Chase
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
No annual fee to keep the card
- Annual fee
- None
- Welcome offer
- ~$225
- Annual benefits value
- $0
- Est. 1st-year value
- $225
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Our review
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is the no-annual-fee entry point into the Marriott Bonvoy program, and it ranks as a solid beginner option because it delivers automatic elite status and travel protections without charging a fee. It is aimed at newcomers to travel rewards and casual Marriott guests who want a low-commitment way to start earning Bonvoy points.
With no annual fee, any value the card provides is upside. The headline benefit is automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, which brings a points bonus on paid stays and priority late checkout, along with five elite night credits each calendar year to nudge you toward higher tiers.
Earning is best on Marriott stays, with a smaller bonus on categories like grocery stores, rideshare, select streaming, and monthly bills, and a base rate on everything else. As with most no-fee hotel cards, the everyday earning rates trail the fee-charging cards in the family.
Notably, the Bold includes travel and purchase protections that are rare for a no-annual-fee card, along with no foreign transaction fees, making it a practical option to carry on trips abroad. Points can be transferred to airline partners, though hotel redemptions generally provide the best value.
The Bold is best for beginners and those who want to avoid another annual fee, but frequent Marriott guests willing to pay a fee will usually get more from a card like the Boundless, which adds an annual free night and higher earning. As an entry point, though, the Bold is a sensible, no-cost way into the Marriott program.
Why we like it
- No annual fee, so any benefit you use is pure upside.
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, including a points bonus on paid stays and priority late checkout.
- Five elite night credits each calendar year toward higher Marriott status tiers.
- Travel and purchase protections plus no foreign transaction fees, both uncommon for a no-fee card.
Who it's best for
- Beginners and casual Marriott guests who want to start earning Bonvoy points without an annual fee.
- Travelers who want automatic hotel status at no cost.
- People who want a no-fee card with travel protections and no foreign transaction fees for trips abroad.
Welcome bonus
The card typically offers a welcome bonus of Marriott Bonvoy points after you meet a minimum spending requirement in the first few months; see the estimated value shown above for a current approximation.
Offer details change over time, so confirm the exact points, spend, and time window on the issuer's page before applying.
The card is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule and Marriott's own cross-card eligibility restrictions.
Using your rewards
Rewards are earned as Marriott Bonvoy points, which deliver their best value when redeemed for award stays at Marriott properties.
Marriott prices awards dynamically, so nightly costs vary; booking five-night award stays unlocks Marriott's fifth-night-free benefit for extra value.
Points can be transferred to airline partners, typically at a 3-to-1 ratio, but this is rarely the most valuable use compared with hotel redemptions.
Airport lounge access
This is a hotel co-branded card and does not include airport lounge access.
Foreign transaction fees
The card does not charge foreign transaction fees, which is notable for a no-annual-fee product.
Major credits & annual benefits
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status for as long as you hold the card.
Five elite night credits each calendar year toward higher Marriott Bonvoy status.
Insurance & protections
The card includes travel and shopping protections such as baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, car rental coverage, extended warranty, and purchase protection, which is rare at this fee level.
Coverage limits and exclusions apply, so pay with the card and review the current benefits guide before relying on any protection.
Fees & tradeoffs
The lack of an annual fee is the card's main appeal and removes any pressure to justify a cost.
The tradeoff is modest earning and a thin benefit set, so frequent Marriott guests will usually do better with a fee-charging Marriott card that includes an annual free night.
Final verdict
For beginners and fee-averse travelers, the welcome bonus plus no-cost Silver Elite status, elite night credits, and unusually strong protections make the Bold an easy card to hold.
If you stay with Marriott often, stepping up to a card with an annual free night will likely deliver more value despite the fee.
Card details change often. Verify current rates, fees, welcome offers, credits, and benefit terms with the issuer before applying.
Is this card worth it for you?
Check the benefits you’d realistically use and see your personalized total value below. This is a personal estimate — actual value depends on your spending. Verify terms with the issuer.
- Selected benefits
- $0
- Welcome offer
- $225
- Annual fee
- +$0
- Estimated first-year net
- +$225
Welcome offer
Welcome offer value
Earn 30,000 points after $1,000 in spend within 3 months
$225
Spend requirements apply. Verify current offer with the issuer. How we calculate this
Benefits & credits
Total benefits & credits value
Estimated annual value of all tracked perks
$0
| Benefit | Frequency | Est. annual value |
|---|---|---|
Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, including a 10% points bonus and priority late checkout. | Annual | $0 |
5 Elite Night Credits 5 Elite Night Credits toward the next Marriott Bonvoy elite status tier each calendar year. | Annual | $0 |
Earning rates
Who it's for
Consider it if
- No annual fee to keep the card
Maybe skip it if
- Verify current terms with the issuer before applying
Fees & details
- Annual fee
- None
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Card network
- Varies
- Recommended credit
- Good to Excellent (690+)
- Rewards currency
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Last updated
- 2026-07-25
Details are estimates and may be out of date. View issuer terms. Verify all rates, fees, and offers with the issuer before applying.
How it compares
| Annual fee | None | $895 | $895 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | ~$225 | ~$3,000 | ~$3,000 |
| Est. 1st-year value | $225 | $5,160.40 | $4,684 |
| Annual benefits value | $0 | $2,160.40 | $1,684 |
| Editor rating | 3.2 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
| Points earning structure |
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| Transfer partners | |||
| Lounge access | |||
| No foreign txn fee | |||
| Recommended credit | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) |
