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If you already have The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card tucked in your wallet, you’re holding onto one of the most underrated premium travel cards out there. While it’s no longer open to new applicants, cardholders in the know are aware that a product change from a Chase-issued Marriott cobranded card can still unlock access.
With generous perks that easily justify the $450 annual fee — especially if you maximize the benefits — this card quietly delivers outsized value amongst premium cards.
One of the many perks of the Ritz-Carlton Card: Cardholders receive complimentary club-level upgrade certificates each year. Let's look at how to apply these certificates and when they might make sense to use.
What Are Ritz-Carlton Club Level Upgrade Certificates?
Each membership year, Ritz-Carlton Card cardholders receive three Ritz-Carlton club level upgrade certificates. These can be used to upgrade a stay of up to seven nights at a Ritz-Carlton property at over 80 worldwide locations with a Ritz-Carlton Club. These certificates can only be used to upgrade rooms booked with standard cash rates. Therefore, you are not able to stack them with a points stay.
The certificates are valid for one year and then expire if not redeemed. According to the terms and conditions, a certificate is only valid for one room and up to two occupants.
Related: Credit Card Hotel Collections That Offer Elite-Like Benefits Without Needing Elite Status
What does an upgrade include?
Ritz-Carlton club-level rooms include access to the hotel's exclusive club lounge. Guests enjoy an elevated experience with five complimentary food and beverage presentations daily, including breakfast, snacks, hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and premium drinks.
In addition, guests can enjoy complimentary shoe shine and clothes pressing. There is also a dedicated check-in area and personalized concierge service. Further, club level guests receive a host of benefits specific to the location, including reserved pool seating and tee times, as well as special kids' programming.
Simply put, club-level access enhances your Ritz-Carlton stay with an added layer of luxury and personalized service.
How Do You Redeem a Ritz-Carlton Upgrade Certificate?
When you log into your Marriott account, find the section of your account called “Rewards.” There you will find your active certificates and their expiration dates. These certificates are not transferable, so only the cardholder will be able to redeem them.
Remember that you can not stack these certificates with award bookings, and you also cannot use promotional rates. You will not be able to use AAA rates or corporate rates, as only standard rates are eligible to be upgraded. Also, keep in mind that your reservation will need to be made using your Ritz-Carlton Card.
Reservations for these bookings can not be made online. Instead, you will need to call 1-800-542-8680 to reserve your room and apply the certificate. However, you can search online for the approximate cost of a stay by searching for the standard rate. Just keep in mind that the actual rate may vary a little.
When Does It Make Sense to Use a Ritz-Carlton Club Level Upgrade?
Although Marriott Bonvoy® elite members (with Platinum Elite and above) can expect upgrades to club-level rooms when available at most Marriott properties, Ritz-Carlton hotels do not extend this same benefit. Therefore, it can make sense to apply a free upgrade certificate to a cash booking.
Just keep in mind that the rate you will need to book under will likely not be the best available rate. It makes sense to do the math and decide if the increase in daily rate is worth the club level access.
Affordable Ritz-Carlton locations
Provided you can find a property with a reasonable cash rate, you could save a bundle on food and drink costs by having access to the club level lounge. Here are some of the best value Ritz-Carltons around the world:
- Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, VA: With standard rates starting in the low $200s and club level rooms going for over $500 per night, an upgrade certificate could save you quite a bit at this property.
- Ritz-Carlton Santiago, Chile: Standard rates seem to hover in the mid-$300 per night range.
- Ritz-Carlton Bangalore, India: You can find rates here under $200 per night, making a cash stay affordable at this luxury property.
- Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, China: If you're going to be in Shanghai, this property has standard rates on rooms for as low as $188 per night.
- Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans: Headed to The Big Easy this year? This hotel has standard rates for just under $300 per night during non-peak times.
Bottom Line
The Ritz-Carlton club level upgrade certificates are an annual benefit of the Ritz-Carlton Card. In the right circumstances, they can help you enhance your next stay at an already premium property. However, these certificates can only be used to upgrade cash bookings made on a specific rate, so it doesn't always make sense to pay extra in order to use them.
Always be sure to check the other available rates and decide if the extra cost for the standard rate makes sense and will net you good value.
Don't have the Ritz-Carlton Card and looking for another Marriott card with top-tier perks? Check out the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card:
- Earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when the stay is booked with a Qualifying Rate at hotels that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, subject to availability upon check-in.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- Enroll in Priority Pass Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- With Cell Phone Protection*, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. *Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 6X points on purchases at Marriott Properties
- 3X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
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