Question
Tell me: Assuming you could choose which property to use for vacation travel, what is a better value? I like the current Marriott Visa promo of 15K points and $100 Marriott money. But in terms of hotel rewards and flights, what program is more valuable, flexible, and/or better redemption value?
Answer
For the higher end properties, the Marriott card has trouble stacking up. Using just the "spend" calculation to figure how much you need on your CC to earn a free night. It takes a lot more charges to get to a free night using Marriott's card than it does Hilton.
Then again Marriott has always been a "stay" redemption chain, rather than a "spend" chain like Starwood.
Ken in Phx
Answer
Also, the Marriott Visa Signature has an annual fee after the first year, while the Amex HHonors does not. You might want to take that into consideration.
HHonors also offers a Visa Signature Card through Citibank with no annual fee, so if you really want to stack up those points get both cards! Of course the Amex offers more points per dollar spent, but you can use Visa where Amex is not accepted. I also believe the Visa Signature card also offers 10,000 points after first purchase and free Silver VIP status for the first year.
Answer
Sounds like the Hilton Honors is better than Marriott rewards. Futhermore, the Hilton Amex card rewards better than the Hilton Signature Visa.
Only reason I considered Marriott Business Visa was the current promotion of 15000 points and $100 Marriott bucks, plus it's a business card (debt reports to my small business credit report, not to my personal credit report). Don't need another Amex card, as I already have a Starwood Amex and a Costco Small Business True Earnings Amex (for Dining).