Hotel credit cards are usually ignored compared to their airline card counterparts.
The mid-sized hotel card costs up to $100 a year, and whether you are an infrequent traveler, road fighter or uninterrupted jet, it can be a very valuable addition to any wallet.
These cards tend to have relatively low annual fees, but can offer great value in the form of reward nights, elite identities, increased potential and other privileges.
The Marriott Hotel BonvoyBoundless® Credit Card (see Fees & Fees) is a mid-term choice for Marriott fans Chase. It charges an annual fee of $95.
New cardholders can earn five free nights (worth up to 50,000 per night) after spending $5,000 in the first three months of opening. Some hotels have hedging fees. TPG’s June 2025 valuation will value this offer up to $1,750.
Apart from the popular quotes, these are three other reasons to consider applying for a Bonvoy Boundless card.
Free Night Prize
One of the card’s best privileges so far-making the $95 fee seem rather unimportant – is its annual free nighttime prize. This is how it works (and why it is so valuable).
Every year, cardholders receive a bonus night certificate every year, valid at Marriott Hotels and worth up to 35,000 Bonvoy points. Some hotels have hedging fees.
While you certainly can’t redeem this award night everywhere, there are thousands of options every night, at 35,000 a night. TPG’s June 2025 valuation sets the value of 35,000 Marriott points at $245, which is almost triple the annual fee of $95.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with TPG Daily Newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts
In February 2025, Marriott lowered their view and you may find it harder to use these certificates, especially during high demand periods. However, you can combine a certificate from up to 15,000 points in your account to “upgrade” to a higher-priced bonus room, which should add flexibility.
Related: When You Should Redeem Free Night Certificate instead of Hotel Points
15 Elite Night and Automatic Elite Identities
Similar to other mid-level hotel cards at Hilton and Hyatt, Marriott offers Bonvoy’s unlimited auto elite identity.
Bonvoy Boundless has automatic Bonvoy Silver identity. While this is the lowest level of Marriott and won’t offer you luxury perks like Suite upgrades, it will still give you a 10% bonus on points, late checkout and free Wi-Fi.
Additionally, to help you start to get into higher status tiers such as gold and platinum, the card automatically gives you 15 elite night points per calendar year. You can also get an additional credit line on your card for every $5,000 spent.
Even better, you can earn a set of Elite Night Points from Marriott’s personal cards and get another set of Elite Night Points from Marriott’s business cards, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® card. Combining Infinity with a business card will bring you gold medal status and put you only 20 nights away from Platinum.
TPG employees are also fans of the benefits of Bonvoy Unlimited. Chief writer Katie Genter said:
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card was an easy choice for me. In exchange for its $95 annual fee, I earn 6 points per dollar when I attend a Marriott Hotel’s Hotel Card, which is a free night reward with an annual redemption level of up to 35,000 points per year valid after your account anniversary [certain hotels have resort fees]15 elite night school years in each calendar year are introduced to higher levels of Bonvoy’s identity and so on. But honestly, the free night awards are effective, with a capacity of up to 35,000 nights, providing enough value to justify the card’s annual fee, so I’d like to keep this card for a long time.
Related: Does it make sense to have a Bonvoy credit card with multiple Marriott hotels?
Travel and luggage insurance
Bonvoy Boundless also brings a strong set of travel protections, in unfortunate events, some of your items were misplaced or unexpected complications of your travel experience. These are often privileges you don’t need – until something goes wrong.
With luggage delay insurance, Chase may reimburse you for your essentials up to $100 a day for up to five days. And, if you lose a bag, Chase may offer you up to $3,000 per traveler.
With travel delays reimbursement, if you are traveling with a universal carrier that is delayed for more than 12 hours, or you are asked to stay overnight, Chase may offer you chances like meals or accommodations, up to $500 per traveler covered.
Please note that these protections only apply when you collect your card’s travel and submit a formal claim for reimbursement. Still, it’s a great set of protection for a $95-year card fee.
Related: Credit Card Travel Insurance: When and To Nothing
Bottom line
A reliable welcome bonus and a variety of privileges worth hundreds of dollars bring the Marriott Hotel unlimited annual price to $95 annual price.
Please note that Chase uses its 5/24 rule to limit access to Bonvoy unlimited credit cards. If you have opened five or more personal credit cards in all issuers over the past 24 months, the issuer may not approve your card.
Additionally, there are Marriott-specific rules when it comes to being eligible for any new Bonvoy credit card, so you need to make sure you qualify before applying.
However, as hotel prices remain high, the Unlimited Card offers a great welcome bonus and now is a great time to qualify for.
For more information, see our full review of the Bonvoy Marriott Hotel.
Apply here: Marriott Hotel Bonvoy Unlimited Credit Card
