The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card review

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card is no longer available, but if you’re interested in earning rewards with Ritz-Carlton hotels, you can still get a a lot of 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 boasts generous rewards rates in common travel categories.

You can earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases. Unlike the Ritz-Carlton card, the Bonvoy Brilliant rewards you for restaurant purchases, making it the better pick for foodies.

Although the Bonvoy Brilliant has a hefty annual fee, its rewards rate and generous welcome offer can help you offset it. American Express is currently offering 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for spending $6,000 in purchases with the card in your first 6 months. This bonus is worth roughly $665 based on Bankrate’s points valuations, which give Marriott Bonvoy points a value of 0.7 cents

American Express also offers statement credits each year with the Bonvoy Brilliant card, which can help offset the card’s $650 annual fee. Plus, you’ll get Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status, which adds 5X points to every eligible hotel purchase. You can boost your rewards rate of 6X points at Bonvoy locations up to 21X points by being a Marriott Bonvoy member (10X points) and qualifying for Platinum Elite status (5X points). This booted rate will put you on track to quickly offset your annual fee with regular Marriott Bonvoy hotel stays. 

Though the Chase Sapphire Reserve may have a steeper annual fee of $550 and a higher APR of 22.49 percent to 29.49 percent (variable), this card is considered one of the best travel cards because it has generous rewards rates, a highly valuable welcome offer and luxury perks. If you’re a current Ritz-Carlton Credit cardholder and want to explore new options, it may be worth considering a general travel card. Cards like the Sapphire Reserve are typically more flexible and have more valuable rewards..

The Chase Sapphire Reserve covers more categories with boosted rates, and its points are worth up to 2.0 cents per point when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, according to Bankrate’s points and miles valuations. This value is much higher than the Marriott Bonvoy points the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card earns. 

With the Sapphire Reserve, you earn 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and Chase dining purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, which is one of the best rates you’ll find on general rewards cards. Plus, you can earn 5X points on air travel and 3X points on restaurant and general travel purchases after earning your $300 travel credit.  These boosted rates and the travel credit all get you closer to offsetting the card’s annual cost. It also has a competitive welcome offer of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months with the card. 

That said, a lot of the card’s earning power relies on its rewards portal. The extra work may not be ideal for a frequent traveler who already knows what they want and doesn’t want to compromise. 

A general travel card with a lower annual fee, like the Citi Premier® Card, can be a good addition to your wallet, as it still has rewards geared towards travel but doesn’t have a steep price. With 3 points per $1 spent on gas stations, air travel, and hotels, you can travel any way you want and still earn rewards. Plus, for a limited time, you can earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal (through June 30, 2024). It also helps that it’s not attached to a particular brand, making it even more flexible.

If you prefer the concentrated perks of a co-branded card, an airline card such as the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express card could also match well with the Ritz-Carlton Credit card. 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 points for Delta purchases, 2X points at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants), the price 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), it is good 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 the first year, so you have time to figure out the best way to pair the two.