which card to use?

[travelgirl8]

We will be staying at a Ritz Carlton later this year. Is it better to use the Marriott card for stays or the SPG card?

 

[dioxide45]

SPG cad will earn you 2 points per dollar, if you then transfer them to the MR program, it becomes 6 points. Better than the 5 you get with the MR Chase Visa. Use the SPG Amex.

 

[travelgirl8]

Thanks!

 

[MOXJO7282]

Until they change the SPG to MR conversion rate I can't think of a reason to use my Marriott Visa. I'm loving the SPG card. To get 3 MR points on every day purchases is awesome. I'm racking up major points paying for everything I possibly can with it.

 

[travelgirl8]

I am favoring your way of thinking also. It seems like 3 points on the SPG card is better then 2% back. The only other thing I was thinking was that the Southwest card might be also good to use to get free flights as I have the companion pass.

 

[jeepie]

Another thought...the Ritz-Carlton Rewards card. Three upgrades to the Club Level per year, same points as Marriott. Cheers.

 

[WalnutBaron]

And I'll throw in another option: Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Yes, the $450/year fee is steep, but it's offset by some major benefits, including a $300 credit for any travel charges made during the year--effectively lowering the annual fee to $150. Also includes free Priority Pass card for entry into Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide and full reimbursement for Global Entry application, among many other benefits.

Regarding ongoing charges, you earn 3 points per dollar on all travel and dining purchases, equaling a 6.3% return on those purchases. And if you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards site, you also get an automatic 20% discount by booking airfare, hotels, rental cars, or cruises through their travel portal. (By the way, the costs of travel are competitive with market prices, meaning it's a true 20% discount.)

Here's The Points Guy's take on the Chase Sapphire Reserve: https://thepointsguy.com/2016/08/all-about-chase-sapphire-reserve-perks/

 

[del2327]

All good points, but if you are also trying to obtain points to reach one or more of the Marriott lifetime status levels, the 5x points earned using the Marriott card will count toward lifetime status but the 6 points earned using the SPG card and then transferring the points to Marriott will not count. In addition, if you use the Marriott card, the charges will help you obtain credit for a Marriott stay while the SPG card won't.

If I was already platinum due to my prior history or due to my ownership level and didn't have keep track of stays and lifetime points, I'd use the SPG card.

 

[travelgirl8]

Thanks for the information del2327. I didn't know about the differences in how points are allocated .
The features on the Chase card are substantial and probably worth the spend. I did try the Citi Platinum for just those reasons when it came out.