By KBC Associate 
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card overview
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees) is Marriott’s entry-level personal cobranded credit card. This no-annual-fee card offers a way to start earning Marriott Bonvoy points and gives cardholders a jump-start on achieving elite status. However, frequent Marriott guests are better off with a card that charges an annual fee and offers more perks. Card rating*: ⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is the only no-annual-fee card in the Marriott Bonvoy family.
As they say, you get what you pay for, and that’s true regarding credit cards, too. Consequently, the Bonvoy Bold sacrifices some earning potential and popular benefits to compensate for the lack of an annual fee compared to its higher-priced counterparts.
Still, this can be a great option for someone just getting into travel who wants to reap the benefits of Marriott Silver Elite status during hotel stays.
We recommend a credit score of at least 670 to have the best chance for approval.
Here’s what else you need to know about the card if you want to apply.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold pros and cons
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Marriott Bonvoy Bold welcome offer
For a limited time, new cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points plus one free night award (valued at up to 50,000 points) after spending $2,000 in the first three months of account opening.
According to TPG’s June 2025 valuations, these 60,000 points and the free night award are worth up to $770.
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This matches the highest welcome bonus we’ve seen on the card, which was last offered a little over two months ago. If you have been eyeing this card, now is a great time to apply for it.
Additionally, it’s important to note that in order to be eligible for approval, you must:
Cobranded Marriott cards have notoriously confusing eligibility requirements, and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold also falls under them. Before applying, be sure to check your eligibility, as these requirements typically require you to not hold another Marriott cobranded card or have received a welcome bonus on another Marriott cobranded card for a certain period of time.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
Marriott Bonvoy Bold benefits
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold card comes with automatic Silver Elite status. This Bonvoy status includes a 10% bonus on points earned during stays, priority late checkout, complimentary in-room Wi-Fi and a reservation guarantee.
The card also comes with five elite night credits per year. These elite night credits can help you progress to a higher status level that provides more valuable perks when staying at Marriott properties.
Additionally, cardholders receive the following benefits:
- Baggage delay insurance: You can get reimbursed up to $100 daily for up to five days for eligible essential purchases made because of a baggage delay over six hours.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: You’re covered up to $3,000 per passenger if your or an immediate family member’s checked or carry-on luggage is damaged, stolen or lost by the carrier.
- Trip delay reimbursement: If your flight is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you’ll be covered up to $500 per traveler for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and hotel costs.
- Purchase protection: This covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft (up to $500 per item).
- Concierge: Visa Signature concierge service is available 24 hours a day to help you book entertainment tickets, make dinner reservations and more.
It’s rare to find no-annual-fee credit cards that offer baggage and trip delay coverage, making the Marriott Bonvoy Bold more attractive for travelers who use it to pay for travel.
Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?
Earning points on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold earns:
Remember that the 3 points per dollar you earn on Marriott hotel stays are in addition to the points you earn through the Bonvoy program. Between the 10 base points and the extra 10% from Silver Elite status, you’ll earn up to 14 total points per dollar spent on eligible Bonvoy hotel stays with the Bonvoy Bold card. This equates to a 9.8% return on spending based on TPG’s June 2025 valuations.
It’s worth mentioning that these earning rates don’t compare favorably to any of the other Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. All the other Marriott cards offer higher earning rates on both Marriott stays and everyday spending (and some have a few other bonus categories).
If you have a general travel credit card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll be better off using one of those cards for most travel purchases.
Related: Your complete guide to earning Marriott Bonvoy points
Redeeming points on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold
With Bonvoy credit cards, you’ll usually get the most value from your points when you use them for award stays at eligible Bonvoy hotels. That’s certainly the case with the Bonvoy Bold.
A nice benefit to redeeming Marriott points for award stays is that you’ll get a fifth night free at eligible properties, saving you 20% on five-night stays.
Beginners who may not have massive points balances for redemptions can also take advantage of Marriott’s Cash + Points redemption options, where you can use points to pay for part of your hotel stay and use cash to cover the rest.
Katie Genter, TPG’s senior points and miles writer, spent five nights at Le Meridien N’Fis in Marrakech, Morocco, for just 52,500 Marriott Bonvoy points by taking advantage of the “Stay for 5, Pay for 4” feature.
Transferring points on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold
Unlike many other hotel-branded cards, the Bonvoy Bold has decent transfer options.
You can transfer your Marriott points to an impressive list of nearly 40 airline partners, typically at a 3:1 ratio. This is rarely the best redemption option, but it can be useful to top off points or miles balances with airline programs that have no other transfer partners, such as Korean Air SkyPass.
Plus, for every 60,000 points you transfer, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus with most partners.
Related: Should you transfer hotel points to airline partners?
Which cards compete with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold?
If you want more Marriott Bonvoy perks or prefer different rewards, consider one of these alternatives:
For additional options, see our list of the best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and the best hotel credit cards.
Related: Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which beginner Marriott card is best for you?
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold worth it?
Since there’s no annual fee to justify, beginners may find enough value in the Bonvoy Bold‘s automatic Silver Elite status to make the card worthwhile. However, anyone who stays at Marriott properties regularly and is willing to pay an annual fee is better off using their Chase 5/24 slot for a Marriott card with more robust benefits.
Bottom line
While the Marriott Bonvoy Bold offers some decent value for beginners, you’ll likely get more value from other travel credit card options, especially when you look at the full lineup of Marriott Bonvoy cards.
These other cards offer rewards rates and additional perks that more than make up for their annual fees. However, true beginners (and maybe those against adding another annual fee to their wallets) could find solid value in the Bonvoy Bold.
While it’s not the most rewarding card on the market, it can be a useful entry point into the Marriott Bonvoy program, especially for those looking to avoid annual fees.
Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Bold
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click here.