Editor’s Note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
Hotel credit cards are often overlooked when compared to their airline card counterparts.
Mid-Range Hotel Cardwith annual fee up to $100, can be an incredibly valuable addition to any wallet, whether you’re an occasional traveler, a road warrior, or a non-stop jet runner. These cards tend to have relatively low annual fees but can offer outstanding value in the form of bonus nights, elite status, increased earning potential, and other perks.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is Marriott’s mid-market personal card option, issued by Chase. It comes with a great sign-up bonus of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $3,000 on qualifying purchases in the first six months; additionally, you can earn 50,000 bonus points after a six-night eligible paid stay at Marriott properties through January 31, 2024. Offer ends August 10.
But this sign-up bonus isn’t the only reason to consider the Bonvoy Boundless card.
awards night
By far, one of the card’s best perks — and what makes the $95 fee seem insignificant — is the annual awards night prize. Here’s how it works (and why it’s so valuable).
Each year on account renewal, cardholders will receive a reward night certificate valid at Marriott hotels up to 35,000 Bonvoy points per night. While you certainly can’t redeem this certificate everywhere, there are thousands of options at 35,000 points a night or less. Valuation of TPG pegs the value of 35,000 Marriott points at $294, almost three times the annual fee of $95.
With Marriott switch to dynamic pricing Last year, you may find it harder to use these certificates, especially during times of high demand. However, you can combine a certificate with up to 15,000 points from your account to “upgrade” to a higher priced rewards room, which will allow for more flexibility.
Related: 6 great uses of Marriott’s 35,000-point free night voucher
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15 elite nights and automatic elite status
Similar to other mid-range hotel cards from Hilton Hotel And HyattMarriott offers automatic elite status with Bonvoy Boundless.
The Bonvoy Boundless Card comes with automatic Bonvoy Silver status. While it’s Marriott’s lowest tier and won’t give you lavish perks like suite upgrades, it still gets you 10% bonus points, late check-out, and free Wi-Fi.
Additionally, to help cardholders begin their journey to higher status tiers (such as Gold and Platinum), the card automatically rewards them with 15 elite night credits each calendar year. You can also earn an extra credit for elite status for every $5,000 you spend on the card — a perk that just launched in 2022.
Even better, you can get an elite suite of night credits from your Marriott personal card and one more set of elite night credits from a Marriott business card, like Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. Combining Boundless with a business card gives you Gold status — and puts you just 20 nights away from Platinum.
Related: Is it reasonable to hold multiple Marriott Bonvoy credit cards?
Travel and baggage insurance
The Bonvoy Boundless card also comes with a host of powerful travel and baggage protection benefits that can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. These are the perks you don’t feel as you need — until something goes wrong.
With Baggage delay insurance, Chase can reimburse you for essential purchases up to $100 a day for up to five days. And if a bag is lost, Chase can compensate you up to $3,000 per passenger. With flight delay compensationif you’re traveling on a regular carrier that’s delayed by more than 12 hours or requires you to stay overnight, Chase can reimburse you for incidentals like meals or accommodation, up to $500 per ticket.
Just keep in mind that you must charge your trip to the card for these protections to apply, and you must submit a formal claim.
Still, it’s a solid defense for a card with an annual fee of $95.
Related: How Chase’s flight delay insurance works in practice
bottom line
With a huge sign-up bonus and various perks that can easily be worth hundreds of dollars, there’s no question that Boundless Marriott Bonvoy well worth the annual price of $95. And that’s not counting the fact that you’ll earn 6 points for every dollar spent with the card at Marriott properties, 3 points for every dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants (with a combined purchase of up to $6,000 per year) and 2 points for every dollar everywhere else.
However, keep in mind that Chase restricts access to Bonvoy Boundless to 24/5 luật rule. Your issuer may not approve your card if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards across all issuers in the last 24 months. In addition, there are Marriott-specific rules when it comes to eligible for any new Bonvoy credit cardso you’ll want to make sure you’re eligible before you apply.
However, with hotel prices remaining high and the Boundless card offering great sign-up rewards, now is a good time to sign up if you qualify.
Application link: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card with a welcome offer of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $3,000 on qualifying purchases in the first six months; Plus, earn 50,000 bonus points after you stay six eligible paid nights at Marriott properties through January 31, 2024. Offer ends August 10.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Christina Ly.
