Chase and Marriott are out with a brand new limited-time offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, and it's a doozy.
You can now earn five Marriott free night certificates eligible for properties that cost up to 50,000 points per night after you spend $5,000 in the first three months of card membership. Doctor of Credit first flagged this new offer and it's anyone's guess as to how long it will last. In the past we've seen this offer come and go quite quickly so if you've been eyeing the card, now is the time to go for it!
These free night certificates are yours to use for a full 12 months after you earn them – but you'll want to be sure to use them in that span, otherwise they'll be forfeited. You could use this bonus to lock in a five night stay at the Le Meridien Maldives for next year. And since Marriott added the ability to “top off” free nights with points, you can even kick in up to 15,000 extra Bonvoy points per night to cover pricier properties.
This is easily one of the best offers we've seen on this Marriott card – or any Marriott card, period. And there's nothing in it for us if you apply: This is a publicly available offer you can get directly through Marriott and Chase.
Just remember: Credit cards are serious business. No matter how many free nights it gets you, it's not worth racking up thousands of dollars in credit card debt if you can't afford to pay off every dime right away.
Read on for everything you need to know about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.
Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (for full disclosure: this is not an affiliate link).
Full Benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Welcome Offer Bonus
New card members can now earn five free night certificates that can be used at Marriott properties costing up to 50,000 points per night when you spend $5,000 in the first three months of card membership. Each free night certificate is valid for 12 months from the date they were awarded. This is a limited-time offer!
Earn 6x Points on Marriott Stays
Bonvoy Boundless cardholders earn 6x points per dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy Program.
Since you'll earn 10x points per dollar spent on stays by being a Marriott member, and an additional 1x point for being a Sliver Elite status member (an automatic perk included with card membership), you'll earn 17x points per dollar spent on eligible stays with Marriott.
Earn 3x Points on Gas, Groceries & Dining
Bonvoy Boundless cardholders also earn 3x points per dollar spent on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year at grocery stores, gas stations, and on dining purchases.
You'll earn 2x points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
An Annual Free Night Certificate
Each year on your account anniversary, you'll earn a free night certificate, valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption value of up to 35,000 points.
You'll also have the ability to apply up to 15,000 additional Marriott Bonvoy points to book a property that costs as much as 50,000 points per night.
Just keep in mind you won't get this perk until your second year of card membership.
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status
Just for holding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, you will automatically receive Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year as a card member.
If you spend $35,000 on your card in a calendar year, you'll automatically be bumped up to Gold Elite Status for the remainder of that year and all of the following year regardless of how many elite nights you've earned.
With Marriott's Silver Elite Status, you'll get a 10% boost to the points you earn for a paid stay and priority late checkout – which really just means they'll try their best.
Gold status, on the other hand, is where you can actually start expecting some additional perks. At this status level, you'll get a 25% bonus on points earned for your stay, an enhanced room upgrade (but don't count on it), a 2 p.m. late checkout, and a welcome gift of up to 500 points when checking in.
15 Elite Night Credits
You get 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year just for holding the card. Plus, you'll have the ability to earn an additional elite night credit towards building status for every $5,000 you spend on the card.
Elevate Your Status
In addition to the 15 Elite Night Credits and automatic Silver Elite Status that come with the card, you can also earn an additional elite night for every $5,000 you spend with your card. These additional elite nights for purchases, combined with nights stayed can help you reach the next level of status even quicker.
$95 Annual Fee
The card charges a $95 annual fee which isn't waived in your first year of card membership.
The card also waives foreign transaction fees.
Are You Eligible to Open the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card?
Since the Bonvoy Boundless Card is issued from Chase, it is subject to the Chase 5/24 Rule.
The Chase 5/24 rule is a hard-and-fast restriction rolled out years ago in order to limit card applicants from opening credit cards for the sole purpose of earning bonus rewards. If you've heard of the phrase “churning,” that's exactly what this rule is designed to crack down on.
Here's what it boils down to:
- If you have opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months from any bank credit card issuers (not just Chase cards), you will not be approved for Chase credit cards, regardless of your credit score or history with Chase bank.
- The rule does not count credit inquiries, but rather new cards you have applied for and been approved.
Additionally, per the offer terms and conditions, you will not be eligible for the card if you currently have any of the following cards – or have had them in the last 30 days:
- Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card
You also won't be eligible for the card if you applied and were approved for any of the following cards within the last 90 days or received a new cardmember bonus or upgrade bonus for any of the following cards within the last 24 months:
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
Here is a graphic that lays out the eligibility requirements for each of the Marriott Cards, including the Bonvoy Boundless:
Related reading: A Master Guide to Marriott Credit Card Eligibility
Why This Bonus is Great
On the surface, this is a great offer. But just how good it is comes down to you.
So be warned: You'll need to have a plan for these free nights as they will expire 12 months after you earn them by meeting the $5,000 spending requirement in the first three months of card membership. If you don't use them, you'll lose them.
Banks love offers like these as they create breakage, and it's likely that many who take advantage of the offer won't use the free night certificates before they expire.
But if you can use the free night certificates, the value is undeniable. For example, you could use the five free night certificates to book a five-night stay at the Le Méridien Maldives – a property we stayed at earlier this year and loved.
Spending five nights in the Maldives from a single credit card welcome bonus is about as good as it gets.
Bottom Line
Chase and Marriott are out with a brand new limited-time offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.
New card members can now earn five free night certificates that can be used at Marriott properties costing up to 50,000 points per night when you spend $5,000 in the first three months of card membership. There's no telling how long this offer will last so if the card has been on your radar, be sure to act fast!
Learn More about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (for full disclosure: this is not an affiliate link).
Thanks – any idea how long this offer will be available for?
Applied today and got approved instantly. Can’t wait to use those free nights, then close the account later lol
This is a good card. It’s harder than one may think to find rooms for 50k points. Airport hotels and off the beaten path are easy to find. Check destinations you may use these certificates at before you apply. I still have yet to be able to use any of my awards.
Also, you’re supposed to be able to book these online, but they don’t show as a method of payment on my account.
Try the app. My free nights were not showing on the website, but did on the app.
Is this something they offer periodically?
I received this offer June of 2022. It appears that they may give this offer yearly… but I cannot say for certain.
With regular points, if one has to cancel a reservation, the points go immedately back into your account. What happens if you book with the “free nights” award, and then cancel? Do you get that free night award back or not?
Yes
Can anyone who received the alternative 5 free nights offer verify that this offer will get the 15 elite nights credit? The offer detail doesn’t mention the 15 elite nights at all. Thanks!
My DP: I did get the 15 nights credited immediately to my bonvoy account after applying a few days ago. I’m actually not sure if I got the 5 nights SUB though since there’s no bonus tracker in the app. I applied through the link and it showed 5 free 50k nights. Might have to call chase unless anyone else knows how to see if you applied through the offer. I had to call recon to get the app approved so that’s why I’m not sure.
The offer is no longer showing. Is there another way to redeem this? If not, When did it expire?
I don’t know if theres a glitch but I’m able to book free nights for over 50,000 points.
Where did everyone’s free nights show up? I completed the requirements $5k/3mo but never have received anything about my 5 free 50k pt nights?
When did you complete the spend?
Also hoping to understand where these free nights show up. I’ve hit the $5k and the points have processed but not sure where to find the free nights.
When did you complete the spend?
Opened the card ~5/21, pushed through a $5k payment on 6/26
Update: Received my 5 nights in Activity tab of my account on 7/25, ~1 month after completing spend requirement.
Same. @Mike @Nikole I too have not gotten my 5 free nights yet! help
When did you complete the spend?
Nikole, I completed spend and received points about 7 days ago, but don’t have 5 free nights yet.
Please update if you do or don’t. Good luck!
Have you received it as of today? It usually takes about 2 weeks
Update: Received my 5 nights in Activity tab of my account on 7/25, ~1 month after completing spend requirement.
Ok i too got my 5 nights in activity tab. no annoucement or email!
question – they said “You can even kick in up to 15,000 extra Bonvoy points to cover pricier properties.” but i dont see this option?
My referral link only shows the 3 free night option, is it possible to refer someone with this 5 night option?
I was approved last week when the only offer showing on the Bonvoy site was 3 free nights.
Waiting for the card, but just received the 5 free nights offer in the mail. Coincidence, but feel teased. Called Chase customer support but no help. Any suggestions for appealing?
Don’t want to risk canceling and reapplying with new over.
I applied through the Bonvoy site link, which is still showing 3 free nights for 3k spend. Same showing on Chase. Feel deceived. If they are now offering 5 nights / 5k, why are they not transparent / upfront about it, hiding it as if were a secret menu item?
if you have the amex business bonvoy card 6 years ago, can you apply and get this bonus?
You should be eligible. More information here:
https://thriftytraveler.com/guides/credit-card/which-marriott-card-am-i-eligible-for/