The Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card overview
The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit score Card is a premium card providing from Marriott that’s unavailable to new candidates. It has a laundry record of advantages and perks, together with computerized Gold Elite standing, an annual free night time award, an annual $300 journey credit score and a Precedence Move Choose membership. Card Score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card Score relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Marriott is the world’s largest resort model and is thought for having an intensive household of bank cards throughout two issuers, Chase and American Specific.
Nevertheless, arguably their finest card and top-of-the-line journey rewards playing cards total, the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card, just isn’t out there to new candidates — however there may be nonetheless a manner you may get your arms on it.
The Ritz-Carlton card has a steep annual payment of $450 however has many advantages that may assist offset the fee.
To get this card, it’s essential to maintain a Chase Marriott card, such because the Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit score Card, for not less than 12 months after which name Chase to request a product change.
It is vital to notice that you will want a minimal credit score line of not less than $10,000 to be eligible for a product change to the Ritz-Carlton card, since it’s a Visa Infinite card. As a result of you aren’t making use of for a brand new card and are doing a product change as a substitute, you’ll not have to fret about Chase’s 5/24 rule.
The advisable credit score rating for the Marriott-Chase household of playing cards is 670, however getting authorised with a decrease rating just isn’t unusual.
Let’s bounce into whether or not you must add the Ritz-Carlton card to your pockets.
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The knowledge for the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card professionals and cons
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Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card welcome supply
Since you might be product altering to this card, there may be, sadly, no welcome supply.
We should word that you simply will not be eligible to open the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Specific® Card for those who’ve held the Ritz-Carlton card previously 30 days. So earlier than you request a product change to the Ritz-Carlton card, you may need to contemplate opening the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible. A number of TPG staffers carry each playing cards of their wallets.
Associated: Are you eligible for a brand new Marriott Bonvoy card? This chart tells you sure or no
Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card advantages
The Ritz-Carlton card has a plethora of advantages that may give you substantial worth and assist offset the annual payment.
- Annual Free Night time Award: Cardholders will get an annual free night time award every anniversary price as much as 85,000 factors. Based on TPG’s December 2024 valuations, 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors are price $723, which covers the annual payment. This free night time award could be mixed with as much as an additional 15,000 Bonvoy factors out of your account. You will get distinctive worth from these awards for those who redeem them at luxurious properties in Southeast Asia, like Thailand’s Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui.
- $300 annual journey credit score: Cardholders obtain an annual $300 airline credit score. The credit score is broad and can be utilized on purchases like checked baggage charges, inflight Wi-Fi, seat upgrades and lounge entry. This credit score is far much less restrictive than the journey credit on different premium playing cards like The Platinum Card® from American Specific, which requires you to designate an airline. This credit score just isn’t computerized, and it’s essential to name the quantity on the again of your card and ask Chase to use your credit score to eligible purchases.
- Computerized Marriott Bonvoy Elite standing: You’ll obtain complimentary Gold Elite standing by simply holding this card. Gold Elite standing comes with perks like 25% bonus earnings, 2 p.m. late checkout when out there, room upgrades based mostly on availability and welcome presents upon arrival at Marriott properties. Moreover, you’ll be able to spend your method to Platinum Elite standing by spending $75,000 on purchases yearly.
- 15 elite night time credit per yr: Cardholders will obtain 15 elite night time credit each calendar yr, making it simpler to succeed in the next Marriott Bonvoy standing degree.
- Three improve certificates to the Ritz-Carlton Membership degree yearly: Cardholders obtain three certificates annually, which they will use to improve to club-level rooms. Every certificates is legitimate for a club-level improve on an eligible paid keep of as much as seven nights. Not all Ritz-Carlton properties have a membership degree. Remember to test the Ritz-Carlton web site to see which properties have a membership degree.
- Lounge entry: In relation to premium journey rewards playing cards, lounge entry is customary, and that’s no exception with the Ritz-Carlton card. It comes with a Precedence Move Choose membership, which provides you limitless entry to greater than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. The true kicker is which you could convey limitless company with you. Additionally, you will have limitless entry to Chase Sapphire Lounges for you and limitless company. In the event you add a licensed consumer, they may also get a Precedence Move membership. Precedence Move eating places are usually not included. (Enrollment is required).
- TSA PreCheck/World Entry credit score: Cardholders obtain as much as $100 in credit score for TSA PreCheck or World Entry charges each 4 years.
- Automobile rental standing, upgrades and reductions: Since it is a Visa Infinite card, cardholders will obtain Avis Most popular Plus and Nationwide Emerald Membership Government standing. Cardholders may also obtain reductions and upgrades when reserving rental vehicles with Avis and Nationwide.
- Main automobile rental insurance coverage: Whenever you decline the rental firm’s collision insurance coverage and cost the complete rental price on the Ritz-Carlton card, you might be eligible for major collision insurance coverage that gives reimbursement of as much as $75,000 for theft and injury to rental vehicles within the U.S. and overseas.
- Misplaced baggage reimbursement: In the event you or a right away member of the family test or keep on baggage that’s broken or misplaced by the airline, you are coated for as much as $3,000 per passenger.
- Journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage: In case your widespread service journey is delayed greater than six hours or requires an in a single day keep, you and your loved ones are coated for unreimbursed bills, resembling meals and lodging, as much as $500 per ticket.
- Journey delay reimbursement: In case your journey is canceled or reduce brief attributable to sickness, extreme climate or different eligible coated conditions, you could be reimbursed for as much as $10,000 per individual and as much as $20,000 per journey in your pay as you go nonrefundable journey bills, together with passenger fares, excursions and lodges.
- J.P. Morgan Premier Concierge
- No overseas transaction charges
- Free approved customers
Associated: 29 finest Marriott lodges on the earth
Incomes factors on the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card
Ritz-Carlton cardholders will earn 6 factors per greenback on Marriott purchases, 3 factors per greenback on eating, automobile leases and airfare booked immediately with the airline and a pair of factors per greenback on all different purchases.
Plus, due to the cardboard’s computerized Marriott Gold Elite standing, you’ll earn 12.5 factors per greenback on Marriott stays, for a complete of 18.5 factors per greenback on Marriott stays. You’ll be able to earn much more in case you have the next standing tier.
Based mostly on TPG’s December 2024 valuations, this equates to a return on spend of a whopping 15.73% on Marriott purchases, 2.55% on eating, automobile leases and airfare and 1.7% on all different purchases.
Redeeming factors on the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card
There are a number of methods to redeem Bonvoy factors on the Ritz-Carlton card. You’ll be able to redeem factors for lodges, airline tickets, automobile leases, cruises, present playing cards and merchandise.
You typically get the perfect worth by redeeming your factors for resort stays. Marriott has greater than 8,700 properties in 141 international locations unfold among the many 30-plus manufacturers of their portfolio.
I choose redeeming Marriott factors for luxurious properties in Jap Europe or longer stays in Southeast Asia. For instance, the Ritz-Carlton Budapest routinely runs simply 45,000 factors an evening, and every week on the Fairfield by Marriott Bali Kuta Sundown Street is simply 65,000 factors.
You may as well make the most of Marriott’s Keep for five, Pay for 4 perk, which lets you get your fifth night time free when redeeming factors for 5 consecutive nights on a single reservation on the similar resort.
This profit provides you the bottom level complete night time free of charge for each 5 consecutive nights. That is robotically utilized when reserving, so it requires no additional effort.
Associated: 8 locations to maximise an 85,000-point Marriott award night time certificates
Transferring factors on the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card
Marriott Bonvoy factors earned on the Ritz-Carlton card could be transferred to Marriott’s 39 airline companions, resembling United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles and Southwest Fast Rewards. Whereas that is typically not one of the simplest ways to redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors, there are occasions when transferring Bonvoy factors to airline companions might make sense.
Most companions enable transfers at a 3:1 ratio and supply 5,000 bonus factors for each 60,000 Bonvoy factors you switch. And because of Marriott’s most popular partnership with United Airways, you’ll obtain a bonus of 10,000 factors for each 60,000 Bonvoy factors you switch for those who’re a United MileagePlus member.
It is vital to notice that transfers can take 3-4 days, so if you’re seeking to ebook an award flight with a associate airline, be sure that there may be loads of availability.
Associated: Marriott Bonvoy: Full information to the resort loyalty program
Which playing cards compete with the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card?
In the event you’re not a Marriott loyalist, there are another playing cards you may need to contemplate as a substitute of the Ritz-Carlton card.
- In the event you choose Hilton: The Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card is Hilton’s prime card providing; it has a $550 annual payment and presents many related advantages to the Ritz-Carlton card, together with airline and resort payment credit, an annual free night time award and computerized elite standing. This card additionally has higher returns on bonus class spending. To be taught extra, learn our full overview of the Hilton Amex Aspire.
- If you wish to earn a versatile rewards foreign money: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a $550 annual payment and really related advantages to the Ritz-Carlton card. It earns Chase Final Rewards factors as a substitute of Marriott Bonvoy factors and has entry to Chase’s spectacular roster of switch companions, together with Marriott, which you’ll be able to switch to at a 1:1 ratio. The cardboard has strong earnings on eating and journey and comes with advantages like lounge entry, an annual journey credit score, a TSA PreCheck/World Entry credit score and quite a few journey protections and insurances. To be taught extra, learn our full overview of the Sapphire Reserve.
- In order for you a Marriott card with a decrease annual payment: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit score Card has a $95 annual payment and comes with a free night time award and Silver Elite standing, making this card simple to maintain yr after yr. Nevertheless, it lacks lots of the premium advantages discovered on the Ritz-Carlton card. To be taught extra, learn our full overview of the Bonvoy Boundless.
The knowledge for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
For extra choices, try our full record of the finest resort bank cards and the perfect Marriott bank cards.
Associated: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve well worth the annual payment?
Is the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card price it?
If you’re a Marriott loyalist, the Ritz-Carlton card is probably going price including for the annual free night time award, on-property advantages, elite standing advantages and quite a few credit. In the event you do not stay at Marriott properties incessantly or choose extra flexibility with incomes and redeeming factors, you may be higher suited to a different card.
Backside line
The Ritz-Carlton card could be a superb addition to your pockets, with its free night time award amongst myriad different advantages, credit and elite perks that simply assist offset the $450 annual payment. If in case you have an eligible Chase Marriott Bonvoy card that has been open for not less than 12 months, I like to recommend you run the numbers and calculate the worth you get from all the advantages to see if product altering to this card is smart for you.
As a Marriott loyalist, I plan on making use of for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless subsequent quarter and ready twelve months. Then I’ll request a product change to this card, as I foresee this being a keeper card in my pockets for years to return.
Associated: How to decide on a resort bank card
