Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Chase's Marriott Hotel Card with Free Night Certificate
Annual Fee
$95
Earning Rate
6x Marriott hotels • 3x dining, gas & groceries (first $6,000/yr) • 2x everything else
Welcome Bonus
4 Free Night Awards (each up to 50,000 points) after $3,000 spend in 3 months
Card Material
Plastic card with matte finish
Practical Recommendation
If you stay with Marriott even a couple of times a year, Boundless is the "set and forget" option: the 35,000-point Free Night Award at renewal can wipe out the $95 by itself, and the 3x dining/grocery/gas (first $6,000 per year) is an easy side perk. Chase also bolted on up to $100 a year in airline credits ($50 per half after $250 booked direct with an airline), which covers the fee twice over if you fly at all — just remember existing cardmembers have to enroll. Automatic Silver status and 15 elite night credits help you inch toward higher tiers.
If you want richer perks or an annual certificate worth more than 35k points, look at the pricier cards. Otherwise, keep Boundless, use the free night every year, and move on.
Credits
- Anniversary Free Night Award (35k) – One Free Night Award each account anniversary, redeemable up to 35,000 points; you can "top off" with up to 15,000 points to book higher-priced nights. Taxes and resort fees may apply.
- Airline Purchase Credit (up to $100 per year) – A $50 statement credit after you spend $250 or more directly with airlines between January 1 and June 30, and another $50 after another $250 in airline spend from July 1 through December 31. Runs through June 30, 2027. New cardmembers get it automatically; existing cardmembers have to enroll, so go turn it on. — See benefit details
- Instacart+ (3 months) + $10 Monthly Instacart Credit – Activate the complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership with this card, then get a $10 credit every month you have an active Instacart+ membership, through December 31, 2027. Unused months do not roll over. — Activate / see terms
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Your Value
Practical Tip
You can edit the amounts in the number fields if you value a credit at less than the full value. For example, if you only use a $10/month Uber credit half the months, you might value it at $60 instead of $120.
Anniversary Free Night Award (35k)
| What It Is: | One Free Night Award each account anniversary, redeemable up to 35,000 points; you can "top off" with up to 15,000 points to book higher-priced nights. |
| How It Works: | Award posts to your account each anniversary; book through Marriott's website or app; can combine with up to 15,000 points for higher-category hotels. |
| Gotchas: | 35k point limit; taxes and resort fees still apply; limited to standard room awards; expires if unused. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Anyone who stays at Marriott hotels at least once per year and can find a 35k or lower redemption. |
| Practical Value: | 35k points typically worth $245-280 in hotel stays; if you value it at $95+ (the annual fee), the card breaks even. $0 if you never use Marriott hotels. |
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Airline Purchase Credit (up to $100/year)
| What It Is: | A $50 statement credit in each half of the year after you spend $250 or more directly with airlines — up to $100 a year, available through June 30, 2027. |
| How It Works: | Buy airfare straight from the airline with this card. Once you cross $250 between Jan 1 and Jun 30, the $50 posts automatically; the clock resets Jul 1 for the second $50. |
| Gotchas: | Existing cardmembers must enroll — new applicants get it automatically. Purchases through online travel agencies generally do not count, and the two halves do not combine, so $400 in one half still earns only $50. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Anyone who books at least one airline ticket in each half of the year directly with the carrier. |
| Practical Value: | $100 if you fly twice a year, $50 if you fly once, $0 if you never book direct or forget to enroll. |
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Instacart+ (3 months) + $10 Monthly Instacart Credit
| What It Is: | A complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership plus a $10 Instacart credit each month you have an active Instacart+ membership, through December 31, 2027. |
| How It Works: | Activate on the Chase co-brand page at Instacart, add this card to your Instacart account, then apply the monthly $10 coupon at checkout and pay with this card. |
| Gotchas: | After the three free months you must pay for Instacart+ to keep the credit. Unused months do not roll over, and orders must run through Instacart.com or the app. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Households already ordering groceries on Instacart most months. |
| Practical Value: | Up to $120 a year with steady use; about $30 if you only take the free months. |
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Annual Fee:
$95
Your Credits:
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YOUR Annual Fee:
$95
This is effectively what you are paying for this card. It is now up to you if the perks, protections, and earning rates are worth this fee to you over other cards.
Perks
- Earning details (plain English) – 6x at Marriott hotels; 3x on dining, gas, and groceries (first $6,000 per calendar year); 2x everything else; up to 17x total on Marriott stays when you add base member points and Silver's 10% bonus.
- Elite credits & status – 15 elite night credits each year; 1 elite night credit per $5,000 in spend; Silver Elite automatically; Gold Elite with $35,000 calendar-year spend.
- Airline purchase credit (up to $100 per year) – $50 back after $250 in airline purchases made directly with the carrier between Jan 1 and Jun 30, and another $50 for the Jul 1–Dec 31 half. Available through Jun 30, 2027; existing cardmembers must enroll.
- No foreign transaction fees – Use abroad without extra issuer fees (acceptance depends on the merchant/network).
- DoorDash DashPass (through Dec 31, 2027) – One year of DashPass and up to $10 off quarterly on eligible non-restaurant orders after activation; auto-renewal at then-current rate.
- Instacart+ and $10 monthly credit (through Dec 31, 2027) – Three free months of Instacart+, then $10 back each month you keep an active membership. Up to $120 a year if groceries already arrive at your door.
Protections
- Trip Delay Insurance – Covers up to $500 per covered traveler for meals/lodging when a common-carrier trip is delayed 12+ hours or requires an overnight stay.
- Baggage Delay – Up to $100/day for 5 days for essentials if bags are delayed 6+ hours.
- Lost Luggage – Reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for lost, damaged, or stolen bags on a covered trip.
- Purchase Protection – Covers eligible new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $500 per item.
- Visa Signature Concierge – 24/7 help with dining, tickets, and more; handy but optional.