Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card review: Free nights and a status boost at a reasonable annual fee

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card Highlights

Card type: Hotel, Travel Rewards

• Welcome Bonus: Earn 5 Free Night Awards valued up to 50,000 points each) after you spend $5,000 in the first three months of account opening.
• Annual Fee: $95.
• Rewards: Earn 6X points at Marriott hotels; 3X points on the first $6,000 spent on combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining; 2X points on all other purchases.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card Overview

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card is designed to elevate your travel experiences when staying at Marriott hotels. The card comes packed with features tailored for infrequent travelers who prefer Marriott properties. New cardholders typically receive a substantial welcome bonus consisting of five Free Night Awards (valued up to 50,000 points each) after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening. This bonus is great for those who prefer staying at mid-tier hotels, though it’s not ideal if you’re saving up Marriott points for a luxury hotel redemption, which can cost over 100,000 points per night.

The Bonvoy Boundless card earns up to 6 points per dollar spent at Marriott hotels and 3X points on the first $6,000 in combined spending on grocery, gas and dining. All other purchases earn 2X points. These rates are quite rewarding and can help you accrue Marriott quickly from everyday spending. 

Additionally, you’ll earn one elite night credit towards Bonvoy status for every $5,000 spent. You’ll even reach Bonvoy Gold status after spending $35,000 on purchases per calendar year. But you don’t have to put any spending on the Bonvoy Boundless card to earn elite status. Cardholders receive automatic Silver elite status just for having the card by the way of 15 Elite Night Credits awarded every year.

One of the standout features is the annual free night award, granted each year on your card anniversary, valid at hotels requiring up to 35,000 points per night. This benefit can offset the card’s $95 annual fee and provide an incentive to hold onto the card long-term. 

Who is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card good for? 

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card is good for travelers who frequently stay at Marriott properties and seek elevated travel experiences without a steep annual fee. This card is particularly beneficial for those who value hotel loyalty benefits, as it grants automatic Silver elite status via 15 Elite Night Credits and allows cardholders to climb the status ladder faster through spending, unlocking additional perks like room upgrades, late checkout and bonus points.

Moreover, travelers who can leverage the card’s annual free night award and want to earn rewards on everyday spending will find the Boundless card aligns perfectly with their preferences. If you prioritize staying at Marriott properties and appreciate loyalty program benefits, this card can enhance your overall travel experiences and offer some savings and perks.

Who shouldn’t get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card? 

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card might not be the best choice for travelers who don’t stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels enough to benefit from its perks. If you stay at various hotel chains or prefer travel experiences outside the Marriott portfolio, the card’s Marriott benefits may not be a good fit. Additionally, it’s not a great option if your spending habits don’t align with the card’s bonus categories or if you want higher elite status right out of the gate. If you don’t spend enough to justify the annual fee or prefer more flexible rewards, you might want to consider a different travel rewards card. 

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card: How to earn rewards

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card offers numerous ways to earn rewards. To start, the card offers a welcome bonus of five free night awards (worth up to 50,000 points each) after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening. Beyond this, you’ll earn 6X points at Marriott hotels, 3X points on the first $6,000 spent on combined purchases on groceries, gas stations and dining. All other spending earns 2 points per dollar spent. While this rewards structure can make free nights more attainable, you’ll also receive an annual free night award (worth up to 35,000 points) when you renew your card each year. This can make the card’s annual fee well worth it.

Beyond points, you’ll get rewarded in the form of elite status perks. Cardholders earn 1 elite night credit for every $5,000 spent. Additionally, those who spend $35,000 in a calendar year will get upgraded to Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.

How to redeem Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card rewards 

There are numerous ways you can redeem points earned with the Marriott Bonvoy credit card. The most straightforward (and high-value) option is for free hotel nights. Award nights start at just 7,500 points and go as high as 100,000 for top-tier properties. You can also redeem Marriott points for cruises, flights, rental cars, airline miles, gift cards, merchandise and more. Here’s a closer look at all of these options:

Hotel stays

Marriott has over 8,000 hotels worldwide where you can put your points to good use. Marriott even offers a fifth-night-free discount when you book five consecutive award nights at a single hotel. You can book your stay using points through the Marriott website or app, choosing from various locations and room types available.

Transfer to airlines

You can transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to almost 40 different airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and others. Marriott points transfer to most airlines at a 3:1 ratio or better. You’ll also get 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points transferred.

Other travel

Marriott Bonvoy allows members to redeem their points for cruises, rental cars and other travel bookings. The redemption rate varies greatly but you can typically expect to get about half of what you’ll get from redeeming Marriott points for hotel bookings.

Marriott Moments

Through Marriott Moments, you can bid on tickets for concerts, sporting events and others. The value you get per point will depend on your winning bid and the cost of a ticket. Currently, you can bid on exclusive Marriott Bonvoy Suite tickets to Madonna’s Madison Square Garden concert starting at 75,000 points.

Shopping

While it’s not the best option, you can redeem Marriott points for shopping starting at 10,000 points. You won’t get the best value for your points by using them this way. For example, one of the items available for 20,000 points includes a XBox wireless controller that normally retails for $60, meaning you’ll only get about .3 cents in value for each point.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card rates and fees

• Annual fee: $95
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• Intro APR: None
• Purchase APR: 21.49%–28.49% variable APR

Additional benefits

• Baggage Delay Insurance: Reimburses up to $100 a day for up to five days for essential purchases needed due to baggage delays over 6 hours.
• Lost luggage reimbursement: Covers up to $3,000 per passenger for damaged or lost luggage. 
• Trip delay reimbursement: Provides up to $500 in reimbursement per person for unreimbursed expenses in case of a travel delay exceeding 12 hours or requiring an overnight stay.
• Purchase protection: Covers new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Credit cards similar to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card

While the Bonvoy Boundless card can be a great mid-tier credit card, it’s not a great fit for all travelers. If you want more flexibility in the rewards you’re earning or better hotel perks, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card might be better alternatives. Here’s a closer look at how these cards stack up against the Bonvoy Boundless:

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ credit card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card

If you want a Marriott card with better perks and a point welcome bonus, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card is a solid upgrade. The card has a $250 annual fee and offers 85,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. The card also earns 6X points at Marriott hotels, 4X points on the first $15,000 spent on grocery and dining purchases every year and 2X points on all other spending.

Both cards offer an annual free night award, though the Bonvoy Bountiful requires you to spend $15,000 per calendar year to earn it. However, the Bonvoy Bountiful’s free night is valid at hotels requiring up to 50,000 points per night rather than 35,000. The Bountiful card also offers better status benefits – cardholders get automatic Bonvoy Gold status and 15 elite night credits annually. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card earns Ultimate Rewards points, which are much more flexible than Marriott points and can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Marriott Bonvoy among other travel partners. This flexibility allows cardholders to diversify their point redemptions across various airlines and hotel chains, rather than being limited solely to Marriott. 

The Sapphire Preferred also earns similar category bonuses to the Bonvoy Boundless card. Cardholders earn up to 5X points on travel, 3X points on dining, grocery store purchases and streaming and 1X point on everything else. 

The card’s 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening is more flexible than the Bonvoy Boundless card’s. However, it’s significantly lower and likely won’t be enough for more than one mid-tier hotel award night. The Sapphire Preferred bonus is better if you want to earn rewards for either low-tier Marriott hotels or to supplement an existing Marriott point balance for a more expensive award. 

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card does have a significant advantage: It has Marriott-centric benefits that could improve your hotel stay, including elite status perks and the ability to earn an annual free night via credit card spending.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card right for you?

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card can be right for you if you’re a Marriott loyalist who wants to earn more points, free nights and elite status via credit card spending. If you find yourself regularly booking stays at Marriott hotels, this card offers compelling benefits. The elite status benefits can significantly enhance your hotel experience while the welcome bonus and bonus categories can provide value that outweighs the annual fee. If the card’s category bonuses align with your spending habits, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless might be a good card to add to your wallet. 

However, this card might not be the best fit for occasional travelers or those who prefer more flexibility in their reward redemptions. If you don’t stay at Marriott properties enough to utilize the card’s benefits, it might not be worth paying the annual fee. The card also earns Marriott points, which aren’t the most valuable rewards. If you want more flexibility, consider getting a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points or Amex Membership Rewards. You can transfer these points at a one-to-one ratio to Marriott along with other loyalty programs. 

Frequently asked questions

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card worth it?

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card is worth it if you want a Marriott card with a reasonable annual fee, travel perks and elevated rewards on common spending categories.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card metal or plastic?

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is a plastic card.

What is the credit limit for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card?

The credit limit for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card varies by customer. It depends largely on your creditworthiness, income and other factors.

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Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.