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Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, deta...
Juan has been involved in credit cards, loyalty, travel, and personal finance for more than 10 years. He has worked for several outlets including The Points Guy and Forbes and was previously Editor-in...
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If you stay at Marriott properties, even occasionally, you may be able to elevate your experience, earn more Marriott Bonvoy points, and score a free annual hotel night certificate just by having the right Marriott Bonvoy-branded card.
If you don’t want to pay a high annual fee, but still want a balance between benefits and annual outlay, we think the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card could fit that description perfectly.
We’ve set out today to count down all the benefits you can expect to receive on the Marriott Boundless card, how the card complements the Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty program, and compare the card to other Marriott-branded cards.
Here are all the reasons you might want to consider the Marriott Boundless card.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card
Prior to selecting any credit card, you’ll want to check out the most current welcome offer, the card’s pricing, and its terms and conditions.
Generous Welcome Bonus
1. Jump-start Your Earnings With a Welcome Bonus
Welcome bonuses vary but you can count on receiving a welcome bonus with enough points to redeem for several free hotel nights.
Be sure to check the current offer before applying. You’ll also need to meet minimum spending requirements within the first 3 months after card approval to qualify for the bonus. Use the link above to check for the current bonus and pricing.
Elevated Earnings
2. Earn Big at Marriott Properties
You’ll receive 6x Marriott Bonvoy points for every dollar spent at Marriott-affiliated properties. You’ll actually end up earning up to 17x total points:
6x points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy from the credit card
10x points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member (base earnings)
Up to 1x point with Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, which is a benefit of the Marriott Boundless card
3. Earn on Every Purchase
Every purchase you make with the card earns at least 2x points per dollar spent. In particular, here are the other bonus categories:
3x points on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining (up to the first $6,000 in combined purchases)
A faster path to Marriott Bonvoy elite status means a faster path to enjoying upgraded rooms. Image Credit: Marriott
Having elite status with a hotel loyalty program elevates your experience at affiliated properties, allows you to earn free nights faster, and provides other related benefits.
4. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status
Enjoy complimentary entry-level Silver Elite status just for having the card. You can expect to receive these benefits with Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status:
Fifth consecutive reward night free
Free Wi-Fi
Late 2 p.m. checkout
Receive 10% bonus points on qualifying hotel purchases
Special hotel rates just for members
Welcome bonus points at check-in
5. Spend Your Way to Higher Status
Spend $35,000 on the card during a calendar year and receive the next level Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. Gold Elite status members receive all the benefits that come with Silver status plus these additional perks:
25% bonus points on hotel purchases
Late 4 p.m. checkout
Upgraded room, when available
6. Elite Nights To Use Towards Even Higher Status
The level of elite status you earn is normally based on the number of nights you stay at Marriott properties. By having the Marriott Boundless card, however, each calendar year you’ll receive 15 elite qualifying night credits you can use to help you qualify for higher status, plus you earn 1 elite night credit for every $5,000 spent on the card.
Here’s a summary of how many nights you would normally have to stay in a calendar year to achieve each level of elite status.
Elite Status Level
Elite Qualifying Nights Required
Silver
10
Gold
25
Platinum
50
Titanium
75
Ambassador
100 + $20,000 in spending (revised for 2023)
As an example, if you have the Marriott Boundless card and stay 10 nights in a calendar year, you’ll qualify for Gold Elite level status (15 night credits for having the card + 10 stayed nights = 25 elite qualifying nights).
Bottom Line: The Marriott Boundless card comes with complimentary Silver Elite status, the option to spend $35,000 on the card in a calendar year to achieve Gold Elite status, and 15 elite qualifying nights that count towards any level of elite status.
Free Hotel Nights
Earn free nights faster with any Marriott-branded credit card. Sheraton Waikiki. Image Credit: Marriott
The most valuable benefit of having a Marriott-branded card is your access to free hotel nights. Whether you use your annual free night certificate, redeem your rewards for free hotel nights, or parlay those rewards into a vacation package, you’ll find plenty of free hotel stay options.
7. Free Hotel Night at Each Card Anniversary
Pay the renewal fee on your Marriott Boundless card and you’ll receive a complimentary free night certificate each card anniversary year. The certificate can be used for a free hotel night worth up to 35,000 points.
8. Free Nights Start at 5,000 Points
As your points add up quickly, so does the potential for earning free hotel nights. Redemptions start at 5,000 points per night. Plus, as a Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program member, your fifth consecutive reward night is always free.
Hot Tip: When booking 5 consecutive reward nights, always check the “customize payments” option to view the paid rate and points rate for each night. It may benefit you to adjust your stay slightly to receive a lower overall price. If you’re not staying 5 nights, you can also use the tool to determine which nights you may want to use points and which nights to pay the cash rate.
Additional Redemption Options
9. You Have Redemption Choices
It’s a benefit to have options for redeeming all the points you’ll be earning with the Marriott Boundless card. However, not all redemption options offer good value.
Gift Cards and Merchandise — A $25 gift card will set you back 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and since we value Marriott Bonvoy points at around 0.7 cents each, buying gift cards is not good value. The same is true for purchasing merchandise with your points as you’ll receive poor value there as well.
Transfer Points to Airlines — You do have the option to transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to tons of airline partners but the ratio is generally about 3:1, with some transfers offering an additional mileage bonus. For example, 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points translate into 20,000 United MileagePlus miles plus a 10,000-mile bonus. Topping off your frequent flyer account with a small amount for the purpose of redeeming for a specific award flight may be a good use of points. Also, when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points to most airline partners at once, you’ll get a bonus of 5,000 miles.
The Marriott Boundless card comes with several useful travel benefits that can save you money and/or provide peace of mind during your travels.
10. Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
For coverage to be valid, reserve and pay for your entire car rental with your Marriott Boundless card and decline the rental agency’s CDW or LDW coverage. You’ll receive coverage for damage, theft to the rental car, reasonable/customary towing, and valid loss-of-use charges.
Coverage is secondary in your country of residence when renting for personal use and primary outside the U.S. in most countries.
11. Trip Delay Reimbursement
If your trip on a common carrier is delayed 12 or more hours or overnight, you could receive up to $500 per ticket for unreimbursed eligible expenses.
12. Lost Luggage Reimbursement
If you or an immediate family member have lost or damaged luggage, you could receive up to $3,000 per trip. The common carrier ticket (e.g. airline, train, bus, or ferry) must have been charged on your eligible card and is secondary to the coverage provided by the common carrier.
13. Delayed Baggage Insurance
If your baggage is delayed more than 6 hours, you could receive up to $100 per day for 5 days for essential items. Common carrier fare must be purchased with your Marriott Boundless card and coverage is secondary to any reimbursement received from the common carrier.
Enjoy peace of mind knowing you will receive help should you be stranded at the side of the road. Dispatch service includes access to roadside assistance 24/7 for just 1 low pre-negotiated fee of $69.95 for the service call. Services include towing, tire changing, jump-start, emergency fuel, lockout service, and winching.
14. Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
If something goes wrong during your travels, know that you have access to help 24/7 with a dedicated phone line. Receive medical, legal, or translation service referrals, help with emergency transport, messaging, ticket replacement, finding a pharmacy, pre-trip planning, and more. Cardholders are responsible for actual services received.
16. Visa Signature Concierge
Enjoy access to hard-to-get dining reservations, VIP service, and priority access to sporting and entertainment events, plus more with your Concierge hotline.
17. Travel Accident Insurance
Severe injury or death when traveling on a common carrier could result in a benefit of up to $500,000.
Note that coverage descriptions are abbreviated and terms/conditions apply. Complete information on these benefits will be found in your card’s Guide to Benefits.
Shopping Benefits and Protections
While you’ll be using your Marriott Boundless card when traveling and staying at Marriott properties, with these shopping benefits and protections, you’ll also find the card useful for purchases at home or abroad.
18. Purchase Protection
New, eligible purchases made with your card are covered for damage and theft for 120 days from the date of purchase. Each claim is covered for up to $500, with a maximum limit of $50,000 per account.
19. Extended Warranty
Eligible items purchased with your card may qualify for extended warranty protection. Manufacturers’ warranties of 3 years or less will be extended for 1 additional year.
20. Chase Offers
Log in to your Marriott Boundless card account online and click on Chase Offers for special deals that include cash-back for specific purchases. Examples of offers include 10% back at Marriott, Starbucks, Lowes, and Big Lots. The more you use your card, the more Chase Offers you’ll receive.
21. No Foreign Transaction Fees
Take your card with you during your travels and never experience added fees for foreign transactions.
Additional Benefits
22. Add an Authorized User
There is no charge to add an authorized user to your card and it’s a great way to earn additional rewards quickly.
23. Chase Credit Journey
Have quick access to your credit report and helpful tools for managing your credit via Chase Credit Journey. Just log in to your Marriott Boundless card’s online account and you’ll find a direct link to the Credit Journey tool.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ready to consider a Marriott-branded card, your choice should be based on your own spending habits, your travel profile, and your tolerance for paying an annual fee. If you’re looking for the balance of a lower annual fee but still want to receive accelerated earnings and access to free hotel nights, the Marriott Boundless card could be a good choice.
Additionally, with 15 complimentary elite qualifying nights added to your annual elite earning history, just for having the card, you can easily qualify for higher elite status with just 10 additional annual stay nights.
If you stay at Marriott properties, the upside and additional value-added benefits of having any Marriott-branded card are evident.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Featured Image Credit: Marriott
Frequently Asked Questions
If you stay at Marriott properties, even a few times a year, having a Marriott-branded card is worth it for earning free nights faster, enjoying benefits on-site at affiliated hotels, and receiving several useful travel/shopping benefits.
The Marriott Boundless card specifically strikes a balance of having an affordable annual fee with plenty of Marriott-related, earning, redemption, travel, and shopping benefits.
You cannot directly purchase flights with Marriott Bonvoy points, but you do have the option to transfer your points to airlines.
This option is not the best value for your Marriott Bonvoy points as most transfer ratios are stated as 3 Marriott Bonvoy points are needed to equate to 1 frequent flyer mile.
Some transfers do add bonus miles. For example, transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points will result in 27,500 United miles.
Once the transfer is complete, you can use the airline frequent flyer miles to book award flights.
A free night at a Marriott-affiliated property starts at just 5,000 points per night. The amount of points charged per night is much more at more premium properties.
When booking a 5-night or greater stay at a Marriott-affiliated property using points, you will receive one of those nights free. The free night is based on the lowest-priced of the 5 nights, regardless of which night it is during your stay.
Reward nights must be booked consecutively. Stays greater than 5 nights will also receive a free night for each 5 consecutive rewards nights booked.
For example, if you book 10 consecutive nights, you will receive 2 of those reward nights for free.
Point credits are based on standard room rates only.
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
4 comments
Jill Novack
January 03, 2023
Do you happen to cover things that are lost if purchased with your Marriott card, within 120 days?
Hi Jill. We are not Chase, we are Upgraded Points, a blog specializing in providing credit card rewards and travel resources. I checked the terms and conditions for Chase Purchase Protection and it reads as follows: “Eligible personal property that has been damaged or stolen, or involuntary and accidental parting with property within 120 days from the date of purchase.” While items that mysteriously disappear are excluded, it’s possible the loss may fall under “accidental parting”. You should contact Chase for specific coverage information for your situation.
Carol Hale
June 17, 2023
My flight was delayed and I had to overnight. How do I apply for trip delay reimbursement?
Keri Stooksbury
June 17, 2023
Hi Carol – you should be able to call the number on the back of your card to get the claim process rolling. Thanks for reading!
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
4 comments
Jill Novack
January 03, 2023
Do you happen to cover things that are lost if purchased with your Marriott card, within 120 days?
Christine Krzyszton
January 03, 2023
Hi Jill. We are not Chase, we are Upgraded Points, a blog specializing in providing credit card rewards and travel resources. I checked the terms and conditions for Chase Purchase Protection and it reads as follows: “Eligible personal property that has been damaged or stolen, or involuntary and accidental parting with property within 120 days from the date of purchase.” While items that mysteriously disappear are excluded, it’s possible the loss may fall under “accidental parting”. You should contact Chase for specific coverage information for your situation.
Carol Hale
June 17, 2023
My flight was delayed and I had to overnight. How do I apply for trip delay reimbursement?
Keri Stooksbury
June 17, 2023
Hi Carol – you should be able to call the number on the back of your card to get the claim process rolling. Thanks for reading!
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
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