Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card review: Full details

Even if you aren’t a Marriott loyalist, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is worth considering. It comes with a valuable welcome bonus, an annual free night and elite night credits but carries a lower annual fee than most other cards in the Marriott card lineup. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Marriott offers a diverse credit card portfolio issued by both Chase and American Express. However, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase stands out as the only entry-level, mid-tier personal Marriott Bonvoy card available to new applicants.

With an annual fee of $95 and a “good” recommended credit score of at least 670 or higher, the Boundless lands just above the lowest-tier Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. Even those who stay at Marriott properties infrequently can benefit from this card’s valuable welcome bonus, annual free night and elite night credits.

Let’s take a closer look at whether the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless might be a good addition to your wallet.

New applicants can earn three free night awards (up to 50,000 points each) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.

Based on TPG’s December 2024 valuations of Marriott points at 0.85 cents each, this bonus is worth up to $1,275. It’s an amazing way to kick-start any vacation.

The best welcome offer we’ve seen on this card is five free night certificates (no longer available). However, the current offer is the standard, and you’ll still get good value if want a mid-tier Bonvoy credit card.

If you have Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite or higher status, though, this bonus can get you much more value than this points value alone. As a high-tier elite, you’ll be able to leverage perks such as suite upgrades and free breakfast to maximize your stays even more.

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

The Bonvoy Boundless comes with a $95 annual fee, but it should be easy to get several hundred dollars in value out of the card’s perks every year. Here are the major ones to consider:

Anniversary free night award

Each year, on account renewal, you’ll receive a reward night certificate worth up to 35,000 points a night. You can also top off your certificate with up to 15,000 additional points, making it potentially worth 50,000 points.

TPG’s December 2024 valuations peg the value of 35,000 Marriott points at $298, nearly three times the $95 annual fee. But it’s possible to get even more value if you’re selective about redeeming your reward night.

The Bonvoy Boundless also offers a path to Gold Elite status by spending $35,000 on purchases each calendar year. However, you’re probably better off earning higher status organically via the card’s complimentary 15 elite night credit as well as some stays booked directly with Marriott.

If you want a card that provides complimentary Gold Elite status with Marriott, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment is required).

You’ll also get one elite night credit toward status for every $5,000 you spend on purchases with the Bonvoy Boundless, so this could be another pathway toward higher status.

TPG senior hotels writer Tanner Saunders says, “I’ve found that my Boundless card practically pays for itself since the annual free night award quickly covers the $95 annual fee. Add that to the fact the card helps you earn so many points on every dollar spent, and I’ve been able to use the points I earned with the help of the card for some great stays, including two nights in a one-bedroom suite at a hotel in Atlanta where rates were sky-high when I went to see Taylor Swift.”

15 elite night credits annually

Many Bonvoy credit cards share this benefit. But this perk can be immensely valuable if you’re aiming for a higher tier of status with Marriott Bonvoy.

You can get one set of elite night credits from a Marriott personal card and one more set of elite night credits from a Marriott business card. So, with the Bonvoy Boundless alone, you’d only need to stay 35 nights (instead of 50) to earn Platinum Elite status. But, if you have the Bonvoy Boundless and a Marriott business card like the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you can get 30 elite night credits each year just from credit cards.

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

Other perks

The above benefits represent a few hundred dollars in value each year and easily make up for the $95 annual fee. But the card also offers a few additional perks:

• Baggage delay insurance: If a passenger carrier delays your baggage for over six hours, Chase may reimburse you for essential purchases up to $100 a day for five days
• Lost luggage reimbursement: If a passenger carrier damages or loses your checked or carry-on luggage, Chase may reimburse you up to $3,000 per passenger
• Trip delay reimbursement: If you are delayed by more than 12 hours or required to stay overnight when traveling by a common carrier, Chase may reimburse you for select, otherwise unreimbursed expenses up to $500 per ticket
• Purchase protection: Chase covers most new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim (capped at $50,000 per account)
• No foreign transaction fees: This perk makes the Bonvoy Boundless ideal for making purchases and booking hotel stays around the world

Related: Which credit cards cover baggage delays?

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card earns points at the following rates:

• 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3 points per dollar spent on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations and dining
• 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases

Based on TPG’s December 2024 valuations, these rates equate to a 5.1% return on Marriott purchases. On paper, you can do better using the Chase Sapphire Reserve® for Marriott stays. After all, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar (for a 6.1% return based on TPG’s December 2024 valuations) on travel purchases, including hotels.

But you should consider the value you can get from your Marriott points. Platinum and Titanium elite members get a much better return on their award redemptions thanks to a great set of elite benefits. So, if you have a higher tier of status, you might want to pay for frequent Marriott stays with a Bonvoy credit card to earn 6 points per dollar instead of earning different types of reward points.

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

Of course, the most obvious way to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points is for hotel stays. There are a few strategies for maximizing your Marriott redemptions, but this is the most straightforward.

CHRIS DONG/THE POINTS GUY
You’ll want to take advantage of the fifth night free on award stays whenever possible. The fifth-night benefit is an easy way to get an up to 20% discount on your redemption and stretch your points further.

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

Don’t forget that Marriott also has almost 40 airline transfer partners, including some interesting frequent flyer programs with otherwise hard-to-earn miles.

Points transfer to most airlines at a 3:1 ratio with 5,000-mile bonuses for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. (Note that Bonvoy point 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 points to Alaska Airlines, for example, would net you 25,000 miles. However, note that most transfers take at least a few days, so if award availability is tight, the ticket you want to book may be gone by the time the transfer is completed.

TPG credit cards writer Danyal Ahmed utilizes his Bonvoy points to top off his AAdvantage account when in need of some extra miles for top-tier redemptions, such as on Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite. He’s also transferred to Korean Air SkyPass to book first-class on Saudia for 210,000 miles.

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

For additional options, check out our full list of the best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and best hotel credit cards.

Related: Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is in an interesting spot. One of two entry-level consumer credit cards in the Bonvoy program, the Boundless makes sense for many Marriott travelers. But strict bonus restrictions and fierce competition from other Chase cards mean you should consider which card will suit your needs before applying.

Still, if you’ve already built out your Chase trifecta and confirmed that you are eligible for this bonus, the Bonvoy Boundless can be an excellent addition to your wallet. You should have no trouble getting $200-$300 of value from your anniversary reward night certificate alone, a great return on the $95 annual fee attached to the Bonvoy Boundless.

Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex, click here.