topic Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott? in Credit Cards

Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Creditaddict — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 23:38:52 GMT

I mean I feel like I know the answer but someone please confirm...

Rewards for things charged are the same right?

The differences are in the Marriott free annual night?

vs.

Ritz free upgrades each year and $400 travel incidental credits?

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Kenny — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 23:41:22 GMT

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Comprehensive-Guide-to-Marriott-Ritz-Carlton-Rewards-and-Their/m-p/4100403

This is pretty informative.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Creditaddict — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 00:44:59 GMT

@Kenny wrote:
http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Comprehensive-Guide-to-Marriott-Ritz-Carlton-Rewards-and-Their/m-p/4100403

This is pretty informative.

That's AMAZING!

Thank you

So to sum it up I should keep my Marriott Premier for the free night but should be doing all my spending through the Ritz not the Marriott Card (crap, just charged our $3400 Costa Rica stay on Marriott!)

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

jsucool76 — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 00:52:53 GMT

@Creditaddict wrote:
@Kenny wrote:
http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Comprehensive-Guide-to-Marriott-Ritz-Carlton-Rewards-and-Their/m-p/4100403

This is pretty informative.
That's AMAZING!

Thank you

So to sum it up I should keep my Marriott Premier for the free night but should be doing all my spending through the Ritz not the Marriott Card (crap, just charged our $3400 Costa Rica stay on Marriott!)

Depends what you're looking for. Marriott card will give you an elite night credit for each 3k spent. Ritz will give you a 10% bonus on all points earned at the end of the year.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Creditaddict — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:20:01 GMT

Now who can tell me if it would pay off better to use AA and Marriott moving forward VS. Citi Double Cash, Fidelity, AARP for restaurants!?

Lets say $2000 general spend and $1k restaurant spend a month.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:21:31 GMT

AA if you eat at restaurants with bonus pts.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

jsucool76 — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:21:57 GMT

@Creditaddict wrote:
Now who can tell me if it would pay off better to use AA and Marriott moving forward VS. Citi Double Cash, Fidelity, AARP for restaurants!?
Lets say $2000 general spend and $1k restaurant spend a month.

Well, do you want points and miles, or cash back.

No point in breaking up spend between fidelity amex and double cash, as fidelity amex has a minimum redemption amount.

Points and miles CAN be worth more than straight cash back, if you're going to put them to use. If you don't have patience to follow all of it then just use cash back.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Creditaddict — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:39:31 GMT

@jsucool76 wrote:
@Creditaddict wrote:
Now who can tell me if it would pay off better to use AA and Marriott moving forward VS. Citi Double Cash, Fidelity, AARP for restaurants!?
Lets say $2000 general spend and $1k restaurant spend a month.
Well, do you want points and miles, or cash back.

No point in breaking up spend between fidelity amex and double cash, as fidelity amex has a minimum redemption amount.

Points and miles CAN be worth more than straight cash back, if you're going to put them to use. If you don't have patience to follow all of it then just use cash back.

we just did costa rica flying for free and hotel for free... im learning the benefit of points/miles vs cash!!!

Marriott earns 2 points at Restaurant, you think AA is more valuable at restaurant?

how would i split spend between these 2 types of cards?

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:41:12 GMT

You are flying which airline to Costa Rica? Cabin? Approximate value per mile/point?

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

jsucool76 — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:43:22 GMT

@Creditaddict wrote:
@jsucool76 wrote:
@Creditaddict wrote:
Now who can tell me if it would pay off better to use AA and Marriott moving forward VS. Citi Double Cash, Fidelity, AARP for restaurants!?
Lets say $2000 general spend and $1k restaurant spend a month.
Well, do you want points and miles, or cash back.

No point in breaking up spend between fidelity amex and double cash, as fidelity amex has a minimum redemption amount.

Points and miles CAN be worth more than straight cash back, if you're going to put them to use. If you don't have patience to follow all of it then just use cash back.
we just did costa rica flying for free and hotel for free... im learning the benefit of points/miles vs cash!!!

Marriott earns 2 points at Restaurant, you think AA is more valuable at restaurant?

how would i split spend between these 2 types of cards?

AA miles are definitely worth more than marriott points in many cases. If you plan on investing in these two programs, stick to em and just rack up points. Marriott points can be valuable depending on the redemption (like any other currency). Sometimes it is just better to pay cash than use points.

Make sure you're signed up for the AA dining program and look for restaurants near you. You can add ALL of your credit cards to your AA dining profile, not just your AA card, so you can earn points in multiple programs by using your marriott card and the AA dining program at a participating restaurant.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:45:43 GMT

Marriott points are kinda sucky for value. And by kinda I mean REALLY. I believe 140K Marriott points is the current tradein for 50K AA miles which can be really flexible valuewise.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

jsucool76 — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:48:25 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Marriott points are kinda sucky for value. And by kinda I mean REALLY. I believe 140K Marriott points is the current tradein for 50K AA miles which can be really flexible valuewise.

All hotel points (except starpoints) transfer crappily to airline miles. You'll almost always get the best value by using points for their intended purpose. You can get well over a cent per point with marriott points on the right redemption. Just needs to be an expensive time of year.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Creditaddict — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:50:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Marriott points are kinda sucky for value. And by kinda I mean REALLY. I believe 140K Marriott points is the current tradein for 50K AA miles which can be really flexible valuewise.

REALLY?!

What about British vs AA?

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:51:39 GMT

This is true. If award availability is even available though. I have rarely gotten over 1 cent per point value on Marriott points. I think 1.4 was the record so far.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

jsucool76 — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:52:54 GMT

@Creditaddict wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Marriott points are kinda sucky for value. And by kinda I mean REALLY. I believe 140K Marriott points is the current tradein for 50K AA miles which can be really flexible valuewise.
REALLY?!

What about British vs AA?

It's just a bad idea UNLESS you use a hotel + air package. Great value there.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

jsucool76 — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:53:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
This is true. If award availability is even available though. I have rarely gotten over 1 cent per point value on Marriott points. I think 1.4 was the record so far.

That's about what I got for my NYC trip. The value skyrockets on stays of 5+ nights because of the 5th night free.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:54:25 GMT

Id take AA miles vs BA for long haul, particularly premium cabin air travel. BA for short haul/cattle class.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Creditaddict — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 02:00:40 GMT

so sounds like keep gold and pay for the base hotel and get upgrades and such for marriott and ritz but putting $25k+ spend a year wont' be better than 2% fidelity or 3% AARP.

and AA unless I spend more than $50k a year I don't see how I can even get 2 tickets a year for free without doing actual travel to earn some of the in-betweens and our travel is limited I just want to travel better when we do!

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 02:02:14 GMT

There are always ways to earn miles without significant spend, young padawan.

Re: Difference in Ritz and Marriott?

jsucool76 — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 02:16:37 GMT

+1 to Tulomne

As far as what cards to use, to me the marriott card isn't a spend card, neither is the ritz card. I put a few charges on my marriott card to keep it active, and I put 10k on my ritz card to maintain gold status. I'll also put any marriott hotel spend on my ritz card (unless I booked it with 4th night free through citi prestige).

All my AA spend goes on my aviator card, and most of my other spend goes on my forward or prestige.