The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card review

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card is no longer open to new applications, but if you’re keen on earning rewards with Ritz-Carlton hotels, you can still derive significant value out of another Marriott Bonvoy card. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card is a comparable co-branded card issued by American Express. It has a higher annual fee than the Ritz-Carlton card, but still offers generous rewards rates in popular travel categories.

You can earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3X points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X points on all other eligible purchases. Although the Bonvoy Brilliant has a hefty annual fee, its rewards rate might help you offset the cost. By becoming a Marriott Bonvoy member (10X points) and qualifying for Platinum Elite status (5X points), you can increase your rewards rate from 6X points at Bonvoy locations to up to 21X points. This boosted rate will help you quickly offset your annual fee through frequent stays at Marriott Bonvoy hotels. 

The Bonvoy Brilliant also currently has a welcome offer: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. This welcome offer is worth roughly $665.00 based on Bankrate’s points valuations, which give Marriott Bonvoy points a value of 0.7 cents.

Though the Chase Sapphire Reserve may have a steeper annual fee of $550 and a higher APR, this card is considered one of the best travel cards due to its attractive rewards rates, highly valuable welcome offer and luxury perks. Cards like the Sapphire Reserve are typically more flexible and offer more lucrative rewards than cobranded cards. 

With the Sapphire Reserve, you earn 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and Chase dining purchases through Chase Travel, which is one of the best rates you’ll find on general rewards cards. Plus, you can earn 5X points on air travel purchased through Chase Travel and 3X on general travel purchases after the annual travel credit is applied plus 3X points on restaurants. Its points are worth about 2.0 cents per point when transferred to the right airline or hotel partner and redeemed through the Chase Travel℠ portal, according to Bankrate’s points and miles valuations. This value is much higher than the Marriott Bonvoy points earned through The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card. These boosted rates and the travel credit help you get closer to offsetting the card’s annual cost. It also has a competitive welcome offer that elevates this card's value in the first year. 

That said, much of the card’s earning potential depends on its rewards portal. The extra work may not be ideal for a frequent traveler who already knows their preferences and is unwilling to compromise. 

If you prefer the concentrated perks of a co-branded card, an airline card such as the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express card could complement The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card well. With Delta Airlines being one of the largest airlines in the world, there are plenty of opportunities to use this card. Although the rewards rate is lower (3X miles for Delta purchases and hotels, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants), the annual fee is also lower at $250 per year.

If you’re looking for a non-travel card option, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express could be a good choice. With its high rewards on groceries, streaming services and transit purchases (including rideshares, tolls, trains and more), this card is ideal for families who travel often. It also comes with classic Amex perks like complimentary ShopRunner, American Express Experiences and Global Assist Hotline. Plus, the $95 annual fee is waived in the first year, giving you time to figure out the best way to combine the two.