Ritz-Carlton Credit Card review: Should you book a spot in your wallet for this card?

One of the best premium hotel credit cards is hiding in plain sight.

The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card offers outsize perks like an annual free night award worth up to 85,000 points (certain hotels have resort fees), automatic Marriott Gold elite status and club-level upgrades. But you've got to actually use those perks to make it worth paying the $450 annual fee.

The information for the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card offers one of the richest benefits packages of any travel rewards card and lucrative earning opportunities on everyday spending. But because you can only get it by "upgrading" from another Marriott cobranded credit card from Chase, most travelers might not even be aware it exists. The card closed to new applications way back in 2018.

If you're a Marriott Bonvoy devotee and like fancy hotel stays, though, you should get to know this under-the-radar credit card and think about whether it's right for you. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Ritz-Carlton Credit Card: The basics

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card remains one of the most valuable hotel credit cards despite no longer being open to new applicants. Its premium travel perks, including annual travel credits, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and valuable free night awards, can easily outweigh the annual fee for frequent Marriott guests and travelers who take advantage of its benefits.

Let's just get it out of the way; this is an expensive card to carry. The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card's annual fee is $450.

But for all that, you do get a lot of valuable benefits.

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And for Marriott loyalists who qualify through a product change, it's still one of the best hotel cards you can carry.

Ritz-Carlton Credit Card pros and cons

How do you get the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card?

Marriott currently offers half a dozen cobranded credit cards from both American Express and Chase. Because there's a lot of overlap among these products, you should be aware of eligibility rules if applying for one or more of them, or you might miss out on a lucrative welcome bonus.

Unfortunately, the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card does not offer a welcome bonus of its own, and you don't exactly apply for it in a traditional sense, but it might still be worth getting because of the benefits we'll dive into below.

Open another Chase Marriott credit card

So, how exactly do you get the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card? First, you've got to open another Chase Marriott card, including one of the following:

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees)
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees)
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit Card

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Wait a year, then call Chase

Then, after you've had it for at least 12 months, you can call your credit card's customer service number and request to upgrade to the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card. You don't need to be invited to do so, and you don't need any sort of special code or information. Just call and ask.

Before you do, though, you should make sure your credit score is 670 or above. There are reports that you also need to have a credit line of $10,000 or more with Chase to be considered.

No credit pull, no Chase 5/24 impact

An upgrade generally does not count as a new account opening, so Chase should not need to pull a new inquiry on your credit report, and your credit score should not be affected by the process. What's more, because you're technically not opening a new account, getting the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card should not count as one of the slots for Chase's 5/24 rule.

Other application restrictions

There is, however, one final restriction to be aware of. You won't be eligible for the welcome offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card if you've held the Ritz-Carlton card in the past 30 days.

The best strategy here would be to get the Brilliant first and then upgrade to the Ritz-Carlton card rather than opening the Ritz-Carlton card before applying for the Brilliant.

Otherwise, you'd have to close your Ritz-Carlton card, wait at least 30 days, then apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant if you decide to open that card instead and want to earn its welcome offer.

Related: Are you eligible for a new Marriott Bonvoy card? This chart tells you yes or no

Ritz-Carlton Credit Card benefits

Among the main hotel- and other travel-related benefits the Ritz-Carlton Credit card offers, these are the most valuable.

Annual free night award

Each card after your account anniversary, you'll receive a free night award worth up to 85,000 points, which you can then "top up" with up to 25,000 additional points (certain hotels have resort fees).

That's more than enough for a night at some luxurious Marriott hotels, including the swanky St. Regis Hong Kong, where you'd otherwise be paying upward of $555 per night, meaning you could more than make up for the card's annual fee from the value of this benefit alone.

Related: 6 places to maximize an 85,000-point Marriott award night certificate

Automatic Marriott Gold elite status

Cardholders automatically get Marriott Gold elite status, which normally requires staying 25 nights or more each year and confers benefits like a 25% bonus on earning points on stays, availability-based room upgrades and 2 p.m. late checkout.

Cardholders are also credited with 15 elite night credits each calendar year toward achieving a higher status level.

Finally, cardholders can unlock Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status by spending $75,000 or more on purchases with the card in a calendar year.

Ritz-Carlton Club upgrades

Cardholders receive three certificates each year for upgrades to club-level rooms on eligible paid stays of up to seven nights at Ritz-Carlton properties with club levels. This often means access to lounges with meal service, drinks and snacks throughout the day, dedicated staff members and concierges and more.

To use these, you've got to call Ritz-Carlton reservations at 1-800-542-8680 and apply them to each stay.

$300 annual airline credit

This is another great credit that can offset a huge portion of the card's annual fee just on its own. Each account year, cardholders can earn up to $300 in credits toward airline purchases like seat selection, checked bag fees, inflight Wi-Fi, food and beverages and lounge membership or passes. You can't use it for airfare, though.

The hitch is, these credits won't be applied automatically. You've got to call Chase at 1-855-896-2222 and ask for them to be credited against applicable charges.

$100 hotel credit

Those with the Ritz-Carlton card get a $100 credit for qualifying charges on dining, the spa or other activities on qualifying paid stays of two nights or more at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels. This is valid only on member, non-discounted rates, but there's no limit to the number of times you can take advantage of this.

Airport lounge access

With the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card, cardholders and authorized users are automatically enrolled for Priority Pass Select membership, which includes access to more than 1,900 airport lounges worldwide.

Also worth noting, cardholders can access Chase Sapphire Lounges along with up to two guests.

Global Entry credit

Cardholders receive a statement credit of up to $120 once every four years when they use the card to pay for a Global Entry application.

Car rental status and upgrades

Thanks to the fact that the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card is a Visa Infinite, cardholders can register for complimentary Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz Gold+ Rewards and National Emerald Club Executive status, which also confers discounts and upgrades when booking rental cars with Avis and National.

Travel protections

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card provides robust travel protections that include:

• Primary car rental insurance
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Baggage delay insurance

Other benefits: Additional cardholders and no forex fees

Finally, this card is unique among premium travel rewards credit cards in that you can add authorized users for no additional cost, and they can enjoy some of its benefits, including lounge access.

Other than that, those who travel abroad frequently should appreciate the fact that the card does not charge foreign transaction fees.

How to earn and use your rewards

Earning points on the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card earns points at the following rates:

• 6 points per dollar spent at Marriott hotels
• 3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants, car rentals and airline purchases
• 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases

Thanks to the automatic Gold status afforded by the card, cardholders earn 12.5 points per dollar spent on Marriott stays, bringing their grand total up to 18.5 points per dollar spent on most stays (not at some of the more budget brands), assuming they use their card to pay.

Redeeming points on the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card

There are several ways to redeem the Marriott Bonvoy points you earn with the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card, including for hotel stays, flights, car rentals, cruises and gift cards.

However, redeeming your points for Marriott hotel stays will typically provide the best value. Marriott's portfolio includes more than 9,000 properties across more than 30 brands in over 140 countries, giving you plenty of options whether you're looking for a budget-friendly stay or a luxury resort.

We've consistently found that Marriott points can deliver especially strong value at high-end properties in regions such as Asia and the Middle East.

Marriott's extensive luxury portfolio, including Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Edition, JW Marriott and W Hotels, also gives members opportunities to redeem points for stays that might otherwise cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per night.

TPG principal spokesperson Clint Henderson recently redeemed 365,000 Marriott points to book his brother and his three kids at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort in June for four nights.

Since Marriott uses dynamic award pricing, the number of points required for a free night varies based on factors like demand and cash rates. It's worth comparing several travel dates before booking, as shifting your stay by a day or two could require significantly fewer points for the same room type.

If you're booking an award stay of five consecutive nights, Marriott's Stay for 5, Pay for 4 benefit automatically gives you the lowest-priced award night free, making longer stays an even better value. To maximize your points, look for stays where the redemption value exceeds TPG's monthly valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points.

Transferring points from the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card

Since the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card earns Marriott Bonvoy points, you can transfer them to the program's airline partners, including American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards and United Airlines MileagePlus.

Points transfer to most partners at a 3:1 ratio; for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer, you get a 5,000 airline mile bonus. In other words, if you transfer 60,000 Marriott points to an airline, you end up with 25,000 miles in most cases.

Marriott actually has a special partnership with United Airlines, where you receive 10,000 bonus miles instead of 5,000, so for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer, you end up with 30,000 United miles.

Related: Why I'm transferring my Marriott Bonvoy points to an airline for the first time

Where the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card falls short

The biggest drawback of the Ritz-Carlton card is that it's no longer open to new applicants, meaning you'll need to product change from an eligible Chase Marriott card you've held for at least 12 months to get it.

The card's $450 annual fee is also a significant investment. While its annual travel credit, free night award and premium travel protections can more than offset the cost, those perks provide the most value to frequent Marriott guests.

Also, keep in mind Marriott Bonvoy points generally have a lower value than flexible rewards currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, making this a less compelling card for travelers who aren't loyal to Marriott.

If you don't regularly stay with Marriott or travel enough to maximize the card's benefits, a lower-fee hotel card or a flexible travel rewards card may be a better fit.

Ritz-Carlton Credit Card versus Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

There are several high-end credit cards that compete with the Ritz-Carlton card.

The most direct comparison is probably with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant since it is Marriott's other premium card.

Here's a snapshot of how the two cards compare.

The Ritz-Carlton card's annual fee of $450 is expensive, but still lower than the Brilliant's $650.

If you stay at Ritz-Carltons a lot and can use those club-level upgrades, that perk alone is probably worth considering the card for, but if you play the field of Marriott brands, the Bonvoy Brilliant's automatic Platinum status can help you upgrade stays at far more hotels.

The Ritz-Carlton card's airline incidental fee credit might be easier to use for some folks than the Brilliant's up to $25 monthly dining statement credit, which you have to remember to use every month.

So, really, it comes down to your personal travel habits and which card's benefits you'll be able to maximize.

Related: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex card review

Is the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card worth it?

To make the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card worth it, you must take full advantage of its benefits, most notably, the annual free night award (certain hotels have resort fees), the $300 airline incidental fee credit and the perks of Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.

Even more than that, though, Ritz-Carlton should probably be the Marriott brand you stay at the most since two of its main perks — club-level upgrades and a $100 stay credit on eligible rates — are predicated on Ritz-Carlton (and St. Regis, in the case of the $100 credit) stays.

If you don't have another card that gets you airport lounge access, that's another great reason to consider this card.

Related: The best credit cards for airport lounge access

Other cards to consider if you don't want the Ritz-Carlton Card

All that said, here are a few other options to consider if the Ritz-Carlton card isn't the right fit for you:

• If you stay periodically with Hilton: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a great choice for those who stay with Hilton at least a couple of times each year. Its near-top-tier complimentary Diamond status is a strong rival to the Ritz-Carlton card's Gold elite status. To learn more, check out our full review of the Hilton Aspire.
• If you want a flexible premium card with Chase: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) is one of our favorite premium cards, offering a variety of statement credits to offset its $795 annual fee. You'll still receive a Priority Pass lounge membership and Sapphire lounge access with this card. To learn more, check out our full review of the Sapphire Reserve.
• If you want a transferable rewards card that offers Marriott status: The American Express Platinum Card® offers complimentary Marriott Gold elite status (enrollment required). It earns Membership Rewards points; as transferable rewards, Membership Rewards are a lot more flexible than Marriott Bonvoy points. To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.

For additional options, check out our picks for the top hotel cards and top Marriott cards.

Bottom line

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card is an unsung hero when it comes to premium hotel cards, probably because it's a bit mysterious and you can't apply for it outright.

That said, it offers plenty of great perks, from an annual free night award (certain hotels have resort fees), automatic elite status, upgrade certificates and more.

Before you upgrade another Chase Marriott card to the Ritz-Carlton one, think through which benefits you'll actually take advantage of and if the suite of perks offered by the more expensive Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant might make more sense.

Related: The award traveler's guide to Marriott Bonvoy

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, please click here.