- Intro Offer
-
Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 Bonus Points Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Annual fee
- $95
- APR
- 20.49% – 27.49% Variable
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2x – 17x Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.; Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.; 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card* is a mid-tier hotel card that offers its cardholders an annual free night award (valued up to 35,000 points) following their first card anniversary. Other hotel credit cards might require you to reach a certain amount of spending before qualifying for a free night.
It features a high rewards rate for Marriott Bonvoy purchases -- though point values may vary. Still, we found that Marriott Bonvoy points are worth a bit more than competitors when used to fund hotel stays. And while its welcome bonus is slightly less than what other mid-tier hotel cards offer, its point valuations help keep it afloat.
There are no foreign transaction fees either, meaning you won’t be charged extra for using your card for trips to any of Marriott Bonvoy’s 7,000+ properties around the globe. It offers quite a lot for Marriott Bonvoy customers, in exchange for a relatively low annual fee.
Rewards and redemption
Most hotels offer membership programs that provide points for spending money with the hotel and extra amenities. In this instance, Marriott Bonvoy provides Elite Membership based on how many nights you spend each year at the hotel. Each Elite Membership tier will increase the rewards you earn with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless.
Just by having the card you’re automatically enrolled in the base membership as well as complimentary Silver Elite Status, both boost how many rewards the credit card earns per dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy properties.
Thanks to the membership, the Boundless earns up to 17x points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy properties: 6x points from the card, up to 10x points from the Marriott Bonvoy membership and up to 1x point from the complimentary Silver Elite Status.
However, you’ll earn less points at certain properties. While Marriott Bonvoy is the parent company, there are multiple hotel brands that it owns, including Delta, Westin and Aloft Hotels, to name a few.
At Element, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and Homes & Villas by Marriott International locations, for example, you’ll earn 5x points from the Marriott Bonvoy membership and half a point (.5x) from Silver Elite Status.
You can also earn rewards for purchases at gas stations, grocery stores and on dining.
There are a number of ways to redeem your points, too. Cardholders are able to redeem for:
- Marriott Bonvoy hotel stays
- Airfare, cruises and rental cars
- Gift cards
- Merchandise through Marriott Bonvoy’s shopping portal
- Transfer points to partner airlines
You’ll typically get the best value if you redeem your points for stays at Marriott Bonvoy properties.
How much are Marriott Bonvoy points worth?
We ran through a few point redemption scenarios at various Marriott Bonvoy properties. Here’s what your points could be worth for a one-night weekend stay.
| Property | Point cost | Dollar cost | Per-point value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheraton Grand Los Angeles | 63,000 | $541 | 0.86 cent |
| The LaSalle Chicago | 40,000 | $179 | 0.45 cent |
| Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando | 33,000 | $313 | 0.95 cent |
| Element Denver Downtown East | 28,000 | $140 | 0.50 cent |
| Courtyard Cincinnati Downtown | 22,000 | $194 | 0.88 cent |
Keep in mind your point valuations won’t look exactly like this. The point values may differ depending on which property you’re looking at, the length of your stay and other seasonal factors.
To figure out your per-point value, divide the dollar cost by the point cost. At the highest per-point value of the scenarios above, you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of up to 16.15% for your Marriott Bonvoy spending (up to 17 points per dollar x .95 cent). At the lowest per-point value, you’d see a cash back equivalent of up to 7.65% (up to 17 points per dollar x .45 cent).
Those rates beat out most (if not all) general travel credit cards, but only when you redeem your points to stay at eligible Marriott Bonvoy properties.
Welcome bonus
The Boundless offers new cardholders 100,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
With the point valuations above -- and assuming you’re redeeming for hotel stays -- the welcome bonus could be worth $950 at the high end (100,000 x .95 cent) and $450 at the low end (100,000 x .45 cent). Keep in mind these values will vary depending on where you’re staying, when you’re redeeming and how long your stay is.
Other card perks
The Boundless provides an impressive number of perks for a card with a $95 annual fee. Take a look:
- Annual Free Night Award: Each year following your first anniversary you’ll receive one Free Night Award valued up to 35,000 points.
- Complimentary Silver Elite status: Silver Elite status provides a 10% bonus to point earnings and late checkout when available.
- Expedited Gold Elite status: Earn Gold Elite status by spending $35,000 on your card in a calendar year. Otherwise, you’d have to stay 25 nights with Marriott Bonvoy. Gold Elite status comes with a 25% point-earning bonus.
- Baggage delay insurance: If your luggage is delayed by more than six hours, you could be reimbursed for essential purchases up to $100 per day for five days.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: You’re covered by up to $3,000 per passenger if you or a family member has their luggage lost or damaged by a carrier.
- Trip delay insurance: If your plane is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you could have your food and lodging covered up to $500 per ticket.
- Purchase protection: Your new purchases are covered against damage and theft for 120 days, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Alternative cards
If you prefer other hotel chains or greater flexibility, you may want to consider a different card.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card* costs $95 annually (see rates and fees) and features rewards and perks at Hilton properties. It earns a lower rate at Hilton than the Boundless at Marriott Bonvoy and, based on our valuations, Hilton points are typically worth slightly less. However, the Surpass doesn’t have any spending limits on its non-hotel rewards categories, unlike the Boundless. If you prefer Hilton to Marriott Bonvoy, this could be the card for you.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is great for travelers who don’t have one preferred hotel or airline. It earns 5x points per dollar for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points for dining and 2x points for all other travel.
Two of its best features are its 1:1 point-transfer rate to Chase’s airline and hotel partners and its 25% bonus for redeeming for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Both add a good deal of flexibility and value to the card. Like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless it carries a $95 annual fee. It does earn a lower rate for Marriott Bonvoy purchases, but it has much more flexibility.
You can learn more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
How Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card compares to other cards
- Intro Offer
-
Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 Bonus Points Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Annual fee
- $95
- APR
- 20.49% – 27.49% Variable
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2x – 17x Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.; Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.; 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Intro Offer
-
Earn 150,000 Points Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 04/05/2023.
- Annual fee
- $95
- APR
- 20.49% – 29.49% Variable
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
3x – 12x Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.; Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.; Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Intro Offer
-
60,000 points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Annual fee
- $95
- APR
- 20.49% – 27.49% Variable
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2x – 5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3x on dining.; 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
FAQs
If you don’t use your card at least once every 24 months your points will expire.
A co-branded hotel or airline card will feature rewards and benefits tailored to whichever brand it’s tied to. A general rewards card will provide rewards for travel spending across any brand with perks that focus on travel overall rather than travel with a specific brand.
Yes, but you’ll only earn the base rewards rate. That’s usually either 1x point or 2x points.
*All information about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, click here.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
