Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card Review: Unlocking Hotel Perks with No Annual Fee
By Sam Michael
In the world of travel rewards, a high annual fee often seems like an unavoidable cost of entry. But what if you could earn valuable hotel points and enjoy elite status without paying a cent in yearly charges? The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card makes this possible, offering a compelling entry point into the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem for budget-conscious travelers in the United States. This no-annual-fee card is generating buzz for providing automatic Silver Elite status and a solid welcome bonus, challenging the notion that valuable travel perks require a hefty investment.
For Americans navigating post-pandemic travel, this card presents a low-risk opportunity to earn points on everyday spending and enhance the experience of stays at over 9,000 Marriott properties worldwide.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card: At a Glance
Before diving into the details, here’s a quick overview of the card’s key features:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Welcome Offer | Earn 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
| Rewards Rate | • 3X points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels (up to 14X total with member and status bonuses) • 2X points per $1 at grocery stores, on rideshare, select food delivery, streaming, internet, cable, and phone services • 1X point per $1 on all other purchases |
| Key Benefits | • Automatic Silver Elite Status • 5 Elite Night Credits annually • No foreign transaction fees • Travel and purchase protections |
Standout Benefits and Perks
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold’s value proposition is strong for a card with no annual fee. It provides several benefits that are typically found on premium cards.
The most significant perk is automatic Silver Elite status. This status, which normally requires staying 10 nights a year, offers a 10% bonus on points earned during stays, priority late checkout (based on availability), and a dedicated reservation line. The card also delivers 5 Elite Night Credits each calendar year, giving you a head start toward reaching higher status tiers like Gold or Platinum.
Unlike many no-annual-fee cards, the Bonvoy Bold includes valuable travel protections, which are essential for U.S. travelers facing frequent delays. These include Baggage Delay Insurance, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, and Trip Delay Reimbursement of up to $500 if a trip is delayed more than 12 hours. Cardholders also benefit from features like Pay Yourself Back®, allowing points to be redeemed for statement credits against travel purchases, and Travel Now, Pay Later, which lets you split qualifying travel expenses into monthly payments with no interest.
Understanding the Drawbacks
While the card is excellent for beginners, it has limitations compared to its peers. The most notable omission is the lack of an annual free night award. Cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® (with a $95 annual fee) provide a free night each account anniversary, a benefit that can easily outweigh the fee.
The earning rates are also lower. The Bold card earns 3X points at Marriott, while the Boundless and Amex Bevy cards earn 6X points. The Bold’s 2X categories are useful but may be outmatched by general travel cards. Furthermore, Marriott Bonvoy cards have complicated eligibility rules, so you may not be approved if you’ve opened other Bonvoy cards recently or earned a welcome bonus from one.
Who Is This Card For?
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is ideal for specific groups of U.S. consumers:
- Travel Beginners: It’s a perfect first travel card for those wanting to dip their toes into points and status without financial commitment.
- Infrequent Marriott Guests: If you only stay at Marriott a few times a year, the card provides nice perks without justifying a high annual fee.
- Travelers Seeking Protections: The included insurance benefits make it a smart card to use for booking travel, even if you use another card for everyday spending.
How It Stacks Up: Bold vs. Boundless
For many, the decision will be between the no-fee Bold and the mid-tier Boundless card. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card ($95 annual fee) currently offers a welcome bonus of 125,000 points plus a Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. It also provides 15 Elite Night Credits annually and an annual Free Night Award at renewal, making it a superior choice for those who stay at Marriott properties even occasionally.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card remains a top choice for no-annual-fee travel rewards, offering surprising value with Silver Elite status and essential travel protections. For infrequent travelers or those new to points and miles, it’s an excellent low-risk tool for saving on hotel stays. Frequent Marriott guests, however, will likely find more value in the Boundless card or other premium options. For U.S. consumers optimizing their wallet, the Bold card is a strategic pick for maximizing benefits while minimizing costs.
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