Credit Cards » Credit Card Reviews » Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Review 2023
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Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Review 2023

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold card offers automatic silver elite status and no annual fee, but the rest of the rewards are quite limited
Author: Lorraine Smithills
Lorraine Smithills

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Lorraine is a freelance finance writer with years of experience in the banking sector and after a successful career in one of the largest retail and commercial financial services providers. She has a passion for helping people with less financial confidence to get control of their money through budgeting, saving, and responsible credit practices.

Review & Fact Check: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Financial Expert, The Smart Investor CEO

Experience

Baruch Mann (Silvermann) is a financial expert and founder of The Smart Investor. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.
Author: Lorraine Smithills
Lorraine Smithills

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Lorraine is a freelance finance writer with years of experience in the banking sector and after a successful career in one of the largest retail and commercial financial services providers. She has a passion for helping people with less financial confidence to get control of their money through budgeting, saving, and responsible credit practices.

Review & Fact Check: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Financial Expert, The Smart Investor CEO

Experience

Baruch Mann (Silvermann) is a financial expert and founder of The Smart Investor. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Rewards Plan

1X – 14X Up to 14X total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R) with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold(R) Card. 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains). 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Sign up Bonus

30,000 points 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Credit Rating

Good – Excellent

0% Intro

N/A

Annual Fee

$0

APR

20.99% – 27.99% Variable
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Rewards Plan

1X – 14X Up to 14X total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R) with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold(R) Card. 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains). 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Sign up Bonus

30,000 points 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

0% Intro

N/A

PROS

CONS

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Balance Transfer Fee

$5 or 5%, whichever is greater.

Credit Requirements

Good - Excellent

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is a rewards credit card designed for people who frequently stay at Marriott hotels and want to earn rewards for their spending. The card offers a range of benefits and doesn't charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fee.

One of the main benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is its rewards rate toward the Marriot loyalty program. Cardholders can earn Up to 14X total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R) with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold(R) Card. 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains). 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.. Points can be redeemed for hotel stays, transferring to various airline partners, car rentals, and more.

In addition, the card offers a variety of travel-related benefits, including Visa Signature® concierge service, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement. 

However, the card does have some drawbacks. For example, the card doesn't offer rewards on everyday spending and the travel perks it offers are limited and fewer compared to other travel cards.

  • No Annual Fee
  • Rewards Program
  • Sign-up Bonus
  • Automatic Silver Elite Status
  • No Foreign Transaction Fee
  • Limited Travel Benefits
  • Co-branded Card
  • Limited Bonus Categories

XX

In this Review

The Potential Rewards: A Comprehensive Analysis

The table below presents a rewards simulation that offers an overview of the potential benefits of using the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card, based on both general usage and spending across different categories.

This simulation can provide you with valuable insights into the rewards you could earn from using this card.

However, it's important to keep in mind that the figures shown in the table are estimates and your actual rewards may differ depending on your unique spending habits and other factors.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Spend Per Category
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets
10,000 points
$4,000 – Restaurants
4,000 points
$3,000 – Airline
6,000 points
$4,000 – Hotels
56,000 points
$4,000 – Gas
4,000 points
Estimated Total Annual Points
80,000 Points

Pros and Cons

Just like any other credit card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® has some advantages and disadvantages:

Pros
Cons
No Annual Fee
Limited Travel Benefits
Rewards Program
Co-branded Card
Sign-up Bonus
Limited Bonus Categories
Automatic Silver Elite Status
No Foreign Transaction Fee

Unlike most Marriot credit cards, the card has no annual fee, making it a good option for those who want to earn rewards without paying a fee.

The card offers Up to 14X total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R) with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold(R) Card. 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains). 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases..

New cardholders can earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..

Cardholders receive automatic Silver Elite status, which offers perks such as priority late check-out, a 10% points bonus on Marriott stays, and access to exclusive events.

When using your card for purchases made outside the United States, you won't be charged any foreign transaction fees.

The card offers some travel benefits, such baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and purchase protection.

However, it doesn't offer the same level of travel perks as some premium hotel cards.

Points can only be redeemed for hotel stays, merchandise, or experiences, which may not be as flexible as cash back or other redemption options.

While the card offers bonus points for Marriott stays and travel purchases, it doesn't offer bonus points for other popular spending categories, such as everyday spending,  dining or entertainment, which may be a drawback for some cardholders.

Redeeming Points: Options for Cardholders

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card allows cardholders to redeem points for a variety of rewards, including hotel stays, flights, rental cars, and more. Here's a look at the different redemption options and whether they are competitive:

  • Hotel stays: Cardholders can use their points to book free hotel stays at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. The redemption value varies depending on the property and time of year. This redemption option is competitive and can offer a solid value for points.

You can use the search tool on the Marriott website to find Hotel and Air packages, which typically include a seven-night hotel stay and 50,000 or 100,000 airline miles with your preferred airline program. These packages start at around 250,000 points and offer the chance to enjoy a complete vacation experience with your points.

  • Convert to Airline Miles: Points can be redeemed for miles through participating airlines.  Marriott Bonvoy boasts the most extensive list of airline partners among hotel programs, with 38 airline partners. In comparison, Hilton points can be redeemed on 26 airline transfer partners, while Hyatt loyalty program points can be redeemed on 25 airline transfer partners.

  • Shop with Points: Marriott Bonvoy provides a “Shop with Points” feature that allows you to use your points for various items such as tech and fashion via the shopping portal. However, there is no fixed point value for each item, and you'll need to check the prices for each specific item to make sure you're getting the best deal.
  • Rental cars: Points can be redeemed for rental cars through participating rental car companies. 

  • Pool points: If you have friends or family members who are also Marriott Bonvoy members, you can pool your points together to help each other out. You can transfer points up to a cap of 100,000 points per calendar year, and you can receive up to 500,000 points from your friends or family members. There are no fees for this service, and if you want to initiate a transfer, you can simply speak to a Marriott representative.

Overall, the redemption options for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card are competitive, particularly for hotel stays and flights. 

redeem Marriot points for free nights on Marriot
(Screenshot from marriot.com)

Is this Credit Card Your Perfect Match?

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is a good choice for people who frequently stay at Marriott hotels and want to earn rewards for their spending. Here are some specific situations when you may want to consider this card:

  • You stay at Marriott hotels often: If you frequently stay at Marriott hotels, the Bonvoy Bold Card can be a great way to earn rewards for your spending. With 1X – 14X points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, you can earn a significant amount of rewards.

  • You want a hotel rewards credit card with no annual fee: The card has no annual fee, which can make it a more accessible option for those who don't want to pay an annual fee for a hotel credit card.

  • You want to earn free hotel stays: The card's rewards program allows you to earn points that can be redeemed for hotel stays, flights, car rentals, and more. If you're looking to earn free hotel stays, this card can be a good option.

  • You have another card for everyday spending: If you carry a primary card for everyday spending and use this card specifically for travel and especially paying for hotel stay, that may be a good idea.

Card
Rewards
Bonus
Annual Fee

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card review 2019

1x – 17X up to 17X total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card, 3X on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining and 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
5 Free Nights 5 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases
$95

amex brilliant

2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership
$650

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
1X – 14X Up to 14X total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R) with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold(R) Card. 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains). 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
30,000 points 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
$0

Marriot bonvoy bevy card art

2x – 6x 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4X points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year, then 2X points), 2X points on all other purchases
85,000 points 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership
$250
Lorraine Smithills

Lorraine Smithills

Lorraine is a freelance finance writer with years of experience in the banking sector and after a successful career in one of the largest retail and commercial financial services providers. She has a passion for helping people with less financial confidence to get control of their money through budgeting, saving, and responsible credit practices.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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In order to determine the best possible credit cards, we look at things like fees, interest rates and rewards. We do this with companies that are associated with us as partners as well as other offerings. From there, we make a decision about what the best card is related to different categories and needs. We focus on interest rate cost & fees, especially the cost of carrying a balance, rewards – cards accumulate rewards in different currencies—points, miles, cash back—and their values vary widely usability – cards that accept a wide range of credit profiles and offer simple solutions for things like checking your credit score or contacting. We also consider customer reviews.

We look at cards related to good or excellent credit ratings that will then provide a range of different benefits and improvements for someone who has these scores. We also look at low fees when it comes to those who have lower credit scores.