Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card overview
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees) is Marriott’s entry-level personal cobranded credit card. This no-annual-fee card offers a way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and gives cardholders a jump-start on achieving elite status. However, frequent Marriott guests are better off with a card that charges an annual fee and offers more perks. Card rating*: ⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is the only no-annual-fee card in the Marriott Bonvoy family.
As they say, you get what you pay for, and that’s true regarding credit cards, too. Consequently, the Bonvoy Bold sacrifices some earning potential and popular benefits to compensate for the lack of an annual fee compared to its higher-priced counterparts.
Still, this can be a great option for someone just getting into travel who wants to enjoy the benefits of Marriott Silver Elite status during hotel stays.
We recommend a credit score of at least 670 for the best approval chance.
Here’s what else you need to know about the card if you want to apply.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| <ul> <li>No annual fee</li> <li>Travel and shopping protections</li> <li>Complimentary Silver Elite status</li> <li>Ability to pay off purchases over time</li> </ul> |
<ul> <li>No statement credits</li> <li>Low number of annual elite night credits</li> <li>Not a great option for frequent Marriott travelers</li> <li>Poor earning rates compared to other Bonvoy cards</li> <li>Subject to Marriott Bonvoy’s complicated eligibility requirements</li> </ul> |
Marriott Bonvoy Bold welcome offer
New Marriott Bonvoy Bold cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months of account opening.
According to TPG’s September 2025 valuations, the bonus points are worth $420.
The current welcome offer is just short of the best offer we’ve seen before, but worthwhile if you’ve been eyeing a no-annual-fee hotel card.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be under Chase’s 5/24 rule
- Meet Marriott’s own eligibility rules
Cobranded Marriott cards have notoriously confusing eligibility requirements, and the Bonvoy Bold is no exception. Before applying, be sure to check your eligibility, as these requirements typically require you not to hold another Marriott cobranded card or have received a welcome bonus on another Marriott cobranded card for a certain period of time.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
Marriott Bonvoy Bold benefits
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold card comes with automatic Silver Elite status. This Bonvoy status includes a 10% bonus on points earned during stays, complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, priority late checkout and a reservation guarantee.
The card also comes with five elite night credits per year. These elite night credits can help you progress to a higher status level, providing more valuable perks when staying at Marriott properties.
In addition, cardholders receive the following benefits:
- Baggage delay insurance: You can get reimbursed up to $100 daily for up to five days for eligible essential purchases when there is a baggage delay of over six hours
- Car rental insurance: Coverage for collision damage or theft when you decline the rental company’s collision insurance
- Concierge: Visa Signature concierge service is available 24 hours a day to help you book entertainment tickets, make dinner reservations and more
- Extended warranty: For items with less than three years of warranty, you can extend a manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by one additional year for up to four years from the date of purchase
- Lost luggage reimbursement: You’re covered up to $3,000 per covered traveler ($2,000 for New York residents, up to $10,000 for all covered travelers) if your or an immediate family member’s checked or carry-on luggage is damaged, lost or stolen during a covered trip
- No foreign transaction fees
- Purchase protection: This covers your new purchases for 120 days (90 days for New York residents) against damage or theft (up to $500 per item)
- Trip delay reimbursement: If your flight is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you’ll be covered up to $500 per covered traveler for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and hotel costs
It’s rare to find no-annual-fee credit cards offering baggage and trip delay coverage, making the Marriott Bonvoy Bold more attractive for travelers who pay for travel.
Cardholders can also use Chase Pay Over Time on purchases of $100-$5,000 made directly with an airline or Marriott Bonvoy hotel. (Access to Pay Over Time is not guaranteed and is based on factors such as account behavior, creditworthiness and credit limit.)
Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?
Earning points on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold earns:
- 3 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 2 points per dollar spent at grocery stores and on cable, internet, phone, ride-hailing, and select food delivery and streaming services
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Remember that the 3 points per dollar you earn on Marriott hotel stays are in addition to the points you earn through the Bonvoy program. Between the 10 base points and the 10% bonus from Silver Elite status, you’ll earn up to 14 total points per dollar spent on eligible Bonvoy hotel stays with the Bonvoy Bold card. This equates to a 9.8% return on spending based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations.
It’s worth mentioning that these earning rates don’t compare favorably to any of the other Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. All the other Marriott cards offer higher earning rates on both Marriott stays and everyday spending (and some have a few other bonus categories).
If you have a general travel credit card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll be better off using one of those cards for most travel purchases.
Related: Your complete guide to earning Marriott Bonvoy points
Redeeming points on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold
As is the case with Bonvoy cards, Bonvoy Bold included, you’ll typically get the most value from your points when you use them for award stays at eligible Bonvoy hotels.
A nice benefit to redeeming Marriott points for award stays is that you’ll get a fifth night free at eligible properties, saving you 20% on five-night stays.
Beginners who may not have massive points balances for redemptions can also take advantage of Marriott’s Cash + Points redemption options, where you can use points to pay for part of your hotel stay and cash for the rest.
TPG lead writer Katie Genter spent five nights at Le Meridien N’Fis in Marrakech, Morocco, for just 52,500 Marriott Bonvoy points by taking advantage of the “Stay for 5, Pay for 4” feature.
Related: How I plan to redeem more than 800,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Transferring points on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold
Unlike many other hotel-branded cards, the Bonvoy Bold has decent transfer options. You can transfer your Marriott points to an impressive list of nearly 40 airline partners, typically at a 3:1 ratio.
This is rarely the best redemption option, but it can be useful to top off points or miles balances with airline programs with no other transfer partners, such as Saudia Alfursan.
Related: Should you transfer hotel points to airline partners?
Which cards compete with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold?
If you want more Marriott Bonvoy perks or prefer different rewards, consider one of these alternatives:
- If you want more Marriott Bonvoy benefits: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees) comes with a $95 annual fee but gives you more Marriott Bonvoy perks and greater earning potential on your Marriott stays. You’ll also get a free reward night certificate worth up to 35,000 points per night each year you hold the card, making the annual fee worth it. (Certain hotels have resort fees.) To learn more, read our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless.
- If you stay at Hilton properties more often: The Hilton Honors American Express Card has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and allows you to earn Hilton Honors points and enjoy automatic Hilton Honors Silver status. To learn more, read our full review of the Hilton Honors Amex.
- If you want to earn transferable points with no annual fee: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee and earns simple and unlimited miles on all purchases. The miles you earn can be transferred to Capital One’s 15-plus airline and hotel transfer partners. To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards.
For additional options, see our list of the best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and the best hotel credit cards.
Related: Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which beginner Marriott card is best for you?
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold worth it?
Since there’s no annual fee to justify, beginners may find enough value in the Bonvoy Bold‘s automatic Silver Elite status to make the card worthwhile. However, anyone who stays at Marriott properties regularly and is willing to pay an annual fee is better off using their Chase 5/24 slot for a Marriott card with more robust benefits.
Bottom line
While the Marriott Bonvoy Bold offers some decent value for beginners, you’ll likely get more value from other travel credit card options, especially when you look at the full lineup of Marriott Bonvoy cards.
These other cards offer rewards rates and additional perks that more than make up for their annual fees. However, true beginners (and maybe those against adding another annual fee to their wallets) could find solid value in the Bonvoy Bold.
While it’s not the most rewarding card on the market, it can be a useful entry point into the Marriott Bonvoy program, especially for those looking to avoid annual fees.
Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Bold
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click here.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
