Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa Review: Luxe Travel Perks

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ card isn’t exactly new. Previously, it was known as the Marriott Rewards card. Now, under the Marriott Bonvoy™ brand, the Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and SPG programs are brought together under one unified card.

The card offers some luxurious benefits that are unique to it. But with a $95 annual fee, it’s not the right travel rewards card for everyone. Here’s what you need to know before submitting your card application.

Rewards

The Boundless card allows you to earn a high rate of return on your spending:

• You’ll earn 6X points per $1 spent on participating Marriott Bonvoy™ hotels
• You’ll get 2x points per $1 spent on all other purchases

Plus, the Boundless card has a tempting signup bonus: Right now, you can earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on new purchases within the first three months of opening an account. Points are worth 0.8 cents each, so that signup bonus is worth $800; that’s an impressive bonus for a travel rewards card.

However, not everyone will qualify for the bonus. You’re not eligible for it if:

• You are a current or previous cardmember within the last 30 days of the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card.
• You are a current or previous cardmember of either the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, and received a new cardmember bonus.
• Each Card renewal year, get up to $300 in statement credits for purchases on the Card at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy™. Effective 9/22/22, the $300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit benefit will no longer be available. It will be replaced with a NEW benefit of up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. You can redeem your points at MarriottBonvoy.com/About.

Benefits

Along with its rewards, the Boundless card offers some useful benefits for frequent travelers.

• Free night award: Every year after your cardmember anniversary, you’ll get one free night at an eligible hotel.
• Automatic Silver Elite Status: As a Boundless cardmember, you’re given automatic Silver Elite Status. You’ll get benefits like 10% bonus points on eligible stays, priority late checkout, access to a dedicated reservation line, free WiFi, and exclusive member rates.
• 15 Elite Night credits: You’ll get 15 Elite Night credits, helping you obtain a higher status level sooner. That can really pay off. For example, if you become a Platinum Elite Member, you’ll get 50% bonus points on stays, room upgrades, a welcome gift, and lounge access.
• Baggage Delay Insurance: Get reimbursement for essential purchases, such as toiletries and food, when your baggage is delayed by over six hours. Receive up to $100 a day for up to five days.
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If your luggage is lost or damaged by a common carrier, receive up to $3,000 in coverage.
• Trip Delay Reimbursement: If your trip via a common carrier is delayed by more than 12 hours, you and your family are covered up to $500 per ticket for meals and hotel stays.
• Purchase Protection: New purchases are covered against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per account.
• Visa Concierge: Get help with dinner reservations and event tickets with 24/7 concierge access.
• Referral bonus: If you’re a Boundless cardholder, you can get up to 100,000 bonus points per year by referring friends. You’ll earn 20,000 points per friend who applies for and is approved for the Boundless card.

Terms & Fees

The Boundless card has a $95 annual fee. However, you can offset that fee by using your free night award; its value can easily exceed the cost of the annual fee.

There are no foreign transaction fees, making it a great choice for international travelers.

However, there is no special APR offer for new purchases or balance transfers. If you’re looking to complete a balance transfer or finance a large purchase, it makes sense to look for a low-interest credit card, instead.

Alternatives to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ card

The Boundless card is a strong travel rewards card. If you frequent Marriott-brand hotels, you can quickly rack up rewards. However, not everyone will qualify for the card. You’ll likely need to very good to excellent credit to get approved. (Not sure where you stand? Check your credit score for free).

If your credit score is less-than-perfect, it’s a good idea to look for another travel rewards credit card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent option. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You can enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.

If you’re looking for another credit card to enhance your vacation plans, check out the best travel credit cards of 2019.