Best no annual fee Marriott card
With the Marriott Bonvoy Bold, you receive benefits usually only available to elite travelers, all without having to pay an annual fee. (Partner offer)
At a glance
- 14X Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
- 2X 2X points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains).
- 1X 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Our Take
Overview
If you’re new to travel rewards, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card is a solid, low-risk option that allows you to earn a decent number of points on everyday purchases. Some of the best perks this card offers are automatic Silver Elite Status, travel delay insurance, baggage insurance and purchase protections.
Pros
- 15 elite night credits annually to help earn mid or high tier Marriott Bonvoy status
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver status
- Baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and trip delay reimbursement coverage
Cons
- More limited perks and lower earning rates than premium cards
- May not make sense if you don't stay at Marriott regularly
- There are better Marriott cards if you want higher tier status or benefits
Who is this card good for?
Travelers looking to start out with Marriott as one of their first hotel loyalty programs will find a lot of benefits to enjoy with this card. Since it charges no annual fee there is little to no risk about not using its benefits enough to justify carrying it. Though this credit card doesn’t carry nearly as many perks as other Marriott cards, it does come with Silver Elite status and standard purchase and travel protections.
Earning Rewards
This card earns 3x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 2x points on travel purchases and 1x points on other eligible purchases. Cardholders also earn 10 base points through the Bonvoy Program and a 10% bonus due to the complimentary Silver elite status.