Why Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card? Benefits, Rewards & Perks
Why Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card With No Annual Fee?
If you enjoy traveling, staying at hotels, or simply want to earn valuable rewards without paying an annual credit card fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is worth a closer look. Issued by Chase, the card combines Marriott Bonvoy rewards with everyday spending benefits—and perhaps its biggest advantage is simple: there is no annual fee.
For travelers who already stay at Marriott properties, the card can provide a straightforward way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points while receiving automatic hotel status and other travel benefits.
No Annual Fee Makes It Easy to Keep
One of the strongest reasons to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold is that it carries a $0 annual fee.
Many hotel credit cards charge an annual fee in exchange for travel perks. While those cards can make sense for frequent travelers, an annual fee can be difficult to justify if you only travel occasionally.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold takes a different approach. You can keep the card year after year without paying an annual membership fee, making it an attractive option for someone who wants Marriott benefits without committing to a premium travel card.
Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points on Marriott Stays
When you use the Marriott Bonvoy Bold at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, you earn 3 points per $1 spent with the card. In addition, Marriott Bonvoy members can earn additional points from Marriott itself, meaning the combined earning rate can reach up to 14 points per $1 on eligible Marriott stays for cardmembers with Silver Elite status.
This can make the card especially appealing if Marriott is already your preferred hotel group.
Instead of paying for a hotel with a general-purpose credit card and receiving only its standard rewards, the Bold allows you to build your Marriott Bonvoy balance while earning benefits associated with Marriott's loyalty program.
Earn 2X Points on Everyday Categories
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold isn't limited to hotel purchases.
Cardmembers can earn 2X Marriott Bonvoy points on several everyday spending categories, including:
Grocery store purchases
Rideshare and select food delivery
Select streaming services
Internet, cable and phone services
All other eligible purchases earn 1X Marriott Bonvoy point per $1 spent.
This makes the card more useful as an everyday rewards card rather than something that only sits in your wallet until your next Marriott vacation.
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status
Another major reason to consider the Bold is that cardmembers automatically receive Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status each calendar year.
Silver Elite status can provide benefits such as 10% bonus points on Marriott stays and priority late checkout when available. MMarriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
For someone who stays at Marriott hotels even a handful of times per year, these perks can make the hotel experience a little more rewarding.
And because the status comes automatically with the card, you don't have to earn it solely by completing a certain number of hotel stays.
Get 5 Elite Night Credits Every Year
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold also provides 5 Elite Night Credits each calendar year. These credits can help you work toward higher levels of Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
This is particularly useful for travelers who are close to qualifying for a higher status level but don't stay enough nights to reach it entirely through hotel stays.
In other words, the card can give Marriott travelers a head start toward additional elite benefits every year.
A Valuable Welcome Bonus
For new cardmembers, the current offer is 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of account opening.
A welcome bonus can give new cardmembers a significant boost toward their first Marriott redemption.
However, it's important to remember that credit card offers can change. Anyone applying should review the current offer and terms directly with Chase before submitting an application.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
For people who travel internationally, another useful feature is the card's lack of foreign transaction fees.
That means you can use the card when traveling abroad without the typical foreign transaction fee that some credit cards charge.
Combined with Marriott's international hotel portfolio, this makes the Bold a particularly practical option for travelers who visit destinations outside the United States.
Redeem Points for Travel
Marriott Bonvoy points can be used toward Marriott stays, but the Bold also offers another option through Chase's Pay Yourself Back feature.
Eligible cardmembers can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for statement credits toward qualifying purchases made directly with airlines or at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, subject to the program's terms and limits. Chase currently allows up to $750 in total Pay Yourself Back redemptions per year for these qualifying purchases.
This gives cardmembers an alternative when they don't want to use their points specifically for a Marriott hotel redemption.
A Strong Choice for the Right Traveler
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold isn't necessarily the best credit card for everyone. If you rarely stay at Marriott properties, a flexible cash-back or transferable-points card may provide greater value.
But for someone who enjoys Marriott hotels and wants to earn Bonvoy points without paying an annual fee, the card has a compelling combination of benefits:
$0 annual fee
45,000-point welcome offer for eligible new cardmembers
3X points at participating Marriott hotels
2X points on several everyday spending categories
Automatic Silver Elite status
5 Elite Night Credits every year
No foreign transaction fees
Ability to use Marriott Bonvoy points through Pay Yourself Back for certain qualifying travel purchases
Final Thoughts
The biggest appeal of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is the balance between benefits and cost. You don't have to pay an annual fee to receive Marriott Bonvoy points, automatic Silver Elite status, annual Elite Night Credits, and additional rewards on everyday purchases. Chase Credit Cards
For a Marriott loyalist who wants a simple hotel rewards card without an annual fee, the Bold can be an excellent addition to a wallet.
Before applying, however, compare the current offer, eligibility requirements, APR, and terms with other Marriott and travel cards. The right card ultimately depends on how frequently you travel, where you spend your money, and how you prefer to redeem your rewards.
Ready to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points?
If you’re looking for a Marriott credit card with no annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card may be worth considering. You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible purchases and enjoy valuable Marriott travel benefits without paying an annual card fee.
Interested in applying? Use my referral link below to learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card and see the current offer:
👉 Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Disclosure: This post contains a referral link. If you apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card through my link and are approved, I may receive a referral benefit. Please review the card’s current terms, rates, fees, and eligibility requirements directly with Chase before applying. Offers are subject to change.
