Payments throughout year on Maintenance Fees vs Annual

[Ken555]

Ken: You know that your AMEX SPG card 4 points per $ are Marriott points which when divided by 3 are really only 1.25 SPG equivalent.
Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and receive 3 UR points which are cash valued at $0.015 = 4.5%
I still cant figure out why anyone would use a current Marriott or SPG card......

Thought I posted this earlier... I’m able to get 2% or greater with Marriott points based on cc spend, so while it’s not as good as it was it’s still not horrible (and four points per $ is even better). No point in discussing the SPG to Marriott conversion ratio any longer since it’s not relevant...those days are gone.

I’ve also been planning on getting the CSR, I just haven’t had time to deal with a change. I need to review all my credit cards and likely make a few changes.

Also, it’s worth noting that the CSR only earns a single point on non travel non restaurant purchases. That’s just 1.5% on those expenses.

FWIW, I told a friend recently to get it since his company advertises on social media and Chase is offering 3x points per $ spent on social media advertising (up to 150k per year) and a signup bonus of 80,000. When you have both the Ink business and the SR card all points can be redeemed at the higher 1.5% (the business Ink card only offers 1.25% by itself, so having both cards is key).

In all fairness, and not to change the topic, but I’ve read multiple reports that the effective rate of the Chase UR program is likely less than we think, since not all hotels or other providers are listed at the same price as can be found independently. As expected, it has its own tricks and benefits that we need to learn.


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[Henry M.]

I get good value out of the SPG card, because I stay a lot at European hotels. I'd likely stay where I do paying cash anyway, so using Marriott Rewards points, soon to be Bonvoy, gives me a good return. I use my Costco card at US restaurants, because they give 3% cash back.

 

[controller1]

I get good value out of the SPG card, because I stay a lot at European hotels. I'd likely stay where I do paying cash anyway, so using Marriott Rewards points, soon to be Bonvoy, gives me a good return. I use my Costco card at US restaurants, because they give 3% cash back.

I also get good value out of the SPG Amex.

I've learned it doesn't make sense to argue which card provides the best value because there is no card which fits everyone. The Chase Sapphire provides 4.5% in equivalent cash for travel reservations. However, at expensive resorts I've received 5% - 7% of value from redeeming Marriott/Starwood points. It depends on how one uses the points currency each card provides.

For me, the SPG Amex is still a primary card with the Chase Sapphire also used.

 

[Henry M.]

... there is no card which fits everyone.

Yes, I agree. The value of SPG/Marriott points depends a lot on where you use them. US properties typically don't provide that much value, but other regions are pretty good. The value also depends on what your lodging preferences are. If you would never pay the rates of the nicer properties, then you have to compare the value of points to what your typical expenditure for a room is. That could bring the value of points way down. On the other hand, you could stay quite a while at some cheaper properties, so that improves the value. The long available 5th night free also improves the value.