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Review: Monville Hotel Montreal

Review: Monville Hotel Montreal

Note7.8/10

Hotel
Monville Hotel
Country
Canada
City
Montreal
Room Type
Monville Suite
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A robot that brings breakfast to your room? The Monville Hotel has one! Located in the Quartier des spectacles in Montreal, the hotel is also certified Ecocert.

Hotel Monville – Booking and Check-in

Hotel Monville – Rates & Aeroplan offer

According to the Tourism Montreal website, the price range for a double occupancy room at the Hotel Monville is $169 to $449 (suite) in the low season and $199 to $999 in the high season.

You can book your room directly on the Hotel Monville website or on the I Prefer Rewards Program, a rewards program that includes more than 650 independent hotels and resorts in 85 countries.

There’s a great offer to earn Aeroplan points by staying there: until December 31, 2022, by booking the flexible rate + bar drink offer, you’ll earn 2,000 Aeroplan points per stay.

Review: Monville Hotel Montreal - Hotel Monville Montréal-01

Apply your points to a hotel expense

To save on your hotel bill, use a credit card that will allow you to apply your points to that expense.

With the American Express Membership Rewards program, 1,000 points gives you a $10 credit on your spending or 10,000 points = $100 (and so on).

In addition, with the HSBC Rewards or NBC Rewards programs, you can also apply your points directly to the purchase on one of the cards in the program. It’s perfect for a budget trip!

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Hotel Monville – Location

The Monville Hotel is ideally located in Montreal’s heart of the Quartier des spectacles, making it close to everything downtown. Mainly intended for business people passing through the city, it is also very close to the Palais des Congrès (3 minutes on foot).

The establishment also targets the leisure clientele, particularly couples, who are fond of cultural outings and visits to the city. The Place d’Armes metro station is a 4-minute walk away.

The hotel also offers valet parking, bicycle parking and charging stations for electric cars.

Review: Monville Hotel Montreal - Hotel Monville Montréal-08

Monville Hotel – Registration

Avoid the irritation of a long wait at the reception desk when several clients arrive at the same time. This is one of the arguments of the Monville Hotel to opt for an independent check-in/check-out on kiosks, as the airports have very well adopted.

Just like for a flight, the customer can even check-in online. On the morning of his arrival, he receives a notification by text or email to do so. You can register in a few minutes from your computer or cell phone. When you arrive at the hotel, all you have to do is pick up your card at the terminal, which acts as a key.

If you have not registered before your stay in Monville, you can do all these steps at one of the four kiosks available at the reception.

If you arrive earlier than your check-in time, you will receive a text message to let you know when the room is ready.

I really liked the independent check-in! It only takes a few minutes to check in on your cell phone or at the kiosk, no matter how many customers arrive at the same time.

And if something ever goes wrong, a responsive employee is always nearby to help you if you need assistance, which I really appreciated. Whether it’s because you’re less comfortable with technology or because machines mean potential bugs, we always like to get support quickly.

According to Naomi Dupont, marketing manager at the Monville Hotel, this procedure allows employees to focus on their « advisory role » at the front desk, such as suggestions for activities or restaurants, rather than on administration.

Hotel Monville – The rooms

Monville Hotel – Monville Suite

I was invited to stay in the Monville Suite (the most luxurious in the hotel) on the 16th floor. Out of 269 rooms, the hotel offers 54 suites.

Candied fruit chocolates from the Montreal bakery De Froment et de sève and a postcard typed with my name were waiting for me as a welcome gift. (For trying the standard room, you will also receive the postcard).

Spacious, the suite is built on the corner of the building. This allows for two large windows with a view of the Quartier des spectacles in Montreal. This panorama, beautiful at night, is particularly bright and impressive during the day, making it an inspiring haven for remote work, for example.

The design is sleek and modern on gray tones to promote tranquility and soothing, I found.

Review: Monville Hotel Montreal - Hotel Monville Montréal-30

All rooms (even the standard ones) have a king bed. Plus for the suites: 2 x 55″ TVs to which you can connect your phone to use streaming platforms such as Netflix, Spotify or Youtube, as well as 2 soft cotton bathrobes.

We like the « rain effect » shower, the Nespresso coffee machine including two capsules (refill on request), as well as the Oneka products from Quebec, made from organic plants, which are the cosmetics offered in the bathroom.

This is one of the mantras of the Monville Hotel: to offer a Montreal experience to visitors in the majority of the products used. A big bonus, which in my opinion, allows business clients to have a taste of Quebec even when they are in a hurry.

Hotel Monville – Standard room

On my second consecutive night at the Monville Hotel, I stayed in the standard room.

Smaller, it still has many assets: king bed, Nespresso coffee maker and kettle, 50-inch high-definition television, a desk, free Wi-Fi access and a beautiful view of the Quartier des spectacles (Monville’s mantra in all rooms).

The shower and toilet are in a separate room from the sink.

For a short stay, I found the room very clean, modern and comfortable. The view is, once again, a charming asset.

Review: Monville Hotel Montreal - Hotel Monville Montréal-36

Hotel Monville – Dining

Hotel Monville – Breakfast

For breakfast, it is there that you meet the H2M2 robot. The Monville Hotel is the only hotel to have a robot to provide floor service in Canada… like bringing you breakfast in your room!

Needless to say, this is one of the entertainments of your stay. From your TV or phone, you can order your first meal of the day from one of four choices: American, Benedictine, Healthy or A la Carte. You then choose the time of delivery by the robot (maximum 11 am).

Review: Monville Hotel Montreal - Hotel Monville Montréal-26

That morning, when the moment I had been waiting for came, I was obviously wondering how the robot would show up at my door… Surprise, I get an automated call on my room phone to inform me of its arrival!

Unique meeting with H2M2! As soon as it senses your presence in front of it, a compartment containing your breakfast bag and coffee opens and you can help yourself. A screen on the robot also allows you to follow the steps. The instructions are only in English (the robot having been developed by a firm in the United States), but the procedure remains simple to follow and very intuitive.

After collecting your breakfast, the robot makes sure you have everything you need (if not, it invites you to call the reception) and that your stay is going well before heading back to the elevator.

What an endearing moment. It is the star of the hotel and I couldn’t resist calling it back for breakfast on my second day, although there is no shortage of options in the area.

For the budget, breakfast is $26 + tax + $5 room service charge, which I think is reasonable for the quality of the food and service offered.

For my part, I chose (both times!) the Benedictine breakfast, whose hot dish was excellent:

French toast style brioche with green pesto, Perfect egg cooked at 61 degrees, oyster mushrooms (you also have the choice with shredded beef or salmon), parmesan and arugula, baby potatoes.

It is accompanied by a bowl of fresh fruit, orange juice and regular coffee.

Monville Hotel – Restaurant

The Moneme restaurant & bar, near the reception, serves French-inspired cuisine made with Quebec products.

I went there for dinner alone in the evening, sitting at the bar to watch the action, mixology being one of its attractions.

Review: Monville Hotel Montreal - Hotel Monville Montréal-12

I ordered the Roubidou’s Rum: Dark rum, Amaretto Avril, Lemon juice, pineapple juice, spicy Mole bitter. A delicious and original cocktail. For the connoisseurs, you will notice that the Italian almond liqueur is a Quebec product. Moneme’s menu also favours local spirits (gins, maple whiskey…) which are increasingly easy to find in Quebec.

I ate the Fettucini with wild mushrooms, very creamy and tasty, it was delicious and filling. I regret not being hungry enough to try an appetizer and/or dessert that looked just as delectable.

The decor is, once again, very neat, elegant and in the image of Montreal’s contemporary establishments.

Moneme welcomes guests for evening service Tuesday through Saturday and for brunch on weekends. It is also the restaurant that prepares the breakfast served by H2M2 the robot.

Don’t forget to use your American Express Cobalt® Card at restaurants and bars to earn 5 points per dollar.

Annual fee
$191.88
Our valuation
$255
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

  • 15,000 Aeroplan points
  • 15,000 Avios points
  • 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.

American Express Cobalt® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

  • 5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
  • 3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
  • 2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
  • 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
  • 1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
  • Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
  • No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
  • Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
  • The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
  • Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
  • A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

To see how it compares with the rest of the line-up, read our round-up of the best credit cards from American Express in Canada.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:

  • Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
  • Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
  • Home food delivery.
  • Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) 5
Home food delivery 5
Restaurants and bars 5
Convenience stores 5
Streaming services 3
Service station 2
Transport 2
Travel 1
Other 1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

  • Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
  • Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
  • Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
  • Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
  • Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
  • Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt® Card fees

  • Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
  • Additional cards: $0.
  • Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
  • Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xConvenience
  • 3xStreaming
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,828
2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

  • AeroplanAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • Etihad GuestAirline
  • Flying BlueAirline
  • Hilton HonorsHotel
  • Marriott BonvoyHotel

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Hotel Monville – Roof terrace

When I said that the hotel relies heavily on the view: the 360′ roof terrace is a great asset! Located on the 20th floor, it overlooks the Quartier des spectacles in a festive and relaxing setting.

In November, although sunny, the weather was already chilly. It definitely makes you want to come back in the summer to bask in the sun for a while longer!

Review: Monville Hotel Montreal - Hotel Monville Montréal-40

The establishment also organizes thematic evenings (comedy, DJs) to invite Montrealers and clients alike to join in. It is also possible to reserve this space for private or corporate events. A room on the same floor allows to shelter the world, in case of bad weather.

Hotel Monville – Fitness room

The Monville Hotel has a 24/7 accessible gym, again with a view.

The hotel has partnered with two spas. There is the Scandinave Spa (Old Montreal, 12 minutes on foot) which offers a 15% discount to its clients when they make a reservation at the concierge. Then there is the Strom Nordic spa on Nuns’ Island (15 minutes by car) which offers a $100 gift card at a special rate.

The Bota Bota (spa-sur-l’eau) is a 15-minute walk away for a relaxing time nearby.

Monville Hotel – Corporate

The Monville Hotel offers four rental spaces (including the terrace) for private events, meetings or conferences in styles that suit everyone.

They all benefit from natural light thanks to the large windows around us.

Hotel Monville – Around the hotel

There is no lack of activities. You are in the heart of the action!

Visit Old Montreal, the Quartier des spectacles or the Old Port of Montreal; everything is quickly done on foot or by metro. The location is also ideal if you want to enjoy festivals or a show at Place des Arts without getting lost.

Review: Monville Hotel Montreal - Grande Roue de Montreal de jour

Hotel Monville – My general impression

For an independent hotel that opened in 2017, it needed to stand out in an area already immensely occupied by large chains around it.

The Monville Hotel meets the challenge head on by offering an enhanced stay: all rooms with a view, the addition of efficient technologies to make the customer’s stay more independent, a Montreal experience and an ecological education by reducing waste (the establishment is Ecocert certified).

Staying at the Monville Hotel is a great place to stay in downtown Montreal. Whether you’re there for a business trip or a getaway, I loved the comfort, aesthetics, and independence the facility offers.

Along with the technology (which I personally appreciated), the employees are always present and available to help you when needed. The robot is the hotel’s mascot!

Don’t hesitate to book your stay there!

The Monville Hotel invited Milesopedia to stay at the Monville Suite. We tested the standard room thanks to a preferential rate. No remuneration was received for the production of this report: the opinions remain those of the author and have not been influenced in any way.

Exclusive
Annual fee
$0 $150
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$150
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
First Year Annual Fee Rebate
$150 annual fee rebated
Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now

on National Bank's website

With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fees are refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.

  • Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by NBC.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

  • 5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
  • 2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on recurring bills
  • 2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
  • 1 point per dollar for all other purchases

And since it’s an NBC mycredit Mastercard, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

  • Airport parking
  • Baggage fees
  • Seat selection
  • Access to airport lounges
  • Airline ticket upgrades

What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia has named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Travel Credit Card in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 2xTravel
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$778
2nd Year Value$923

Card benefits

Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 60 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 31 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentIncluded

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points
Ends Sep 22, 2026
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.