3 Things to Do When You Get the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card

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 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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.

» Learn more: Baffled by points and miles? Let the 80/20 rule guide you

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.

» Learn more: This strategy is how I started earning major travel rewards

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.