Offer by email...... 70,000 points

[Open123]

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@CreditScholar wrote:

If anyone is looking for a link to the 70k offer, I think it's here:

https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/marriottpremier/70p1ksh/

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Yep, that's it!  I see the offer.  

[09Lexie]

@CreditScholar

Why tempt them again?

[CreditScholar]

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@09Lexie wrote:
@CreditScholar

Why tempt them again?

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Providing the link wasn't for those people specifically, but I know Open and his love of signup bonuses. I'm sure there are other people in his position as well.

At the end of the day individuals need to take some amount of personal responsibility. I'm not about to deny information to those who could genuinely use it simply because others can't exercise self-disicpline.

[09Lexie]

@CreditScholar

True. In the end, they do have to exercise self-discipline.

[Open123]

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@CreditScholar wrote: but I know Open and his love of signup bonuses. I'm sure there are other people in his position as well.

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Speaking of which, it's my understanding one can't be a part of both Ritz or Marriott programs.  It has to be one, or the other.  Do you know what happens if I were to apply for the Marriott card?

My Ritz membership automatically transfers to Marriott?  My Ritz card is no longer valid, or can I keep both?

[myjourney]

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@09Lexie wrote:
@CreditScholar

True. In the end, they do have to exercise self-discipline.

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+1 

[CreditScholar]

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@Open123 wrote:

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@CreditScholar wrote: but I know Open and his love of signup bonuses. I'm sure there are other people in his position as well.

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Speaking of which, it's my understanding one can't be a part of both Ritz or Marriott programs.  It has to be one, or the other.  Do you know what happens if I were to apply for the Marriott card?

My Ritz membership automatically transfers to Marriott?  My Ritz card is no longer valid, or can I keep both?

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You should be able to keep both and while you can't be part of both programs simultaneously, people can switch from one program to another at will. It just requires contacting a CSR. Some people are swapped automatically while others aren't. If you're changed to MR, you can just ask to change back.

In actual practice, there's no difference between the two programs other than what quarterly promos you get targeted for. For example if you're currently flagged as a RCR member, you'll find an offer for 1 free night in a tier 1-3 hotel after every 2 stays at RC. For MR people, there's about 4-5 different promos flying around ranging from cat1-4 or cat1-5 certs after 2 stays, or stay X nights and get X bonus points.

Regardless of what program you're "officially" in, your number remains the same. You can earn points from either chain and spend them just the same. The points also have the exact same value.

[Open123]

Suddenly, I'm definitely seeing...er...more value to this Marriott Gold thing!  

[CreditScholar]

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@Open123 wrote:

Suddenly, I'm definitely seeing...er...more value to this Marriott Gold thing!  

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While their rooms and properties may not have the same wow-factor as some others, there is huge value to be had in the Marriott program (especially with the ability to stack promotions). This is one reason why I'm not so quick to get rid of the Ritz card, at least for now. While not at the same level as RCs, JWs are still quite nice and are IMO the "best value" hotel brand in that category.

1. As gold, I normally earn 17.5 points per dollar spent (10 base +2.5 gold + 5 CC)

2. Every year (usually around late Q3 or early Q4) they sell gift cards that give you 10 extra points per dollar. Buy those for the bonus and then use them at the hotels.

3. Go through a shopping portal and I got 5% cash back on those cards in addition to the bonus points. I think they stopped this part though in 2013.

4. Add in MegaBonus: I got one free night in a category 1-5 hotel for every 2 stays. Thus I can use it at the JW Marriotts in Bangkok, KL, Beijing, Shanghai, etc.

I usually switch which program I'm in based on the time of year as well. RC typically only has 1-2 promos per year, always around now. Marriott Rewards has them every quarter and they're quite predictable, so once you've used the RC promos for the year then just swap to Marriott and wait until next quarter comes around.