Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card Review [2024]: No-Annual-Fee Card for Infrequent Travelers

Card basics

Who should get the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card?

If you’re new to travel rewards, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold isn’t a bad option. Although it might not have some of the bells and whistles of its sibling cards — like free nights, elite credits, and bonus points on every stay — it’s better for infrequent travelers who plan on staying at a Marriott property once or twice over the next year.

Rewards

Earnings

Regular rewards: You’ll earn up to 14X total points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy; 2X points at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services; and 1X points on all other purchases. Earning up to 14X points is impressive, especially for a no-annual fee card. For comparison, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card also earns up to 14X points, but it carries a $550 annual fee. The Bold isn’t quite the best for hotels within its brand, though. That title goes to the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, which costs $99 annually but earns an eye-popping rewards rate. Up to 26X total points!

I always stress the importance of deciding what hotels you like before hitching your wagon to a card that’ll cost you. But for a no-annual-fee card, the Bonvoy Bold makes a compelling case.

Welcome offer: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This is a respectable welcome offer, but that’s a really high spending minimum when considering that the average value of a Marriott Bonvoy point is about $0.08.

Redemption methods

Marriott Bonvoy points are more flexible than you might think, especially compared to other hotel credit cards I’ve seen. You can redeem them by transferring them to travel partners, shopping online, enjoying exclusive experiences through Bonvoy Moments, or making charitable contributions.

However, if you want to get the most value out of your points, I’d urge you to redeem them for Marriott stays. Marriott has almost 9,000 properties worldwide across more than 30 different brands. Whether you’re looking for a budget stay or the most luxurious experience of your life, you’ll be able to find it within the portfolio.

Potential earnings in years one and two

Here's a look at how your points can add up with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card. These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which looks at points earned via spending, the sign-up bonus, and the annual fee. To calculate the cash value, we used a point valuation of 0.84 cents per point.

Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.

Year one earnings: $927

Year two earnings: $699

Benefits

As a cardholder, you’ll receive automatic Silver Elite status. Although this is the base tier of elite status and doesn’t come with many benefits, it’s relatively uncommon for a no-annual-fee card to come with elite status of any capacity. You can also break up qualifying travel purchases of $100 to $5,000 into monthly payments without paying interest or plan fees. If you have a dream vacation you want to take, this can be an affordable way to do it. And you won’t find this option with many similar cards.

For additional peace of mind when traveling, receive insurance coverage, such as baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, and purchase protection. This is a solid insurance showing for a no-annual-fee card. Foodies will appreciate a complimentary one-year DoorDash DashPass subscription when activated by January 31, 2025.

Other cards to consider

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

If you want a Marriott credit card and travel more than a few times a year, you should strongly consider the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless. This card offers up to 17X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy; 3X points at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year; and 2X points on all other purchases. Plus, you’ll get a free night award each year after your cardmember anniversary (valued up to 35,000 points). These two benefits alone can justify the reasonable $95 annual fee, which is pretty much the lowest fee you’ll find for a travel card.

You’ll still receive automatic Silver Elite status and the same travel and purchase protections as the Bonvoy Bold. If you can handle the annual fee and plan on staying at a Marriott property a few times over the year, the Bonvoy Boundless can be much more valuable. It’s also a more well-rounded card for everyday use.

Read our full Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card Review.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

If you’re looking for a more versatile card that isn’t tied to one brand, the Chase Sapphire Preferred could be an excellent option. You’ll need to pay a $95 annual fee, but in exchange, you’ll get a higher earning potential of 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ and 2X points on other travel purchases, a $50 annual statement credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel, and a much higher welcome offer.

Another reason I love this card is its flexible point currency. You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to a number of airline and hotel partners, including Marriott Bonvoy. The Sapphire Preferred is an even more versatile option than the Bonvoy Boundless and one of my personal favorite credit cards. Still, I could see a scenario where the Bonvoy Bold makes its case for an entry-level hotel card, especially if you don’t travel enough to justify an annual fee.

Read our full Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card Review.

FAQs

Bottom line

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is a strong option for someone new to hotel stays and credit card rewards. Although light on benefits, it packs enough of a punch to justify applying for select travelers with a better-than-average hotel earning rate, a strong suite of protections, and no annual fee to put a damper on things.

However, there are more lucrative options out there, so be sure to analyze your travel and financial goals before applying.

A Great Choice for New Travelers

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

4.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

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Current Offer

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

up to 14X total points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy; 2X points at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services; and 1X points on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Automatic Silver Elite status
• High rewards rate on Marriott Bonvoy stays
• Travel and purchase protections
• Ability to pay monthly on qualifying travel purchases
• Largest hotel brand in the world

Drawbacks

• Meager earning potential
• Rewards have limited flexibility

Card Details

• Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• up to 14X total points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy; 2X points at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services; and 1X points on all other purchases