Review: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card from Chase
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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card features high rewards and good benefits geared towards making your stays at Marriott properties cheaper and more comfortable. You’ll get an annual free night award and enrollment into Silver Elite status, which comes with its own set of perks including a 10% point bonus and priority late checkout.
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The information related to Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card have been collected by Credit Card Insider and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of these products.
Our Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars
We give the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card 5 out of 5 Stars because it provides a great return at participating Marriott properties, and there are several valuable benefits too.
Why We Like It
- Big welcome bonus of 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases + 10X total points on eligible purchases in select categories
- 6X points at Marriott Bonvoy locations, plus standard membership points
- Free night award every year after account anniversary, valued at up to 35,000 points
- Automatic Silver Elite status with Marriott
- Path to Gold Elite status by spending $35,000 in an account year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Shopping and travel protections
Why It Could Be Better
- You need to wait until after your first account anniversary before you’ll get one free night per year
- If you have the older Marriott Bonvoy Premier card you won’t be eligible for the normal signup bonus, but you can upgrade your card and get a different (smaller) bonus offer
- Annual fee of $95, but this seems reasonable
- No intro APR, but this is typical for hotel cards
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$95
- Regular APR15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- Earn 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases + 10X total points on eligible purchases in select categories.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy™.
- 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Earn unlimited Marriott Bonvoy points and get Free Night Stays faster.
- 17X Marriott Rewards points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 6X Bonus points per dollar from the card
- 11X Base points per dollar for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
- 2X Bonus points per dollar on all other purchases
Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A for N/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer FeeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Penalty APRUp to 29.99%
- Late FeeUp to $40
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $40
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction Fee$0
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, issued by Chase, offers a slew of rewards and benefits for anyone who stays at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
Cardholders will earn 6X bonus points per dollar at these properties, plus additional points for your hotel member status: at least 11X Base points at Marriott Bonvoy properties.
There are a number of hotel perks to take advantage of. You have automatic Marriott Silver Elite status, which comes with a 10% point bonus, priority late check-out, and more. Upgrade to Gold Elite status by spending $35,000 on purchases in a given year. After your first account anniversary you’ll be awarded with a Free Night Award every year.
You’ll get complimentary premium in-room WiFi, and 15 Elite Night credits towards a higher member status. And there are a number of lesser perks, like invitations to Marriott Premier Experience Events and a personal concierge.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless costs $95 per year, and there are no foreign transaction fees to pay.
You cannot apply for this card if you already currently have this card or the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Credit Card, or you’ve received a new cardmember bonus from either of those cards in the last 24 months. If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy Premier cardholder you can request an upgrade to the Bonvoy Boundless.
If you spend much time in Marriott Bonvoy properties every year, this card could probably help you save money and have a better time while you’re at it. But there are four Marriott Bonvoy co-branded cards in total, including three personal cards and a business card.
| Card | Annual Fee | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card | $0 |
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| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card (This review) | $95 |
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| Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card (Review) | $125 (Rates & Fees) |
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| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (Review) | $450 (Rates & Fees) |
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Insider Advice: Getting the Most Out of Your Card
- For booking with Marriott Bonvoy: You’ll earn 6X points with the card when booking at these hotel brands, plus additional points for your Marriott Bonvoy member status.
- Consider using it for other purchases: Other, non-category purchases will get 2X points per dollar, valued at about 2–4% cash back. This is quite a good deal, but, depending on the type of purchase, you might be able to do better with a different travel or rewards credit card.
- Get the signup bonus: Be sure to snag the 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases + 10X total points on eligible purchases in select categories. Check out some creative ways to hit minimum spend requirements if you’re having trouble.
- Redeem your Free Night Credit: After your anniversary with the card you’ll get a Free Night Credit every year, good for a stay at a property with a redemption level up to 35,000 points.
- Use your Silver Status: Cardholders get automatic Silver Elite status with Marriott, which comes with a 10% bonus on Base points, free standard in-room WiFi, priority late check-out, and other perks.
- Take a fast track to Gold Status: Spend $35,000 in an account year with the card to earn Gold Elite status, which comes with a 25% bonus on Base points, lounge access with free breakfasts, and complimentary room upgrades when available.
- Enjoy a fast WiFi connection: You’ll get complimentary in-room premium WiFi so you can stay connected without slowing down.
- Use your Elite Night Credits: Cardholders will get 15 Elite Night Credits per year, which will count towards upgrading your Marriott member status.
- Call for help from your personal assistant: You’ll have access to the Visa Signature Concierge service with this card, which you can call for non-emergency assistance like making reservations.
- Contact customer support without hassle: When you call the number on the back of your card you’ll be directly connected to a customer support representative, without needing to navigate through a phone menu.
- Check your shopping and travel protections: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless comes with quite a few protection benefits. These can help out if your trip is delayed, for example, or if you lose your luggage.
- Travel abroad without paying extra: There are no foreign transaction fees with this card, so you can use it as your go-to payment option when traveling outside the U.S.
Upgrading from the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Card
If you have the older Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Credit Card (which is no longer open to new applicants), you aren’t eligible for the new cardmember bonus.
Instead, you can request an upgrade to the new Bonvoy Boundless. You may get a bonus offer, like 20,000 points after your first purchase. But there’s no guarantee that you’ll get a bonus offer, or that it will be of a certain amount.
Take note that this will be counted as a product change, not a new account opening. Your credit card account number will not change, but the expiration date and CVV may change. So if you have any automatic payments set up you should check the details after upgrading.
Upgrade requests may take up to four business days to be approved. If you’re approved you should receive your new card within seven to 12 business days.
The Rewards
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa Signature offers an excellent return on your spending at Marriott Bonvoy properties, with a cash back equivalent of about 17%–34% or more. Other non-category purchases get a good return as well, at 2%–4% cash back equivalent.
Earning
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So you’ll have several point earning opportunities. You’ll get 6X points at all of the brands included in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. You’ll also earn a certain number of Base points at these hotels, depending on your member status.
To check out all your options, see Marriott Bonvoy hotel brands.
The number of Base points you earn will depend on your member status with that particular hotel brand. Cardholders get automatic Silver Status with Marriott, which is one level higher than the basic member status. A normal member would get 10X Base points but Silver members get a 10% bonus, for 11X Base points in total.
You’ll only earn points at these high rates when making purchases directly from the hotel. If you use a travel agency or discount travel site, for example, you’ll get the normal purchase rate of 2X points.
Take note that you will not be eligible for the welcome bonus offer if you’ve had other Marriott Bonvoy co-branded cards at certain times. You will not be eligible if you:
- Are a current or previous cardmember of the Marriott Bonvoy Card from American Express, also known as the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card, within the last 30 days
- Have acquired any of the following cards in the past 90 days:
- Are a current or previous cardmember and have received a welcome bonus or upgrade offer for any of the following cards in the past 24 months:
Insider tip
SPG, Marriott, and The Ritz-Carlton recently combined their rewards programs, and they’re all now covered under the Marriott Bonvoy program. If you had any SPG Starpoints in the previous system they will be multiplied by 3 to give your new point value. And if you had multiple accounts with these brands you should merge them, which will collect all your points and benefits together in one account.
Redeeming
Marriott Bonvoy points will expire after 24 months of no account activity. You can keep your points active simply by making a purchase with your card once every 24 months.
There are quite a few ways to redeem Marriott points. The value of your points will depend on when, where, and how you redeem them.
Typically, PointSavers stays and regular award stays are the most valuable redemption methods. Or, if you book four award nights in a standard room you’ll get a fifth night free, which will also provide a great overall return on your spending.
Your redemption options consist of:
- Free award nights: Redeem for free nights in standard rooms. The number of points required depends on the hotel’s category or tier (see the tables below).
- PointSavers award nights: Get up to a 5,000 point discount at Marriott hotels, or up to a 10,000 point discount at Ritz-Carlton hotels (not always available).
- Cash + Points: If you don’t have enough points you can pay in part with cash, starting at 3,000 points and $45.
- Instant Redemption: Use points to pay for purchases at hotels, like dinner, cocktails, spa treatments, and more (not recommended — very low redemption value).
- Room Upgrades: Certain properties offer room upgrade rewards for 5,000 points each. Some upgrades may require two or more room upgrade rewards.
- Transfer to a partner loyalty program: Transfer to a variety of airline partners like United and Southwest.
- Airline services: Redeem for a Priority Pass Select membership to get airport lounge access, or to pay for the application fee for TSA Pre✓®.
- Flights or Car Rentals: Use your points for flights at a variety of airlines or to rent a car.
- Vacation packages and cruises: Redeem for travel packages of seven nights or more, or choose from a wide variety of popular cruise lines.
- Shopping: Points can be redeemed for specific purchases, or to buy gift cards for Marriott and other merchants.
- Share or Donate: You can share your points with any other Marriott Bonvoy member, or donate them to a charity.
Remember that redemption offers come and go, and sometimes there are special offers at certain properties. You may be able to find an excellent deal for your upcoming trip if you take some time to explore the options. Be sure to check the value you’re getting per point.
Free night stays are probably the simplest and most valuable redemption method. Oftentimes, the best deals will be found at the least and most expensive properties, rather than mid-range properties, but this isn’t always true.
The higher the hotel category, the more points required for a night’s stay.
| Hotel Category | Standard Requirement | Off-Peak | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7,500 | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| 2 | 12,500 | 10,000 | 15,000 |
| 3 | 17,500 | 15,000 | 20,000 |
| 4 | 25,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 |
| 5 | 35,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 |
| 6 | 50,000 | 40,000 | 60,000 |
| 7 | 60,000 | 50,000 | 70,000 |
| 8 | 85,000 | 70,000 | 100,000 |
You can browse the full list of 6,700 Marriott Bonvoy properties, including their categories and point requirements.
PointSavers reservations will help you save some points, if you’re lucky enough that your travel plans align with some eligible dates. The PointSavers requirements are as follows.
| Hotel Category | PointSavers Requirement | Off-Peak | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6,000 | 4,000 | 8,500 |
| 2 | 11,000 | 8,000 | 13,000 |
| 3 | 16,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 |
| 4 | 22,500 | 17,500 | 27,500 |
| 5 | 32,500 | 27,500 | 37,500 |
| 6 | 45,000 | 35,000 | 55,000 |
| 7 | 55,000 | 45,000 | 65,000 |
| 8 | 80,000 | 65,000 | 90,000 |
How Do I Redeem A Free Night Stay?
Say you want to spend a night at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Seattle Bremerton, a Category 3 hotel in Washington. A standard room here might normally cost $199 for non-members, depending on the date.
Or you could get this room for 17,500 points (only 16,000 if you get a PointSavers deal). To earn 17,500 points, you could spend $1,030 at Marriott properties, earning at the 17X rate (6X points from the card and 11X points from Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status).
Here, you would spend $1,030 to get a room valued at $199. Your points are worth about 1.14 cents each in this example, for a return on spend of about 19.32%.
For a PointSavers offer, 16,000 points would require $942 in spending. In this case your points are worth 1.24 cents each, for a return on spend of about 21.13%, a pretty great deal!
Example: Regular Free Night Award Stay
Total spend: $1,030
Point value: $199 ÷ 17,500 points = about 1.14 cents each
Return on Spend: $199 is about 19.32% of $1,030
Example: PointSavers Free Night Award Stay
Total spend: $942
Point value: $199 ÷ 16,000 points = about 1.24 cents each
Return on Spend: $199 is about 21.13% of $942
The Benefits
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card comes with benefits from three different sources: Marriott, Chase, and Visa Signature.
- Annual Free Night Stay: You’ll get one Free Night Award every year, beginning after your first account anniversary. This free night stay can be redeemed at any property with a redemption level up to 35,000 points (up to a Category 5 hotel). It may take up to eight weeks for this credit to appear in your online account, as an e-certificate. The Free Night Award will expire 12 months after being issued. You can’t combine this award with cash or points.
- Automatic Silver Elite Status: As a cardholder you’ll get complimentary Silver Elite status with Marriott. Normally you’d need to spend 10 qualifying nights at Marriott properties for this status level. Silver status comes with a number of benefits, some of which are available with the basic free Marriott membership. But others are more valuable and don’t come at the basic level, including:
- 10% Bonus on Marriott Bonvoy Base Points: For a total of 11X Base Points at Marriott Bonvoy properties.
- Ultimate Reservation Guarantee: If the hotel is unable to honor your reservation, they’ll pay for you to stay nearby.
- Dedicated Elite Reservation Line: Call 1-800-228-2100 any time to make a reservation.
- Dedicated Elite Guest Services Line: Call 1-800-321-7396 between 8:15 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST for account questions.
- Priority Late Checkout: Based on availability.
- Standard In-Room WiFi
- Path to Gold Elite Status: Cardholders get a fast track to Marriott Gold Elite status by spending $35,000 in an account year. Usually it would take 25 qualifying night stays to reach this level.
- Complimentary premium in-room Wifi: Cardholders get premium on-property WiFi internet access at participating locations. You must provide your loyalty member account number when checking in.
- 15 Elite Night Credits annually: You’ll receive 15 Elite Night Credits every year, on or before March 1. Elite Night Credits count towards your Elite status with Marriott.
- Visa Signature Concierge Service: Call 1-800-953-7392 at any time to reach your personal assistant, who can help with non-emergency tasks.
- Premier Experience Events: Cardholders will occasionally get invitations to exclusive events through the Premier Experience Events program. There are a variety of events, like high-class dining and cooking lessons, rounds of golf, and meetings with exciting people.
- Purchase Protection: Your eligible purchases are covered against damage and theft for 120 days, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Extended Warranty Protection: Eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranties of three years or less can be doubled, up to one additional year.
- Travel and Emergency Assistance: Call for help with emergencies, including legal and medical referrals.
- Trip Delay Reimbursement: If a trip is delayed by over 12 hours, get reimbursement for expenses like meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If your checked or carry-on bags are lost or damaged, provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per passenger.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Provides coverage for rental cars against theft and collision, as long as the car rental company’s own insurance is declined.
The Terms & Fees
| Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
|---|---|---|
| 15.99% - 22.99% Variable | 15.99% - 22.99% Variable | 24.99% Variable |
| Annual Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|
| $95 | $0 |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee |
|---|---|
| Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater | Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater |
| Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 29.99% | Up to $40 | Up to $40 |
The rewards and benefits of this card might seem complicated, but the terms and fees are pretty simple.
The major points of interest are the $95 annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees. That means you can bring this card with you when traveling outside the U.S. without worrying about extra charges, which can be as much as 3% on other cards.
The Bottom Line
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card is a very rewarding card offer from Chase, giving you a chance to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and enjoy enhanced member status.
The 6X Bonus points you get are in addition to any Base points for being a member. So the higher you can raise your status, the more value you’ll get from this card. If you like staying at Marriott Bonvoy properties, the introductory offer should take you pretty far.
Read up on all the benefits, and take advantage of them whenever possible to get discounts, room upgrades, and insurance for your purchases and trips. For some travelers, perks like the Free Night Award and Silver Elite status might make this card worth the cost all on their own.
Look for the best redemption options, and consider paying with your card if you can’t get a good deal with points.
This is an excellent card for booking with Marriott Bonvoy hotels, but if you don’t ever stay in these hotels the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless won’t do you any good. Or perhaps you want something even better, with more valuable benefits. Take a look at some other credit cards for hotel spending below.
How Do I Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?
You can apply for this Marriott card securely by following the link below.
Usually you’ll get an instant decision, either yes or no. In some cases Chase may request more information to process the application.
What Credit Scores Do I Need to Qualify for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?
It’s recommended that you have good credit before applying.
That means your credit scores would have to fall within the ranges of 670–739 for FICO and 700–749 for VantageScore.
But keep in mind credit card issuers will look at other factors when making their decisions. They’ll consider things like your income and source of income, so even if your scores are lower than that, you could still be approved.
However, that also means even if you have higher-than-recommended credit scores, you could be denied.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Must be 18 to apply
- Personal identifying information: SSN, email address, phone number
- Financial information: Total annual income, source of income, monthly mortgage/rent payment
- Marriott Bonvoy rewards number (if you already have one)
- You cannot apply if you already have this card or the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Credit Card, or you’ve received a new cardmember bonus from either of those cards in the last 24 months
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$95
- Regular APR15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- Earn 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases + 10X total points on eligible purchases in select categories.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy™.
- 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Earn unlimited Marriott Bonvoy points and get Free Night Stays faster.
- 17X Marriott Rewards points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 6X Bonus points per dollar from the card
- 11X Base points per dollar for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
- 2X Bonus points per dollar on all other purchases
Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A for N/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer FeeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Penalty APRUp to 29.99%
- Late FeeUp to $40
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $40
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction Fee$0
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?
Along with a handful of shopping and travel protections, you’ll get an annual free night stay after your first year, Silver Elite status enrollment (which includes a 10% point bonus, priority late checkout, and more), and an expedited path to Gold Elite status.
Check out the complete list of benefits for more details.
Alternatives to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
- Enjoy a Reward Night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. Plus, enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for any stay of 4 or more nights
- Earn up to 25 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Fee Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- IHG Rewards Club Bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card (Review) is one of several credit cards offered from IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group).
It offers similar rewards to the Marriott Bonvoy card, earning the cash back equivalent of 15%–25% at IHG, compared to the Marriott Bonvoy card’s 17%–34%. And like the Marriott Bonvoy card, it features benefits aimed at making your IHG stays more affordable and enjoyable.
You’ll still get an annual free night award, but you’ll also get automatic enrollment into Platinum status. It’s similar to Marriott Bonvoy’s Gold Elite, with a few, better, changes. Rather than a 10% point bonus you’ll get a 50% bonus, and you’ll gain complimentary room upgrades when available. And there’s a fee credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application.
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- Annual free night stay: Get a free night’s stay each year on your cardholder anniversary.
- Fourth reward night free: When you redeem your points for four nights or more, you’ll get the fourth night free.
- Platinum Elite status: You’ll automatically be enrolled into the Platinum Elite status, which includes a 50% point bonus, room upgrades when available, and extended checkout.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit: Every four years get up to $100 for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.
- Travel protections: Baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Shopping protection: Purchase protection
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $89
The information related to IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card after you use your new Card to make $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
- Annual fee: $95, $0 first year
- Terms Apply.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Review) is a good option if you prefer staying at Hilton properties.
It earns slightly less than the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, but it’s not by much. Whereas your Boundless points will be worth 1–2 cents, your Hilton points are worth 0.4–1 cent. This works out to cash back equivalents of 17%–34% for the Marriott card and 12%–30% for the Hilton card.
There are also a few differences in their benefits. Rather than automatically receiving an annual free night award, with the Hilton card you’ll have to spend $15,000 in a calendar year. So unless you travel pretty frequently, that’s a pretty high limit to reach.
However, you’ll gain Priority Pass Select membership, which grants access to over 1,300 airport lounges around the globe. That’s a pretty valuable perk. On top of that, the point bonus afforded by the automatic Hilton Honors Gold status is 80%, compared to the Boundless’ 10%. Other than these differences, the two cards are relatively comparable.
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Additionally, members will earn 18X points per dollar at Hilton from their Hilton Honors Gold membership. That brings the total to a hefty 30X points per dollar at Hilton, which can end up providing a cash back equivalent of 12%–30%.
- Hilton Honors Gold status: Includes an 80% point bonus, room upgrades when available, complimentary breakfasts, and more
- Priority Pass Select membership: 10 free visits to Priority Pass lounges per year; additional visits cost $32 per person
- Annual Weekend Night Award: For spending $15,000 in a calendar year
- ShopRunner membership: ShopRunner provides free two-day shipping and returns at participating online retailers.
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty, Baggage Insurance Plan, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist Hotline
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95, $0 first year
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees)
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The information related to Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates and fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Transfer your miles to over 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 15.49% – 25.49% variable APR after that
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Review) is a decent choice for general spending, offering a nice welcome bonus and with no annual fee to worry about.
The VentureOne’s reward program is pretty simple compared to the Bonvoy Boundless. Capital One miles are always worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel expenses, so you can easily see the minimum return on spend for any given purchase. But you can get more than 1 cent per mile after a transfer to an airline or hotel partner, if you find a good deal.
You won’t get any free nights, but you also won’t be obligated to stay at any one hotel brand. That could be useful to the more infrequent traveler, and you’ll still get a handful of travel protections with this card.
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- Mile transfer: Transfer miles to a variety of airline and hotel partners, at varying rates.
- Dining, sports, and music event access: Get access to exclusive culinary experiences, sports discounts and VIP packages, and concert tickets/perks.
- Capital One CreditWise: See your VantageScore 3.0 credit score, based on your TransUnion credit report, along with some information from that report.
- Shopping and travel protections (Visa Signature only): Auto Rental Insurance, Travel & Emergency Assistance, Warranty Manager Service, Travel Accident Insurance
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
The information related to Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
- Our best offer ever! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,250 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 100,000 points are worth $1,250 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review) is one of the more popular general-use travel cards. It’s good for all kinds of travel spending, like hotels, airlines, car rentals, parking garages, and more.
You’ll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points with the Sapphire Preferred, which are usually worth 1 cent each. But they can be redeemed for travel expenses through the Ultimate Rewards portal for 1.25 cents each. You can also transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners (including Marriott), where they might be worth as much as 2 cents each or more.
If you redeem for 1.25 cents per point, you’ll be getting a cash back equivalent of 2.5% on travel and dining. If you get 2 cents per point, your cash back equivalent would be 4% on those purchases.
That’s not very much compared to what the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card can offer, but it’s pretty good for a general travel card. The Marriott card is much more rewarding but it’s limited to Marriott Bonvoy brands.
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- DoorDash membership: You’ll get a free DoorDash membership for at least a year, known as a DashPass. This gives you free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12, which could help you save quite a bit if you tend to order out.
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection is provided by Chase, and includes benefits at a plethora of locations around the world.
- Shop through Chase: Cardholders can get more points at select retailers with the Shop through Chase marketplace.
- Chase Offers: Receive exclusive offers from a variety of different merchants through Chase.
- Chase Preferred Experiences: As a Sapphire Preferred cardholder you’ll have access to exclusive events and experiences provided by Chase.
- Visa Signature Concierge: You can call 1-800-953-7392 to speak with your Visa Signature Concierge, 24/7.
- Travel protections: Trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, travel and emergency assistance, travel accident insurance, rental car insurance, and roadside dispatch
- Shopping protections: Purchase protection and extended warranty
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$95
- Regular APR15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- Earn 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases + 10X total points on eligible purchases in select categories.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy™.
- 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Earn unlimited Marriott Bonvoy points and get Free Night Stays faster.
- 17X Marriott Rewards points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 6X Bonus points per dollar from the card
- 11X Base points per dollar for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
- 2X Bonus points per dollar on all other purchases
Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A for N/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer FeeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Penalty APRUp to 29.99%
- Late FeeUp to $40
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $40
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction Fee$0
Do you have the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless to get great deals at Marriott properties? What are your favorite ways to use it? Let us know in the comments below!
Maybe Marriott Bonvoy isn't the hotel brand for you? See our favorite hotel cards here. Best Hotel Credit Cards
Brendan Harkness
Brendan has been writing about personal finance for over eight years, and is now taking on the challenge of bringing high-quality credit education to the masses. He makes sure that Credit Card Insider is covering the most important credit topics transparently and precisely, and that we have up-to-date reviews of credit cards so you can find cards that are right for you.
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