3 Things to Do When You Get the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is one of the few hotel credit cards that has an annual fee of $0. It’s a hassle-free way to score some perks and points for the Bonvoy program, or to test the hotel loyalty waters.
Although the card’s simplicity is one of its selling points, there are a few things to do after signing up for the card to ensure you’re getting the most from it.
Hit that minimum spend
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card currently offers this sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 Bonus Points plus 1 Free Night Award after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Free Night valued at 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.
That bonus represents a huge part of the value of this card. Those points can be used in countless ways to score free hotel stays around the world. The card’s other perks also boost its value, like Silver Elite status and up to 14x total Bonvoy points per $1 spent with this card at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
So making a plan to hit that minimum spend in the first three months is crucial. Don’t just wing it and hope to put enough money on it through random purchases — those three months will fly by.
Download the Marriott app
The merger with SPG that culminated in the new Bonvoy brand involved some serious technical hiccups. Many of those have been smoothed out, however, and the company’s app lets you:
Book rooms with cash.
Book rooms with points.
Manage existing reservations.
Manage your account.
Utilize mobile key, allowing you to bypass the front desk and go straight to your room.
Send mobile requests for things like shampoo, soap, toothbrush and other essentials while staying at a Marriott Bonvoy property.
Plan your points payoff
The sign-up bonus won’t land in your account until after you’ve hit the minimum spend requirement, but it’s worth familiarizing yourself with how the Bonvoy programs works.
Check out the award redemption chart to see how Marriott breaks out its award bookings. Then go through the hotel directory to search properties at your next destination.
Remember: Marriott offers a valuable fifth night free on award bookings of four consecutive nights, so looking for longer stays at lower-end properties is a great way to get even more from your (potential) points.
One last note: Your Bonvoy account should already be tied to your new Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card card, along with the Silver Elite status that comes with it. That said, make sure to check your account after signup to verify.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Planning a trip? Check out these articles for more inspiration and advice: Find the best travel credit card for you Snag these hotel loyalty perks, even if you’re disloyal Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card review: Loyalty at a lower price