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 45,000 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 45,000-point signup bonus after spending $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 45,000 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
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is the only no-annual-fee card in Marriott's lineup. It can make sense for occasional Marriott guests who want to earn Bonvoy points without paying an annual fee, but its welcome offer and long-term benefits are limited compared with several other Marriott cards.
Marriott offers several other personal cards through Chase and American Express:
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Our preferred Marriott card for most travelers, with a $95 annual fee and a 0-point welcome offer after spending $3,000. Its annual free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points can go a long way toward offsetting the annual fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: The premium option, with a $650 annual fee and a 100,000-point welcome offer after spending $6,000. It is best suited for frequent Marriott guests who can take advantage of Platinum Elite status, an annual free night worth up to 85,000 points, and its premium travel benefits and statement credits.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: Has a $250 annual fee and a 85,000-point welcome offer after spending $5,000. Its long-term value is harder to justify because earning its annual free night requires $15,000 in annual spending.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful: Has a $250 annual fee and a 85,000-point welcome offer after spending $4,000. Like the Bevy, it requires $15,000 in annual spending to earn a free night certificate, so we generally don't recommend it.
Points Navigator Eligibility Tip: Marriott's signup bonus eligibility rules are among the most complicated in the industry. Earning the welcome offer on one Marriott card can affect your eligibility for others for up to two years, so compare the entire Marriott lineup before applying.
For most travelers, we would consider the Boundless before the Bold. The Bold's lack of an annual fee is appealing, but using a Marriott welcome-offer opportunity on a card with a smaller bonus and fewer long-term benefits can limit your options elsewhere in the Marriott ecosystem. You would also be using one of your 3/24 or 5/24 slots on a card we don't consider particularly compelling.
Card Information
Differentiating Perks
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Card Extras
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Historical Card Offers
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Estimated Next Offer
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Application Rules
Application order matters: the right sequence can let you earn signup bonuses on multiple Bonvoy cards.
Chase applications will be declined if 5 new cards have been added to your personal credit report in the past 24 months. Chase business cards can have stricter limits for sole proprietors.
You may be denied if you apply for a third Chase card within a 30-day period.
You may be declined if you apply for a fifth Chase card, personal or business, within six months.
Best for Series
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:
