Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Credit Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- Sign-Up Bonus
- Points for Staying at Marriott and on all other purchases
- Annual Fee
- Chase Restrictions
Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Our Rating
PROS
- Sign-Up Bonus
- Points for Staying at Marriott and on all other purchases
CONS
- Annual Fee
- Chase Restrictions
APR
21.49%–28.49% variable
Annual Fee
$95
0% Intro
None
Credit Requirements
Good - Excellent
Marriott offers a range of credit cards, but the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase stands out as an entry-level, mid-tier option with a $95 annual fee and a recommended “good” credit score. It's particularly appealing for occasional Marriott guests, offering a valuable welcome bonus, an annual free night, and elite night credits.
The card offers great rewards for those who are loyal to Marriott Hotel chains. Cardholders earn 6X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card. Plus, earn up to 10X points from Marriott for being a Marriott Bonvoy® member. Plus, earn up to 1X point from Marriott with Silver Elite Status. Earn 3X points for every $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases..
In addition, new applicants get a sign up bonus of 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening, as well as an anniversary free night award, potentially worth more than the annual fee, and a pathway to Gold Elite status by spending $35,000 annually. Additionally, the card provides 15 elite night credits annually, reducing the nights required for Platinum Elite status.
However, this card has an annual fee, and it only provides mid-tier travel perks, which is mainly relevant to Marriot. If you need more flexibility or premium rewards, it may not be the best fit.
How to Maximize Rewards?
Since this is a Marriott branded card, if you want to maximize your rewards, you will need to be prepared for spending on Marriott stays and packages.
You can also boost your rewards points balance by referring friends. Chase allows you to earn up to 200,000 bonus points each year (40,000 per friend) when they get approved for participating Chase cards using your referral link.
How’s the Card Customer Service Availability?
Chase does have a support section on its website, but if you want to speak to a representative, the phone line is only available 7 am to 11 pm ET Monday to Friday and 10 am to 7 pm ET on weekends.
How Much are 10,000 Miles/Points Worth?
This depends on your redemption method. If you use your points for Marriott purchases, you’ll get a redemption rate of $0.01 per point, so 10,000 points would be worth $100. However, if you transfer to an airline partner, you’re likely to only get $0.007 each, or $70 for 10,000 points.
How's the Marriott Hotel Network?
The Marriott Hotel chain is one of the largest in the world. The network includes over 7,000 properties across 131 countries. So, whether you travel domestically or head overseas, you should have no problems finding a Marriott Hotel location nearby.
When Should You Consider It?
Since this is a Marriott branded hotel, it is a good card if you are brand loyal to this hotel chain. You’ll not only get the highest reward rates for Marriott purchases, but also get the best redemption rates when you use your points for Marriott purchases.
In This Review..
Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Sign Up Bonus
| Annual Fee |
Annual Free Night Award | Balance Transfer Fee |
Automatic Silver Status | Expiration of Free Night Award |
Elite Night Credits | Lower-Tier Elite Status |
Point Rewards | Better Options for High Spenders |
Transfer to Airline Points | Value of Marriott Points |
No Foreign Transaction Fee |
- Sign-Up Bonus
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card has an initial sign-up bonus of 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
- Annual Free Night Award
Cardholders receive a free night certificate annually on account renewal, potentially offering significant value and helping offset the $95 annual fee.
- Automatic Silver Status
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card comes automatically with silver status Marriott rewards.Â
This status comes with priority check out, 10% bonus on points, access to exclusive phone numbers to make reservations, and compensation if Marriott is unable to make reservations. The 10% bonus applies to stay at a Marriott, not all spending.
- Elite Night Credits
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card has 15 elite night credits each calendar year. An elite credit is basically a one-night stay at a Marriott Hotel.Â
The more Elite credits you get in a year the closer you are to becoming a Gold, Titanium, or Platinum Marriott member. Each of these comes with their own rewards.
- Point Rewards
Cardholders get 6X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card. Plus, earn up to 10X points from Marriott for being a Marriott Bonvoy® member. Plus, earn up to 1X point from Marriott with Silver Elite Status. Earn 3X points for every $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases..
- Transfer to Airline Points
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card points can be transferred to airline miles. Marriott is partners with over 40 airlines through which you can use your miles.Â
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card does not have foreign transaction fees.
- Annual Fee
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card has a high $95 annual fee. Many other credit cards do not have annual fees.
This fee is easily offset with the annual free hotel stay.Â
- Balance Transfer Fee
There is a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the transfer, whichever is greater. This fee is upfront and will be added to your debt load when transferred. This is is also higher than the industry average of 3%.Â
- Expiration of Free Night Award
The annual free night award, starting from the second year, is valid for only 12 months after issuance, requiring careful planning to maximize its use.
- Better Options for High Spenders
While the card offers a pathway to Gold Elite status through spending, individuals spending significantly may find better travel credit card options with more robust benefits.
- Lower-Tier Elite Status
The card only provides Silver Elite status, which is relatively basic and may not offer significant benefits compared to higher-tier elite statuses.
- Value of Marriott Points
Marriott Bonvoy points are valued at 0.8 cent each, which may be considered less valuable compared to points in other hotel loyalty programs.
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What Can I Do With Marriot Boundless Points?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card offers diverse redemption options, allowing members to tailor their rewards to their preferences and travel needs:
- Free Nights: Redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for complimentary hotel stays at various Marriott brands worldwide. You can combine points and cash for flexible booking options.
- Travel Packages: Exchange points for travel packages, including flights and hotel stays.
- Room Upgrades: Use points to upgrade your room for a more luxurious stay.
- Experiences: Redeem points for unique experiences like concerts, events, and tours.
- Gift Cards: Exchange points for gift cards from popular retailers and brands.
- Transfer Points: Transfer points to airline partners for miles.
- Car Rentals: Use points to book car rentals through Marriott.
- Shopping: Redeem points for merchandise through the Marriott Bonvoy shopping portal.
How It Compared To Other Marriot Credit Cards?
When compared to other Marriott cards, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, the Boundless card presents a balanced blend of perks and affordability. Marriott also offers the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex card and the new Marriot Bountiful card.
The Boundless card's $95 annual fee places it between the no-annual-fee Bonvoy Bold card and the higher-tier Bonvoy Bevy and Bountiful ($250) and Brilliant card with a $650 annual fee.
In terms of elite status and perks, the Boundless card offers Silver Elite status, while the Bonvoy Brilliant card provides Gold Elite status. The Brilliant card also offers additional benefits like Priority Pass membership and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy (by Amex) and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful (By Chase) are mid-high tier. They also offer Gold elite status including free wifi, room upgrades, late checkout and 25% bonus points, as well as better points rewards ratio.
In summary, the Boundless card offers a balanced mix of benefits for moderate spenders, the Bevy, Nountiful and Brilliant card caters to those seeking premium perks at a higher cost, the Bold card provides a no-annual-fee option with basic rewards
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card Right for You?
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card is an excellent travel rewards card for those who are regular Marriott customers. Marriott offers a wide variety of different hotels ranging from ultra-luxurious to the everyday hotel.Â
The rewards offered with this card are some of the best rewards for travel rewards cards as long as much of the spending is within the Marriott footprint. The great thing about the points on this card is that they can also be transferred to over 40 different airlines for miles.Â
If you are not a road warrior and don’t spend a lot of time on the road or at Marriott Hotels, this is not the card for you. If you are a dedicated Marriott customer, this card will reward you more than many other cards in the general market.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for a hotel card – Marriott is definitely a good option, but there are some good alternatives:
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|
| |
|---|---|---|---|
World of Hyatt Credit Card | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | Hilton Honors American Express Card | |
Annual Fee | $95 | $95 | $0 |
Rewards |
1X – 4X
4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on purchases at all Hyatt hotels. Plus, 5 Base Points from Hyatt per eligible $1 spent for being a World of Hyatt member. 2x Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting as well as fitness club and gym memberships. Plus, earn 1 Bonus Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
|
1x – 6X
6X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card. Plus, earn up to 10X points from Marriott for being a Marriott Bonvoy® member. Plus, earn up to 1X point from Marriott with Silver Elite Status. Earn 3X points for every $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases.
|
3X – 7X
7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5x points at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) U.S.supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and 3x points for each dollar on other eligible purchases
|
Welcome bonus |
Up to 60,000 Bonus Points
30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.*Opens offer details overlay Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
|
3 Free Nights
3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening
|
70,000 points
70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | $0. | $0. See Rates and Fees. |
Purchase APR | 21.49%–28.49% variable | 21.49%–28.49% variable | 20.99%-29.99% Variable
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FAQ
Although the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless does offer several travel based perks, car rental insurance is not one of them. Even if you pay for your entire car rental with your card, you will not get any secondary or optional coverage.
Unlike many hotel reward programs, it is possible to transfer your points to more than 40 partner programs. This includes American Airlines, Southwest, Delta Air Lines and Southwest. Marriott also has a partnership with United called RewardsPlus which will provide a 10% bonus.
However, you should bear in mind that you will not get the best redemption rate, as it is typically 0.7 cents per point.
Chase does not publish its official initial credit limits for new cardholders. However, according to current and previous customers, you could expect a credit limit of $2,000 or more depending on your creditworthiness and income.
To maintain your points balance, you need to keep your account active. If there is no activity on your account for 24 consecutive months, your points will expire. If the inactivity continues for five years, your account will be closed.
Compare Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card
While there is no big difference when it comes to points rewards, the Brilliant offers lounge access, credit statements, and Platinum status.
In our opinion, the new Marriott Bountiful isn't worth the higher annual fee compared to the traditional Boundless card. Here's why.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs Boundless: Side By Side Comparison
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy is more expensive than the Boundless. Are the extra benefits worth the difference? We don't think so. Here's why.
The Marriott Boundless offers great perks for Marriot lovers, while the Preferred card wins when it comes to general travel-related rewards.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Comparison
The Hilton Amex Surpass is our winner as it offers higher estimated total cashback than the Marriot Boundless card and additional hotel perks.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs. Hilton Amex Surpass: Side By Side Comparison
Both cards offer similar rewards ratio and hotel perks, so overall it comes down to which hotel chain you like better – IHG or Marriot?
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Side By Side Comparison
The World of Hyatt Card is our winner – it offers a significantly higher annual cash back for the average consumer than Marriott Boundless.
World of Hyatt Card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which Hotel Card Is Best?
Surprisingly, despite having no annual fee – the Wyndham Rewards Earner offers higher estimated cash back, which is why it's our winner.
Wyndham Rewards Earner vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which Hotel Card Is Best?
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