Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. Hilton Aspire in 2023 (BEST Hotel Card?!)

What is the TOP hotel and travel credit card for 2022 and 2023? Both the Hilton Honors Aspire and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant are at the top of the list, but with different annual fees, credits, and hotel chains, which one is better for YOU? In this video, we break down all the details of both cards, go over pros and cons, how the compare, and which one YOU should consider!
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[@xXCerpicoXx]

I love this comparison... as someone that presently has both Diamond Status with Hilton and Platinum Elite with Marriott, I will have to respectfully disagree on that portion though. While the Hilton status is "higher" from a consumer perspective I feel as though the amenities provided as the various properties tend to be much better when I am staying at Marriott properties. They just generally feel more refined and thought out... admittedly I am not at the highest level of branding in the Hilton chain, but even at the mid tier level I feel Marriott has the advantage in this case.... just my two cents.

[@SpencerJohnsonOfficial]

Hilton fans are gonna come out for this one! The Aspire card is really hard to beat. However, if you're a Marriott loyalist then the Brilliant card could provide you a TON of value. At the end of the day, these luxury cards all come down to what credits you would personally get the most value from in my opinion. Great comparison here Kevin!

[@KevinYang]

Haha! Yeah the Aspire is really strong unless you're a Marriott loyalist for sure!

[@dtuliao]

Thanks for this, I'm currently looking into both cards, but this video made it a clear winner!

[@KevinYang]

Glad it was helpfui!

[@MannyCovington]

Hilton Aspire still holds the top spot for me, nothing will probably beat it.

[@KevinYang]

Definitely the stronger card imo, thanks for watching Manny!

[@ibdam1]

Outstanding review. Thanks for sharing.

[@JaytizalOKC]

💛💛✍️💛💛✍️

[@OakandIV]

Good comparison, thanks. I went with the Hilton Business Card + The Aspire because of the combo of free nights without a capped point value & Diamond status. It really opens up interesting options on international vacations. I suspect the Brilliant is probably a better choice for people who are more interested in vacationing in the USA.

[@KevinYang]

That's an interesting one, haven't really considered the business version myself!

[@AskSamPugh]

Great video Kevin, Marriott is still my go to for hotel card. Their highest tier is actually the ambassador but I like this card gives platinum. You also can gain lifetime status of platinum after 8 yrs and a certain number of nights so really wouldn’t have to keep the card at that point. I can definitely see how the aspire can be a great card and is something that can be on my list. Thanks for the content

[@KevinYang]

If you can get to those levels, the Marriott can definitely pack a punch!

[@stephanieli2669]

It's 10 years and 600 nights to achieve lifetime Platinum. So it'll take a while to get there even with the 25 elite nights this card gives you each year.

[@AskSamPugh]

@@stephanieli2669 thank you for the correction and yes that would take a while. That’s why you have to be strategic.

[@Xilent_Nexus]

You earn 21x points with Marriott brilliant at properties 6x points with the Brilliant 10 points by being a Bonvoy member 5x points for having Platinum status that the Brilliant provides

[@AWMCarnival]

Regardless of value, the best card is that of the hotel you will actually stay in, or stay with frequently.

[@KevinYang]

Exactly! No point getting a ton of value from a chain that barely exists in your commonly traveled-to cities!

[@Excalibur_86]

Thanks for the review. I know Amex is not widely accept internationally but do Marriott and Hilton properties overseas accept these Amex cards?

[@ernieRUOK]

I’ve had the surpass card for a few months and the points are racking up crazy fast. I’ll probably add the aspire card next year for the diamond status.

[@KevinYang]

Nice!

[@JohnDoe-vp1bo]

I have both, but Marriott’s guaranteed late checkout is a huge benefit that I’ve used a ton.

[@KevinYang]

Yeah that's like a free half day!

[@dressydress9726]

You are correct in your review. Marriott is somewhat stingy and actually not generous.

[@maxlrubenstein]

Worth noting you can only get the 5th night free if using points not paying money. Not sure you can use a reward night for one of those 4 nights, so best way to use the reward night is to tack it on the backside so you use 4 nights of points, 5th night free, 6th night free using reward night.

[@oZmarkHam]

Ya I think the video is wrong. Can't use free night award as part of 4+1 off. I'm wondering why no one else has spoken up about this.

[@thecwwshow8036]

To whoever has the aspire. Can you stack the free night certificate? For instance if I didn’t go to one this year go I use it with the one next year?

[@Ryan-iq2zd]

Chase Marriott Bonvoy or Amex Hilton Surpass? For someone that travels only 1-2 times a year for now, hopefully, more in the future. My wife and 2 kids, if that matters....lol. Thank you.

[@taylorschwab5884]

I’ve encountered problems using hiltons certificate because it can only be used for standard rooms which were not available at upper end Hilton hotels.

[@KevinYang]

Yeah there's both an exclusions list, and finding standard room availability which can take some work. The better the value of redemptions and benefits, the harder it is!

[@shahnulislam9897]

1.5x speed ! The minimum multiplier you get with the aspire is 32x at hiltons

[@IamRossAlexander]

I am 100% sure that Delta Comfort+ upgrade doesn't work as airline incidental credit. Have tired on this card and the Amex Platinum.

[@KevinYang]

That's interesting! I've seen some accounts of it working, and I personally have had it work recently for Alaska.. Although I have heard some rumblings of things not auto-crediting. Let's hope they don't take these away!

[@dannydang2014]

Doing some comparisons. With regards to hotel-level status, Hilton Aspire wins out. With Hilton Aspire, you are automatically in the top-tier hotel status. With Marriot Brilliant, you are automatically in the middle-tier status, kind of an insult to injury in a way. Perhaps one is paying just to have a metal credit card in the Marriot Brilliant while the Hilton Aspire is not. I would figure if you are paying the highest annual fee for a particular brand/chain you should get the top-tier status.

[@KevinYang]

Yup agreed there!

[@webbezzy]

There is no list. They don’t go down the list at Hilton properties. The front desk will upgrade you if there is room and suite available and they don’t think they can be occupied.

[@KevinYang]

I think this may depend on hotel or chain. Friends working in the industry have stated that they go down the list and match certain rooms to high-level elite status (especially regulars) the day before, although things do get shuffled or changed on the day of!

[@webbezzy]

@@KevinYang There is no list. At the time of check in, if they have availability for a room/suite that they don't think they can have occupancy for that night, they will offer it to you. The other factor they consider is the number of nights you are staying with them. If you stay let's say 5 nights you have lesser chance of getting an upgrade to the suite than one night. Something else in your video you said that is also not correct. The suite nights selection for marriott. If you get it the status with card, you are not eligible for the selection.

[@KevinYang]

@@webbezzy That's a great datapoint to know, thanks for sharing! I definitely thing there's a lack of consistency across so many brands and individual hotels that things could be dealt with differently, or a mixture of both! And totally agree on the number of stays. Loyalty to the specific hotel definitely plays a huge role in what you get!

[@Juliozev96]

The hilton aspire is great, but it should be clear that the 5th night free is only on award stays. So you cannot buy 3 nights with money, use a free night certificate, and also get the 5th night free.

[@timparker9174]

Can you use a free night cert. and points for three more nights to get the 5th night free?

[@Juliozev96]

@Tim Parker You're not supposed to be able to, but there are data points that hilton allows this. However, the math works in hiltons favor so that's probably why they allow it. You end up using more points than it would take for just booking 3 nights with points, so the value of the free night certificate is lowered

[@hernandezwalter8308]

The only thing Hilton Aspire loses out on Marriott Brilliant is the fact that it’s not a metal card😑

[@towerschristianmotivation]

Fr. Aspire should be a metal card

[@ttdur8102]

Sorry, I’m a little slow and new to the credit card game. Does the 7x points for the aspire go to Amex points or Hilton points? I have Amex platinum and I was going to get gold too, but the aspire has bigger multipliers I’m a little confused 😢

[@KevinYang]

The 7x on Aspire gives you Hilton points, which IMO are worth much less vs. Amex points

[@ttdur8102]

@@KevinYang Ahh, I see. Thanks for clarifying!

[@KevinYang]

@@ttdur8102 Np, thanks for watching!

[@RvnOps]

I usually use the platinum card's airline credit on pet travel. Does the aspire card work for that too?

[@KevinYang]

The Airline incidental credit?

[@RvnOps]

@@KevinYang Yessir

[@philbertshevitz3113]

Both cards are excellent

[@KevinYang]

💯💯

[@cjhan47]

I get what you're saying here but in reality, if these places are not places you would pay to stay then is it really a benefit or is it just a flex?

[@lRickerie]

If you’re at that thinking point then I would recommend not getting either of these and look for a no annual fee one.

[@zehuazhou3390]

I finally understand why Aspire is a great card but it is too late. I heard rumors that the annual fee will be 550 and they are taking off a bunch of benefits to make it hard to use. Yikes.... This is so disappointing.

[@lewis20002000]

Once I hit lifetime Platinum with Marriott in 18 months, I'm pivoting more to Hilton, and getting rid of the Brilliance. Mainly bc there's been a slow erosion of the Marriott Platinum status.😢

[@KevinYang]

That's a lot of travel! Have you considered Hyatt too?

[@lewis20002000]

@KevinYang Absolutely, but I gotta go with the top tier status and bigger footprint when Hyatt isn't available. I'm hoping/praying next Hyatt card is something like the Brilliance or Aspire.

[@johndematatis9718]

If you were a betting man would you bet on citi or capital one for the future?

[@KevinYang]

Hmm that's hard.. Capital One is coming out strong with Venture X.. but there's been rumors about Citi coming out with a competing high-end card too, where combined with the Double Cash and Custom Cash can be a killer combo.. It really depends on the card!

[@KevinYang]

@@shawn7603 I wonder what else Cap1 may have up its sleeve, or if it stops with the Venture X

[@dgasmd1]

I sincerely have a challenge for all the "CC enthusiasts". There are dozens and dozens of videos on traveling,, aka buying hotel and airfare for the US travel, the Amex Gold's benefits when abroad, etc. Almost all videos show traveling only in the US with all the multipliers and upgrades for daily spending nd US traveling, but hardly anything beyond the airfare and pre-paid hotel if going abroad. Especially if you are not going t some tourist trap resort. I would love to see a video with trifectas/multipliers or whatever for the guy that travels abroad mostly and wants to get the most of multipliers and points from things outside the hotel and airfare purchase/upgrade. Car rentals, gas, restaurants, grocery stores, etc all with multipliers and no foreign transaction fee but for the US based traveler. Is there such a thing? Of course there is, but you now have a challenge. SHOW ME THE MONEY............

[@frankcutronijr]

Where is the Ritz Carlton?

[@Hwkman4]

Marriott edited the point pricing for rooms. Decreasing the value

[@SledgeIncTeam]

Aspire!

[@toorad2b4u]

I am sure this varies depending on location, but I do a lot of staycations in the northern va/maryland/DC area, and it seems like there are usually cheaper options with some of the Marriot options. For example, I can always fine a $120 courtyard stay on a weekend, but the cheapest I can find with a Hilton brand is over $200.

[@KevinYang]

That's a great datapoint! It definitely varies by area, and whichever card suits your lifestyle the best, is the best card! Do you currently have one of these cards?

[@toorad2b4u]

@@KevinYang I currently have just the Marriot Bonvoy card and every year, I take advantage of promo periods and cheaper stays to reach Platinum. But yesterday, I found out about the Brilliant card which would gives the Platinum status and it kind of threw my whole world into a loop. Yes it costs more in annual fees but then I would spend a lot less not trying to make platinum status (I only get to travel like 3-4 days a year for work). On the current year, I am only 10 nights away from renewing platinum, so I am thinking maybe I will get the Brilliant card next year? or if the welcome bonus goes back up. At the same time, the ability to just own a card and have the status broke my mind and I started thinking about switching to Hilton with the diamond status - but the main thing I've found is that the cheaper Hilton options are alot more expensive than the cheaper Marriot options in the areas I've looked. At the same time, if I will no longer need to stay in order to renew status, maybe that doesn't matter as much? ahhhhh, I need to sleep on it

[@KevinYang]

@@toorad2b4u Yes! The card giving you Marriott Platinum is huge, especially if there are better Marriott options for the places you visit!

[@dtsang508]

@<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="285">4:45</a> A whopping 40% reduction on a room with a 400% profit margin. Whoopty freakin doo!

[@muffemod]

I got the bonvoy brilliant card yo!

[@KevinYang]

Nice, congratulations! What's your immediate plan to put it to use?

[@muffemod]

@@KevinYang Hotel use.

[@KevinYang]

@@muffemod Hopefully the Plat status will get you some nice upgrades!

[@muffemod]

@@KevinYang I got the annual fee waived.

[@KevinYang]

@@muffemod How did you do that?

[@krisrock4589]

1st

[@mintico]

Hilton aspire is going to charge $650 AF soon. 😂 the $450 AF is on borrowed time

[@KevinYang]

Let's hope not! But unfortunately won't be surprised...

[@KevinYang]

@@shawn7603 Interesting take, what makes you say so?

[@mintico]

@Shawn lol classic status is definitely not good enough. For hilton, gold is good enough

[@cascadiaadvancedmanufactur2034]

Your sound effects are annoying

[@JaytizalOKC]

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