The
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is a good choice if you have good credit (700+ credit score) and you travel often but not quite enough to justify paying an annual fee for extra perks. Bonvoy Bold is the only Marriott credit card with no annual fee, and it’s worth getting because it can help you earn free nights faster.
New cardholders can earn an initial bonus of
30,000 points (worth nearly
$246 in Marriott reservations) by spending
$1,000 within
3 months of opening an account. Cardholders also earn
1 - 3 points per $1 spent on purchases, with Marriott purchases getting the top rate.
Bonvoy Bold brings other
benefits to the table, too. Perhaps most importantly, it gives you automatic Silver Elite status, which gets you bonus points on stays and priority late checkout.
What I Like About Marriott Bonvoy Bold
Initial Bonus: 30,000 points
The bonus points are worth
$246, according to our research. That could be enough for a couple of nights or more, depending on where and when you book. In addition, the free night award is valued at up to
$410 points.
New cardholders who make at least
$1,000 in purchases within
3 months of opening an account will receive the bonus within 8 weeks of meeting the spending requirement. Applicants who currently have another Marriott Bonvoy credit card or who applied for one recently may not be eligible for the bonus.
Marriott Rewards Rate: 3 points per $1 spent (equal to ~2.46% cash back)
This rewards-earning rate applies to all purchases made directly through Marriott.
Other Marriott credit cards offer higher earning rates, but they also charge higher annual fees. When combined with the 10 points per $1 that you get from Marriott for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and the extra 1 point for having Silver Elite status, you get to a 14 points per $1 rate.
Other Bonus Categories: 2 points per $1 spent (equal to ~1.64% cash back)
Bonvoy Bold offers 2 points for every $1 spent on:
• Purchases at grocery stores
• Ridesharing
• Select food delivery services
• Select streaming services
• Internet, cable, and phone services
These varied bonus categories makes it easier earn free nights as you make normal, everyday purchases. Just bear in mind that you could earn more with the right cash back credit card and then use your cash rewards to pay for hotel rooms. Several cards offer
2% cash back on all purchases.
Annual Fee: $0
Bold is the only Marriott credit card with no annual fee. It’s also
$26.75 per year cheaper than the average credit card offer, according to our research.
This is obviously better than the alternative, all else being equal, and it enables the card’s rewards to shine more since you don’t have to recoup the value of an annual fee each year.
Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
Marriott Bonvoy has 9,000+ properties across 142 countries and territories. You won’t face an international surcharge for making purchases at any of the properties outside the United States, or anywhere else you travel abroad. It could even save you money on purchases made through international merchants while you’re home in the U.S.
Marriott Bonvoy Status: Silver Elite
Bonvoy Bold cardholders automatically receive Silver Elite status in the
Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, which helps you earn free nights faster, in addition to providing an assortment of perks that make life easier from the time you check in until you check out. The Bold card also gets you elite night credits each year, to help you graduate to a higher status level.
What I Don’t Like About Marriott Bonvoy Bold
Base Rewards Rate: 1 point per $1 spent (equal to ~0.82% cash back)
This is the standard earning rate for a rewards credit card offering points. Most credit card points are worth slightly more, however.
Interest Rate: 19.74% - 28.24% (V)
Each applicant will receive a rate from within that range, depending on their creditworthiness. For context, the APRs on credit cards that require good credit for approval average
23.93%. Cards that require excellent credit charge about
17.68% on average.
The Marriott Bonvoy Card does not offer 0% introductory APRs on purchases or balance transfers. If you want a 0% APR, there are
plenty of other options.
Min. Credit Standing Needed: Good
We recommend applying if your credit score is 700 or higher. You can
check your latest credit score for free here on WalletHub.
Bottom Line: Who Should Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card?
You should consider applying for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card if you have a credit score of 700+ and you want to earn free Marriott reservations without paying a fee. You should also plan on paying the bill in full every month, or else interest charges will quickly eat away at your rewards earnings.
This card could be used to supplement an existing cash back or low interest credit card, or it could work as the only card in your wallet.
Note: This review is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Opinions and ratings are our own.
