Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card Review: A Practical Choice in a Sea of Overpriced Options

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card Benefits

Automatic Gold Elite Status

Just by holding the card, you’ll get Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. Without the card, you’d have to stay 25 nights in a calendar year to earn it, and the perks include a 25% bonus on eligible hotel spending with the brand, priority late checkout and an enhanced room upgrade when available. That “when available” can be hit-or-miss, but when you do get it, it’s a worthwhile perk.

My wife and I took our kids to Panama over a school break and spent a couple of nights at the JW Marriott Panama in Panama City. We were able to combine free night certificates — including one from the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful — and points to cover our stay. The hotel is one of the tallest buildings in the country, and our enhanced room upgrade gave us views that were “ooooh and ahhhh”-worthy.

Ultra-High Earn Rate On Marriott Spending

With this card, you can earn up to 18.5 Bonvoy points per dollar spent on eligible Marriott spending. By combining the points you earn at eligible hotels, the bonus you get for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and the boost you get from the card’s Gold elite status, the only other card that can top this rate is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (an advertising partner), which carries a $650 annual fee and earns up to 21 Bonvoy points per dollar on eligible Marriott spending. If your goal is to earn as many Bonvoy points as possible on your hotel stays and everyday spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful is a good choice.

Free Night Potential

If you’re using the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful as your daily driver, it takes an average of $1,250 a month in spending on the card to hit the $15,000 annual spending requirement to earn a free night certificate, worth up to 50,000 Bonvoy points (certain hotels have resort fees).

Bonus Points on Marriott Stays

Cardholders receive 1,000 bonus points per stay at eligible Marriott Bonvoy properties. An eligible stay consists of one paid night or more at the same hotel, and you can expect to receive your bonus points within six weeks of completing the stay.

While 1,000 points may not seem like much, this perk can be extremely lucrative for frequent, loyal Marriott guests, such as business travelers.

Travel and Purchase Coverage

The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful offers a decent array of travel insurance and purchase protections. When you use your card to pay for your trip or purchase, you’ll receive:

• Secondary car rental insurance
• Baggage delay insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Travel accident insurance
• Travel and emergency assistance
• Roadside dispatch
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty

Elite Night Credits

Cardholders receive 15 elite night credits each calendar year, which can be used toward the next level of elite status. This is handy if you’re trying to reach a higher level and don’t quite have enough paid stays to qualify.

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card Drawbacks

Limited Flexibility Outside Of Marriott

If you prefer versatile rewards that you can transfer to multiple airlines or hotel brands, Marriott Bonvoy points may feel restrictive. Although you can transfer them to Marriott’s long list of airline partners, the transfer rate is subpar. This card’s rewards are best used to redeem for free nights in the Marriott ecosystem.

Gold Status Is Just OK

While Gold Elite status sounds nice, it doesn’t come with guaranteed room upgrades, hotel lounge access or other plush perks. Travelers chasing top-tier benefits may find it underwhelming.

Lacks Luxury Perks

If you want statement credits, airport lounge access or elite rental car status, this card doesn’t come with any of those perks, so it can’t compete with higher-end travel cards. Even though this card carries a not-insignificant $250 annual fee, it doesn’t deliver on upscale benefits.

Annual Free Night Requires Significant Spending

Many hotel cards with lower annual fees award a free anniversary night each year just for keeping the card — no additional spending required. For example, the $95-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers a free night award after each card anniversary, worth up to 35,000 points.

Surprisingly, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful doesn’t come with an automatic free night each year. You’ll need to spend $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year to unlock a free night award worth up to 50,000 points (some hotels charge resort fees). If you’re not a big spender and a free anniversary night is important to you, consider a different hotel credit card.

Who Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card Best For?

The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful is a great fit for the slice of travelers who stay at Marriott hotels when on the go, but don’t travel frequently enough to earn elite status organically. If you like knowing you’ll get bonus points and occasional upgrades without jumping through hoops, this card will deliver.

It also works well for everyday spenders who want their groceries, dining or other purchases to translate into hotel nights down the road. You don’t have to constantly lay your head on a Marriott-branded pillow to extract value here. But if it’s a top-tier travel experience you’re after, look elsewhere and be prepared to pay for a card that offers a more elite array of perks.

That said, if you rarely stay at Marriott properties or prefer travel rewards you can use on a wide variety of airlines or lodging options, you may be better served by a general travel credit card.

Is It the Right Card for You?

The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card isn’t for everyone. But if you’re in the process of choosing a hotel credit card, it may be a fit if:

• You frequently stay at Marriott hotels
• You value automatic elite status without heavy travel requirements
• You can easily earn the annual free night award
• You prefer rewards for hotel stays rather than flexible points

Alternatives to the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card

If the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful doesn’t quite match your needs, here are a few strong options to consider:

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card: At $95 a year, this is a lower-annual-fee option for Marriott fans who want a free night award with no spending requirements (valued at up to 35,000 Bonvoy points) and solid earning rates, without paying for mid-tier perks like Gold status.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card: With its $650 annual fee, it’s the premium choice for those seeking higher elite status, luxury travel perks like Priority Pass lounge access (enrollment required), and statement credits for dining. This card is best for frequent Marriott travelers who want a more elevated experience.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This $95-annual-fee flexible travel card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that you can transfer to Chase’s airline and hotel partners, including Marriott Bonvoy. Although it doesn’t include airport lounge access, it does offer valuable protections, including primary auto rental insurance and trip cancellation coverage. It’s ideal if you don’t want to lock yourself into a single hotel brand.