The Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card overview
When you’re after an elevated lodge expertise, particularly at Ritz-Carlton motels, the Ritz-Carlton™ Credit score Card is right here to supply Marriott Gold Elite standing, an annual free night time reward, club-level room improve certificates and extra. The one approach to get this card is to product change from an present Marriott card, however it’s fairly a course of. When you’re devoted to finishing up the steps wanted, the cardboard generally is a worthwhile funding. Card ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card ranking is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
The data for the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Marriott is the world’s largest lodge model, and it has an intensive household of bank cards throughout two issuers, Chase and American Categorical.
Nonetheless, arguably its greatest card and among the best journey rewards playing cards general, the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card, shouldn’t be obtainable to new candidates. Regardless of that, there’s nonetheless a approach you may get your palms on it.
This card has a comparatively excessive annual payment of $450, however many advantages can assist offset that value.
To get this card, it’s essential to maintain an eligible Chase Marriott bank card for at the least 12 months. The really useful credit score rating for the Marriott-Chase household of playing cards is 670, however getting authorised with a decrease rating shouldn’t be unusual.
Let’s leap into whether or not it’s best to add the Ritz-Carlton card to your pockets.
Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card professionals and cons
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Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card welcome provide
The cardboard is closed to new candidates, so there isn’t any welcome provide.
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It is necessary to notice that you just will not be eligible to open the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Categorical® Card in case you’ve held the Ritz-Carlton card prior to now 30 days. Earlier than requesting a change to the Ritz-Carlton card, you would possibly need to take into account opening the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible.
As a part of their bank card technique, a number of TPG staffers carry each playing cards of their wallets.
Eligible playing cards that may be transformed into the Ritz-Carlton card after 12 months of being a cardholder embrace the Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card (see charges and charges), Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card (see charges and charges) and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit score Card. You could contact Chase to request a product change.
The data for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
For the reason that Ritz-Carlton card is a Visa Infinite card, the Marriott bank card you might be product altering from should have a minimal credit score line of at the least $10,000.
Better of all, since you are not making use of for a brand new card and as a substitute doing a product change, you wouldn’t have to fret about Chase’s 5/24 rule or getting a tough pull in your credit score report.
Associated: Are you eligible for a brand new Marriott Bonvoy card? This chart tells you sure or no
Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card advantages
The Ritz-Carlton card has a plethora of advantages that may give you substantial worth and simply assist offset the annual payment. Its Marriott-focused advantages embrace:
- 15 elite night time credit per yr: You will obtain 15 elite night time credit each calendar yr, making it simpler to achieve a better elite standing tier.
- Annual free night time award: You will obtain an annual free night time award every anniversary yr, price as much as 85,000 factors. In keeping with TPG’s August 2025 valuations, 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors are price $595, which, if totally used, greater than covers the annual payment. The free night time award will be topped up with an additional 15,000 Bonvoy factors out of your Marriott account. You may get distinctive worth from these awards in case you redeem them at luxurious properties in Southeast Asia, like Malaysia’s The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi.
- Computerized Marriott Bonvoy elite standing: You will obtain complimentary Gold Elite standing. Perks embrace 25% bonus earnings, 2 p.m. late checkout (when obtainable), room upgrades (based mostly on availability) and a welcome present upon arrival. You’ll be able to fast-track your approach to Platinum Elite standing by spending $75,000 on the cardboard on purchases yearly. Nonetheless, you may almost certainly be higher off paying to remain a further 35 nights at Marriott properties moderately than spending $75,000 on this card to achieve Platinum standing.
- Ritz-Carlton club-level improve certificates: You will obtain three certificates every calendar yr for upgrades to club-level rooms. Every certificates is legitimate for a club-level improve on an eligible paid keep of as much as seven nights. Not all Ritz-Carlton properties have a membership degree. Be sure you verify the Ritz-Carlton web site to see eligible properties.
These are first rate advantages for a cobranded lodge bank card, however nothing spectacular. The Marriott Bonvoy Sensible may be a more sensible choice, because it gives Platinum Elite standing and a few elevated advantages, like 25 elite night time credit and the flexibility to earn an Earned Alternative Award every calendar yr.
The Ritz-Carlton card additionally gives a number of travel-oriented perks that assist cut back journey prices and make your holidays extra pleasant. These advantages embrace:
- $300 annual airline credit score: You will obtain an annual $300 airline credit score. The credit score is broadly outlined and can be utilized on purchases like checked baggage charges, inflight Wi-Fi, seat upgrades and lounge entry. This isn’t an computerized credit score; it’s essential to name the quantity on the again of your card and ask Chase to use it to eligible purchases. This may be barely inconvenient, however nonetheless, this credit score offsets greater than half of the annual payment.
- Lounge entry: You will get a Precedence Cross℠ Choose membership, which supplies you limitless entry to greater than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide. Distinctive to the cardboard is the flexibility to carry limitless visitors to lounges. You will even have limitless entry to Chase Sapphire Lounges with limitless visitor privileges. Approved customers additionally obtain a Precedence Cross membership.
- World Entry credit score: You will obtain a $120 assertion credit score on your World Entry utility payment each 4 years.
- Automotive rental standing, upgrades and reductions: Since it is a Visa Infinite card, you may obtain Avis Most well-liked Plus and Nationwide Emerald Membership Govt standing. This perk additionally gives reductions and upgrades when reserving rental automobiles with Avis and Nationwide.
As a Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges) cardholder, I discover the Ritz-Carlton card’s lounge entry, automotive rental elite standing and an announcement credit score for World Entry to be fairly much like what the Sapphire Reserve already affords.
The principle distinction is that the Sapphire Reserve gives a versatile $300 annual journey credit score that can be utilized towards something that codes as a journey buy. This can be a enormous perk for me, because it permits me to make use of the credit score on a wide range of journey purchases.
Better of all, as a Visa Infinite card, the Ritz-Carlton card comes with the next journey protections:
- Major automotive rental insurance coverage: You are eligible for main collision insurance coverage that gives reimbursement of as much as $75,000 for theft and injury to rental automobiles within the U.S. and overseas.
- Misplaced baggage reimbursement: When you or an instantaneous member of the family verify or stick with it baggage that’s broken or misplaced by the airline, you are coated for as much as $3,000 per passenger.
- Journey delay reimbursement: In case your widespread service journey is delayed greater than six hours or requires an in a single day keep, you and your loved ones are coated for unreimbursed bills, equivalent to meals and lodging, as much as $500 per ticket.
- Journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage: In case your journey is canceled or minimize quick attributable to sickness, extreme climate or different eligible coated conditions, you will be reimbursed for as much as $10,000 per particular person and as much as $20,000 per journey on your eligible journey bills.
- Baggage delay insurance coverage: In case your baggage is delayed over six hours, you may obtain as much as $100 a day for as much as 5 days for important purchases like toiletries and clothes.
Further advantages for you embrace entry to J.P. Morgan Premier Concierge, no international transaction charges and the flexibility so as to add licensed customers for no further value. The journey protections are similar to these of the Sapphire Reserve, however the upside of the Ritz-Carlton card is the choice so as to add licensed customers for no further value.
Plus, the Sapphire Reserve prices over $300 extra every year than the Ritz-Carlton card.
Associated: Greatest Marriott motels on the earth
Incomes factors on the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card
Ritz-Carlton cardholders will earn factors in a number of bonus classes. These embrace:
- 6 factors per greenback spent on Marriott purchases
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places, automotive leases and airfare booked straight with an airline
- 2 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Plus, due to the cardboard’s computerized Marriott Gold Elite standing, you may earn 12.5 factors per greenback spent on Marriott stays, for a complete of 18.5 factors per greenback spent on most Marriott stays (Prolonged keep properties earn factors at a decrease charge). You’ll be able to earn much more you probably have a better elite standing.
Based mostly on our valuations, this equates to a return on spending of at the least 13% on most Marriott purchases; 2.1% on eating, automotive leases and airfare; and 1.4% on all different purchases.
Though the Ritz-Carlton card’s incomes potential appears pretty excessive, the low worth of Marriott Bonvoy factors performs an enormous issue.
In keeping with our August 2025 valuations, Marriott Bonvoy factors are price 0.7 cents every. That is almost thrice lower than Chase Final Rewards factors, for instance, that are price 2.05 cents apiece (in keeping with TPG’s August 2025 valuations) and switch to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio.
In comparison with the Ritz-Carlton card’s 2.1% return on eating purchases, the Sapphire Reserve provides you a roughly 6.2% return, for instance.
Provided that, it is price contemplating whether or not making eating purchases and reserving automotive leases and airfare on the Ritz-Carlton bank card is one of the simplest ways to construct your factors stability.
If Chase is not your most popular issuer, playing cards just like the American Categorical® Gold Card and the Bilt Mastercard® (see charges and charges)* provide higher returns in your spending for sure bonus classes than this card. They, too, earn factors that switch to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio.
That stated, it may very well be price it to place Marriott purchases on the Ritz-Carlton card to maximise earnings in that class.
*TPG’s Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.
Associated: Your full information to incomes Marriott Bonvoy factors
Redeeming factors on the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card
There are a number of methods to redeem Bonvoy factors on the Ritz-Carlton card. You’ll be able to redeem them for lodge stays, airline tickets, automotive leases, cruises, present playing cards and merchandise.
Redeeming your factors for lodge stays usually gives one of the best worth. Marriott has greater than 9,000 properties in over 140 nations unfold among the many 35-plus manufacturers in its portfolio.
I’ve discovered that Marriott factors provide one of the best worth for redemptions in locations just like the Center East or Asia. Not too long ago, TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson redeemed 37,000 Bonvoy factors per night time for a keep on the St. Regis Belgrade.
You can too use Marriott’s Keep for five, Pay for 4 perk, which lets you get your fifth night time free when redeeming factors for 5 consecutive nights on a single reservation on the similar lodge.
This profit provides you the most cost effective award night time without cost for each 5 consecutive nights. That is routinely utilized when reserving, so it requires no additional effort and is an efficient excuse to increase any lodge keep by one further day.
Associated: 8 locations to maximise an 85,000-point Marriott award night time certificates
Transferring factors on the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card
Marriott Bonvoy factors earned by way of the Ritz-Carlton card will be transferred to Marriott’s 35-plus airline companions, equivalent to United Airways MileagePlus, American Airways AAdvantage and Southwest Airways Speedy Rewards.
Whereas that is usually not one of the simplest ways to redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors, there are occasions when transferring Bonvoy factors to airline companions may make sense.
Most companions enable transfers at a 3:1 ratio and provide 5,000 bonus factors for each 60,000 Bonvoy factors you switch. Because of Marriott’s most popular partnership with United Airways, you may obtain a bonus 10,000 miles for each 60,000 Bonvoy factors you switch while you’re a United MileagePlus member.
I’ve amassed almost 800,000 Bonvoy factors, and I am considering transferring them to an airline. The motels and journey dates I have been eyeing have me second-guessing whether or not utilizing my Bonvoy factors for motels is a worthwhile redemption.
It is necessary to notice that transfers can take three to 4 days, so in case you’re trying to e-book an award flight with a associate airline, ensure there’s loads of availability.
Associated: Marriott Bonvoy: The best way to earn and redeem factors, elite standing and extra
Which playing cards compete with the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card?
When you’re not a Marriott loyalist, there are another playing cards you would possibly need to take into account as a substitute of the Ritz-Carlton card.
- When you desire Hilton: The Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card is Hilton’s prime card. It has a $550 annual payment and affords many comparable advantages to the Ritz-Carlton card, together with varied assertion credit, an annual free night time reward and computerized elite standing. This card additionally has higher returns on bonus class spending. To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Hilton Amex Aspire.
- If you wish to earn transferable factors: The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with a $795 annual payment and affords comparable premium advantages to the Ritz-Carlton card. It earns Chase Final Rewards factors as a substitute of Marriott Bonvoy factors and has entry to Chase’s spectacular roster of switch companions, together with Marriott. To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Sapphire Reserve.
- If you’d like a lower-annual-fee Marriott card: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless has a $95 annual payment and comes with a free night time award and Silver Elite standing, making this card simple to maintain yr after yr. Nonetheless, it lacks most of the premium advantages discovered on the Ritz-Carlton card. To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Bonvoy Boundless.
The data for the Hilton Honors Aspire card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
For added choices, try our full checklist of one of the best lodge bank cards and one of the best Marriott bank cards.
Associated: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve definitely worth the annual payment?
Is the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card price it?
When you’re like me and keep at Ritz-Carltons or different Marriott properties, then this card is certainly price having in your pockets. The annual free night time award, on-property advantages, elite standing advantages and varied credit give it strong worth. However in case you do not stay at Marriott properties usually or desire incomes transferable factors for extra versatile redemptions, then I say this card shouldn’t be the appropriate match for you.
Backside line
The Ritz-Carlton card will be a superb addition to your pockets. With nice perks like a free night time award, $300 journey credit score and Ritz-Carlton club-level improve certificates, its $450 annual payment generally is a worthwhile funding.
My most important journey card, the Sapphire Reserve, gives many overlapping advantages. When you have a premium card just like the Sapphire Reserve, ensure to match advantages to see how a lot worth the Ritz-Carlton card actually brings to your pockets.
If you’d like Marriott elite standing and presently do not have a card that gives lounge entry or journey assertion credit, the Ritz-Carlton card is an efficient possibility. Nonetheless, you may solely make a product change to this card in case you’ve held an eligible Marriott Bonvoy card for at the least 12 months.
Associated: How to decide on a lodge bank card
For charges and charges of the Bilt Mastercard, click on right here.
For rewards and advantages of the Bilt Mastercard, click on right here.
