Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Review – Rewarding Loyalty
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If you are someone who enjoys luxury stays in Marriott properties across the world, having a hotel credit card that earns rewards on your spending is a must. Marriott is a large hotel group that has properties spread out all over the world. It also allows you to pay for flights and hotel stay through a credit card. You can earn points whenever you stay at a Marriott property which is why one of the top cards for frequent travelers is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers several benefits for travelers. It allows you to turn the spending into rewards you can redeem on your stay and travel. The current benefits at Marriott group hotels can justify the annual fee of $95 along with the silver status, which is great, but the card has some nominal travel rewards for spending. Here is a complete card review of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Cardfor you.
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What is Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy has several reward cards for its members. If you are a Marriott loyalist, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card will be your first choice. Earn up to 17X total points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points on all other purchases.You are directly upgraded to the Silver Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, where you can take advantage of priority late checkout, free Wi-Fi, and points on all your stays.
A major benefit is the free nights added to the Marriott account every year after the account anniversary. There are some valuable benefits for travelers. It has no fees for foreign transactions, and basic trip delay and lost luggage insurance are included.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
How does Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card work?
The best way to find the right Marriott card for your use is on the website of Marriott. You will see different cards, including Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, offered by the organization.
Once you click on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, you are redirected to a new page where you must fill out the form with complete details. It will not take more than 10 minutes to complete the account opening process.
You will have to provide details about the primary source of income, and you must have excellent credit to get the card approval. When you click submit, the team will review and approve the application.
How much does Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card cost?
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card will not burn a hole in your wallet, and you do not need to be worried about the fees. The annual fee is $95, and there are no foreign transaction fees you need to pay. The perks and rewards offered do make up for the yearly fee. The other ongoing cost is the variable APR. It can range from 20.24% - 27.24% on the purchases and balance transfers.
Features of Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Elite status
Marriott Bonvoy Credit cardholders get an automatic Silver Elite Status, and they will earn Gold Elite if they charge $35,000 or more for purchases in a year.
Free night on the anniversary
On the anniversary of joining Marriott Bonvoy, one year after opening the account, you can enjoy one free night worth 35,000 points at a Marriott property.
Trip delay reimbursement
You can enjoy reimbursement for your purchases, like meals and hotels, when flights have been delayed for 12 hours or more.
Lost luggage reimbursement
In case of loss of luggage, you will get reimbursement of up to $3,000 per passenger.
No foreign transaction fees
You do not have to pay any fees when you make a foreign transaction using the card. You can save 2% to 3% on transactions compared to the other cards without an annual fee.
Visa Concierge
All cardmembers enjoy access to Visa Signature Concierge Service, a 24-hour service to assist with entertainment and dining reservations when traveling.
Free bonus nights
You can earn three free nights once you make the qualifying purchases of $3,000 within the first three months. Each night will be valued at up to 50,000 points. Additionally, you get 10X points on the purchases you make in select categories.
Rewards
There are several different ways you can earn rewards and redeem them.
Earning Rewards
- It is very easy to earn points on your Boundless card.
- Your purchases at any Marriott Bonvoy property will earn up to 17X points per dollar spent.
All the other purchases will earn 2 points for one dollar, irrespective of the category.
The points will not expire as long as there is an activity in the account within the last 24 months. All the rewards you earn on the card are reflected as Marriott Bonvoy reward points and are automatically deposited into your account. Hence, you can earn rewards instantly as the points from your card will be combined with the points you earn through each hotel stay.
Redeeming Rewards
All the points earned will be deposited in the Marriott Bonvoy account so that you can access all the redemption options. The most basic reward choice is to use the points and enjoy a free night at one of the many Marriott properties. The hotels are divided into different categories. The Category 1 hotel will cost as low as 4,500 points for a one-night stay during the off-peak dates, and it can go as high as Category 8 hotels, where it will be 100,000 points for a night.
If you are a Marriott member, you can stretch the points by seeking the PointSavers hotels to enjoy a 20% discount. You can save the points when you book longer stays. This means your fifth consecutive night will be free in case of a booking where you redeem the points to pay for the first four nights.
You can also book Cash + Points reservations and use cash copay to reduce the points required. There are several ways to redeem points, including using the points to pay for your hotels or flights. The Hotel+ Flight package allows you to redeem for outsized value by redeeming a flat rate of points for more extended stays, and you can also opt for the frequent flyer programs.
You can also transfer the Bonvoy points to partner airlines of Marriott. If you have more points than you can use for travel, you can consider buying experiences known as Marriott Bonvoy Moments or purchasing merchandise using the points.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
Who is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card best for?
- Frequent Marriott Travelers. This credit card is ideal for Marriott loyalists. An annual fee of $95 works perfectly for those who enjoy staying at Marriott properties.
Who shouldn’t use the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card?
- Occasional Marriott travelers. If you do not always prefer to stay at Marriott properties, this card is unsuitable.
- Travelers who want to build up points through regular purchases. The card does not offer great deals on everyday monthly purchases. You can earn 2 points for each dollar you spent, but it will not add up to enough points that you can use for your hotel stay.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Silver Elite Status
- 15 Elite Night Credits a year
- Free night certificate each year
Cons
- High regular APR
- Weak earnings system
- $95 annual fee
- High credit score requirement
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card vs. competitors
Card | Annual Fee | APR | Rewards |
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | $95 | 20.24% - 27.24% | Earn up to 17X total points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points on all other purchases. (rates and fees) |
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | $95 | 19.99% - 29.99% | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. |
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. | 20.99% - 29.99% | Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. (rates and fees) |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $95 | 21.49%-28.49% | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Hilton Honors American Express Card | $0 | 20.99% - 29.99% | Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. (rates and fees) |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Card Name
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
APR
21.49%-28.49%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$95
Special Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Rewards Rate
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Terms
Why We Like It
- Generous bonus points offered.
- High points for travel and dining purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® and points on all purchases.
- Complimentary one-year access to DashPass.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Card Name
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.99% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$95
Special Offer
Limited-time offer: For a limited time, earn 75,000 Miles
Special Offer Terms
once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
Rewards Rate
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Terms
Why We Like It
- 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, which is equivalent to $750 in travel
- You can earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
- $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges
- 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Card Name
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
APR
20.99% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$650
Special Offer
Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Rewards Rate
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Why We Like It
- Complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® and The Centurion® Lounge.
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
- First checked bag free on Delta flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Card Name
Hilton Honors American Express Card
APR
20.99% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Rewards Rate
Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Why We Like It
- Generous introductory bonus offer.
- Automatic Hilton Honors Silver status.
- No annual or foreign transaction fees.
Related: Best Rewards Cards
FAQs
What are the different ways I can redeem the points?
There are several ways you can redeem the points. You can either pay for the hotel stay or book a hotel and flight using the points. Alternatively, you can buy merchandise or use the points for purchase experiences at Marriott Bonvoy Moments.
Can I use the points for hotels other than Marriott properties?
No, you will not be able to pay through the card for your stay at any property besides Marriott properties.
Will my Marriott membership reward points expire?
The points will not expire as long as there is an activity on the account in the last 24 months.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
The bottom line
If you are a frequent traveler and love to stay at Marriott properties, there is no limit to the points you can earn on the card. The anniversary credit and the 3-night stay can make the $95 annual fee worthwhile. However, it might not be a good deal if you try raking up points through regular purchases. You need to consider other options if you are looking for flexible loyalty programs with better reward rates. Again, if you truly want to maximize the Marriott points, you may want to pay for a premium card.
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Writer
Vandita Jadeja is a financial writer and editorial assistant at Joywallet. She loves to read and write about money and brings 7 years of experience from the financial industry. She loves coffee, mountains and sunsets.
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