Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
The welcome offer, the annual free night and what it is worth, the airline credit, elite status, the protection, and whether the $95 fee pays for itself.
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Hotel cards · Chase
Welcome offer
3 free nights
Annual fee
$95
Three Free Night Awards, each for a night at a hotel costing up to 50,000 points, after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Resort fees may apply at some hotels. Not available to anyone holding, or recently awarded a bonus on, several other Marriott cards; Chase lists them in the offer details.
Foreign transaction fees: NoneNetwork: Visa SignatureRewards: Marriott Bonvoy points
The Atelier Take
Keep it for the free night; spend elsewhere.
Who it suits
Marriott regulars who will use the annual free night at a hotel worth more than the fee.
Who should skip it
Anyone who rarely stays at Marriott, or who wants to earn on everyday spending: Bonvoy points are among the lower-valued currencies.
Every credit, and the catch
The anniversary free night is what keeps this card in a wallet. A temporary airline credit adds to it until mid-2027.
Annual Free Night Award
One night up to 35,000 points
Only at hotels costing up to 35,000 points a night; it can be topped up with Marriott Bonvoy points (not cash). Resort fees may apply. It expires if not used within the certificate’s validity.
Airline credit
Up to $100 a year
Spend $250 directly with airlines in each window to earn each $50. A special offer that ends June 30, 2027.
What it earns
Rewards: Marriott Bonvoy points, which stay active as long as the card is used at least once every 24 months.
17x
Hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
6x from the card, up to 10x as a Bonvoy member and 1x with Silver Elite
3x
Grocery stores, gas stations and dining
On the first $6,000 of combined purchases a year, then 2x
2x
Everything else
TPG values Bonvoy points at 0.75¢ each, so 2x returns about 1.5¢ per dollar and 3x about 2.3¢: less than a flat 2% card outside Marriott hotels.
Elite status
Silver Elite status
Automatic each year as a cardmember.
15 Elite Night Credits
Each calendar year, toward higher Marriott status.
More night credits
1 Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 spent.
Path to Gold
Gold Elite after $35,000 of purchases in a calendar year.
DashPass
12 months free when activated by December 31, 2027, plus $10 off one non-restaurant DoorDash order each quarter while enrolled; DashPass then renews at the monthly rate unless canceled.
Visa Signature Concierge
24-hour help with travel, dining and entertainment.
Will the $95 fee pay off?
Enter what would go on this card. The result values points at TPG’s valuation, adds the credits that would actually be used and, in year one, the welcome offer, then sets the total against a no-fee card that pays 2% back on everything.
1 · Spending on this card
Example figures are filled in; replace them with real ones.
Marriott Bonvoy hotelsCard points only; the member and Silver Elite points come with any card and are left out
6x
Dining3x on the first $6,000 of dining, groceries and gas combined each year, then 2x
3x
GroceriesShares the $6,000 limit
3x
GasShares the $6,000 limit
3x
Flights
2x
Everything else
2x
2 · Credits that would be used
Tick only what would be used anyway, at full value.
3 · Assumptions
The result
The free night arrives after each account anniversary, so it starts in year two. The airline credit is a special offer that ends June 30, 2027, so it is counted in year one only. Not counted: Silver Elite status and the 15 Elite Night Credits.
Insurance and protections
Chase lists these on the card’s page; the Guide to Benefits has the full terms. Pay for the trip or purchase with the card to be covered.
Trip delay
Up to $500 per traveler when a trip is delayed more than 12 hours or needs an overnight stay.
Lost luggage
Up to $3,000 per traveler for lost, damaged or stolen bags.
Baggage delay
Up to $100 a day for 5 days for essentials when bags are delayed more than 6 hours.
Purchase protection
Damage or theft within 120 days of purchase, up to $500 per item.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The annual free night can be worth more than the fee
- Silver status and 15 Elite Night Credits a year
- A generous welcome offer
- Trip delay and baggage cover for a $95 card
Cons
- Marriott points are worth less than most
- The 35,000-point cap limits which hotels the free night covers
- Weak earning outside Marriott stays
Card terms change often and some offers are personalized; the issuer’s page is the final word.