Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Boundless: Best Starter Card?

Choosing between the Marriott Bonvoy Bold and Boundless can be tough. Both cards offer perks for frequent Marriott guests, but with different focuses.

The Bold is a no-annual-fee option, ideal for casual Marriott stays. It offers solid earning rates and basic benefits.

The Boundless comes with an annual fee but offers a more robust rewards package, including an annual free night certificate and faster elite status progression.

In this comparison, we'll break down the key differences and help you decide which card aligns best with your travel habits and budget.

Let's dive into the details!

How Do You Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points?

Marriott Bonvoy offers multiple avenues to accumulate points:

• Hotel stays The cornerstone of earning points, with bonus points often available for elite members.
• Marriott Bonvoy credit cards: These cards offer accelerated earning rates on Marriott stays and other purchases.
• Dining: Partner restaurants and dining programs can earn points.
• Travel partners: Airlines, car rentals, and other travel-related spending can contribute to your point balance.
• Marriott Bonvoy Moments: Unique experiences can be purchased with points.
• Co-branded partners: Some retail and service providers offer points for purchases.

Note: Earning rates and bonus opportunities can vary based on your Marriott Bonvoy membership tier, credit card status, and promotions. Always check the Marriott Bonvoy website or app for the most up-to-date information.

Once you've accumulated points, you can redeem them for free hotel stays, room upgrades, flights, merchandise, and more.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Review

This card has no annual fee, meaning that you will not face a yearly expenditure to access elite status with the hotel chain. This makes it a great option for those who don’t book with the hotel or travel frequently enough to warrant paying an annual fee for higher benefits such as airport lounge access.

· No Annual Fee

· No Foreign Transaction Fees.

Earning Points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card

· 60,000 Bonus points after you spend $2,000 within the first three months of opening your account + 1 Free Night Award.

· Up to 14x points per dollar spent on Marriott Bonvoy bookings with your card.

· 2x Marriott points for each dollar you spend on airfare and other travel purchases with your card.

· 1x points per dollar on all your other everyday purchases with this credit card.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Benefits

· 15 Elite Night Credits per year.

· Silver Elite Status for your Marriott Bonvoy Membership.

As a Silver Elite Member with your card, you will access benefits such as:

· 10% bonus on your Marriott points earned during your hotel stays.

· Priority for late checkouts when available.

· Exclusive reservation phone line for your bookings.

· Reimbursement if Marriott cannot honor your booking reservation.

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Why Should You Consider This Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card?

No Annual Fee

Travel rewards credit cards often come with a variety of valuable benefits, with the best perks coming with higher annual fees which can range from $95 to over $600. But if you don’t travel enough for this fee to make financial sense, then opting for a no-annual-fee card is a better option.

So, if you are a casual traveler who is simply looking to collect as many perks as possible during your hotel stays without any expenditure, then this may be the right card for you. Those who travel more often may find that the savings they make with a premium card make the annual fee of other cards a valuable investment.

Credits for 15 Elite Nights

One of the best benefits of this credit card is undoubtedly the Elite Night credits which give you automatic Silver Elite status with the hotel loyalty scheme. It is easy to be confused about this benefit, as the name may imply that you get 15 free nights in a Marriott hotel – this is not the case.

Instead, these elite night credits will help you to qualify for the elite status levels within the scheme. If you stay 10 nights in a qualifying hotel with these 15-night credits, you will total 25 elite nights in the year – bumping you up to Gold status with its related benefits.

Summing Up – Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Review

If you are looking for a way to access Marriott's elite status quickly, then applying for this card could be a great option. You will attain Silver status with no annual fee attached and start earning points on your everyday credit card purchases.

However, if you are a frequent traveler who stays with Marriott often, then you may find an annual fee card such as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit card a better fit.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Review of Benefits and Fees

If you stay at Marriott hotels frequently, then you may find that the $95 annual fee is a valuable investment that will give you access to benefits and perks that easily outweigh your initial expenditure. The card gives you a fast-track path to Marriott elite status, and you’ll also access a yearly certificate for free nights in over 7,000 hotel properties.

· Annual Fee of $95.

· No Foreign Transaction Fees.

Earning Points with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

· Up to 17x points for every dollar spent on bookings with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties.

· 3x points for each dollar you spend on dining, groceries, and gas stations (up to spending of $6,000 each year.)

Benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card

· 3 Free Night Awards (up to a value of 50,000 each) after making qualifying purchases with your card.

· 1 Free Night Award for each anniversary of your card renewal (worth up to 35,000 points.)

· 1 Elite Night Credit for each $5,000 you spend with your card.

· 15 Annual Elite Night Credits

· Automatic Elite Status (and Gold Status after spending $35,000 with your card each year.)

· DoorDash Pass Subscription.

As you can see, with this card you can access some valuable discounts on your hotel bookings, making the $95 annual fee more than worth it. If you are a frequent customer of the hotel chain, you will also be able to quickly rack up points to redeem against future travel with 17 points earned per dollar spent on bookings with the hotel chain.

This point earning potential is enhanced by rewards for spending in gas stations, grocery stores, and dining establishments. And you will get double the reward available on the Bold card for your everyday spending.

Standout Benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

Free Night Certificates

Each year that you own the Marriott Boundless credit card you will be rewarded with a free night certificate annually, worth up to 35,000 points. This can translate into a free night at a property that is valued between $200 and $300 per day. So, that’s your annual fee expenditure covered right away!

And if you have built up rewards points with your spending, you can use up to 15,000 points to increase the value of this certificate and pay for a night in an even more luxurious room.

Automatic Silver Elite Status and Fast Track to Gold Status

As a card owner, you will automatically be awarded Silver Elite Marriott status with your perk of 15 elite night credits. This means you will access benefits such as a 10% bonus on your points earned during hotel bookings, and access to an exclusive reservation line.

You will also be fast-tracked to Gold status if you spend $35,000 on your card each year. This will give you enhanced benefits such as a 25% bonus on your points earned at Marriott properties, and room upgrades when available.

Takeaway - Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which beginner Marriott card is best for you?

The best Marriott Bonvoy credit card for you will depend upon how often you stay with the hotel branch. If you are a frequent booker, then the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card may offer you the most value even after paying the annual fee. For those who are more casual travelers, the no-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold card allows you access to immediate elite status, without spending a penny on card fees!