When it rains it pours. With the bevy of recent credit card updates from the Sapphire Reserve to the Sapphire Preferred to the Capital One credit cards, Marriott has decided to get in on the action. This time with its Marriott Bonvoy Boundless.
Not only has Marriott updated its Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, but the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card is also seeing a refresh. More on that in a future post. Now, let’s dive into what Marriott has decided to update with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card.
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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Details
New card members earn 5 Free Night Awards, each night valued up to 50,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first three months from your account opening.
Separately, the card has a $95 annual fee that is not waived during the first year and the card has no foreign transaction fees.
You are ineligible for this card if 1) you’re a current Marriott Bonvoy Premier (Marriott Rewards Premier), Marriott Bonvoy Boundless (Marriott Rewards Premier Plus), or Marriott Bonvoy Bold cardmember, or 2) you were a cardmember of the Marriott Bonvoy Premier (Marriott Rewards Premier), Marriott Bonvoy Boundless (Marriott Rewards Premier Plus), or Marriott Bonvoy Bold who received a new cardmember bonus in the past 24 months.
Separate from the card eligibility mentioned above, you are ineligible to receive the new cardmember bonus if 1) you’re a current cardmember or were a cardmember in the previous 30 days of the Marriott Bonvoy AmEx (AmEx SPG), or 2) you’re a current or previous cardmember of either the Marriott Bonvoy Business AmEx (AmEx Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card) or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AmEx (Starwood Preferred Guest Luxury Card), and received a new cardmember bonus or upgrade bonus in the last 24 months, or 3) you’re a Marriott Bonvoy Business AmEx card (AmEx Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card) or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AmEx (Starwood Preferred Guest Luxury Card) within the last 90 days.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Perks
There are four primary perks available to Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card members. These perks are the ability to earn Elite Night Credits with spending, a Free Award Night, automatic Silver Elite Status, and the ability to earn Gold Elite status.
A new perk added to the card is the ability to earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend. For heavy spenders, this perk can help you to reduce the number of stays required to earn a higher level of elite status.
Cardmembers receive 1 Free Night Award (valued at up to 35,000 points) every year after the account anniversary. This Free Night Award can be topped off with Marriott points to book a hotel stay requiring more than 35,000 points.
15 Elite Night Credits are awarded annually, which automatically ears the cardmember Silver Elite Status. This status offers 10% bonus points on stays and priority late checkout.
There’s a path to Gold Elite Status when you spend $35,000 on the card in a calendar year. This status offers 25% bonus points, an enhanced room upgrade, and a 2 p.m. late checkout.
How to Earn Points with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
You earn points at the following rates with this card:
- 3X points on the first $6,000 spent each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- 17X points at Marriott
- 2X points on all other purchases.
Other cards to use at Marriott include the Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Green Card, Citi Premier Card, Citi Prestige Card, or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
How to Redeem Points with the Bonvoy Boundless
The Marriott Award Chart has eight categories with peak and off-peak pricing ranging from 5,000 to 100,000 points per night. Marriott also offers Points Savers (20% points discount) and Cash+Points (mix cash with points). Find more details about how to earn points here.
For comparison, the Hyatt Award Chart has eight categories and will add peak and off-peaking pricing in 2021. Hyatt properties range from 5,000 to 40,000 points per night. Neither Hilton nor IHG offers an award chart.
What Cards Compete with the Bonvoy Boundless?
The Hilton Surpass Card and the IHG Premier Credit Card are the primary competitors to Bonvoy Boundless. AmEx issues the Hilton Surpass Card while Chase issues the IHG Premier Credit Card.
You earn 12x points and receive Hilton Honors gold status with the Hilton Surpass Card. With the IHG Premier Credit Card, you earn 25x points at IHG and receive an anniversary night.
Common Bonvoy Boundless Questions
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card Worth it?
Yes! If you can redeem the free award night at a hotel that costs at least $95, you break even on the annual fee.
What is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?
The Bonvoy Boundless is one of two personal Chase Marriott credit cards that you can apply for. Marriott also offers the Marriott Bonvoy Bold and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.
What are 15 elite night credits?
These are credits that come with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card. You use these credits to earn higher levels of Marriott’s elite status.
Conclusion on the Bonvoy Boundless
With a reasonable annual fee and a free award night, the Bonvoy Boundless is a card that makes sense to have if you stay at a Marriott every year. By redeeming the free award night, you can more than likely break even on the annual fee.
Do you have the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless? How do find the most value? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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