Chase Marriott Visa vs Chase Sapphire Reserve for Marriott Purchases

[icydog]

I paid all, except one, maintenance fees using the Sapphire Reserve Card for 3x the Ultimate Rewards.

I paid the maintenance fee for one Marriott timeshare using my Marriott Rewards Card for 5x the Marriott Reward Points to bring my MRP to an even 1 million.

I don’t know which is better for my next trip. I’m going down to Oceana Palms for two weeks—February 3 to February 17. I entertain family A LOT whenever I am in the Palm Beach Area. I’m talking about snacks, lunch, breakfast, loads of drinks etc for about 8 or 9 people. I expect my bills will add up to be $1000 or more.

Should I put the Marriott Visa or the Chase Sapphire Reserve card on file when I check in?

 

[VacationForever]

Marriott Visa at Marriott. Outside restaurants, Chase Sapphire Reserve.

 

[lisa3635]

I value ultimate reward points more than marriott, so I use my reserve. I like the flexibility of being able to transfer to partners or redeem for 1.5 cent for travel.

 

[icydog]

Do Ultimate Reward points transfer 1 for 1 into MRP?

 

[VacationForever]

Do Ultimate Reward points transfer 1 for 1 into MRP?

Yes.

 

[jeepie]

Marriott Visa at Marriott. Outside restaurants, Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Put all on CSR, 3x UR>5x MR. Ymmv. Cheers.

 

[BocaBoy]

Put all on CSR, 3x UR>5x MR. Ymmv. Cheers.

Depends on what you will use them for. I personally get more value from 5 MR points than from 3 UR points.

 

[VacationForever]

Depends on what you will use them for. I personally get more value from 5 MR points than from 3 UR points.

Me too. MRs are great for travel package redemption. CSR is not as valuable to me because their portal to book air tickets is worthless as we only book business class seats and it is much more expensive through the UR portal. CSRs are good for transferring to United miles and some Southwest miles for me. I will take 5 MRs over 3 CSRs any day.

 

[dougef]

Marriott Visa at Marriott. Outside restaurants, Chase Sapphire Reserve.

This is exactly what I do.

 

[MOXJO7282]

SPG Amex gets you the one extra point so that is what I go with in every case. In fact until they change the SPG to MAR 3 for 1 point conversion rate I'm pouring every dollar spent through SPG and racking up major points, other than groceries and gas which we have the Amex Blue that gets us 5% rebate and Costco where we get the 2% rebate and they don't take Amex.

 

[VacationForever]

SPG Amex gets you the one extra point so that is what I go with in every case. In fact until they change the SPG to MAR 3 for 1 point conversion rate I'm pouring every dollar spent through SPG and racking up major points, other than groceries and gas which we have the Amex Blue that gets us 5% rebate and Costco where we get the 2% rebate and they don't take Amex.

I actually use AMEX SPG at Marriott properties instead of Marriott Visa as I have both (6X is better than 5X). I also use AMEX for other spending where CSR only gives 1X.

 

[icydog]

I actually use AMEX SPG at Marriott properties instead of Marriott Visa as I have both (6X is better than 5X). I also use AMEX for other spending where CSR only gives 1X.

Can you please tell me how to do this? Will Marriott resorts give you six points per dollar spent if you use an SPG Amex? How come everyone doesn't do this?

What rates do you get on other spending? I took out a Chase Freedom card that gives me 1.5 points for anything that the Sapphire Reserve gives 1 point.

 

[VacationForever]

Can you please tell me how to do this? Will Marriott resorts give you six points per dollar spent if you use an SPG Amex? How come everyone doesn't do this?

What rates do you get on other spending? I took out a Chase Freedom card that gives me 1.5 points for anything that the Sapphire Reserve gives 1 point.

If you have AMEX SPG, you get 2 SPG points per $1 spent on Marriott properties and Marriott Maintenance Fees. After you get your 2 SPG points, you transfer to Marriott. Since the conversion ratio of SPG:Marriott is 1:3, you get 6 Marriott points.

Everyone can do this if they have AMEX SPG. I convert my SPG points regularly to Marriott Rewards and book travel package that way.

AMEX SPG get 1 point on groceries and other shopping. Since 1 SPG point = 3 Marriott Rewards, I get 3X MR when I use my AMEX SPG.

 

[icydog]

If you have AMEX SPG, you get 2 SPG points per $1 spent on Marriott properties and Marriott Maintenance Fees. After you get your 2 SPG points, you transfer to Marriott. Since the conversion ratio of SPG:Marriott is 1:3, you get 6 Marriott points.

Everyone can do this if they have AMEX SPG. I convert my SPG points regularly to Marriott Rewards and book travel package that way.

AMEX SPG get 1 point on groceries and other shopping. Since 1 SPG point = 3 Marriott Rewards, I get 3X MR when I use my AMEX SPG.

Wow what a great explanation. Thanks so much. I never knew about this. I wonder how many MR members know this information. I am going to apply to AMEX for the SPG card right away. Again, thanks so much!!!

 

[icydog]

Wow what a great explanation. Thanks so much. I never knew about this. I wonder how many MR members know this information? I am going to apply to AMEX for the SPG card right away. Again, thanks so much!!!

One more thing. Do you get referral points if I sign up? I would love to get them for you.

Right now, and completely separate I believe, Amex SPG is offering 25,000 points for a new sign up.

 

[VacationForever]

One more thing. Do you get referral points if I sign up? I would love to get them for you.

Right now, and completely separate I believe, Amex SPG is offering 25,000 points for a new sign up.

Yes I do if I refer you, you are so kind. If you would PM me with your email address. Thank you!

 

[GetawaysRus]

One thing is missing from this discussion. Is Marriott hotel status important to you? At the present time (and this might change in the future?), Marriott reward points earned using the Chase Marriott card will count towards annual elite night credits and will also add to your lifetime Marriott rewards points total. However, points earned on the SPG card, even if transferred to your Marriott account, will not count toward your annual elite nights credit and will not add to your lifetime total Marriott Rewards points.

I think this is only an issue if you are chasing Marriott hotel status.

And let's make it even more confusing by adding another caveat. Currently, $30,000 of annual spending on the AmEx SPG card gets you SPG Gold status (and therefore also Marriott Gold status if you have your SPG and Marriott hotel accounts linked). That's Gold status, not Lifetime Gold status. But there will be a new series of AmEx Marriott credit cards coming out later this year. I haven't seen any information if this benefit will continue going forward.

 

[Steve A]

I just transferred 30,000 SPG points to Marriott for 90,000 Marriott reward points. Also, SPG points transfer to most airlines on a one for one basis. If you transfer 20,000 SPG points to an airline, Starwood will throw in an extra 5000 points. I believe it takes multiple Marriott reward points for one ff mile when you transfer them to an airline.

I use the SPG card for everything.

 

[icydog]

I just transferred 30,000 SPG points to Marriott for 90,000 Marriott reward points. Also, SPG points transfer to most airlines on a one for one basis. If you transfer 20,000 SPG points to an airline, Starwood will throw in an extra 5000 points. I believe it takes multiple Marriott reward points for one ff mile when you transfer them to an airline.

I use the SPG card for everything.

One thing is missing from this discussion. Is Marriott hotel status important to you? At the present time (and this might change in the future?), Marriott reward points earned using the Chase Marriott card will count towards annual elite night credits and will also add to your lifetime Marriott rewards points total. However, points earned on the SPG card, even if transferred to your Marriott account, will not count toward your annual elite nights credit and will not add to your lifetime total Marriott Rewards points.

I think this is only an issue if you are chasing Marriott hotel status.

And let's make it even more confusing by adding another caveat. Currently, $30,000 of annual spending on the AmEx SPG card gets you SPG Gold status (and therefore also Marriott Gold status if you have your SPG and Marriott hotel accounts linked). That's Gold status, not Lifetime Gold status. But there will be a new series of AmEx Marriott credit cards coming out later this year. I haven't seen any information if this benefit will continue going forward.

Wow thank you Steve A, I wish I knew all this before paying my Marriott maintenance fees, but since I got 3x Ultimate Reward points, all was NOT lost.

To GetawaysRus,

I am Lifetime Platinum Elite. I just got promoted in November after chasing it for years and years. But last year or the year before MVCI changed their own elite formulas. I’m Chairman's Level with MVCI, and as such, I would be Platinum Elite anyway. And since I stay so many nights in timeshares, I’d be Platinum Elite just by nights spent in their beds. I don’t use my Marriott Visa much. In fact, I never use my Marriott Visa since I got the Chase Sapphire Reserve card... so Elite nights garnered through the cc are non existent. But thanks for pointing all these cavates out to me ! They are very very useful!

 

[AlmostRetired]

I used MR most of the time to build up elite night credits. A number of things happened last January to change that. First the Southwest vacation package with spouse flys free. This was followed with 100,000 bonus points for the CSR which became $1500 for travel or $ 3000 on SW with spousal benefit. I hit lifetime gold. My MF, all travel and all restaurants go on CSR for me. The 3 percent earned for travel/ restaurants and 4.5 percent value when used for travel is too compelling to me. I enjoy playing the flexibility of cash. Gas goes on my Costco visa because it gives 5 percent back on gas. All else goes on MR. If I try to add an SPG card into the mix my head will explode.

 

[jeepie]

I used MR most of the time to build up elite night credits. A number of things happened last January to change that. First the Southwest vacation package with spouse flys free. This was followed with 100,000 bonus points for the CSR which became $1500 for travel or $ 3000 on SW with spousal benefit. I hit lifetime gold. My MF, all travel and all restaurants go on CSR for me. The 3 percent earned for travel/ restaurants and 4.5 percent value when used for travel is too compelling to me. I enjoy playing the flexibility of cash. Gas goes on my Costco visa because it gives 5 percent back on gas. All else goes on MR. If I try to add an SPG card into the mix my head will explode.

Good stuff...and the 4.5% can be seen as a minimum return. Transferring to partners can yield higher returns. Cheers.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Every CC usage plan needs to be tailored to your usage and spend patterns.

I value UR points more than MR or SPG points at this point. As I often need airline tickets that are cheaper to purchase via the portal as they are domestic economy tickets.

I do often travel business class but use FF points for this, which are cheaper to trade from UR to the UA or BA to get what I need. UR purchasing Business Class is NOT a sweet spot, but domestic economy is it equal $$ to what other portals charge, so with the 50% bump in points in nets to a 33% discount in price, plus I earn FF mileage on those purchases.

I am not chasing hotel status or airline status at this point, as I do not have regular committed travel needs in my near future. What I do have for status will suffice for now.

So UR gives ME and my planned usage and spend the best flexibility.

 

[frank808]

SPG Amex gets you the one extra point so that is what I go with in every case. In fact until they change the SPG to MAR 3 for 1 point conversion rate I'm pouring every dollar spent through SPG and racking up major points, other than groceries and gas which we have the Amex Blue that gets us 5% rebate and Costco where we get the 2% rebate and they don't take Amex.

We have done the same for our marriott maintenance fees using the spg amex. That one extra point adds up very fast when paying all them mf! For our hilton mf i use the ascend amex to get 12 hilton pesos for every dollar. We get enough every year from maintenance fees for about a weeks stay at most embassy suites or doubletrees. Last but not least we use the citi costco card for everything else as we love the generous cash back awards.

Sent from my SM-T217S using Tapatalk

 

[brianfox]

We find Chase UR points to be very valuable. We use them to transfer to Avios (British Airways), Flying Blue (AirFrance), or United for travel to Hawaii during summer.

• We use Avios to fly American Airlines as they are a British Airways travel partner. We get about 3.2 cents per UR point (25000 points for an $800 RT from LAX)
• Or use Flying Blue to fly Delta Airlines as they are an AirFrance travel partner. We get about 2.6 cents per point (30000 points for an $800 RT from LAX)
• Or use United as a last resort because those have a terrible redemption rate. Only about 1.3 cents per point (60000 points for an $800 RT from LAX).

But by paying Marriott MF, you get 3 points per dollar spent.
So if you are able to find a reward ticket using Avios, 12 cents per dollar of what you spend on MF will offset your airline travel.
For us, paying 5 weeks of HI MF gets us about 32K UR points which is more than one RT seat. Not bad. Plus, Sapphire Reserve has the $300 per year travel credit. So we look forward to Marriott increasing our MF every year. Okay, that last part is a lie, but I imagine Marriott sales lizards using it as a selling point, right?

We use the Sapphire Reserve for Dining and Travel (3 pts per dollar) along with the Chase Freedom for their quarterly category spending (up to 60K points per year). And lastly we have the AMEX Everyday preferred for Gas (3pts), Groceries (4.5pts), and everything else (1.5pts). AMEX points can also be transferred to Avios, or directly to Delta or Hawaiian. Personally, I call these three credit cards the "holy trinity of airline travel cards" because we can milk the heck out of them while doing our typical spending. We've been netting 5 RT per year on average using these.

I'm sure Marriott Points have good redemption based on the correct usage strategy, for airfare to HI in summer, we find ours to be optimal.
No one program is better for everything, but each program is far better for specific things. That's why when selecting a card you have to first know your exact end goal. A specific airline? A range of airlines? A specific chain of hotels? International? Domestic? or Cash? The answers dictate which card(s) you should get.

 

[dima]

I am noticing this already not for the first time. While charging resort purchases to the AmEx SPG card I don’t get 10 MR points for spending and 50% Platinum Bonus.

Nights stayed and Platinum arrival gift of 500 points are credited just fine.