the cheap FNCs on the Business and Boundless. Yes, the benefit is that SOMETIMES a JW might be available with the top-off feature, but more often than not, it just doesn't make any sense for them to not have an across-the-board award structure based on room type.
I've wanted to stay at the lower tier Marriott hotels but sometimes the points price is so high I wouldn't consider it. It would be nice if the Marriott cards offered higher value free nights awards
Remember that all points have variable point value based on average available value in each program. Not all points are created equal. This is also something that needs to be considered for people who think all points have the same value. Ihg and hilton are worth about half a cent while marriot points are worth.8 cents. This is very relevant when determining options.
Yes the value of points will change all the time. I personally value Marriott points less than IHG points, but everyone's situation and travel preferences are different
It depends on who gets the card. In the end, You should get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless(Ritz Carlton) or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.
Great video! I was thinking marriot as a program is mediocre as well. I always seem to have problems connecting to hotel Wi-Fi which makes it really annoying to get work done..yes I can use my hotspot but that’s an inconvenience. I did get the 5 night free offer on the boundless last year and got decent to mediocre hotel stays in LA. I fully intend to upgrade the boundless to a ritz, but I honestly don’t like the card that much considering it doesn’t earn more points than the boundless. I mostly see the ritz as a way to get sapphire lounge access since I don’t see value in holding the reserve. I’m planning to use a sapphire and ritz as a makeshift sapphire reserve that’s $5 cheaper with better lounge access. I would like to get started with IHG due to some of your videos and Grounded Life Finance, but I don’t want to stretch myself too thin and focus on too many hotel programs.. this is tough
That Wi-Fi issue sounds annoying. I'd absolutely consider getting the Boundless on a 5 free night offer instead of 3 free nights, but 50k points per night only goes so far. The Ritz could be a good one to add if you're wanting Sapphire Lounge access. I enjoyed Grounded Life Finance's videos on IHG and they always seem to find really good value in the budget friendly hotels
I got the Brilliant and did the Ritz Upgrade. I would agree actually. I find I use my Hilton Aspire card much more. Hilton properties tend to be cheaper than Marriott too. I do paid stays more than award stays and the cost adds with Marriott. Even $30/night with taxes can add few hundred to your stay. I've been thinking about downgrading my two marriott cards to no-fee and getting a second aspire.
Yeah those paid stays can add up. I like Hilton over Marriott because it seems like they have better prices for the lower end hotel and then you can also use your free nights wherever you want without worrying about the 85k point cap
Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond and IHG Diamond, all on leisure and spending and have personal cards on all three and business with Marriott. Marriott points are worth way more than Hilton or IHG IHG points are with way more than Hilton points. Marriott has way more properties with lounges compared to the other two. IHG has numerous blackout dates when you try to use points.
Thanks for sharing your experience! If we’re talking about higher tier properties, I think you’re right in terms of number of places to stay. Marriott has the most for many cities I’ve searched
@JacobsPointsAndProfit Cool. Personally Hilton is my favorite for my family travel using the Aspire. Hyatt is my backup, in fact have staycation booked at Hyatt Grand Cypress in Orlando for Memorial weekend.
I've never understood why Marriott has so many fans, they are always much more expensive than the other 4-5 star hotels in the same city. I have been an IHG loyalist for over a year now and am an Intercontinental Ambassador. I received amazing service at every IHG hotel I have stayed at and get upgraded a lot more (not counting the guarantee upgrade at InterContinental's). I plan on getting the credit card once my Ambassador runs out, until then I have been earning Hilton points with my Surpass to stay at a few Conrad's I have been eyeing in Tokyo and Osaka.
I've had a great experience with the IHG credit card so I'd say to go for it! The Marriott hotels in every city I travel to always seem so expensive that I've never even tried to apply for one of their credit cards. Thanks for sharing your experience!
The only thing I don’t like is that the no annual fee option is on Chase and not also on American Express. You’re out of luck if you’re over 5/24 like I am.
My only problem with the Hyatt card is that it's not a Visa. Sadly Costco ONLY accepts Visa now, & that's where i soend most of my meager income (on gas & groceries) so that's the only reason I'm going with the Bonvoy one
That’s fair about the Costco issue. Has your hotel strategy changed at all and are you find yourself staying at more Marriott properties now that you have their credit card?
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit I've stayed with marriott my whole life. Used to work at a property once too. I wouldn't mind getting a better hotel card and switching brands but again, when most of my very small income is spent at costco in necessities, Bonvoy is the only option. If costco accepted AmEx again, I'd be debating between the Hyatt & Hilton cards
My biggest problem with Marriott cards is that they earn Marriott points, which don’t really have any value for me. If they let me cash out the points earned, then we’d be in business.
I'm looking more into the 3:1 transfer ratio to airlines and it made me more excited about Marriott points, but the hotel redemptions are priced so high
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit I get that, and that's better than just letting them expire (and better value than a lot of marriott hotel redemptions IMO), but it makes the card multipliers rather crap. Effectively 2X at Marriott hotels, 1.3X-1X at grocery gas and restaurants, 1X flights and restaurants, 0.6X travel, 0.6X everywhere else (depending on which card you get). At that point, you'd be better off with BBP, Double Cash, or WF Active Cash for 2X everywhere.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business is probably the most balanced card. Not a crazy AF, and sorta a 150K SUB (3 FNA) and good all around multipliers. Agreed the rest are pretty bad.
Yeah I wouldn’t mind applying for the business card and giving it a chance. I don’t have anywhere in mind to best use those free nights but I’ll think about it next time they have an elevated welcome bonus
I like marriott properties more but i cant deny that the 85k fnc is hard to use at the properties i like. The 50k and below fnc’s are pretty much worthless
Yeah if you want to stay at top properties those free nights aren't going to great. You can use 15k of your own points, but sometimes that isn't enough
For the most part, I do see where you're coming from, Jacob and I agree. I think the welcome offer rules are too complicated for each of the cards. It's also a shame that the best status you can get with the higher tier cards is gold status. The Bevy and the Bountiful cards are almost not worth getting. I will probably eventually get both of them, but I will get them for the welcome offers and then probably cancel them after having them for a year. One advantage of the Bountiful card over the Bevy is the Bountiful card could probably be product changed into a Bold or Boundless card. The Hilton and IHG programs are definitely better!
Pretty much every card is worth getting for the welcome offers, but the Bevy and Bountiful would need to be running limited time offers for me to consider applying. I like the ability to change the Bountiful into the Bold because I'd probably never apply for the Bold because of Chase 5/24. Thanks for sharing!
Marriott cards in general are dog crap when it comes to earning multipliers and benefits. Only tangible benefit is Platinum status from the Brilliant but not worth $650 when the Hilton Aspire is objectively better in virtually every capacity. The IHG card is pretty underrated.
Please don't send this video to my cousin. He applied for the Bevy 6 months ago 😳
What's his email address?
I think you just convinced me to fully move to IHG 😂 (based off point value, I’ve recently noticed Marriott point redemptions are trash too) I’m still gonna get the ritz card for sapphire lounge access, protections, and that it’s easy to make up the AF, but otherwise I think I’m gonna be a Hyatt/IHG fanboy. I’ve always wondered why Marriotts multipliers are so bad… no point increase for a $650 card? Wild
The more I researched the Marriott cards the more I was confused why the multipliers were so low. IHG is way better in my opinion especially with the 4th night free you get when paying points as long as you have their credit card
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit there’s no reason the $250+ cards aren’t 8x Marriott and the brilliant should be 10x and also 3x on other purchases. I just got the IHG biz premier tho and I’m hyped to try out platinum and stay at some other properties besides HIE 😂
i have 2 IHG cards and 2 Marriotts, no reason why you cant have both. They all have free nights that cover the fees.
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit I'm IHG Diamond and Marriott Titanium and I can find good value in both programs - IHG does not have many lounges in the states.
If you avoid properties where Americans use their corporate earned points (NYC, London, other West European capitals) you will get excellent value in any point system.
Intercontinentals are of great value overseas. 33K in Istanbul and 24K in Amman.
I typically find Marriott pts to be .5 cpp and FNA use is super limited by property owners. Bonvoy program is also just schizo
Great points Jacob, never realized how many annoying aspects there were about Marriott and their credit cards. I'm still a fan of the Boundless and Business cards for their subsidized 35k free night but yeah those fees not being waived isn't ideal.
The Boundless and the Business are better than most of the other cards, but yes there's a lot of annoying things that aren't on other cards
I love my IHG Platinum. Only wish Breakfast came with Platinum. Most placed do a complimentary breakfast anyways, so usually not an issue.
I'm really sad that breakfast doesn't come with Platinum elite. Diamond elite seems so unattainable to get complimentary breakfast
Shots fired at the bevy lol
Although I love my 2 Ritz cards, I definitely see all the points you made in this video
Haha The Ritz card is one of the better ones even though I haven't heavily researched it. I would need to get the Boundless first before I really thought about the Ritz
My new favorite channel to watch regarding credit cards 😂
Thanks Eduardo! I'm love hearing that
@@JacobsPointsAndProfityeah. If ur gonna have a no nonsense approach, I’m here for it.
A person can be super critical and still recommend products for select cases.
Couple of days ago I paid $429 usd for 34000 pounts. When I try to reserve a hotel for 2 nights I was told 58000 points or $450 cash. It's more expensive to pay by points than cash.
That's rough. I know that they try to get people to buy points for lower than what they are worth when booking hotels
Well done, Jacobs. Your best video ever. Many cards are grossly over rated. Keep up the good work.
Thanks!! I might have to make more videos about cards I don't like
Plus you get Gold elite with the csr if you meet the requirements.🍷🤙
That's true!
I hear you and I suffer. I need a remote job. Thank you for these videos.
Remote jobs are the way to go!
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit I need to verify how an Azure cert or something in the same discipline can help me with the hunt. Thank you.
My problem with Marriott is that the dynamic pricing structure is actually insane. Wyndham caps its award nights at 30k points. Hilton's award nights depend on the property, but generally speaking, you're looking at 30-50k for a mid-tier property and 90-115k for a top tier property.
The dynamic pricing means that even Courtyards and Fairfields can sometimes show outlandish point values out of range of the cheap FNCs on the Business and Boundless.
Yes, the benefit is that SOMETIMES a JW might be available with the top-off feature, but more often than not, it just doesn't make any sense for them to not have an across-the-board award structure based on room type.
I've wanted to stay at the lower tier Marriott hotels but sometimes the points price is so high I wouldn't consider it. It would be nice if the Marriott cards offered higher value free nights awards
Yes, a lot of properties, expensive properties.
It's nice they are everywhere, but sometimes I don't want to pay that much in dollars or points
Remember that all points have variable point value based on average available value in each program. Not all points are created equal. This is also something that needs to be considered for people who think all points have the same value. Ihg and hilton are worth about half a cent while marriot points are worth.8 cents. This is very relevant when determining options.
Yes the value of points will change all the time. I personally value Marriott points less than IHG points, but everyone's situation and travel preferences are different
It depends on who gets the card. In the end, You should get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless(Ritz Carlton) or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.
Eventually I would like to add these cards for the welcome bonuses and maybe I'll end up liking one of the cards long term
Great video! I was thinking marriot as a program is mediocre as well. I always seem to have problems connecting to hotel Wi-Fi which makes it really annoying to get work done..yes I can use my hotspot but that’s an inconvenience. I did get the 5 night free offer on the boundless last year and got decent to mediocre hotel stays in LA.
I fully intend to upgrade the boundless to a ritz, but I honestly don’t like the card that much considering it doesn’t earn more points than the boundless. I mostly see the ritz as a way to get sapphire lounge access since I don’t see value in holding the reserve. I’m planning to use a sapphire and ritz as a makeshift sapphire reserve that’s $5 cheaper with better lounge access.
I would like to get started with IHG due to some of your videos and Grounded Life Finance, but I don’t want to stretch myself too thin and focus on too many hotel programs.. this is tough
That Wi-Fi issue sounds annoying. I'd absolutely consider getting the Boundless on a 5 free night offer instead of 3 free nights, but 50k points per night only goes so far. The Ritz could be a good one to add if you're wanting Sapphire Lounge access. I enjoyed Grounded Life Finance's videos on IHG and they always seem to find really good value in the budget friendly hotels
I got the Brilliant and did the Ritz Upgrade. I would agree actually. I find I use my Hilton Aspire card much more. Hilton properties tend to be cheaper than Marriott too. I do paid stays more than award stays and the cost adds with Marriott. Even $30/night with taxes can add few hundred to your stay. I've been thinking about downgrading my two marriott cards to no-fee and getting a second aspire.
Yeah those paid stays can add up. I like Hilton over Marriott because it seems like they have better prices for the lower end hotel and then you can also use your free nights wherever you want without worrying about the 85k point cap
Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond and IHG Diamond, all on leisure and spending and have personal cards on all three and business with Marriott.
Marriott points are worth way more than Hilton or IHG
IHG points are with way more than Hilton points.
Marriott has way more properties with lounges compared to the other two.
IHG has numerous blackout dates when you try to use points.
Thanks for sharing your experience! If we’re talking about higher tier properties, I think you’re right in terms of number of places to stay. Marriott has the most for many cities I’ve searched
I think my money is better spent on other hotel chains if I want to get redemptions. Marriott does have a nice footprint
Marriott is the biggest for sure so it's sad that I can't find better redemptions
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit false. Some influencer/shill likely started that lie. Wyndham is biggest hotel brand in USA and the world.
Nice video Jacob. Also saw live with Anthony. So you don't like Marriott cards. What is your preferred Hotel brand?
Hyatt is my favorite because of how easy it is to transfer Chase points, but IHG has my favorite credit cards
@JacobsPointsAndProfit Cool. Personally Hilton is my favorite for my family travel using the Aspire. Hyatt is my backup, in fact have staycation booked at Hyatt Grand Cypress in Orlando for Memorial weekend.
I've never understood why Marriott has so many fans, they are always much more expensive than the other 4-5 star hotels in the same city. I have been an IHG loyalist for over a year now and am an Intercontinental Ambassador. I received amazing service at every IHG hotel I have stayed at and get upgraded a lot more (not counting the guarantee upgrade at InterContinental's). I plan on getting the credit card once my Ambassador runs out, until then I have been earning Hilton points with my Surpass to stay at a few Conrad's I have been eyeing in Tokyo and Osaka.
I've had a great experience with the IHG credit card so I'd say to go for it! The Marriott hotels in every city I travel to always seem so expensive that I've never even tried to apply for one of their credit cards. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Not a big fan of Marriott either. Thanks for the info + video!
I wish Marriott had a better loyalty program because of how many properties they have
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit They really have the best reward program with the exceptions of Hyatt that does not have a foot print worth mentioning.
The only thing I don’t like is that the no annual fee option is on Chase and not also on American Express. You’re out of luck if you’re over 5/24 like I am.
It does feel weird that there isn't a no annual fee option on American Express. Either you go all in with Marriott and Amex or not at all
My only problem with the Hyatt card is that it's not a Visa. Sadly Costco ONLY accepts Visa now, & that's where i soend most of my meager income (on gas & groceries) so that's the only reason I'm going with the Bonvoy one
That’s fair about the Costco issue. Has your hotel strategy changed at all and are you find yourself staying at more Marriott properties now that you have their credit card?
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit I've stayed with marriott my whole life. Used to work at a property once too. I wouldn't mind getting a better hotel card and switching brands but again, when most of my very small income is spent at costco in necessities, Bonvoy is the only option.
If costco accepted AmEx again, I'd be debating between the Hyatt & Hilton cards
@@Aglai76no offense. But since u cite low income being an issue, u can stay at decent properties and save considerable money not messing with Marriott
@@newagain9964 none taken. But what do you mean by that? How can I stay at nice but cheaper properties than marriott?
@@Aglai76 IHG and best western offer very affordable rates but yet not drug/roach motels. FYI IHG cards earn arguably the best in hotels.
My biggest problem with Marriott cards is that they earn Marriott points, which don’t really have any value for me. If they let me cash out the points earned, then we’d be in business.
You can also transfer them to airlines which typically don't have transfer partners e.g. AA or Alaska Air. However, the ratio is pretty bad at 3:1.
I'm looking more into the 3:1 transfer ratio to airlines and it made me more excited about Marriott points, but the hotel redemptions are priced so high
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit I get that, and that's better than just letting them expire (and better value than a lot of marriott hotel redemptions IMO), but it makes the card multipliers rather crap. Effectively 2X at Marriott hotels, 1.3X-1X at grocery gas and restaurants, 1X flights and restaurants, 0.6X travel, 0.6X everywhere else (depending on which card you get). At that point, you'd be better off with BBP, Double Cash, or WF Active Cash for 2X everywhere.
Good stuff man! 👍🏼👍🏼
Thank you! I feel like I have to make a negative video every once in a while
The Marriott Bonvoy Business is probably the most balanced card. Not a crazy AF, and sorta a 150K SUB (3 FNA) and good all around multipliers.
Agreed the rest are pretty bad.
Yeah I wouldn’t mind applying for the business card and giving it a chance. I don’t have anywhere in mind to best use those free nights but I’ll think about it next time they have an elevated welcome bonus
Marriott status (at least Gold and Plat) are useless in the US. in Asia they seem to help.
It seems that internationally hotel status is much better because no one has these credit cards except for us in the USA
I just got the one with 5 free nights.. seems like a better deal.
Nice! 5 free nights is a good offer and I'd be happy to apply for these cards with that offer
I like marriott properties more but i cant deny that the 85k fnc is hard to use at the properties i like.
The 50k and below fnc’s are pretty much worthless
Yeah if you want to stay at top properties those free nights aren't going to great. You can use 15k of your own points, but sometimes that isn't enough
@@JacobsPointsAndProfit yea def not enough. Thats what makes the aspire fnc’s so great. No cap
For the most part, I do see where you're coming from, Jacob and I agree. I think the welcome offer rules are too complicated for each of the cards. It's also a shame that the best status you can get with the higher tier cards is gold status. The Bevy and the Bountiful cards are almost not worth getting. I will probably eventually get both of them, but I will get them for the welcome offers and then probably cancel them after having them for a year. One advantage of the Bountiful card over the Bevy is the Bountiful card could probably be product changed into a Bold or Boundless card. The Hilton and IHG programs are definitely better!
Pretty much every card is worth getting for the welcome offers, but the Bevy and Bountiful would need to be running limited time offers for me to consider applying. I like the ability to change the Bountiful into the Bold because I'd probably never apply for the Bold because of Chase 5/24. Thanks for sharing!
WoH and Hilton 🏆 >
Hyatt is great and Hilton is certainly better than Marriott in my opinion
what about hilton?
Hilton cards are definitely better in my opinion than Marriott cards
Marriott cards in general are dog crap when it comes to earning multipliers and benefits. Only tangible benefit is Platinum status from the Brilliant but not worth $650 when the Hilton Aspire is objectively better in virtually every capacity.
The IHG card is pretty underrated.
Yeah I agree that the Hilton Aspire is the better card with a lower annual fee than the Brilliant. I love the IHG card for only a $99 annual fee
I hate mine too.
Which Marriott card do you have?
I ignore the whole Marriott thing. Every thing of Marriott is a huge stress.
Haha it sounds a lot more complicated than all the other hotel chains