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Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless the best card for you?
The
It doesn’t hurt that the
The card’s value doesn’t stop at the welcome offer, though. Considering that award nights at Marriott Bonvoy properties start at just 5,000 points during off-peak dates, the points you’ll earn by using this card on a regular basis can help you book more award stays down the line.
One of the card’s best perks is the annual free night certificate cardholders receive every card anniversary. It’s valid at Marriott hotels that cost up to 35,000 points per night, and if you use it at pricey higher-category hotels, it’s easy to get a value that far exceeds the annual fee.
You also get automatic Silver elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, along with no foreign transaction fees and a broad selection of travel insurance benefits.
Comparison: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs other Marriott cards
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Annual fee |
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Bonus points at Marriott hotels |
6x bonus points* on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels |
6x bonus points* on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels |
3x bonus points* on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels |
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Rewards rate on other purchases |
2x points on all other eligible purchases |
3x points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines 2x points on all other eligible purchases |
2x points on other eligible travel purchases 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
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Welcome bonus |
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Card benefits |
15 elite night credits each calendar year Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Lost luggage reimbursement Trip delay reimbursement Baggage delay insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Travel and emergency assistance services Visa Signature concierge |
15 elite night credits each calendar year Up to $300 annual Marriott Bonvoy statement credit $100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit on eligible Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis stays Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership** Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Secondary car rental insurance Trip cancellation and interruption insurance Baggage insurance plan Trip delay insurance Travel accident insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Return protection Premium Global Assist Hotline |
15 elite night credits each calendar year Lost luggage reimbursement Baggage delay reimbursement Trip delay reimbursement Purchase protection Visa Signature concierge |
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Foreign transaction fee |
No |
No |
No |
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Review |
*Bonus points at Marriott hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs other hotel cards
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Annual fee |
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Bonus points at card’s hotel brand |
6x bonus points* on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels |
12x points on eligible Hilton purchases |
10x points on IHG purchases |
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Rewards rate on other purchases |
2x points on all other eligible purchases |
6x points at eligible US supermarkets, gas stations, and restaurants 3x points on every other eligible purchase |
2x points at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants 1 point per dollar on everything else |
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Welcome bonus |
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Card benefits |
15 elite night credits each calendar year Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Lost luggage reimbursement Trip delay reimbursement Baggage delay insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Travel and emergency assistance services Visa Signature concierge |
Hilton Gold elite status Upgrade to Diamond status after you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Free weekend night certificate after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership** with 10 free visits per year Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Purchase protection Extended warranty Global Assist Hotline
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IHG Platinum Elite status Fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a stay of four or more nights Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit 20% discount when you purchase points with your card 10,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 on purchases and make one additional purchase each account anniversary Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Travel accident insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Baggage delay insurance Travel and emergency assistance services Purchase protection Extended warranty |
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Foreign transaction fee |
No |
No |
No |
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Review |
*Bonus points at Marriott, Hilton, and IHG hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
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How to redeem Marriott points
Earning points in the Marriott Bonvoy program paves the way for free hotel stays at more than 7,000 participating properties worldwide. Category 1 standard rooms start at just 7,500 points per night (5,000 points for off-peak dates), while a mid-tier Category 5 property will set you back 35,000 points per night.
The highest-tier Marriott Bonvoy properties, or Category 8, on the other hand, come in at 85,000 points per night for a standard room. Also, keep in mind that you get a fifth night free when you use points to book four consecutive free nights. Cash and points options are also available, and they let you book a night at a discount with a cash copay.
Another benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy program is that you don’t have to redeem points for free nights. There are other options available, including transferring points to over 40 airline partners, redeeming for gift cards and rental cars, and more. You can even redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for experiences like concerts and events, and Marriott also offers hotel and air packages that include free nights and airline miles.
Benefits and features
The
Anniversary free night award
Each year after your account anniversary, you’ll earn a free night award that you can redeem at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 35,000 points. This lets you book at Marriott hotels that fall in Category 1-5, excluding Category 5 properties when peak pricing applies.
Depending on how you use the free night reward each year, you can get a value that can easily cancel out the card’s annual fee.
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status
You’ll receive automatic Silver elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program just for being a cardholder. Silver elite status comes with 10% bonus points on paid stays, priority late checkout, and free Wi-Fi.
Read more: 8 credit cards that get you elite hotel status just by having them in your wallet
The points bonus is probably the most valuable benefit here. If you pay with the
The card also offers a path to Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status after you spend $35,000 or more on the card in a year.
15 elite night credits toward status each calendar year
Each cardmember year, you’ll get 15 elite night credits toward Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
These credits count toward the next level of elite status, whether you’re working toward Marriott Bonvoy Gold (by staying 25 qualifying nights in a year) or you’ve already qualified through Gold and are working toward Platinum (which requires 50 qualifying nights in a year).
Lost luggage reimbursement
When you pay for your fare with the
Baggage delay insurance
If your bags are delayed for six hours or more, you could be reimbursed for essential purchases (like clothing and toiletries) up to $100 per day for up to five days.
Trip delay insurance
If you paid for your ticket with the
Purchase protection
If an eligible item you’ve bought with the
Visa Signature concierge
The Visa Signature concierge can help you arrange things like hard-to-get restaurant reservations or theater tickets. It doesn’t cost anything to use the service, but any third-party costs are your responsibility.
Fees and costs
The
As long as you pay your bill in full each month, you can avoid other fees with this card. If you do carry a balance, there’s an APR of
Other
- Balance transfer fee: 5% of the transfer, with a $5 minimum
- Cash-advance fee: 5% of the cash advance, with a $10 minimum
If you need a card that offers a period of interest-free financing, check out our guide to the best credit cards with 0% intro APR offers.
Consider flexible rewards credit cards, too
While you should consider all the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards available today before you choose one, also remember that you can earn points that transfer to the Marriott Bonvoy program with travel rewards cards that earn transferable points.
Both Amex Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio, so you have a lot of options.
American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards points include:
Platinum Card® from American Express : EarnThe Platinum Card® from American Express American Express® Gold Card : EarnAmerican Express® Gold Card American Express® Green Card : EarnAmerican Express® Green Card
As far as Chase cards go, you can earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points with the following cards:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : EarnChase Sapphire Preferred® Card after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account openingChase Sapphire Reserve® : EarnChase Sapphire Reserve® after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account openingInk Business Preferred® Credit Card : EarnInk Business Preferred® Credit Card
For that reason, Amex or Chase cards are often a good complement to credit cards that earn Marriott Bonvoy points. You can transfer points over any time you’re short for a redemption you want.
Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred card review
You can even use credit cards that earn transferable Chase or Amex points to earn more rewards in specific categories so you can transfer them to Marriott Bonvoy later. For example, the
Holly Johnson is a credit card expert, award-winning writer, and mother of two who is obsessed with frugality, budgeting, and travel.
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