Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is Marriott's only no-annual-fee credit card, making it a reasonable entry point into the Marriott ecosystem. The 30,000 (current special 60,000) signup bonus won't get you very far as Marriott award stays often require significantly more points than competing programs like Hyatt. It's also important to be educated on Marriott's complicated set of bonus eligibility rules, which can make it difficult to earn welcome offers from other Marriott cards depending on which cards you have or have had in the past.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The biggest reason to get the Marriott Bonvoy Bold is the 30,000 (current special 60,000)-point signup bonus after spending $1,000 (currently $1,000) in the first three months. Depending on where and when you travel, that may be enough for a free night or more. Marriott uses dynamic pricing, so the value of 30,000 (current special 60,000) points will vary significantly by property and travel dates and won't get you very far compared to other systems.
As Marriott's only no-annual-fee card, the Bonvoy Bold includes a handful of perks that can enhance your hotel stays:
- Silver Elite status and 5 Elite Night Credits each year toward higher Marriott status tiers
- Complimentary DashPass membership plus a $10 quarterly discount on non-restaurant DoorDash orders
- Up to 14x points at Marriott properties when booking directly with the hotel
- 2x points on groceries, streaming services, internet, cable, rideshare, and food delivery purchases
- 1x point on all other purchases
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
Here are some exceptions where the card might not be good for you:
- You may not be eligible for a sign-up bonus if you’ve had certain other Marriott co-branded cards in the past two years.
- If you stay at Marriott more than a few times each year, a card with an annual fee might offer better value.
- Marriott’s reward-night redemption can be poor compared to programs like Hyatt.
What to Know About Marriott Bonvoy
Their poor points redemption value leaves Bonvoy near the bottom of our rankings.
- There are multiple cards with great point transfer options. In theory, this is good.
- Finding a solid value for a Marriott stay is a challenge. A one night stay at desirable destinations can match the number of points from one card bonus.
- Values can be found, but they can be frustrating to find, so it isn’t a terrible system. It just doesn’t have the usefulness of many of the other hotel systems.
How The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Fits In The Marriott Bonvoy Ecosystem
Marriott's card lineup is complicated because eligibility for many welcome offers depends on which Marriott cards you have or have had in the past. Before applying for the Bonvoy Bold, make sure it fits your broader Marriott strategy.
- Our preferred Marriott card: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless generally offers the best overall value in the Marriott ecosystem thanks to its annual free night certificate (up to 35k points) and stronger welcome offer.
- For heavy Marriott users: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is our top choice for travelers who stay with Marriott frequently, thanks to automatic Platinum Elite status, an annual free night certificate (up to 85k points), and premium travel benefits.
- Watch the eligibility rules: Earning a welcome offer on the Bold can make you ineligible for welcome offers on the Boundless and Brilliant for 24 months, so we generally recommend considering those cards first.
- Cards we typically avoid: We don't generally recommend the Bonvoy Bevy or Bonvoy Bountiful, as both require $15,000 in annual spending before you receive their free night certificate, and they don't offer enough benefits and perks that justify the annual fees.
Card Information
Differentiating Perks
Rules
Card Extras
No extras to display for this card.
Historical Card Offers
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Estimated Next Offer
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Application Rules
You're allowed only 1 personal and 1 business Bonvoy Card at the same time, and only 1 bonus in the last 24 months
Chase applications will be declined if 5 new cards have been added to your personal credit report in the past 24 months.
You'll be declined if you apply for a third Chase card of any kind within 30 days
Chase will decline your application you apply for a 5th Chase card (personal or BUSINESS) in 6 months
Best for Series
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:
