Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Review 2024

• What Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Best For?
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Introduction
• Quick Facts
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Benefits
• Fine Print
• How the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Stacks Up
• Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card for You?
• Methodology

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is a great option for infrequent Marriott travelers, or for those who visit regularly but don’t want to pay an annual fee. The welcome bonus is a fantastic boost to anyone’s travel planning. Plus, you can earn rewards towards your next reservation on everyday purchases. While the card’s daily rewards-earning potential may not be as high as other cards, access to Chase Offers could give you opportunities to activate valuable savings deals.

Marriott Bonvoy members may have noticed a nice surprise when looking for a new credit card: The Bonvoy Bold offers several of the same benefits as the more upscale annual fee versions. Cardmembers receive 5 Elite Night credits each calendar year, as well as Silver Elite status (and its associated benefits) at Marriott Bonvoy properties. This also jumpstarts your progress toward higher status levels. The card also comes with extras like lost baggage reimbursement and trip delay reimbursement.

The opportunities to earn points and free nights are limited. Cardholders will earn 3 points per dollar at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 2 points on groceries, rideshare, select food delivery and streaming and on internet, phone and cable services and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Those are lackluster earning rates given the average redemption cost of a free room.

The welcome bonus is 60,000 bonus points and 1 Free Night Award after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. While there are opportunities to earn larger bonuses, it’s a fair option for customers who are looking for a lower minimum spending threshold and don’t want to pay an annual fee.

Overall, the card isn’t bad for its benefits, but it won’t wow you if you want to earn free nights consistently.

• Welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points and 1 Free Night Award after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• No annual fee
• Automatic Marriott Silver Elite benefits and 5 Elite Night credits toward higher status levels each calendar year
• Earn 3 points per dollar at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 2 points on groceries, rideshare, select food delivery and streaming and on internet, phone and cable services and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees

Earning Rewards

Earning points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card* is simple. Cardholders earn:

• 3 points per dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
• 2 points on groceries, rideshare, select food delivery and streaming and on internet, phone and cable services
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

Charges at Marriott Bonvoy properties earn 3 Bonvoy points per dollar spent, in addition to the 2.5 to 10 points normally earned through the loyalty program. Silver Elite members—which all Bonvoy Bold cardholders get automatically—earn 10% on top of that.

Rewards earned on each statement are added to your Marriott Bonvoy account and will automatically be combined with points earned through other methods. Not only does this help build balances faster, it also keeps your Bonvoy account active. Rewards won’t expire as long as you have activity at least once every 24 months and credit card charges count.

New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points and 1 Free Night Award after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. The welcome bonus points will easily cover the cost of a night at select Marriott hotels—or multiple nights if you choose carefully. If you’d rather, you can also save up your points for higher-end, higher-costing redemptions. The welcome bonus is not available to anyone who’s had this or another Marriott credit card now or in the past 24 months.

Redeeming Rewards

Marriott Bonvoy points can be redeemed on any night at any property for any available standard room. Prices vary by property and date of stay but can be easily checked using the search tool on the Marriott website. Generally speaking, you will find some limited-service properties for as low as 12,000 points on off-peak dates while luxury properties during peak season may cost 100,000 points or more. Marriott Bonvoy members can book awards using Cash + Points for as little as $55 and 3,500 points per night.

Marriott Bonvoy points can also be redeemed for Marriott Bonvoy Moments event and entertainment packages. These event packages have different point requirements and can be found worldwide where Marriott has properties. Many events also include VIP benefits during the experience.

Lastly, Marriott Bonvoy members may redeem points with travel partners such as airlines, cruise lines and car rental agencies.

Rewards Potential

Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine baseline income and spending averages. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households earns $118,438 annually and spends $39,337 annually on credit card purchases.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card* Rewards Potential

Category	Earning Rate	Estimated Annual Spend	Estimated Annual Earnings
Eligible Marriott Hotel Charges	3X	$2,858	8,574
Groceries	2X	$7,243	14,486
Rideshare	2X	$573	1,146
Select Food delivery	2X	$1,156	2,312
Select streaming	2X	$679	1,358
Internet, cable, and phone services	2X	$2,493	4,986
All Other Purchases	1X	$24,335	24,335
			Total: 57,197 Marriott Bonvoy points

See More See Less

Your annual earning potential with the card could be 57,197 Marriot Bonvoy points annually, in addition to the first-year welcome bonus.

• Elite status. All cardholders receive automatic Silver Elite status and 5 Elite Night credits each calendar year toward higher status levels.
• No foreign transaction fees. Save on foreign transactions compared to many other cards without an annual fee.

Those who receive a Visa Signature card get the following benefits:

• Lost luggage reimbursement. Get reimbursed up to $3,000 per passenger.
• Baggage delay insurance. Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over six hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for five days.
• Trip delay reimbursement. Up to $500 reimbursed for purchases such as meals and lodging for flights delayed 12 or more hours.
• Purchase protection. Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim, up to $50,000 per account.

Interest Rates

• Regular APR: 21.49% - 28.49% variable
• Purchase intro APR: N/A
• Balance transfer intro APR: N/A

Fees

• Annual fee: $0
• Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
• Foreign purchase transaction fee: $0

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card* vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card*

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card* also issued by Chase, offers stronger earning rates and a free night certificate (valued at up to 35,000 points) each year you renew.

The Boundless card charges a $95 annual fee. Even with an annual fee, it can be a terrific deal. Redeem that certificate and it’s almost certain you’ll get your money’s worth.

It’s possible to earn points more quickly, too. The card earns 6 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3 points per dollar spent each year (up to $6,000) on combined grocery stores, gas stations and dining purchases and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Big spenders will also appreciate in addition to receiving automatic Silver status, you’ll be upgraded to a Gold Elite membership if you spend $35,000 or more on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card* in a year.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card* vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Marriott loyalists have another personal card option. The ultra-premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Terms apply, see rates & fees) is best for anyone who stays with Marriott frequently enough to get their money’s worth from its hefty $650 annual fee.

Don’t cringe yet, though. The card bundles a lot of value into its membership. Cardholders can earn up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide (enrollment required). It also includes airport lounge access through Priority Pass with enrollment and reimburses up to $100 for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) as a statement credit when you pay with your card.

The Bonvoy Brilliant Amex really shines with Marriott benefits. Cardholders are immediately upgraded to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status and the card offers generous rewards: Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program, 3 Marriott Bonvoy® points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 Marriott Bonvoy® points per dollar on all other eligible purchases. Additionally, it comes with an annual free night award after a cardholder’s card renewal month: It’s valid on properties priced up to 85,000 points. Keep in mind that resort fees may be charged.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card* vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

If you’re looking for hotel points but aren’t necessarily loyal to Marriott, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is a similar alternative. Like the Bonvoy Bold, there’s no annual fee, a sizable welcome bonus and the opportunity to earn points on every purchase.

IHG, or InterContinental Hotels Group, manages brands like Holiday Inn, InterContinental and Staybridge Suites so you’ll likely find a hotel everywhere you need one. Cardholders can earn up to 17 points per dollar spent at IHG Hotels & Resorts, 3 points on qualifying monthly bills, gas stations, select streaming services and restaurants and 2 points on all other purchases.

The IHG Traveler card falls short with on-site benefits. However, it does offer your fourth night free on all points reservations (when booking a four-night consecutive IHG hotel stay) to stretch your rewards farther. For some families, that may be a better offer.

Read more: Best Credit Cards of 2024

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold card is for the casual Marriott Bonvoy member who does not wish to hold a credit card with an annual fee. It offers Silver Elite status benefits to those who wouldn’t otherwise earn it and a few free travel insurances. For serious Marriott loyalists, though, the earning potential falls short compared to other cards.

Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:

• Annual fees
• Welcome bonus offers
• Ongoing earning rates
• Value of individual points or miles
• Included travel or merchant credits
• Additional cardholder benefits

Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors came together to provide a star rating for each individual card.

To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on how Forbes Advisor rates credit cards.

To view rates and fees for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card please visit this page.

Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Managing Editor Caroline Lupini and Credit Cards Contributor Jenn Underwood contributed to this article.