Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card Review

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ is a powerful credit card for travelers loyal to and enthusiastic about the Marriott Bonvoy hotel chain.

It provides a great way to leverage your spending at Marriott Bonvoy properties into additional rewards and hotel perks.

The modest annual fee is quickly offset by the valuable and often luxurious perks that come with the card.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card Pros and Cons

Pros:

• High rewards earning rate
• Automatic Silver Elite Status
• 15 Elite Night credits each year
• Annual account anniversary perk
• No foreign transaction fee
• Unlimited rewards potential

Cons:

• Annual fee with no waiver for the first year
• Rewards are limited in scope and inflexible
• High APR with no introductory rate

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card Review

• Annual Fee: $95
• Regular APR: 15.99% to 22.99% variable APR
• Rewards: 6 points per $1 spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, and 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card.
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Sign-Up Bonus: None
• Category:Travel / Rewards

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card Rewards

Earning Rewards

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card cardholder earns 6 points per $1 spent at eligible and participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per $1 spent anywhere else.

This makes the earnings straightforward to understand, but it also means the earning structure is very narrow and limited in scope.

The main benefit of having the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card is the bonus points or spending directly with Marriott at Marriott Bonvoy hotels and some of the other valuable perks.

The rewards earned with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card are automatically deposited into the cardholder’s account and are combined with the points earned through booking accommodations through Marriott and other partner purchases.

If you don’t spend a sizable sum annually with Marriott Bonvoy, though, the value in the card can be difficult to appreciate.

Redeeming Rewards

When points are earned with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card, they are deposited directly into the cardholder’s account and are immediately accessible for redemptions and awards.

The most potent benefits that the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card bestows are leveraging the points for free stays at Marriott Bonvoy properties.

The redemption rates are not uniform and are tethered to the ticket price with an equivalent cash value and will fluctuate with the season, price, and availability.

Marriott Bonvoy hotels are categorized from 1 to 8, according to several factors, and while a one-night stay at a category 1 hotel is about 4,000 points during off-peak dates, a night at a category 8 hotel can cost 100,000 points or more.

Redemption economy can be increased by booking at PointSaver hotel, which discounts the point cost by up to 20%.

Additional value can be obtained by booking four consecutive award nights and enjoying the fifth night free. Points can also be combined with cash to simply discount potential flights.

Points can also be redeemed for Marriott Bonvoy Hotel & Air packages, which allow you to squeeze more value out of the redemption by offering packages with deeper discounts than can be found elsewhere.

The benefit to these packages is that they also require a flat rate of points, making redemption much simpler.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card Features and Benefits

Coveted Elite Status

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card cardholder is automatically elevated to Silver Elite Status upon opening the account.

This automatic status upgrade also puts the cardholder on a greatly accelerated path to Gold Elite Status.

Varying degrees of Elite Status can grant valuable perks to the traveler, like reservation guarantees, a 10% bonus point increase on paid stays, and even late checkout where available.

Lucrative Welcome Bonus

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card offers a welcome bonus of 3 free nights after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.

It also offers 10x points per $1 spent at restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores for the first 6 months after opening. This amounts to a welcome bonus potential of approximately 50,000 points.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card features no foreign transaction fees, so you can feel free to spend without worry while traveling, no matter what you’re doing.

Many other cards have transaction fees of around 3%, and for heavy or consistent travelers, this can mean hundreds or even thousands in savings.

Enjoy a Free Night

Arguably one of the most valuable benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card is the annual free stay.

Each year on the account anniversary, the cardholder is gifted a Free Night Award. This award can be worth up to a massive 35,000 points, which can significantly offset the $95 annual fee.

Each Free Night Award will only be valid for 12 months, so this is a perfect benefit for those who travel more seldom but prefer to stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

How Does Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card Compare to Other Cards?

#1. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

For those that travel regularly, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card has several perks, but if it doesn’t seem like the right fit, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a good option as well.

There is no annual fee the first year, then $99 for subsequent years. The APR ranges from 15.74% to 24.74%.

When you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months, you will earn 40,000 Bonus Miles.

#2. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

When you want the option to earn miles or earn cash back, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Cardis here for you.

Capital One offers a sign-on bonus of 60,000 miles if you spend $3,000 on purchases during your first 3 months with the account.

Cardholders will earn 2 miles per each dollar they spend on anything with their credit card. These points can be redeemed for 1 cent each, which can be applied to your statement.

This card does have an annual fee of $95, and the regular APR varies from 15.99% to 23.99%, depending on your creditworthiness.

The better the credit score, the lower your APR. Each purchase earns you 2X miles, with no limits, and miles will not expire as long as the life of the account.

#3. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card vs. Chase Freedom Flex℠

For those looking for a credit card that doesn’t have an annual fee, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has several benefits you may be interested in.

The first, of course, is no annual fee. You also get 5% cash back on travel that you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards, as well as 5% on their quarterly bonus categories.

All grocery store purchases (aside from Walmart and Target) earn 5% cash back on the first $12,000 spent during the first year. They even offer 3% on dining (takeout and delivery included), as well as drugstore purchases.

#4. Platinum Card® from American Express vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card

The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium credit card that offers many great rewards, including bonus points and travel perks.

These features do come with a hefty price tag, as potential cardholders are looking at an annual fee of $695. Members that spend at least $6,000 on purchases will earn 100,000 Membership Rewards Points in their first 6 months.

Spending money in restaurants globally and shopping with small businesses earns 10x points.

Any flights booked through Amex Travel (valued at $500,000 or less) will earn 5x Membership Rewards Points.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Credit Score Do You Need for Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card?

To qualify for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card, you’ll need to have a credit score of good or excellent, ranging from 690 to 850. If your credit score is lower than this, then you are unlikely to get approved.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card Worth It?

If you love to travel and stay in hotels regularly, the rewards are worth paying the annual fee. Each year, you earn at least one free night in a hotel, which would cost you more than you are spending on that annual fee.

Does Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card Have an Annual Fee?

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card carries an annual fee of $95, and unfortunately, there is no waiver of the fee for the first year.

Bottom Line: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card Review

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card is one of the best rewards credit cards for travelers who tend to stay exclusively at Marriott Bonvoy properties or wish to earn Marriott Bonvoy rewards for their spending.

There are other cards with more flexible rewards programs, but they do not offer brand-specific hotel perks and Elite Status benefits.