Marriott Bonvoy Bold card review: A 60,000-point bonus offer and no annual fee make this a good option for occasional Marriott travelers
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Review: Is the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold the best credit card for you?
The
It's currently offering an elevated welcome bonus of
Cardholders can earn 3x points on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy hotels (in addition to the points you'd normally earn from the stay), 2x points on other travel purchases, and 1x points on everything else.
The
That said, unless you're dead set against paying an annual fee, other Marriott credit cards have much higher welcome bonuses and are a better deal for most people — and it's easy to offset their annual fees with the additional benefits they offer.
For example, the
If your main objective is earning Marriott points and you don't care about perks at Marriott hotels, you might be better off opening a card that earns transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards points, like the
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
How to earn points with the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold card
The
- 3 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels (this is in addition to up to 10x points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and up to 1x point for having Silver elite status from the card)
- 2 points per dollar on other travel purchases (Chase defines the travel category very broadly — it includes airlines, hotels, travel agencies, cruises, buses, trains, taxis, ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft, and more)
- 1 point per dollar on everything else
How to use Marriott points
Marriott Bonvoy points are useful even if you don't stay with Marriott. Not only can you redeem them for stays at over 7,000 hotels worldwide, but you can also transfer them to over 40 airline partners, including most major US carriers and dozens of international airlines.
Award nights at Marriott Bonvoy hotels start at 5,000 points for off-peak redemptions at brands like Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites, and go all the way up to 120,000 points for a peak season night at luxurious hotels like JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton.
Earlier in 2022, Marriott removed its award charts and moved to dynamic pricing, which means the price of an award night varies based on demand, the paid price of the room, season, and other factors.
When you transfer Marriott points to airlines, in most cases the ratio is 3 Marriott points to 1 airline mile. However, if you transfer increments of 60,000 points, you'll get a 5,000-mile bonus (so 60,000 Marriott points become 25,000 airline miles). Some Marriott airline partners — like Alaska Airlines — don't partner with any other major transferable points program, so if you need a few more miles for an award, transferring points from Marriott may be one of the only ways to top off your account.
You can also redeem Marriott points in other ways (including non-travel redemptions), but typically you'll get a lower value:
- Airfare, car rentals, or air and car packages
- Exclusive events, experiences, concerts, tours, and more through Marriott Bonvoy Moments
- Gift cards or merchandise through Marriott Shop With Points
- Charity donations for disaster relief, including the American Red Cross and Unicef
Benefits and features
As you might expect from a no-annual-fee card, the
15 elite night credits each calendar year
As with other Marriott cards,
Lost luggage reimbursement
When you pay for your fare with the
Baggage delay insurance
If your bags are delayed for six hours or more, you could be reimbursed for essential purchases (like clothing and toiletries) up to $100 per day for up to five days.
Trip delay reimbursement
Long delays are the worst, but if you paid for your ticket with the
Purchase protection
If an eligible item you've bought with the
Visa Signature concierge
The Visa Signature concierge can help you arrange things like hard-to-get restaurant reservations or theater tickets. It doesn't cost anything to use the service, but any third-party costs are your responsibility.
Fees and costs
The
It's also a good choice if you're traveling abroad or making international purchases, because it doesn't add foreign transaction fees. Like most other cards, it charges fees for late payments, returned payments, balance transfers, and cash advances.
Comparison: Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs other Marriott credit cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 3x points* at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels 2x points on other eligible travel purchases 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 6x points* on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels 3x points at grocery stores, gas stations, and on dining (on up to $6,000 in combined purchases per year) 2x points on all other eligible purchases | 6x points* on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program 3x points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines 2x points on all other eligible purchases |
Welcome bonus | |||
Marriott benefits | 15 elite night credits each calendar year | Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status Annual free night award*** 15 elite night credits each calendar year One elite night credit for every $5,000 spent on the card | Up to $300 annual Marriott Bonvoy statement credit (offer ends 9/22/22 and will be replaced with a benefit of up to $25 in statement credits per month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide) $100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit on eligible Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis stays Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status 15 elite night credits each calendar year |
Other card benefits | Lost luggage reimbursement Baggage delay reimbursement Trip delay reimbursement Purchase protection Visa Signature concierge No foreign transaction fees | Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Lost luggage reimbursement Trip delay reimbursement Baggage delay insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Travel and emergency assistance services Visa Signature concierge No foreign transaction fees | Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership** Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Secondary car rental insurance Trip cancellation and interruption insurance Baggage insurance plan Trip delay insurance Travel accident insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Return protection Premium Global Assist Hotline No foreign transaction fees |
Review |
*Bonus points at Marriott hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
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Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs other no-annual-fee hotel credit cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 3x points* at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels 2x points on other travel purchases 1 point per dollar on everything else | 5x points* at IHG Hotels and Resorts 3x points on monthly bills, gas stations, and restaurants 2 point per dollar on everything else | 7x points* on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 5x points at eligible U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
Welcome bonus | |||
Hotel benefits | 15 elite night credits each calendar year | Fourth reward night free on award stays of three or more nights IHG Gold elite status when you spend $10,000 or more on purchases in a calendar year | Hilton Silver elite status Upgrade to Gold status after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year |
Other card benefits | Lost luggage reimbursement Baggage delay insurance Trip delay reimbursement Purchase protection Visa Signature concierge No foreign transaction fees | Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Travel accident insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Baggage delay insurance Travel and emergency assistance services Purchase protection Extended warranty 20% discount on IHG point purchases with your card No foreign transaction fees
| Secondary car rental insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Travel accident insurance Global Assist Hotline No foreign transaction fees |
Review |
*Bonus points at Marriott, IHG, and Hilton hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
Marriott Bonvoy Bold card frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card worth it?
The
For most folks who stay with Marriott, even occasionally, the
Regular Marriott travelers should also look at the
What credit score do you need for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold?
Generally, the
Who is eligible for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold?
The Chase 5/24 rule applies to the Chase Marriott cards, including the
You're also not eligible if you already have a
Additionally, you won't be eligible for the welcome bonus on this card if any of the following apply to you:
- You are a current cardmember, or were a previous cardmember within the last 30 days, of Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card (also known as The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express)
- You are a current or previous cardmember of either the
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card (also known as The Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express) orMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (also known as the Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card), and received a new cardmember bonus or upgrade bonus in the last 24 months - You applied and were approved for the
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card (also known as The Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express) orMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (also known as the Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card) within the last 90 days
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold a Visa or Mastercard?
The
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card metal?
No. The