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Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card — Full Review [2023]

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Jarrod West
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Jarrod West

Senior Content Contributor

437 Published Articles, 1 Edited Article

Countries Visited: 21U.S. States Visited: 24

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...
Edited by: Juan Ruiz
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Juan Ruiz

Compliance Editor & Content Contributor

69 Published Articles, 626 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 40U.S. States Visited: 27

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...
& Kellie Jez
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Kellie Jez

Director of Operations & Compliance

1 Published Article, 1166 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 10U.S. States Visited: 20

Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
3.5
  • 30,000 points

  • $0

  • Good to Excellent (670-850)

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
3.5

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Card Snapshot

Welcome Bonus & Info

  • Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase®!
  • Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
  • 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Member FDIC

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Customer Service Number

800-627-7468

Pros

  • Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
  • 2x points per $1 on travel purchases
  • 15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
  • Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier

Great Card If

  • You enjoy staying at Marriott hotels
  • You want a fast track to Marriott Bonvoy elite status
  • You want a card with no annual fee

Don’t Get If

  • You’re not a fan of Marriott-branded hotels or don’t travel much
  • You visit Marriott hotels frequently enough that one of their premium card options would be more rewarding for you
  • You prefer a card with more elite benefits like airport lounge access

Marriott Bold Card — Is It Worth It?

The Marriott Bold card is the ideal option for those looking for a hotel credit card who enjoy staying in Marriott-branded hotels but do not want to pay an annual fee.

Not only will the card help you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points during your stays and on everyday purchases, but it also gives you automatic Silver Elite status and 15 Elite Night Credits towards the next status level.

Marriott Bold Card Top Benefits

Silver Elite Status

The 15 Elite Night Credits you receive from this card will earn you Silver Elite status, and while that status may be the lowest in the Marriott Bonvoy program, it is certainly better than having no status at all.

Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite comes with perks including:

  • Priority late checkout, based on availability
  • 10% bonus on Marriott Bonvoy points
  • Access to exclusive phone lines for booking reservations
  • Compensation if Marriott can’t honor your reservation

The most notable benefit here is the extra 10% in point earnings on your Marriott stays. However, the bonus applies to points earned through the hotel, not the credit card.

This bonus amounts to a total of up to 14 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 when you use your Marriott Bold card at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

15 Elite Night Credits

So what are Elite Night Credits exactly? Not to be confused with free night certificates, you cannot redeem these credits for award nights — they exclusively count towards your status. With that said, a 15-night jump towards the next status tier can be extremely beneficial.

Since you’re starting each year with 15 nights just for holding the card, you’re automatically going to qualify for Silver Elite status — but why stop there? For example, Gold Elite status and Platinum Elite status require 25 nights and 50 nights a year, respectively.

This means, with your automatic 15 Elite Night Credits, you will only actually need to stay 10 nights each year to earn Gold Elite status, and 35 nights each year to earn Platinum Elite status.

No Annual Fee

It is no secret that there are many great travel rewards cards available, but more often than not, they come with some sort of annual fee — usually ranging between $95 to $550!

So while the Marriott Bold card doesn’t offer as many benefits as cards that do offer annual fees, it’s a great option for casual travelers who don’t travel often enough to make an annual fee card worthwhile but still want to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.

How To Earn and Redeem Your Marriott Bonvoy Points

While you can earn tons of Marriott Bonvoy points just by using your card, there are many other ways to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points. Some of these include booking Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities, dining with the Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy program, and utilizing travel partners.

Marriott offers thousands of hotels for you to redeem your points at, but all redemptions aren’t built evenly. If you’re wanting to get the most bang for your buck, read through some of our favorite ways to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points.

You’re not only limited to hotel redemptions, though, as Marriott also has over 40 airline transfer partners that you can transfer your points to at a 3:1 rate.

Alternative Cards to the Marriott Bold Card

Hilton Honors American Express Card

NEW OFFER
Hilton Honors American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!
Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24.
100,000 points
$500
$0
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

You can’t beat a comfy king-sized bed and room service. For many travelers, it’s the hotel that really makes or breaks an experience. If you’re one of those people, you’ve probably stayed at a Hilton hotel.

Whether your visits are for work or pleasure, the Hilton brand has you covered with more than 6,200 locations in 100 counties and territories.

To enjoy a host of great benefits, you may want to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.

Pros

  • 7x points per $1 on Hilton stays
  • 5x points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
  • 3x points per $1 on all other purchases
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
  • No annual fee (rates & fees)
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

Cons

  • Not great for those who want multiple redemption options
  • Offers the least benefits of all Hilton cards
  • Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24.
  • Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
  • Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
  • Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
  • No Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors Loyalty Program

Perhaps you want a no-annual-fee hotel card but prefer Hilton as your favorite chain. In that case, the Hilton Honors card would be a great option for you.

The card offers 7x Hilton Honors points per $1 at Hilton hotels, 5x points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants, and 3x points on all other purchases.

Couple that with complimentary Hilton Honors Silver elite status and the ability to upgrade to Gold by spending $20,000 in a calendar year and you’ve got a pretty compelling card for a $0 annual fee.

IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card

LIMITED-TIME OFFER
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 2x on all other purchases.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 2x on all other purchases.
Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
100,000 points
$500
$0
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

If you’re someone who is looking to enhance your IHG stays by earning more points and benefits, without paying an annual fee, then the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card might be the perfect fit for you.

In this guide, we will provide a detailed view of what the card can offer so you can decide if it makes sense to add to your wallet.

Pros

  • Up to 17x total points per $1 on IHG stays
  • 3x points per $1 on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants
  • 2x point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Fourth night free on award stays
  • Complimentary IHG Silver Elite status, plus the ability to spend your way to IHG Gold Elite status
  • Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 on the card in a calendar year
  • 20% discount on IHG point purchases
  • Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
  • Purchase protection
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $0 annual fee

Cons

  • Not as rewarding as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
  • Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 bonus points
  • No Annual Fee
  • Earn up to 17 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
  • Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees
  • Redeem 3 Nights, Get the 4th Night Free
  • IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

IHG Rewards Loyalty Program Review

Another great option for those that want a no-annual-fee hotel card, but prefer IHG hotels, is the IHG Traveler card.

The card earns 5x IHG One Rewards points on IHG stays, plus 3x on dining, utilities, select streaming services, and at gas stations, and 2x everywhere else.

It also offers Silver Elite status with IHG hotels, 20% back on purchased points, and the fourth night free on all award stays.

The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Marriott Bold card worth it?

Depending on your situation, it could be! If you stay at Marriott hotels often enough to find the card rewarding, but are not interested in paying an annual fee, then it might be a great option for you.

Does the Marriott Bold card charge foreign transaction fees?

The Marriott Bold card does not charge foreign transaction fees and can be used anywhere in the world that accepts Visa cards.

Do Marriott Bonvoy points expire?

Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of no account activity. To keep them alive, you just need a qualifying activity, such as earning points with your card or redeeming them for a stay.

Is the Marriott Bold card subject to the Chase 5/24 rule?

Yes — the Marriott Bold card is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. So if you have opened 5 or more new credit card accounts in the last 24 months, you will not be eligible for the card.

Can you transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points?

Yes, Marriott Bonvoy has over 40 airline transfer partners that you can transfer your points to.

Does the Marriott Bold card have an annual fee?

No — the Marriott Bold card does not have an annual fee.

Jarrod West's image

About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

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