7 credit cards currently offering new-member bonuses of 100,000 points or more
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- The best way to earn points or miles quickly is to earn credit cards' new member bonuses.
- Right now, there are a few cards offering bonuses of 100,000 points or more!
- Sometimes, there are a variety of airline, bank rewards, and hotel cards with these high offers, but right now, everything offering 100,000 points or more is a hotel card.
- Some of these are limited-time offers, but some are here to stay.
When you're looking to boost your stores of rewards points and frequent-flyer miles, earning a credit card's welcome bonus is the best way to get a ton of points quickly.
Something that's key is making sure to get the highest bonus possible - public bonuses often vary, and some issuers might even send out targeted offers to specific customers.
If you're looking to pick up a new card, there are a few fantastic offers available right now, including some that hit - and even pass - the 100,000-point mark. While different kinds of points are worth different amounts, each of these 100,000-plus offers represents a fantastic value.
Some of these are limited-time offers, while others seem to be here to stay. Read on to learn more about these offers.
1. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
Welcome bonus: 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (after spending $5,000 in the first three months). Offer ends April 24.
Last month, Marriott wrapped up a major rebranding of its loyalty program, combining it with the Starwood Preferred Guest program to create a single entity: Marriott Bonvoy.
The various terms and benefits of the program are virtually unchanged from what took effect in August, when the two separate programs were brought under a new single set of benefits.
The biggest changes under February's rebrand came to the Bonvoy's rewards credit cards, which are issued by American Express and Chase. To mark the occasion, both are offering a big, limited-time promotion on the personal cards they issue.
AmEx issues the premium version of Marriott's credit cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, formerly called the SPG Luxury Card. Until April 24, new cardholders can earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when they spend $5,000 on the card in the first three months.
While the card has a high $450 annual fee, it's easy to get much more value from it than you pay for that fee - especially if you stay at Marriott hotels semi-frequently.
Right off the bat, the card offers up to $300 each year in statement credits for purchases at participating Marriott hotels, which can apply to room charges. That effectively brings the fee down to $150.
It also offers a free night award each year on your cardmember anniversary, which can be redeemed at any hotel that costs 50,000 points per night or under. The card also offers complimentary Gold elite status, and comes with a Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership.
The card earns 6x points at participating Marriott hotels, 3x points at US restaurants and on flights booked directly with the airline, and 2x points on everything else.
2. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Welcome bonus: 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (after spending $5,000 in the first three months). Offer ends May 2.
Between the yearly $300 of credits, and the annual anniversary free night, the Bonvoy Brilliant card from AmEx tends to represent a better deal for cardholders.
However, the downside to that card is that you'll have to pay a $450 annual fee. Sure, you'll get the value back from the various benefits and rewards, but you'll still have to float that fee at the top of each calendar year.
For people in that camp, Chase offers the mainstream version of the personal card: the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card.
The Bonvoy Boundless currently offers the same welcome bonus as the Bonvoy Brilliant - in this case, it ends on May 2.
Like the Brilliant, the Boundless offers a free night award each year on your cardholder anniversary; the difference is that it's only good on rooms that would cost up to 35,000 points per night, rather than 50,000. Fortunately, that still includes plenty of properties.
The Boundless card comes with complimentary Silver elite status. Silver doesn't get you as much as Gold, but it's still something. You'll get a 10% bonus on points earned, priority for late checkout, access to a dedicated customer service line, free Wi-Fi, and more. While it's not a published benefit, you may also be given preferential rooms. You can get Gold status if you spend $35,000 or more in a calendar year. You'll also get 15 qualifying nights' worth of elite credit each calendar year, making it easier to earn Gold status or higher through hotel stays.
The card earns 6x points per dollar spent at participating Marriott hotels, and 2x points per dollar on everything else.
3. Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card
Welcome bonus: 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (after spending $5,000 in the first three months). Offer ends April 24.
Marriott's small business rewards card is issued by American Express, rather than Chase, but otherwise bears striking similarities to the Boundless card - at least until March 28. That's because on that date, its annual fee will rise from $95 to $125. However, if you apply before then, you'll get the annual fee waived for your first year, and lock in the lower $95 fee for subsequent years.
The card offers a free night award each year on your cardholder anniversary, worth up to 35,000 points. Starting on March 28, you can get a second free night when you spend $60,000 within a calendar year.
The Bonvoy Business card earns 6x points per dollar spent at participating Marriott hotels, 4x points at US restaurants, gas stations, on US cell service paid directly to the provider, and on US purchases for shipping, and 2x points on everything else.
Like the Boundless, the card comes with 15 elite night credits and complimentary Silver elite status. If you spend $35,000 in a calendar year, you'll get upgraded to Gold status for the following year.
4. IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Sign-up bonus: Up to 120,000 points (80,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first three months; an additional 40,000 points after spending a total of $5,000 in the first six months).
IHG is the parent company of a handful of hotel chains, including Holiday Inn. The company has more than 5,600 properties around the world, making it the second-largest hotel brand, behind Marriott. IHG has a wide range of properties from budget options like the Holiday Inn Express, to luxurious Regent and InterContinental hotels and resorts.
IHG's Rewards Club program is often overlooked- I know I'm guilty of passing it over without a second look in favor of Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy (and back in the day, Starwood Preferred Guest).
However, the program is worth a second look, and a newly increased sign-up bonus on its primary credit card offers a perfect opportunity.
Right now, the IHG Rewards Club Premier card has a sign-up bonus of up to 120,000 points that is broken up into two parts. First, you'll earn 80,000 points if you spend $2,000 in the first three months. Then, you'll earn the remaining 40,000 points when you spend an additional $3,000 within the first six months (for a total of $5,000).
Rooms can cost as little at 10,000 points per night, depending on the property and its location within a city. The bonus is enough to cover almost two weeks' worth of nights at a Holiday Inn Express - even some in prime markets - or two to four nights at top InterContinental locations.
The card earns 10x points per dollar spent at IHG hotels, 2x points per dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, and 1x point on everything else. It also comes with automatic Platinum elite status, which entitles you to a 50% bonus on points earned during a stay, complimentary room upgrades, late checkout when available, and guaranteed room availability with 72 hours' notice - helpful if you have a last-minute trip.
The Premier card offers an annual anniversary free night certificate that can be used at any category 1-7 hotel (hotels that cost 40,000 points per night or less). While that means that some of IHG's most premium locations are excluded, the certificate is still valid at a ton of locations all around the world.
For instance, I didn't have trouble finding properties in major cities like New York and Chicago during peak travel season - all charging well upward of $200 - that accept the free night certificate. That more than makes up for the card's $89 annual fee.
5. Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card
Welcome offer: 125,000 Hilton Honors points when you spend $2,000 in the first three months.
When you open an Ascend card, not only do you get a hefty welcome bonus: you also get complimentary Gold status. That comes with a suite of useful benefits, including late check-out, free water bottles during stays, and more. Plus, you'll get free breakfast during your stay, and you'll be eligible for a room upgrade, assuming there's a free room available.
The Ascend earns 12x points on Hilton purchases, 6x points at restaurants, gas stations, and supermarkets - all within the US - and 3x points on everything else.
Between the 125,000-point welcome bonus, and the fact that the Ascend card offers a free weekend night when you spend $15,000 on it within a calendar year, you've got the makings of a nice long hotel stay without having to pay.
The card also comes with 10 free day passes to Priority Pass airport lounges, and offers a free weekend night when you spend $15,000 on it within a calendar year. The Ascend has a $95 annual fee, but chances are the benefits will offset that for you.
Click here to learn more about the Hilton Ascend Card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.
6. Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Welcome offer: 125,000 Hilton Honors points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months.
In terms of benefits, the small business Hilton card is almost the same as the Ascend card. It comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, offers a free weekend night when you spend $15,000 in a calendar year, and comes with 10 free Priority Pass lounge visits annually. It also has a $95 annual fee.
It has two differences from the Ascend, however. First, you'll earn a second free weekend night certificate after spending $60,000 within a calendar year.
Second, the earning rates are a bit different to reflect business spending. You'll get 12x points per dollar spent at Hilton properties, 6x points on select business travel and purchases, and 3x points on everything else.
Those select business travel and purchases that earn 6x points include:
- Flights booked directly with airlines or AmEx Travel
- Car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies
- US restaurants
- US gas stations
- Cell phone services purchased directly from US service providers
- US purchases for shipping
Also note that you'll have to spend a total of $3,000 in the first three months to earn the bonus - the Ascend only requires $2,000 in the first three months.
7. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Welcome offer: 150,000 Hilton Honors points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
The premium Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card has a hefty $450 annual fee, but it comes with so many perks, benefits, and rebates that it's more than worth paying for Hilton loyalists - or even brand-agnostic hotel guests.
In addition to an airline fee credit up to $250 per calendar year and up to a $250 Hilton resort statement credit each card member year, the Aspire also offers up to a $100 Hilton on-property credit every time you book a stay of two nights or longer at a luxury Hilton property - you just need to book through a specific website for cardholders.
The card also offers a free weekend night reward each year - regardless of how much you spend - and a second if you spend $60,000 on the card in a calendar year. It also comes with complimentary Diamond status.
The Aspire earns a tremendous 14x points per dollar spent with Hilton, 7x points on flights booked with the airline, car rentals, and at US restaurants, and 3x points on everything else.
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