I would disagree with needing to go all in on Marriott to justify the Ritz and Brilliant. With the Ritz you are essentially buying a 85K FNC for $150 and with the Brilliant it would be for $350. Considering these properties generally go for $500+ per night, you are essentially buying $1K worth of stay for $500 plus breakfast included for 2 nights. That breakfast at the higher end properties is generally $70 per night (2 guests) which is another $140 in value. All in you are paying $500 for $1,140 value which seems like a win in my books.
Until we get Bonvoyed. Devaluation after devaluation means need to use 85k FNC at a mid tier property and can't at luxury anymore. Try looking at booking a luxury Marriott nowadays. 120k, 140k, 200k.
Yeah, I think that’s a valid point. I personally just use them for the FNAs and top up if needed. Because of devaluations, it’s usually necessary at this point, unfortunately.
Question: If I wanted to get all 3 Hilton Cards in one year would I be able to get the welcome offer on all of them if I applied for the Aspire first? Or do I have to get them in ascending order to get all the bonuses?
I asked you specifically this question because out of all the TH-camrs I watch for credit cards I see on the 50+ videos of yours I have probably watched that you like and respond to almost everyone and you liked my comment in less than 1 minute and I’m guessing your responding right now
@@TheCreditFrog thanks for the quick response. I’m usually a delta loyalist but using your tips I looked around and found a deal to London England and was able to book a virgin altantic flight from ATL to LHR one way for 10,000 Amex points each a almost 7¢ per point value for my families Europe trip next year. Love the videos and all the tips
Great video! For the AMEX platinum card can you buy gift cards with the Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection to trigger the annual hotel credit and combine gifts cards for booking hotel later?
I would go with the Hilton Surpass, allowing for a SUB in the Aspire later should he choose to. A great card at $15K spend, and it covers grocery and gas.
Congrats on the new card!! 🎉. With the Brilliant, I would go with the Bonvoy Business next, then 2 years after you get the welcome offer for the Bonvoy Business, get the Boundless card, which can then be PC'ed into the RC card for Marriott. For Hilton, I would start with the no annual fee HH card and work your way up!
@@TheCreditFrog so you recommend now I go for Amex Hilton honors no fee + Amex Marriott biz right. Also I have have back button trick to bypass family rule so I could get welcome bonus on bevy which I would have missed right
@TheCreditFrog so you would recommend now I get Amex Hilton honors + Amex Marriot biz. I have also heard back button trick works to bypass family rules and can get bevy which I missed
for gas, you can get 3x points with the Marriott Brilliant card, unless he wants/needs chase points then business cash 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000 spent, while it's not 5x if they want to add to their setup for gas Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi if they use costco you get 4% cash back on gas and you get 2% on Costco purchases again that's only for Costco people if they want to get into Hilton start with the basic Hilton card Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. gas stations & U.S. supermarkets it really all depends on what you wanting to focus on as Captain planet would say THE POWER IS YOURS
Luke makes a great point on needing a sufficient amount of loyalty to justify the Brilliant card My question is what makes that more loyalist specific than the Hilton Aspire or for that matter what makes Marriott seem to demand more loyalty than Hilton to get value for someone who’s only a moderate traveler?
The only thing I can think of is the availability of properties. Hilton gets much better rewards for sure so if you have Hiltons at the places you want to go, then as a moderate traveler, that may be the better program!
@ thanks Stan, I just got back from a trip and used my free night award from my bold card and got my standard room upgraded to a suite with only silver status
If you guys could do more of these it would be awesome!!
We certainly plan to!
I'd roll with the Aspire. Hilton. For the Stay. Thanks for the info + video!
Of course, Jimmy James!
I would disagree with needing to go all in on Marriott to justify the Ritz and Brilliant. With the Ritz you are essentially buying a 85K FNC for $150 and with the Brilliant it would be for $350. Considering these properties generally go for $500+ per night, you are essentially buying $1K worth of stay for $500 plus breakfast included for 2 nights. That breakfast at the higher end properties is generally $70 per night (2 guests) which is another $140 in value. All in you are paying $500 for $1,140 value which seems like a win in my books.
Until we get Bonvoyed. Devaluation after devaluation means need to use 85k FNC at a mid tier property and can't at luxury anymore. Try looking at booking a luxury Marriott nowadays. 120k, 140k, 200k.
Yeah, I think that’s a valid point. I personally just use them for the FNAs and top up if needed. Because of devaluations, it’s usually necessary at this point, unfortunately.
@@TheUsflow Yeah, those much higher properties are out of reach now sadly 😢
Question:
If I wanted to get all 3 Hilton Cards in one year would I be able to get the welcome offer on all of them if I applied for the Aspire first? Or do I have to get them in ascending order to get all the bonuses?
You can apply in any order you choose! Family language has not yet been added to the Hilton lineup
I asked you specifically this question because out of all the TH-camrs I watch for credit cards I see on the 50+ videos of yours I have probably watched that you like and respond to almost everyone and you liked my comment in less than 1 minute and I’m guessing your responding right now
@@TheCreditFrog thanks for the quick response. I’m usually a delta loyalist but using your tips I looked around and found a deal to London England and was able to book a virgin altantic flight from ATL to LHR one way for 10,000 Amex points each a almost 7¢ per point value for my families Europe trip next year.
Love the videos and all the tips
Wow! Great redemption and nice work!
Great video! For the AMEX platinum card can you buy gift cards with the Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection to trigger the annual hotel credit and combine gifts cards for booking hotel later?
Thanks Alan! I don't think you can use gift cards to trigger the FHC/HC credit. You have to make booking using those programs.
I would go with the Hilton Surpass, allowing for a SUB in the Aspire later should he choose to. A great card at $15K spend, and it covers grocery and gas.
I agree. The Surpass has become the best all around Hilton card for most people!
When traveling to Japan do you use mostly credit cards to get points and rewards or use debit cards to maximize savings?
On my recent trip, I actually used mostly cash actually.
Cool cool I like the breakdown ! Intrigued to hear why Luke doesn’t like airline cards or the Hyatt card.
Thanks! Yeah, he explains that on his channel. Definitely go check it out!
Wyndham hotels here in Ca are just old run down motel 6-8. Maybe else where is better
That’s kind of why I don’t have Wyndham as a part of my hotel strategy!
I only have the bilt out of all these cards
Nice!
I got my first credit card as Brilliant in March 2024. Can you help me setup an ecosystem for hotel fna Marriot or Hilton
Congrats on the new card!! 🎉. With the Brilliant, I would go with the Bonvoy Business next, then 2 years after you get the welcome offer for the Bonvoy Business, get the Boundless card, which can then be PC'ed into the RC card for Marriott. For Hilton, I would start with the no annual fee HH card and work your way up!
@@TheCreditFrog so you recommend now I go for Amex Hilton honors no fee + Amex Marriott biz right. Also I have have back button trick to bypass family rule so I could get welcome bonus on bevy which I would have missed right
@TheCreditFrog so you would recommend now I get Amex Hilton honors + Amex Marriot biz. I have also heard back button trick works to bypass family rules and can get bevy which I missed
Ink Business Cash to buy visa gift cards at 5x for grocery and gas
Definitely an option!
Smartly 4% everything. I don't care if I'm leaving something on the table.
Simplicity at its finest!
for gas, you can get 3x points with the Marriott Brilliant card, unless he wants/needs chase points then business cash 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000 spent, while it's not 5x if they want to add to their setup for gas Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi if they use costco you get 4% cash back on gas and you get 2% on Costco purchases again that's only for Costco people
if they want to get into Hilton start with the basic Hilton card Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. gas stations & U.S. supermarkets
it really all depends on what you wanting to focus on as Captain planet would say THE POWER IS YOURS
For sure! It all depends on what you're looking for!
Cannot see my writing? Why
Sometimes YT auto-blocks comments. It’s out of my control.
Found out the issue has something to do with "dark mode" so until it is fixed I am using light mode! Thanks Stan!
Luke makes a great point on needing a sufficient amount of loyalty to justify the Brilliant card
My question is what makes that more loyalist specific than the Hilton Aspire or for that matter what makes Marriott seem to demand more loyalty than Hilton to get value for someone who’s only a moderate traveler?
The only thing I can think of is the availability of properties. Hilton gets much better rewards for sure so if you have Hiltons at the places you want to go, then as a moderate traveler, that may be the better program!
You have way to many rerun video’s of your live shows
Others like them! New videos incoming next week!
The lives are long, and I like having the shorter clips so I can find specific topics more easily.
First
@@AhmadKhwajazada congrats Ahmad! You are first!! 🏆🥇
Second
@@DaIton- Congrats Dalton! You are Second! 🥈
@ thanks Stan, I just got back from a trip and used my free night award from my bold card and got my standard room upgraded to a suite with only silver status
@ wow awesome Dalton!! I would call that a win - especially with Marriott!!