Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Review: Achieve Silver Status Without an Annual Fee

Overview of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card serves as Marriott's introductory cobranded credit card. This no-annual-fee option allows users to start earning Marriott Bonvoy points and provides a head start toward elite status. However, it struggles against Marriott's other cards in terms of earning rates and ongoing benefits like reward night certificates. Card rating*: ⭐⭐½

*The card rating reflects the assessment of TPG's editors and is not swayed by the card issuer.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is part of the Marriott Bonvoy lineup and comes with no annual fee.

In mid-July, the card received updates that slightly altered its earning structure, elite status, and benefits. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and this applies to credit cards as well. Thus, the Bonvoy Bold compromises on some earning potential and desirable benefits to offset its lack of an annual fee compared to pricier alternatives.

Nonetheless, this card can be an excellent choice for newcomers to travel who wish to enjoy the perks of Marriott Silver elite status during their hotel stays.

We suggest aiming for a credit score of at least 670 to enhance your chances of approval.

Here’s what you should know about the card if you’re considering applying.

Pros and cons of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold

Welcome offer for Marriott Bonvoy Bold

Currently, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold is presenting an exceptional sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus points along with a free night reward worth up to 50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

At this moment, this card boasts its most attractive welcome bonus ever. New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points plus a free night reward (valued at up to 50,000 points) after spending $2,000 in the initial three months. Note that some hotels may impose resort fees.

According to TPG's July 2024 valuations, this welcome offer is valued at $935, provided you utilize the free night award for the maximum of 50,000 points.

As this is a Chase card, you need to comply with Chase's 5/24 rule to qualify. However, this is not the only hurdle for prospective cardholders.

Cobranded Marriott credit cards often have complicated eligibility criteria, and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold is no exception. Ensure you meet the requirements before applying.

Benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold card provides automatic Bonvoy Silver status, which includes a 10% points bonus on stays, priority late checkout, complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, and a reservation guarantee.

Additionally, the card provides 5 elite night credits each year, helping you advance to a higher status level that offers enhanced perks when staying at Marriott properties.

The card also offers the following advantages:

• Baggage delay insurance: Reimbursement up to $100 daily for up to five days for essential purchases due to a baggage delay exceeding six hours.
• Lost luggage reimbursement: Coverage up to $3,000 per passenger if checked or carry-on luggage is lost or damaged by the carrier.
• Trip delay reimbursement: If your flight is delayed over 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you can claim up to $500 per ticket for unreimbursed costs like meals and lodging.
• Purchase protection: Covers new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft (up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account).
• Visa concierge: Access to Visa Signature Concierge Service 24/7 for booking entertainment, dining reservations, and more.
• Travel Now, Pay Later: Allows cardholders to split qualifying travel purchases into equal monthly payments, with no interest or fees. Available for purchases between $100 and $5,000 made directly with airlines or participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

Finding no-annual-fee credit cards that provide baggage and trip delay coverage is uncommon, making the Marriott Bonvoy Bold particularly appealing for travel expenses.

How to Earn Points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold offers the following earning rates:

• 3 points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy participating hotels
• 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, on ride-hailing, select food delivery, and select streaming, internet, cable, and phone services
• 1 point for every dollar spent on all other transactions

Keep in mind that the 3 points per dollar earned on Marriott hotel stays is in addition to the points accrued through the Bonvoy program. With 10 base points plus an extra 10% from Silver Elite status, you can earn a total of up to 14 points per dollar on eligible Bonvoy hotel stays using the Bonvoy Bold card.

It's important to note that these earning rates fall short compared to other Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, which typically provide 2 points per dollar on regular purchases and 6 points per dollar at Marriott hotels, along with additional bonus categories for some cards.

For those with a general travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, it's more advantageous to use those for most travel expenses.

How to Redeem Points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold

With Bonvoy credit cards, the best value for your points typically comes from using them for award-night stays at eligible Bonvoy hotels, which definitely applies to the Bonvoy Bold.

One appealing aspect of redeeming Marriott points for award-night stays is that you can enjoy a fifth night free at eligible properties, effectively giving you a 20% discount on five-night bookings.

Newcomers with limited points can benefit from Marriott's Cash + Points redemption options, allowing them to partially pay for their hotel stay with points and the remainder with cash.

TPG's senior points and miles writer Katie Genter enjoyed a five-night stay at Le Méridien N'Fis for only 52,500 Marriott Bonvoy points by utilizing the "Pay for 4, Stay for 5" offer.

Transferring points on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold

In contrast to many other hotel-branded cards, the Bonvoy Bold offers solid transfer options.

You can transfer your Marriott points to an impressive array of over 35 airline partners at a ratio of 3:1. While this isn't always the optimal redemption choice, it provides a chance to enhance your miles balances with airlines like Asiana Club and Korean Air SkyPass that have no other transfer connections.

Additionally, transferring 60,000 points at once earns you a bonus of 5,000 miles with most partners, resulting in a total of 25,000 miles instead of just 20,000.

What cards rival the Marriott Bonvoy Bold?

If you seek additional Marriott Bonvoy benefits or prefer a different rewards structure, consider these alternative cards:

• If you want enhanced Marriott Bonvoy advantages: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has a $95 annual fee, but it offers more Marriott Bonvoy benefits and higher earning potential during your Marriott stays. Each year, you'll also receive a free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points, making the annual fee worthwhile. Be aware that certain hotels may charge resort fees. For more information, refer to our detailed review of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless.
• If you frequently stay at Hilton properties: The Hilton Honors American Express Card carries no annual fee (see rates and fees) and enables cardholders to earn Hilton Honors points along with automatic Hilton Honors Silver status. For more details, see our comprehensive review of the Hilton Honors Amex.
• If you prefer earning transferable points without an annual fee: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) offers 1.25 miles per dollar on everyday purchases, and your miles can be transferred to over 15 airline and hotel partners through Capital One. For more information, check out our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards.

For more choices, check out our list of top Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and top hotel credit cards.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold a good investment?

With no annual fee to consider, newcomers will likely appreciate the Bonvoy Bold's welcome bonus and automatic Silver Elite status, making it a worthwhile card. However, frequent Marriott guests willing to pay an annual fee should consider using their Chase 5/24 slots for cards that offer more substantial benefits.

Final thoughts

While the Marriott Bonvoy Bold provides good value for beginners, exploring other travel credit card options may yield greater rewards, particularly among the entire selection of Marriott Bonvoy cards. These alternatives often come with better rewards rates and added perks that justify their annual fees. Nonetheless, true beginners (or those reluctant to incur an annual fee) may still find the Bonvoy Bold to be a valuable option.