Even if you only participate in a specific hotel loyalty program a few times a year, a co-branded hotel credit card can be helpful. After all, most hotel credit cards offer stay bonus earnings, elite status benefits, and other program-specific perks.
I originally registered Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (See Rates & Fees) Welcome offer for 2020 and 15 Elite Stay Points per year. However, I plan to keep the card long term to get the free nights and elite night points every year.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is currently offering a welcome offer of three free night awards (each worth up to 50,000 points; some hotels charge a resort fee) when you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
This welcome offer delivers great value during your first year at Marriott Bonvoy Boundless. But here are the ongoing benefits of keeping the card.
One free night per year
The most valuable ongoing benefit of Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is the free night bonus cardholders receive each year after their account anniversary.
This free night award is valid for one night’s stay at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel, with a maximum redemption level of 35,000 points. If you want to redeem a free night award at a higher redemption level hotel, you can add up to 15,000 points on top of your award to make up the difference. You can top up using the points in your account or purchase the points you need.
Some hotels that used to be redeemable for free night awards can no longer be booked for multiple dates at 35,000 points per night or less. But I still found that the free night awards provided me with more than enough value to offset the $95 annual fee for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card.
My husband and I each have Marriott Bonvoy Unlimited and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. So each year we get a total of four free night awards from four cards (up to 35,000 points each).
I prefer to save my Marriott free night vouchers for short-term stays at attractive hotels, such as the Renaissance Atlanta Airport Hotel, whose rooms overlook Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and the Cairo Marriott Mina Palace, adjacent to the Giza Pyramids.
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But I also use vouchers to cover nights where rates are higher, such as during a popular rugby match in Edinburgh. Sometimes I’ll use a free night voucher for a sixth night when redeeming points for a five-night stay, as I did last year at Le Méridien Maldives.
In short, you can easily recoup at least the value of the $95 annual fee for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card when you redeem a 35,000-point Marriott free night certificate. Even if you typically stay at a Marriott hotel with a higher award rate, you can use the certificate to stay at an airport hotel for one night on a road trip or before or during your trip.
Related: 4 Reasons You Need a Credit Card to Join Your Favorite Hotel Loyalty Program
Increased elite status
I originally signed up for Marriott Bonvoy Unlimited Mainly because it offers 15 Elite Night points each year toward Marriott elite status, and those Elite Night points continue to be useful every year.
I strive to earn at least Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status every year, which requires me to accumulate 50 nights per year. Platinum Elite status includes benefits such as access to many Marriott Bonvoy branded lounges, 4 p.m. late checkout and the option of breakfast as an elite welcome gift.
You can earn Elite Stay points per year on up to one consumer credit card and one Marriott Bonvoy business credit card. So every year I earn 15 Elite Stay Points from my stay Marriott Bonvoy Unlimited 15 more from me Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card. Since I earn 30 Elite Night Points per year on my card, I only need to stay 20 nights per year at Marriott Bonvoy hotels to achieve Platinum Elite status, or 45 nights per year to achieve Titanium Elite status.
RELATED: Free Nights and Easy Status: Why I Have 3 Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards and Pay Over $1,200 in Annual Fees
Other useful benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
In addition to the annual free night awards and elite night points I’ve discussed so far, Marriott Bonvoy Unlimited Also offers the following benefits:
- Earn additional Elite Night points for every $5,000 spent with your card
- Points don’t expire because you make a purchase with your credit card at least once every 24 months
- No foreign transaction fees
You can also earn Marriott points when you shop with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card, as follows:
- Earn 6 points for every $1 spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Earn 3 points per dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services (first $6,000 in combined purchases each calendar year; 2 points per dollar spent thereafter)
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
These benefits are very helpful, especially if you want to earn more Marriott points on your credit card purchases. However, the annual free night awards and elite night points are the perks that keep Marriott Bonvoy Boundless in my wallet for a long time.
Related: 3 reasons why Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is worth the $95 annual fee
bottom line
I plan to keep all hotel credit cards that offer annual free nights long-term, and Marriott Bonvoy Unlimited No exception. After all, you can easily get more than $95 in value each year from the card’s free night bonus and 15 Elite Night Points.
If you don’t have Marriott Bonvoy Boundless yet, the current welcome offer is a great time to apply. After you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening, you can earn three free night awards (up to 50,000 points each; some hotels charge a resort fee). That’s enough to spend a long weekend at a hotel where cash prices often soar, or experience an unforgettable trip in one of three coveted one-night accommodations.
To learn more, read our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless.
Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Unlimited Credit Card
