Big bonus opportunities, including up to 18.5X total points at Marriott
You'll have no trouble earning points with this Marriott card, especially if you use it as your daily driver. It starts you off with a welcome offer of 85,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. The value of Marriott points depends on how you use them, but that's generally enough for multiple nights at a budget-friendly hotel or one night at a nicer property.
This card also has a high rewards rate, especially on Marriott Bonvoy purchases. It earns:
- Up to 18.5X total points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels (the card earns 6X points, you earn another 10X points for being a Marriott Bonvoy® member, and you earn up to 2.5X points with Gold Elite Status, which is included with this card)
- 4X points on grocery stores and dining, up to $15,000 in combined purchases in these categories per calendar year
- 2X points on other purchases
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ credit card has one more underrated bonus opportunity: 1,000 Bonus Points per eligible stay at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. For frequent guests, this is a great extra benefit. Not only will you earn up to 18.5X points on each stay, you'll also earn an extra 1,000 points.
Improve every Marriott stay with complimentary Gold Elite Status
One of the features I love with hotel credit cards is complimentary elite status. When you have this card, you receive complimentary Gold Elite Status, the second elite tier in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Benefits include:
- 25% points bonus on eligible hotel purchases
- 2 p.m. late checkout, based on availability
- Upgrade to the best available room, subject to availability
As a cardholder, you'll also receive 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year (restrictions apply). This gets you closer to the requirements for Platinum Elite Status (50 nights per year) and Titanium Elite (75 nights per year).
Offers a valuable free night award, but with strings attached
You'll receive one free night award each calendar year, if you spend at least $15,000 on your card during that year. The free night award is valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level of up to 50,000 points. Depending on where you stay, you could save $300 or more.
This perk is a bit frustrating. It's valuable, but if you don't spend much on your Marriott card, you won't receive it. Several hotel credit cards offer an annual free night award with no spending required. That includes the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, which only has a $0 annual fee.
A full slate of travel and purchase protections
This Marriott card is issued by Chase. Like many Chase credit cards, it has excellent insurance coverages that apply to eligible purchases. Here's what it offers:
- Baggage delay insurance reimburses you for essential purchases during baggage delays of over six hours, up to $100 a day for five days
- Lost luggage reimbursement for up to $3,000 per passenger for lost or damaged luggage
- Trip delay reimbursement for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals or lodging, when common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, up to a maximum of $500 per ticket
- Purchase protection covering new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account