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Earn 4 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.* Each Free Night Award valued up to 50,000 points - a total value of 200,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees. Plus, earn up to $100 in airline credits.
- 1 Free Night Award every year after your account anniversary (valid at properties up to 35,000 points)
- Automatic Silver Elite Status in Marriott Bonvoy® — includes late checkout, priority reservations, and 10% bonus points on stays
- 15 Elite Night Credits every calendar year toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status
- Path to Gold Elite Status when you spend $35,000 in a calendar year
- No foreign transaction fees
For a $95 annual fee, this card basically pays for itself on day one every year with that anniversary Free Night Award. Even though properties that cost 35,000 points per night or less are a bit harder to find, the certificate can be worth $150–$300+, which more than covers the annual fee before you even think about the welcome offer. If your family stays at Marriott properties at all — even a handful of nights a year — the math here is solid, especially since free nights can be topped off with an additional 25,000 Marriott points. The Silver Elite Status is a nice bonus too, especially for families who want that little extra when traveling. Just know that if you already have (or recently had) a Marriott card through Amex, there are some bonus eligibility restrictions to be aware of before applying. If it has been less than 24 month since your last Marriott card, you are likely not eligible for a new one.
Earn 60,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening.
- Automatic Silver Elite Status in Marriott Bonvoy® — includes late checkout, priority reservations, and 10% bonus points on stays
- 5 Elite Night Credits every calendar year toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- 12 months of complimentary DashPass (DoorDash/Caviar) when activated between 2/1/2025 and 12/31/2027
- Chase Pay Over Time on qualifying travel purchases of $100–$5,000
I'll be honest, if you're going to put any real spending on a Marriott card, you should probably just get the Boundless instead. The $95 annual fee pays for itself with the anniversary Free Night Award every year, and you'll earn more points on your spending. But the Bold has a very specific use case: it's a great starter card if you want to get into the Marriott ecosystem without committing to an annual fee, or as a card to keep open for free after downgrading from the Boundless. The Silver Elite Status gives you late checkout and priority reservations. Just don't expect a ton of bells and whistles — this card is exactly what it says it is. Also worth knowing: Amex issues a set of Marriott cards too (the Bevy, Brilliant, and Business), so depending on your situation, you may want to look at both families before applying.
Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points plus a $150 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/2026.
- Earn up to 18.5X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 25% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Gold Elite status.
- Marriott Bonvoy® 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Terms apply. See www.marriott.com/loyalty/terms/default.mi for more information.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year, receive 15 Elite Night Credits towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- Booking the trip is easy. Avoiding delays is next to impossible. If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up large purchases into monthly installments with a fixed fee. A fixed monthly fee is shown upfront so you'll know exactly how much you'll pay. Plus, you'll still earn rewards for the purchases you plan the way you usually do.
Terms apply. Enrollment is required for certain benefits. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
My thoughtsThis mid-tier Amex Marriott card is good for people who want to boost their Marriott points stash. The annual fee is on the higher side for a mid-level card and the benefits are somewhat limited. If possible, it's best to get this card during an elevated bonus offer.
Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points plus a $250 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/2026.
- Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 50% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: With the $300 Brilliant Dining Credit, you can get up to $25 per month each calendar year in statement credits for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide when you pay with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee every 4 years, when charged to your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Each calendar year, receive 25 Elite Night Credits towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,300 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or in-between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a comfortable location.
- Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
Terms apply. Enrollment is required for certain benefits. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
My thoughtsThis is for the die-hard Marriott fans. The annual fee is steep, but Platinum Elite status, an annual free night certificate worth up to 85,000 points, lounge access, and the dining credits go a long way toward making it worth it. If you stay at Marriott regularly and want premium benefits, this is your card.
Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Bonus Points and 1 Free Night Award after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. The Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50,000 points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Resort fees and terms apply. Offer ends 11/4/26.
- 6x points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
Terms apply. Enrollment is required for certain benefits. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
My thoughtsThis is a great option for those who don't want the card counting toward their 5/24 number. The annual fee is the lowest of the Marriott lineup and the welcome offer is good. It's a great first-year card!
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Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.