Design Highlights
- The Boundless card offers substantial value with five Free Night Awards, potentially totaling 250,000 points, but availability and fees may limit actual use.
- The Bold card’s lower spending requirement of $1,000 makes it accessible, with two Free Night Awards also providing significant value compared to previous offers.
- Both cards earn high points at Marriott properties, with the Boundless card offering 6x points and the Bold card up to 14x in certain categories.
- Automatic Silver Elite status and additional Elite Night Credits enhance the value, but the effort for Gold Elite status may not be worth it for everyone.
- Overall, while the bonuses appear attractive, users should consider spending thresholds and availability to assess their true value.
When it comes to Marriott Bonvoy bonuses, cardholders are in for a treat—if they can navigate the fine print. The new Bold and Boundless cards are making waves, and with good reason.
For starters, the Boundless card is offering five Free Night Awards up to 50,000 points each after just $3,000 in spending over three months. That’s a whopping potential value of 250,000 points! It’s the highest historical welcome bonus based on industry tracking. New offers are effective starting Jan. 8, 2026.
The Boundless card offers five Free Night Awards, potentially worth 250,000 points, after just $3,000 in three months!
But hold your horses—those nights aren’t as free as they sound. Availability is a gamble, and good luck avoiding those pesky resort fees.
Now, the Bold card isn’t slouching either. It offers two Free Night Awards, also up to 50,000 points each, after only a $1,000 spend. That’s double the value compared to previous offers.
But, again, there’s that little caveat about availability. It’s like a game of roulette—will you hit the jackpot or end up with nothing?
Both cards are rolling out new airline statement credits for 2026. Boundless cardholders can snag up to $100 in credits, split into two $50 credits, which can help offset the card’s annual fee.
But here’s the catch: you need to spend a total of $500 on airlines to access that full value. It’s not free money; it’s a reward for being a loyal spender.
The points-earning structures have their perks, too. Boundless offers 6x points at Marriott properties, while the Bold card caps out at 14x total points at Marriott.
However, the rest of the spending categories are more of a mixed bag. After hitting $6,000 in annual grocery and dining spend, you drop down to 2x points. It’s a bit of a bummer for those hoping for consistent high returns. Much like businesses weigh premium costs against coverage benefits, savvy cardholders must calculate whether spending thresholds justify the rewards earned.
When it comes to elite status, both cards offer automatic Silver Elite status. The Boundless card provides a path to Gold Elite with a hefty $35,000 spend, plus 15 Elite Night Credits annually.
Bold gives just 5. It’s like they’re dangling a carrot in front of you—but is it worth the chase?
