Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card Review: A Good Fit for Even Occasional Guests

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Benefits

Free Night Award Each Year

One of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless best perks relative to its annual fee is its free night award at a Marriott property each year after your account anniversary (worth up to 35,000 points, some hotels have resort fees).

Generous Welcome Offer

New Marriott Bonvoy Boundless cardholders can earn 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after they spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Note that certain hotels have resort fees.

Fast-Track to Elite Status

Cardholders receive automatic Silver Elite status each calendar year, entitling them to free Wi-Fi, late checkout and 10% more points on stays. They also get 15 Elite Night credits each calendar year, one Elite Night credit for every $5,000 in card purchases, and a path to Gold Status when they spend $35,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Bonus Points on Everyday Purchases

Many hotel credit cards restrict bonus reward categories to what’s considered travel purchases. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, however, lets you earn 3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year (then 2x points) on grocery stores, gas stations and dining.

Travel Protections

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers extra travel perks, including baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement and car rental coverage.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Drawbacks

Annual Fee

While reasonable relative to the card’s value, you’ll still pay $95 each year for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless — and you can find annual-fee-free hotel credit cards, albeit with thinner benefits.

High Purchase APR

You’ll want to avoid carrying a balance on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, as it touts a 19.99% – 28.49% Variable APR. That range is not uncommon for a rewards credit card, but it’s also not ideal if you’re prone to carrying a balance.

Best Benefits Reserved for Marriott Bonvoy Stays

You earn the most points on Marriott Bonvoy stays. Plus, the perks associated with the card and its automatic Silver Elite status only apply at the brand’s properties. You redeem points through the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.

Redemption Restrictions

Your anniversary free night award is only valid at Bonvoy properties with a redemption level of up to 35,000 points, though Marriott now lets you add up to 15,000 of your accrued points to that total. If the hotel charges resort fees, you’re still responsible for paying them.

Still, that amount generally excludes the brand’s swankiest, most in-demand and sometimes, convenient accommodations. When I recently searched for overnight stays in New York City, all Marriott Bonvoy properties within the 50,000-point range were outside Manhattan proper.

Plus, a few properties aren’t eligible for points redemptions at all.

So-So Luxury Perks

The Marriott Bonvoy program has five elite status tiers. It reserves the best perks, including guaranteed welcome gifts or amenities (like complimentary breakfast), lounge access, and a dedicated support team, for Platinum Elite status and above.

Who Is the Card Best For?

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is one of a few hotel credit cards designed for occasional travelers and average spenders. You don’t have to rack up massive rewards to recoup the $95 annual fee, given your anniversary free night award and the fact that many Marriott nightly stays cost over $100.

Case in point: I only travel once or twice a year, but opted for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, the sole hotel credit card in my wallet, after realizing I could earn and put points toward my family vacations at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. A stay at that property costs around 80,000 points per night, plus a resort fee, as of May 2025.

Is It the Right Card for You?

Consider the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card if you:

• Occasionally stay at Marriott properties: You don’t need to frequently fly to the closest Marriott to justify the cost and maximize rewards, but you should patronize the brand at least once a year.
• Have good credit: This card is geared toward applicants with good to excellent credit (FICO scores of 670 or higher).
• Pay purchases off in full each month: Otherwise, you’ll risk losing the value of all those award nights and bonus points to interest.
• Skip the premium travel: If suites and swanky hotel perks appeal to you, consider a more lucrative, albeit pricey, premium hotel credit card.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Alternatives

Not sold on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless? Consider these top alternatives:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: One of the best Chase credit cards, the Sapphire Preferred Card pairs a $95 annual fee with a hefty welcome offer and a competitive travel rewards program. It’s a good fit for non-brand-loyal travelers looking to take advantage of Chase Ultimate Rewards® airline and hotel transfer partners (including Marriott Bonvoy) and flexible redemption options.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: An option if you favor the brand but want to avoid an annual fee, the card offers decent rewards on Marriott stays, automatic Silver Elite status and a relatively easy-to-earn welcome offer. (You’ll forfeit the anniversary award, though.)
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Marriott loyalists can clean up with the brand’s highest tier credit card, which offers an anniversary free night award (with a redemption level at or under 85,000 points, some hotels have resort fees), up to $300 in annual dining credit, and coveted Platinum Elite status, alongside bonus points on Bonvoy stays, flights, and restaurants. You’ll pay a handsome $650 annual fee, however.