Key facts
With more than 8,500 properties worldwide, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is the key that unlocks a great deal of perks for those interested in free night awards and automatic Silver elite status.
Annual Fee:
$95Min. Credit Score for Approval:
740-799 * Very goodForeign Transaction Fee:
0%Coupled with a terrific new cardmember bonus, the Boundless card offers a myriad of Marriott Bonvoy perks for a reasonable $95 annual fee.
Reward multipliers
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card offers you a way to earn up to 17x total points per dollar at Marriott properties (10x points as a Marriott Bonvoy member, 6x points awarded with the card, and 1x points as a Silver elite status holder thanks to the card). You’ll also earn 3x Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases per year on grocery stores, gas stations and dining, as well as 2x Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Earns bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Earn 6X when you book Marriott Bonvoy properties direct. Earn 2X on all other hotel bookings.
Estimated Rewards Value: 3.6%
Estimated Rewards Value: 1.8%
Estimated Rewards Value: 1.8%
Estimated Rewards Value: 1.8%
Estimated Rewards Value: 1.2%
Key features
Unique Card Benefits
15 Elite Night Credits
Every year, card members get 15 elite night credits. This can help you qualify for higher ranks of Marriott Bonvoy elite status, which offers five different levels. Add a Marriott Bonvoy Business® Credit Card, which comes with 15 elite nights as well, and you’ll start each year with 30 nights towards a higher elite status.
Path to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
Interested in upgrading your status even further? By spending $35,000 or more on the card per year, you can earn Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. This Marriott Bonvoy membership tier unlocks enhanced room upgrades (upon availability), 2 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability) and 25% bonus points on eligible Marriott stays.
Complimentary Doordash Membership
Cardholders can receive a one-year complimentary DashPass membership if activated by December 31, 2024. This perk offers unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After this trial period, you’ll be automatically enrolled in the DashPass program at the standard monthly rate.
Grants Hotel Status
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card holders receive 15 elite night credits per year, which will unlock Silver Elite status through the Marriott Bonvoy program.
At this level, you’ll earn 10% more points on every eligible stay and priority late checkout. And you are on your way to higher status levels with 15 base elite nights under your belt right at the start of each year.
Free Annual Hotel Night
You’ll earn a free night award every year after renewing your card every account anniversary year. This Marriott Bonvoy free night certificate is valid for a one night hotel stay at a participating property, with a redemption level of up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (and you can use your existing Bonvoy points to “top off” with up to 15,000 additional points which would net you a room costing up to 50,000 points). (Resort fees apply on award nights.)
Earns Transferable Points
Another underrated perk of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is the ability to earn transferable points to 35+ airline loyalty programs.
Although the ratio is less favorable at 3:1 with most partners, this can be a fantastic way to top off your balances on popular programs like American Airlines AAdvantage, Korean Air SkyPass and more!
Marriott Bonvoy | ||
---|---|---|
Transfer Ratio | Expected Transfer Time | |
Aegean Airlines | 3:1 | 3-9 days |
Aeroflot Bonus | 3:1 | TBD |
Aeroplan/Air Canada | 3:1 | 2-5 days |
Air China | 3:1 | TBD |
Air France / KLM Flying Blue | 3:! | TBD |
Air New Zealand Airpoints | 200:1 | TBD |
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | 3:1 | 1-3 days |
All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club | 3:1 | ~4 days |
American Airlines AAdvantage | 3:1 | Generally 2 days |
Asia Miles | 3:1 | TBD |
Asiana Airlines | 3:1 | 3-7 days |
Avianca LifeMiles | 3:1 | TBD |
British Airways Executive Club | 3:1 | TBD |
China Eastern Airlines | 3:1 | TBD |
China Southern Airlines Sky Pearl Club | 3:1 | TBD |
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles | 3:1 | 2 days |
Emirates Skywards | 3:1 | TBD |
Etihad Airways | 3:1 | TBD |
Frontier | 3:1 | TBD |
Hainan Airlines | 3:1 | TBD |
Hawaiian Airlines | 3:1 | TBD |
Iberia Plus | 3:1 | TBD |
Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank | 3:1 | Approx. 1 week |
JetBlue | 6:1 | TBD |
Korean Air | 3:1 | TBD |
LATAM Airlines LATAM Pass | 3:1 | TBD |
MultiPlus | 3:1 | TBD |
Qatar Airways | 3:1 | TBD |
Qantas | 3:1 | TBD |
Saudia | 3:1 | TBD |
South African Airways Voyager | 3:1 | TBD |
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 3:1 | TBD |
TAP Portugal | 3:! | TBD |
Thai Airways International Royal Orchid Plus | 3:1 | TBD |
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 3:1 | TBD |
United Mileage Plus | 3:1.1 | TBD |
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 3:1 | 1-3 days |
Virgin Australia | 3:1 | TBD |
Trip Protections
Trip Delay Insurance
If you’re traveling on a common carrier (such as an airline) and your travel is delayed by 12 or more hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family members can be reimbursed for expenses, up to $500 per ticket.
Baggage Insurance
The card offers two types of baggage protections: lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000 per eligible passenger) and baggage delay insurance (up to $100 for a maximum of 5 days).
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless cardmembers can receive secondary coverage for damage or theft when renting a vehicle, which will kick in after any primary rental car insurance you may have. As always, terms apply, not all makes and models or all countries are covered. You must book and pay for the card in full with your Boundless card and decline the CDW/LDW coverage offered by the rental agency.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
If you need legal, medical, or emergency assistance while traveling away from home, you can reach out to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card’s Benefits Administrator to receive 24/7/365 assistance. However, cardmembers will be responsible for any services rendered.
Purchase Protection
Eligible purchases on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card will be covered for up to 120 days against damage and theft, up to $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per account.
Extended Warranty
Extended warranty offers up to an additional year of coverages on eligible card purchases that come with a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is a great travel companion as it waives all foreign transaction fees.
No Fees for Authorized Users
You can add authorized users for no additional fee to the card, and any purchases they make will rack up Marriott Bonvoy points into the primary cardholder’s balance.
Free Access to Credit Score
Available free, via Chase’s free Credit Journey product.
Earn more rewards by combining credit cards
Pros & cons
- The annual free night award on the card is worth around $210 based on our estimations - more than double the $95 annual fee
- The card is especially rewarding on Marriott purchases, with the ability to earn an excellent 6X multiplier at Marriott Bonvoy properties
- Great travel card all around, thanks to travel protections and no foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- Silver elite status doesn't provide many perks on its own, so it's worth it to achieve Gold status or upgrade to a higher-tier Marriott Bonvoy credit card
- Only earns 2x Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar after reaching the $6,000 cap on combined purchases on grocery stores, gas stations and dining
Our review
Marriott Bonvoy offers co-branded credit cards from two major issuers: American Express and Chase. With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down the right Marriott credit card for you. If you’re interested in a Marriott Bonvoy credit card but don’t necessarily want to pony up a huge annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card could be the perfect fit. This card provides an excellent introduction into earning a ton of Marriott points, from the welcome bonus earned upon account opening to the everyday rewards rate.
You’ll not only earn 6x points (up to 17X total Bonvoy points per dollar spent when including your Bonvoy program earnings) on eligible hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, but the Bonvoy Boundless credit card is a solid match for everyday purchases. Cardholders can earn 3x points per dollar on up to the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases at grocery stores, gas stations and dining. By maxing out that limit, you would earn 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points alone from everyday spend! Not to mention, you’ll still earn 2x points per dollar on all non-bonus category purchases.
Once you rack up a sizable sum of Marriott Bonvoy points, you can redeem them at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, where the 5th night is always free on awards, adding to the value.
With 8,500 properties and counting, you can find a Marriott Bonvoy hotel at virtually every corner of the world. It’s easy to search for properties through Marriott’s website, then press “use points/certificates” to see the award rate for your desired travel dates.
Another huge perk to discuss is the card’s free night award. You’ll receive the annual free night certificate every account anniversary year, and the free night valued at up to 35,000 points can be a huge money-saver every year – especially since you can add on up to 15,000 points from your account if the room you want is between 35,000 and 50,000 points. As we value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.6 cents apiece, this translates into roughly $210 in value — which is more than double the value of the $95 annual fee!
There are even more benefits once you get to participating Marriott hotels thanks to the card’s automatic elite status perks. You’ll be bumped up from your Marriott Bonvoy member account to Silver elite status with the automatic 15 elite night credits, and this level offers 10% bonus Marriott Bonvoy points (as reflected in the card’s rewards rate) and priority late check-out. You can easily bypass the ranks to earn Gold elite status by spending at least $35,000 on the card every year (although, at that point, you’d probably be better off with the premium Bonvoy Brilliant card which grants automatic Platinum status – admittedly for a high annual fee. This level can be particularly rewarding, thanks to enhanced room upgrades upon availability, 2 p.m. late checkout (based on availability), and 25% bonus points on eligible Marriott stays.
Last but not least, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card isn’t just a great pick for your hotel stays. When traveling, you’ll be covered with a plethora of protections, including trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and secondary rental car coverage. Finally, some important purchase coverages that are standard with Chase are included, including purchase protection and extended warranty.
In summary, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card is a popular pick for the $95 annual fee. It’s easy for cardholders to justify paying this cost every year thanks to the free night award, and that’s before you consider all of the other benefits on the card.
However, if you’re interested in a higher elite status level, a free night valued up to 85,000 points per night, and the possibility to earn Marriott Bonvoy points faster, you may want to consider other Marriott Bonvoy credit cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card.
Frequently asked questions
Does Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card have an annual fee?
Yes, the card comes with a $95 annual fee.
Does Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card get you into airport lounges?
Unfortunately, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card does not offer any airport lounge access.
Is it hard to get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card?
It’s recommended to have a good to excellent credit score to qualify for this Marriott Bonvoy credit card.
Is it worth getting the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card offers a happy medium of a reasonable annual fee ($95) with heavy-hitting benefits, like the ability to earn a free night award every year and automatic Silver elite status perks.
How do I earn points with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card?
You can earn up to 17x points on hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy (6X on the card plus up to 11X more for your Bonvoy program earnings), as well as 3x points on everyday purchases including grocery stores, gas stations and dining (up to the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually), and 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
Is there a better credit card than the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card?
Yes! For even more Marriott perks, you’ll want to take a look at the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards offered by American Express. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card are the hotel chain’s most rewarding card options.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card charge foreign transaction fees?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card waives all foreign transaction fees when traveling internationally.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card have car rental coverage?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers secondary car rental coverage, which offers benefits once any primary car rental insurance is applied, subject to all terms and conditions which you should read carefully.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card come with any Elite Status?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card offers automatic Silver elite status, with an expedited path to upgrade to Gold status by spending $35,000+ on the card in a year.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offer extended warranty?
Yes, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers extended warranty. It can provide up to an additional year of coverage on eligible manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offer purchase protection?
Yes. The purchase protection benefit covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim, and $50,000 per account.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offer trip protections?
Even as a hotel card, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card offers a solid number of trip protections, including baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and trip delay reimbursement.
What credit score do I need to get a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card?
To get approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, you’ll likely need a FICO score of 670+.
What can I do with the points earned for spending on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card?
You can redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points for 8,500+ hotels participating in the program. Another useful way to redeem your points would be to transfer them to nearly 40 airline frequent flyer programs, at a 3:1 ratio in most cases.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card have Cell Phone Protection?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card does not offer cell phone protection.