Keep both! You're getting value from both of them and have been able to use the credits and free nights on each card.
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
They just might be my best option. But I gotta get rid of some of these annual fees.
@CesarJoel7 ай бұрын
Keep that Hilton Aspire 👑 is by far the best hotel card in the game.
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
I agree. But even with my traveling situation I mentioned, you think I should keep that one?
@CesarJoel7 ай бұрын
@@ScottLeRay yeah, a lot easier to justify and get positive value. 14 nights is a good amount of Hilton stays.
@biancas8087 ай бұрын
Great video. I’m interested in going to Tanzania and Namibia myself. But, it seems like the Marriott card will be more beneficial for you. Specifically for your travels in Africa since it has a larger footprint. Have you thought about downgrading to the Surpass? You can cash out the quarterly $50 credit by getting a gift card and using those for your hotel stays. May be a bit more tedious, but can be beneficial.
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Thanks. You'll love both Tanzania and Namibia. I'm actually going back to Tanzania in May. Yes, I've thought about downgrading to the Surpass...but if I can't get those free room upgrades, then I'm not sure if I would want to go that route. Hard decision.
@ranktank457 ай бұрын
You can still get them at gold. Honestly internationally you should still see decent success with upgrades even at gold.
@De_Guatemala7 ай бұрын
Hotel cards with AFN are usually keepers. I have received more and better upgrades as a Marriott Platinum than as a Hilton Diamond. I have the Ritz-Carlton card and the AMEX Marriott business, mainly for Alaska and Hawaii trips.
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Usually I get more upgrades with Hilton, but this year it's been different.
@nubianpwr7 ай бұрын
I too have found the Marriott Platinum status is just worth more
@Cooooles7 ай бұрын
Are you close to lifetime platinum? Could be worth keeping for a couple years if you’re not sure you can hit it organically
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
No, unfortunately I'm not.
@aaronbinner56936 ай бұрын
I’ve heard mixed from different people. But I would 100% cancel the aspire. I’ve been upgraded a total of twice in 4 years holding this card. Granted most of my travel is domestic, I’ve stayed at many higher end properties and have been told there is no upgrades with no people in sight. The food and beverage credit also is a hassle most times if you travel with more than 1 person. I’ve very rarely have this experience with Marriotts.
@ScottLeRay6 ай бұрын
Good info! Thanks for sharing
@chadpennycuff7 ай бұрын
I’d cancel both and kept the plat for Status, lounges and all the perks that easily offset the $695 AF.
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Wow. Good one!
@Elricky1245 ай бұрын
Keep Hilton Aspire, Sapphire Reserved and Altitude Reserve unless you value Marriott more, keep the Brilliant and also add the American Airlines in addition the already recommended ones if you value AA perks.
@ScottLeRay5 ай бұрын
🫡
@DreLBrown5297 ай бұрын
New design, increased annual fee ($195), and no more Priority Pass for the Hilton Honors Business. The ability to use my 10 complementary .Priority Pass access as guest passes was one of the things I found useful and really liked about this card. Now that they have taken away this Priority Pass benefit, i’m definitely canceling this card.
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
If it no longer brings you value, I totally understand. Especially after that annual fee raise.
@Leoprieto747 ай бұрын
If I needed to cancel 2 cards out of those 6 premium travel cards I would cancel first the US Bank Altitude Reserve and then the Citi Prestige. The Sapphire Reserve, Marriott Brilliant, and Hilton Aspire I will keep them till death do us part. The Citi AAdvantage Executive will try to keep it as long as I can. Happy Friday 🍻
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Till death do us part!!!!
@DCGEMINI2026 ай бұрын
The altitude reserve is one of the best cards though. Way better then the AA card
@Leoprieto746 ай бұрын
@@DCGEMINI202 Access to Admiral Club Lounges is important for me. This is the main reason I have the Citi AA Executive.
@DCGEMINI2026 ай бұрын
@@Leoprieto74 AA lounges aren’t that nice of a lounge when compared to delta, centurion, Virgin Atlantic, plaza premium etc lounges The altitude reserve gives you around 300 towards United flights. Thats just as good as the csr
@Leoprieto746 ай бұрын
@@DCGEMINI202 I agree with you about the Admiral Club not being too nice. However, AA is upgrading (remodeling) their lounges. I have been to a couple of the new ones and they are really nice.
@phoenixfats11907 ай бұрын
The brilliant is a keep or cancel card (bevy doesnt count imo). The hilton card can be downgraded to no annual fee. I would suggest downgrading the cards that will get less use. No need to cancel.
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Thanks for the feedback
@PointsBlankTravel7 ай бұрын
Great video Scott! Solid comparison.
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Thanks fam
@ranktank457 ай бұрын
You could keep the aspire and downgrade the brilliant to the $95 Marriott card with amex. You can't apply for it new but you can product change into it. Also since you already have 20 nights stayed plus the 25 you get from the brilliant you are close to platinum any way. so another 5 nights will get you over the hump and keep your benefits.
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Great points!!!!
@jimmyjames64927 ай бұрын
Tough one. AMEX Hilton Aspire is 🥇🥇🥇 BUT - considering your travel and that Marriott is more widely available in Africa it probably makes more sense to keep the AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant 😢😢😢 Thanks for the info + video
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Thanks Jimmy. Going to be tough.
@nubianpwr7 ай бұрын
I too have traveled in Africa several times, and for my $$ it's Marriot Bonvoy Brilliant all the way. It costs more, but you get more. Having both cards, I value the Marriot Platinum status above Hilton Diamond - not even a close race😄 The range of properties, upgrades, and customer support is better with Marriott. In the US, Diamond is a joke. Great content👍🏾
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Thanks for the insight!
@WhiteoutSnowy7 ай бұрын
I would keep the brilliant since I like food lol ( $25 monthly food credits )
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Lol. I'm a big foodie too.
@islandsunshine59717 ай бұрын
Great video keep the hilton aspire cance marriott
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Thanks
@kura_bot7 ай бұрын
Seems like you should keep the Aspire between those two so that is what I am voting for
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Thanks Kura
@seanly2747 ай бұрын
Keep the Hilton Aspire! Diamond status goes far overseas
@ScottLeRay7 ай бұрын
Ain't that the truth
@DCGEMINI2026 ай бұрын
Easy decision, Trash the brilliant card and keep the aspire. How long u been in the credit card game? Just found ur channel. Not to many military people making these type of videos
@ScottLeRay6 ай бұрын
What's up fam. You would trash the Brilliant considering the part I discussed at the end of the video about my future travel? But to answer your question, I've been in the points and miles game about 7 or 8 years now if I had to guess.
@DCGEMINI2026 ай бұрын
@@ScottLeRay yea man. You could always use your CSR to book a marriott. Yea you’ll lose status but the aspire offers way to much to get ride of first. The $400 in the United club perk the aspire offers can help pay for the flight alone. The brilliant can’t do that