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Offers for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers
While many hotel credit cards are best suited for a small group of committed brand loyalists, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card stands out for its value to a broad range of travelers.
If you stay with Marriott just once or twice a year, you can easily justify the card’s modest $95 annual fee by using the free night this card offers each year. Additionally, you'll receive benefits like entry-level elite status and elite night credits that can help you earn higher status tiers each year. Plus, cardholders can earn additional elite night credits from spending on the card. Regardless of how often you stay, this card is an excellent addition to your wallet.
Here's everything you should know about the Marriott Boundless Card from Chase.
- Earn 6X Bonvoy points per $1 spent participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining, and 2X points per $1 on all other purchases
- Earn 3 Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on gas stations, grocery stores, and dining
- Earn 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Page Contents
Marriott Boundless Pros
- Automatic Silver Elite status.
- Anniversary free night certificate worth more than the annual fee.
- Ability to spend your way to higher status.
Marriott Boundless Cons
- $95 annual fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy's dynamic pricing model makes using points and free nights complicated.
- Complicated application rules if you've had other Marriott credit cards in the past.
Marriott Boundless Welcome Bonus
Instead of a traditional welcome bonus of Marriott points, the Marriott Boundless offers three bonus Free Night Awards after you use your new card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening (redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points for each bonus Free Night Award), plus earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 total on purchases within 6 months of account opening .
Marriott Boundless Benefits
While you won't find any jaw-dropping benefits on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, the perks can easily overcome the card’s annual fee of $95.
Anniversary Free Night Certificate
The standout feature on the Marriott Boundless is the anniversary free night certificate, awarded after each cardholder anniversary. The anniversary free night is worth up to 35,000 points and can be topped off with up to 15,000 additional points, making it worth a potential 50,000 points.
Related: How To Use Marriott Boundless Card Free Night Certificates
Automatic Silver Elite status
Just for holding the Marriott Boundless, you’ll earn Silver Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and keep it as long as you are a cardholder. While not the best elite hotel status out there, Silver Elite status members are entitled to:
- Complimentary in-room internet
- Member rates
- Mobile check-in/services
- Ultimate Reservation Guarantee
- 10% points bonus on base points
- Priority late check-out (when available)
- Bonus points as an in-hotel welcome gift
Silver Elite status isn't likely to get you into the executive suite, but any status is better than no status when booking stays with Marriott. At a minimum, you'll earn points at a better rate on paid hotel stays.
Path to Gold Elite status
For each calendar year that you put $35,000 of spending on the Marriott Boundless Card, you’ll earn Gold Elite status through December 31st of the following year. If you can knock that spending out in the first couple months of the year, you could earn Gold Elite status for the better part of two years. In addition to the benefits awarded to Silver Elite members, Gold Elite members receive:
- 25% points bonus on base points
- 2 p.m. priority late checkout (when available)
- Bonus points, breakfast, or an amenity as an in-hotel welcome gift
- Complimentary room upgrades (subject to availability)
15 elite night credits each year
Cardmembers will receive 15 elite night credits per cardmember year; these count toward Marriott elite status. While this benefit doesn’t stack with elite night credits from other Marriott personal cards, if you hold both a personal and a business Marriott card, you'll receive 15 nights from each card for a total of 30 nights per year. That's enough for Gold Elite status and just 20 nights short of Marriott Platinum Elite status, where the best benefits kick in.
Other benefits
The above benefits more than make up for the annual fee, but there are further benefits offered on the Marriott Boundless Card, including:
- No foreign transaction fees: There are no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the U.S.
- Baggage delay insurance: You will be reimbursed for essential purchases, like toiletries and clothing, for baggage delays over six hours, up to $100 a day for five days.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: If you or an immediate family member have checked or carry-on luggage that is damaged or lost, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
- Trip delay reimbursement: If your trip is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.
- Purchase protection: This covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Marriott Boundless Earning Rates
The Marriott Boundless earns points at the following rates:
- Earn 6X Bonvoy points per $1 spent participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining, and 2X points per $1 on all other purchases
- Earn 3 Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on gas stations, grocery stores, and dining
- Earn 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
If you're looking for a card to maximize your everyday spending, this isn't it. There are much better credit cards for everyday spending. However, if you are a Marriott fan and want to get some decent perks and a solid return on your Marriott spending, this is a great choice.
Related: Ways To Earn Marriott Points Without Staying at a Hotel
Redeeming Points With the Marriott Boundless
Points earned on the Marriott Boundless go directly into your Marriott Bonvoy account, and you can use these to book hotel stays. And we have some great ideas for how to do that. If luxury stays are your jam, check out the best Marriott points redemptions for luxury stays. Alternatively, if you prefer to save money and stretch your points, check out the best Marriott Bonvoy redemptions for budget-savvy travelers.
Additionally, don't forget to take advantage of Marriott's fifth night free when booking award stays. For every four nights you book, you'll get the fifth night at 0 points, which means you're getting a 20% discount on your stay. This benefit is an easy way to stretch your points!
To use your points or free night awards on stays, ensure you click on the box for “Use Points/Awards” when searching for a hotel on Marriott's website or in the mobile app.
Marriott Bonvoy uses a dynamic pricing model, so the number of points you need for a room at a hotel changes based on the cash cost of the hotel and how many rooms are still available. Thus, you won't know exactly how many points you need for a stay until you start looking, but the general idea is that you'll need more points during busy travel periods.
Transferring Marriott points
One thing that sets Marriott apart from other hotel award programs is the 40 Marriott Bonvoy airline transfer partners. Marriott points transfer to most partners at a 3:1 transfer ratio. Plus, you'll (generally) receive a 5,000-mile bonus when transferring at least 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at one time. This means you'll have a total of 25,000 miles for most frequent flyer programs — or 30,000 United miles, thanks to Marriott's partnership with United.
While this might not provide the greatest value in every instance, it's nice to have the option to use your hotel points for a flight.
Other redemption options
In addition to Marriott stays and transferring to airline partners, there are a few other options for redeeming your points. You can:
- Book cruises, flights, car rentals, and more in the Marriott travel portal.
- Use points to buy merchandise or gift cards in the Marriott shopping portal.
- Enjoy unique culinary, sports, and entertainment experiences through Marriott Moments.
Application Restrictions
The Marriott Boundless is issued by Chase, and there are multiple rules at play for determining who can earn the welcome bonus on this card.
In addition to the regular 5/24 policy placed on Chase’s credit cards, Marriott has layered an extensive and confusing set of restrictions on its rewards cards. Long story short, if you currently hold the Marriott Boundless, you aren't eligible to get another one.
If you don't already hold this card, the next step is to consider any Marriott or Starwood Preferred Guest cards you had previously. Consider those when reading through our guide to who is eligible for each Marriott card.
Lastly, understand that Chase doesn't typically approve anyone for more than two credit cards within 30 days.
Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions
Cards That Compete With the Marriott Boundless
(Terms Apply)
- 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4X points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
- 3X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 2X points on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains)
- 1X point on all other purchases
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- If you're a Marriott loyalist and want a card with further benefits, look into the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card. It has a $250 annual fee (Rates & Fees) but offers complimentary Gold Elite status. It also offers 15 elite night credits annually and earns 4X points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. However, it doesn't offer elite night credits via spending, and you'll need to spend $15,000 on purchases annually to receive a free night award (worth up to 50,000 points).
- If you want a Marriott credit card without an annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is it. This card also offers complimentary Silver Elite status and 5 elite night credits annually. In exchange for not having an annual fee, it provides a free night award and earns points at a lower rate when paying for Marriott hotels. More details are in our Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card review.
- If you want points that can be used with Marriott plus other hotels and airlines, check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. You can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio, but you potentially can get much more value from your points by taking advantage of Chase's other transfer partners, including Hyatt, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. The card also offers an annual $50 hotel credit, travel insurance, and great earning rates in multiple categories. Our Sapphire Preferred review will tell you more about why this is one of our favorite cards.
Related: Which Cards Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points?
Final Thoughts
The Marriott Boundless isn't the most lucrative choice for everyday spending, but this is an excellent card to keep in your wallet. Anyone who stays at least one night per year with Marriott should get more value from the free night certificate than the $95 annual fee. The card's other perks provide positive value year over year, thanks to the 15 elite night credits and ability to earn more elite night credits through spending on the card.
- Earn 6X Bonvoy points per $1 spent participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining, and 2X points per $1 on all other purchases
- Earn 3 Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on gas stations, grocery stores, and dining
- Earn 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees)
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