Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card Worth It?

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase offers benefits you may not expect on a card with a $0 annual fee, including Silver Elite status and travel protections. But just because there’s no annual fee doesn’t mean this card is right for everyone. Here’s what you need to know to decide whether the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is a good choice for you.

» Learn more: Things to know before getting a Marriott credit card

High-value perks of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

The welcome offer and earn rates

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. NerdWallet values Marriott Bonvoy points at about 0.9 cent each.

Plus, you’ll earn 14 points for every dollar you charge to the card at Marriott properties (three from the card, 10 for being a member and one for your Silver status), 2 points per dollar on grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming and internet, cable and phone services, and 1 point per dollar on all other spending.

Automatic Bonvoy Silver Elite status

With the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card you get 15 elite night credits — enough to qualify for Silver Elite status with the Marriott Bonvoy program.

Silver Elite status benefits include 10% bonus points on paid stays and late checkout when available.

Since the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card gives you 15 elite night credits, you have a head start on achieving Gold Elite status. You get to Gold Elite after accumulating 25 elite night credits in a year, which means that with this card, you're only 10 nights away. Marriott often runs promotions, including some that offer double elite night credits on stays. If you can time your hotel stay with a promotion, you could become a Gold Elite member even faster.

» Learn more: Marriott Bonvoy program: The complete guide

No foreign transaction fees

When traveling abroad, a credit card with no foreign transaction fees can be a great money saver. If you don’t have a card that waives foreign transaction fees, you may be stuck paying up to a 3% fee on every purchase charged in foreign currency. Luckily, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has no foreign transaction fees — a benefit more commonly seen on credit cards with annual fees, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Citi Strata Premier℠ Card.

If you travel internationally, even infrequently, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card can save you from paying more on purchases.

» Learn more: NerdWallet’s best no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards

Travel insurance coverage

Travel can be stressful. Many things are out of your control, like airline delays and delayed or even lost luggage. A credit card that provides travel insurance protections in these situations can make you feel more secure.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card offers a few extremely valuable travel protections, including baggage delay, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay, purchase protection and Visa Concierge. Trip delay coverage reimburses expenses for up to $500 per ticket if your travel is delayed 12 hours or more. This not only protects you, but also family if they are traveling with you.

Baggage delay insurance provides reimbursement for toiletries and clothing of up to $100 per day for five days if your luggage is delayed by the carrier for at least six hours. If the luggage is damaged or lost completely, the lost luggage reimbursement covers up to $3,000 per passenger for you and your immediate family.

Travel insurance benefits are usually found on more expensive travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, so getting them for free on a no annual fee card is a great perk.

» Learn more: Why I love Marriott Bonvoy

Who’s the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card for?

When deciding if the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is right for you, here are some questions you should ask yourself.

Do you stay at Marriott properties?

If you don’t stay at Marriott properties, this card might not be a good fit. But if you’re a regular guest at Marriott hotels or plan to become one, the welcome offer alone is enough for an award night at a category four or category five (off-peak rate) property. In addition the 14 points per $1 spent at Marriott hotels is a solid earn rate on a no annual fee card.

» Learn more: The beginner's guide to points and miles

Do you need travel insurance?

If you don’t already have a credit card with travel insurance, then the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card would be a good option. It has the same benefits we see on other cards that, unlike Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, charge an annual fee.

Do you value elite status?

If attaining elite hotel status is your goal, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card probably shouldn’t be your first choice because it only comes with Silver Elite status. If you’re looking for Gold Elite status, consider instead the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, which charges a $95 annual fee but makes it easier to attain Gold status in the Marriott Bonvoy program (by spending $35,000 per year on your credit card). This card also comes with Silver Elite status.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card worth getting?

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card offers an impressive lineup of benefits, such as travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees and automatic Silver Elite status, which is unusual for a card with no annual fee. For a regular Marriott guest who values economy and peace of mind but doesn’t care as much about climbing the elite status ladder, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is a good choice.