Ritz Carlton Rewards card... is it a good deal?

[DEScottzz]

When you get a Ritz Carlton Rewards card, it looks like you get to be Marriott Gold immediately, and can keep Gold status by spending $10,000 per year.

The annual fee is $395, but you get back a $300 credit for travel fees like checked baggage and seat upgrades. I think that instead of a free Marriott cat 1-5 night you also get some free upgrades on paid Ritz Carlton stays. I'm not really a Ritz Carlton kind of guy, so I'm not sure I'd use that.

The points are interchangeable with Marriott Rewards points, so I think the question is whether Marriott Gold status (which I probably won't get otherwise) plus $300 in travel fee reimbursements is worth $395.

What do you think?

 

[Wally3433]

I signed up for it, got my 140k bonus points, was reimbursed my $300 in "travel fees" within the first month and like the card. You also get a 10% Marriott Rewards point bonus at the end of the year.

Using our first Ritz Club Level upgrade in a few weeks in Aruba. Remember, Ritz Club Level goes far beyond the standard Marriott Club Level - includes all drinks and food presentations throughout the day and night. Free food and booze for three days for the family is a huge benefit.

As long as you get your $300 "travel fees" reimbursed, the card is well worth it at $95 per year. "Some" have been able to purchase airline gift cards and get them reimbursed. Others have later reduced their credit limit down to $1500, which triggers an automatic reimbursement of the annual fee. Add those two gems together, and your are actually at a profit for signing up for the card.

Even if you get the card and you don't use it, you will still feel cool, because the card is made of black steel. There is nothing cooler than putting a piece of black steel in your wallet.

That's my take. Your question is forensically answered here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chas...carlton-rewards-card-offers-consolidated.html

 

[DEScottzz]

Thanks, Wally.

I read a pages near the end of that thread, and it looks like the 140,000 points may no longer be available. I may still give it a try, though. I just paid $64 to upgrade to economy-plus on United, and I guess that's the kind of thing they would pay for.

I also buy the Southwest Early Bird check-in, and I imagine they would cover that as well.

 

[Seaport104]

If you don't usually stay at the Ritz, are there reasons why this would be better than the Marriott branded credit card?

 

[hhoope01]

While it costs $395 annually for the card, if you are going to spend more than $300 on covered travel expenses, you will only have a $95 out of pocket expense. There is also the 10% annual bonus on points earned from the card which the Marriott branded cards don't offer. Right now they are offering 2 free night certs at Tier 1-4 RCs, but if you wait around, they will probably switch back at some point to the $140K offer. (The best offer on the Marriott cards is usually around 70K with no annual fee or 80K with an annual fee.) And don't forget the Marriott Gold elite upgrade for the first year (they don't give you that with the Marriott CCs.)

There is a $100 credit for certain charges to your room on multi-night stays, but those are for RC stays only. And there is the Club upgrade certs, but again those are for RC stays only.

So if you never stay at an RC hotel AND you can get the $300 reimbursement, the real difference is the 2 free night certs or 140K bonus for $95 versus the Marriott 70K with no annual fee.

If you value 70K Marriott/RC points plus Gold elite status at more than $95, then it might be worth it to get the RC card instead of a Marriott card. Note that it is possible to get the RC card, the personal Marriott Premier Visa AND the Business Marriott Visa (along with the bonuses from each assuming you meet all spending requirements of course.) Also, as long as both you and your spouse/significant other have good enough credit, you both could get all 3 cards and the bonuses from each and then combine your points for some really nice vacations. (i.e. upwards of 560K Marriott points in total between the 2 of you on CC bonuses alone.)

And one final note, just to make sure we are all on the same page. The Marriott Rewards program and the RC Rewards program are the same program. The difference is in the lipstick (i.e. front end marketing.) You can only have one account which you could switch back and forth between the 2 programs daily if you really wanted to. Any points earned (bonus or otherwise) all go into the same account and whether you have the switch on RC or Marriott doesn't really change much except how/what they market to you.

 

[jeepie]

A couple of other useful benefits...

Price Protection: I bought a new flat screen TV and three months later, I found it advertised for $500 less. Claimed...and received...$500 refund.

Primary Car Rental Insurance: no need to involve your personal insurer, and deal with potential rate increases later.

Frosting on the cake...cheers.

 

[Seaport104]

While it costs $395 annually for the card, if you are going to spend more than $300 on covered travel expenses, you will only have a $95 out of pocket expense. There is also the 10% annual bonus on points earned from the card which the Marriott branded cards don't offer. Right now they are offering 2 free night certs at Tier 1-4 RCs, but if you wait around, they will probably switch back at some point to the $140K offer. (The best offer on the Marriott cards is usually around 70K with no annual fee or 80K with an annual fee.) And don't forget the Marriott Gold elite upgrade for the first year (they don't give you that with the Marriott CCs.)

There is a $100 credit for certain charges to your room on multi-night stays, but those are for RC stays only. And there is the Club upgrade certs, but again those are for RC stays only.

So if you never stay at an RC hotel AND you can get the $300 reimbursement, the real difference is the 2 free night certs or 140K bonus for $95 versus the Marriott 70K with no annual fee.

If you value 70K Marriott/RC points plus Gold elite status at more than $95, then it might be worth it to get the RC card instead of a Marriott card. Note that it is possible to get the RC card, the personal Marriott Premier Visa AND the Business Marriott Visa (along with the bonuses from each assuming you meet all spending requirements of course.) Also, as long as both you and your spouse/significant other have good enough credit, you both could get all 3 cards and the bonuses from each and then combine your points for some really nice vacations. (i.e. upwards of 560K Marriott points in total between the 2 of you on CC bonuses alone.)

And one final note, just to make sure we are all on the same page. The Marriott Rewards program and the RC Rewards program are the same program. The difference is in the lipstick (i.e. front end marketing.) You can only have one account which you could switch back and forth between the 2 programs daily if you really wanted to. Any points earned (bonus or otherwise) all go into the same account and whether you have the switch on RC or Marriott doesn't really change much except how/what they market to you.

Thanks very much for the detailed reply! Very helpful in making my decision. For me the $300 reimbursement isn't a factor since my United Silver status (obtained through being a Marriott Platinum) allows me and companions travelling on the same itinerary one free checked baggage but I probably have other incidentals that can use up that $300 if I look into it further.

The 10% annual bonus is enticing though and if they offered the 140k miles bonus I would have definitely signed up. The free nights stays, not so much for me.