Marriott Bonvoy Boundless bank card assessment: Full particulars

Even if you happen to aren’t a Marriott loyalist, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is value contemplating. It comes with a invaluable welcome bonus, an annual free evening and elite evening credit however carries a decrease annual payment than most different playing cards within the Marriott card lineup. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card Rating relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

Marriott affords a various bank card portfolio issued by each Chase and American Express. Nevertheless, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase stands out as the one entry-level, mid-tier private Marriott Bonvoy card out there to new candidates.

With an annual payment of $95 and a “good” really helpful credit score of a minimum of 670 or increased, the Boundless lands simply above the lowest-tier Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. Even those that keep at Marriott properties occasionally can profit from this card’s invaluable welcome bonus, annual free evening and elite evening credit.

Let’s take a better have a look at whether or not the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless could be a superb addition to your pockets.

New applicants can earn a $150 assertion credit score after making the primary buy within the first 12 months from account opening, and earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Based mostly on TPG’s January 2025 valuations of Marriott factors at 0.85 cents every, this bonus is value as much as $1,000. It is a tremendous method to kick-start any trip.

The perfect welcome offer we’ve seen on this card is 5 free evening certificates (not out there). Nevertheless, the present supply is the usual, and you may nonetheless get good worth if desire a mid-tier Bonvoy bank card.

When you’ve got Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite or increased standing, although, this bonus can get you way more worth than this factors worth alone. As a high-tier elite, you can leverage perks corresponding to suite upgrades and free breakfast to maximise your stays much more.

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Associated: Marriott Bonvoy: Complete guide to the hotel loyalty program

The Bonvoy Boundless comes with a $95 annual payment, however it ought to be straightforward to get a number of hundred {dollars} in worth out of the cardboard’s perks yearly. Listed below are the key ones to contemplate:

Anniversary free evening award

Every year, on account renewal, you may obtain a reward evening certificates worth up to 35,000 points a night. You can even high off your certificates with as much as 15,000 further factors, making it probably value 50,000 factors.

TPG’s December 2024 valuations peg the worth of 35,000 Marriott factors at $298, almost 3 times the $95 annual payment. But it surely’s attainable to get much more worth if you happen to’re selective about redeeming your reward night.

The Bonvoy Boundless additionally affords a path to Gold Elite status by spending $35,000 on purchases every calendar 12 months. Nevertheless, you are in all probability higher off incomes increased standing organically through the cardboard’s complimentary 15 elite evening credit score in addition to some stays booked directly with Marriott.

If you would like a card that gives complimentary Gold Elite standing with Marriott, think about The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment is required).

You may additionally get one elite evening credit score towards standing for each $5,000 you spend on purchases with the Bonvoy Boundless, so this might be one other pathway towards increased standing.

TPG senior resorts author Tanner Saunders says, “I’ve discovered that my Boundless card virtually pays for itself because the annual free evening award rapidly covers the $95 annual payment. Add that to the very fact the cardboard helps you earn so many factors on each greenback spent, and I have been ready to make use of the factors I earned with the assistance of the cardboard for some nice stays, together with two nights in a one-bedroom suite at a resort in Atlanta the place charges had been sky-high once I went to see Taylor Swift.”

15 elite evening credit yearly

Many Bonvoy bank cards share this profit. However this perk might be immensely invaluable if you happen to’re aiming for the next tier of standing with Marriott Bonvoy.

You may get one set of elite evening credit from a Marriott private card and another set of elite evening credit from a Marriott enterprise card. So, with the Bonvoy Boundless alone, you’d solely want to remain 35 nights (as a substitute of fifty) to earn Platinum Elite standing. However, when you have the Bonvoy Boundless and a Marriott enterprise card just like the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you will get 30 elite night credits each year simply from bank cards.

Associated: Free nights and easy status: Why I have 3 Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and pay over $1,200 in annual fees

Different perks

The above advantages symbolize a number of hundred {dollars} in worth every year and simply make up for the $95 annual payment. However the card additionally affords a number of further perks:

• Baggage delay insurance: If a passenger provider delays your baggage for over six hours, Chase might reimburse you for important purchases as much as $100 a day for 5 days
• Lost luggage reimbursement: If a passenger provider damages or loses your checked or carry-on baggage, Chase might reimburse you as much as $3,000 per passenger
• Trip delay reimbursement: In case you are delayed by greater than 12 hours or required to remain in a single day when touring by a standard provider, Chase might reimburse you for choose, in any other case unreimbursed bills as much as $500 per ticket
• Purchase protection: Chase covers most new purchases for 120 days towards harm or theft, as much as $500 per declare (capped at $50,000 per account)
• No foreign transaction fees: This perk makes the Bonvoy Boundless supreme for making purchases and reserving resort stays all over the world

Associated: Which credit cards cover baggage delays?

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card earns factors on the following charges:

• 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at resorts collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3 factors per greenback spent on the primary $6,000 spent in mixed purchases every year on grocery shops, fuel stations and eating
• 2 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases

Based mostly on TPG’s December 2024 valuations, these charges equate to a 5.1% return on Marriott purchases. On paper, you are able to do higher utilizing the Chase Sapphire Reserve® for Marriott stays. In spite of everything, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3 Ultimate Rewards points per greenback (for a 6.1% return based mostly on TPG’s December 2024 valuations) on journey purchases, together with resorts.

However it’s best to think about the worth you will get out of your Marriott factors. Platinum and Titanium elite members get a significantly better return on their award redemptions because of an important set of elite advantages. So, when you have the next tier of standing, you would possibly wish to pay for frequent Marriott stays with a Bonvoy bank card to earn 6 factors per greenback as a substitute of incomes several types of reward factors.

Associated: Best ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points: From hotel stays and credit card spending to travel partners

After all, the obvious method to redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors is for resort stays. There are a number of methods for maximizing your Marriott redemptions, however that is essentially the most easy.

CHRIS DONG/THE POINTS GUY
You may wish to reap the benefits of the fifth evening free on award stays every time attainable. The fifth-night profit is a straightforward method to get an as much as 20% low cost in your redemption and stretch your factors additional.

Associated: Maximize your hotel points by getting a fourth or fifth night free on award stays

Do not forget that Marriott additionally has virtually 40 airline transfer partners, together with some fascinating frequent flyer applications with in any other case hard-to-earn miles.

Factors switch to most airways at a 3:1 ratio with 5,000-mile bonuses for each 60,000 Marriott factors transferred. (Observe that Bonvoy level transfers to American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles, Delta SkyMiles and Korean Air SkyPass aren’t eligible for the 5,000-mile bonus.)

So, transferring 60,000 Marriott factors to Alaska Airways, for instance, would internet you 25,000 miles. Nevertheless, observe that most transfers take at least a few days, so if award availability is tight, the ticket you wish to guide could also be gone by the point the switch is accomplished.

TPG bank cards author Danyal Ahmed makes use of his Bonvoy factors to high off his AAdvantage account when in want of some further miles for top-tier redemptions, corresponding to on Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite. He is additionally transferred to Korean Air SkyPass to guide first-class on Saudia for 210,000 miles.

Associated: Marriott Bonvoy program: How to redeem points for hotel stays, airfare and more

For extra choices, try our full record of the best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and best hotel credit cards.

Associated: Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is in an fascinating spot. One in all two entry-level client bank cards within the Bonvoy program, the Boundless is sensible for a lot of Marriott vacationers. However strict bonus restrictions and fierce competitors from different Chase cards imply it’s best to think about which card will fit your wants earlier than making use of.

Nonetheless, if you happen to’ve already constructed out your Chase trifecta and confirmed that you’re eligible for this bonus, the Bonvoy Boundless might be an excellent addition to your wallet. You shouldn’t have any hassle getting $200-$300 of worth out of your anniversary reward evening certificates alone, an important return on the $95 annual payment hooked up to the Bonvoy Boundless.

Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

For charges and costs of the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible Amex, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex, click on here.