I'd really love to know how the benefits compare to the IHG card as well. C'mon folks jump in here for me! 
@Anonymous wrote:I have read in many places that the free night they give as a sign up bonus is rather worthless because you can't use it in most if the good Marriotts. Has that been true in your experiences?
The sign up bonus is the tier 1-4 free night certificate along with 50-70K points usually. I had trouble using it, and even had to call to have it extended when I unfortunately let it expire in January. I had to settle for a tier 3 hotel about 30 miles from my destination in order to finally use it. It was a Courtyard Marriott, but it wasn't too bad. It obviously wasn't a Ritz Carlton; however, it was extremely clean and decked out with granite counters and nice amenities. I would certainly go back there again if I'm in the area. The free annual certificate permits up to tier 5, which is pretty decent.
I don't plan on keeping my Marriott card past my first year because the Hyatt card is a much better value in my opinion. The sign up bonus last summer for the Marriott was too good to pass up though. IHG is next on my list of cards to acquire. I don't think it will replace my Hyatt card as my go-to hotel card, however I'm still interested.
Sure! First, the Hyatt card comes with a very hefty sign up bonus if you know how to use it. 2 nights at the Park Hyatts in the Maldives, Paris, Tokyo, and other similar properties can easily exceed $1500-2000 USD. Also, the card comes with a free annual night (Category 1-4) as well and has a reasonable $75 AF.
Lastly, Hyatt points are typically around 1.8+ cents per point compared to the Marriott's paltry 0.4-1.0 (if you are lucky) cents per point value. If I ever need to transfer UR points for hotels, the Hyatt is a significantly better route to take, thus adding additional value and flexibility to my CSP.
It's a personal and preferential decision... Really though, it's hard to go wrong with the Marriott/IHG/Hyatt cards because the annual free night is usually able to easily compensate for the AF.
@Sharingan wrote:Sure! First, the Hyatt card comes with a very hefty sign up bonus if you know how to use it. 2 nights at the Park Hyatts in the Maldives, Paris, Tokyo, and other similar properties can easily exceed $1500-2000 USD. Also, the card comes with a free annual night (Category 1-4) as well and has a reasonable $75 AF.
Lastly, Hyatt points are typically around 1.8+ cents per point compared to the Marriott's paltry 0.4-1.0 (if you are lucky) cents per point value. If I ever need to transfer UR points for hotels, the Hyatt is a significantly better route to take, thus adding additional value and flexibility to my CSP.
It's a personal and preferential decision... Really though, it's hard to go wrong with the Marriott/IHG/Hyatt cards because the annual free night is usually able to easily compensate for the AF.
+1 This. My parents have the Marriott Visa (they've had it since the 90s) and my Dad offered to let me and my fiance use some points and the redemptions were kind of awful. My mom said years ago the points were worth a lot more. Still, if the free night makes it worth it to you with the AF, probably still a good card to get.
Quicksilver $10,000 | Better Balance Rewards $2000 | Sallie Mae $3500 | Freedom $3500
I called the Marriott customer service number on the back of my card (not the Chase number) and they were able to extend it another 6 months or so. They are very friendly and effective anytime I have to call for anything.